Have we improved the playing positions...?

Quoted from Grantley

Rodgers not as good as Smith? Stopped reading after that.

Quoted from Mappers

I think it's a bit more of a nuanced conversation than that , but the view is not so silly in my opinion .

Yes as you rightly point out those 2 players are undoubted upgrades, but unfortunately the problem areas (so far and from last season ) have not been fixed - the man/men up top and a creative or box to box midfield player .

Wilson might be a solution, but we don't know do we; much like Ainley - they need to have a run of games, but judging on the first quarter of the season that won't happen anytime soon .

Add to that the position I have had boxed off  for the last couple of years as solid and non problematic, at left back, which has seemingly become another problem area .

I do really like the addition of Rodgers alongside Maher and would not take many over that at league 2 level .

Eastwood is a good keeper for me, some seem to have doubts - there may well not be much between him and Crocombe but I'm hardly seeing keepers every week that are miles better than either of  them, or even better at all actually.

I would say we have half a team that are probably better than league 2 , then half a team of average league 2 players or below and that's why we are so inconsistent , added with inconsistent formations so far and lack of availability to put out our best team.

We really need to make substantial progress in the next 8 or us 'doom mongers' as you call us will raise our heads ;  hopefully not and we will do well - i still think a relatively comfy season between 10th-16th is in store .

I suppose if that's the predictable case , it will be for others to decide whether that's enough with their continued support through the gate - I will go whatever and get behind the lads but it's not always the easyiest sell in it's current form of entertainment and you could see why people would choose a more gratifying hobby on a Saturday afternoon .

Quoted from Corkyefes

Good post and discussions, but I would have to disagree on the highlighted bit, as in my opinion theres only Conteh and Eisa (on his day) whos shown glimpses that they could play higher than league 2.
Maybe Rodgers and Maher if i was being more fair, but they would be the lower end of league one.

We will grind out some results this year but I can only see us finishing mid table this season (hopefully I'm wrong). I cannot see us improving on last years position but appreciate theirs a long way to go.

But my point was having we improved pplayers in certain positions and i think honestly its more of a no, than a yes.

Quoted from ginnywings

I would say that we have improved in a few positions, but we haven't yet morphed into a better all round team. The togetherness of last season's team isn't quite there yet.

I think that if and when we do though, we will be a better footballing side. It's been there in spells, but not got consistency yet. Probably needs 2 or 3 more players in Jan and getting key players fit, but I think the results will improve up to the half way point of the season.

Ask again after another 10 games.

Quoted from lukeo

Rodgers. Mullarkey. Conteh. Rose all upgrades. The rest I'm not 100% convinced.
Some may say it's harsh leaving Eisa off of the list, he may well get added as time goes on and if Wilson could stay fit i believe he would he an improvement but again time will tell.

Quoted from ginnywings

5 of our signings have all played in League 1. Rose, Eisa, Pyke, Gnahoua and Rodgers, with the last three playing in that league last season.

Quoted from Corkyefes

I said its tight, but its just my opinion thats hes slightly better than Rodgers.
I think Smith has more potential, was quicker, read the game well and didn't get beat too much for his age and experience.

I'll gladly have £100 bet with you that Smith has a better career than Rodgers (say by the time they've both reached 32 - Cancelled if any of them gets a major injury)?

If you going to disagree, at least give some reason as of to why.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

I don’t think we’ll see the best of Rose until we get a goal scorer alongside him.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

First 6 games Rodgers was great but much less so without Maher. Again, Conteh was great at the start but seems less confident now. Mullarkey is a decent right back but doesn’t offer as much going forward as Efete and I don’t think we’ll see the best of Rose until we get a goal scorer alongside him.

As has been said before, the individual parts look decent but the sum of the parts less so.