So, next season is fast approaching, @reluctantnicko has said Coyle already has some targets whom he is close to agreeing details with (I know, don't always believe Nixon)
Anyway, is our squad currently good enough to fight for promotion next season? I certainly think so. I was speaking to a mate of mine last night who made a great point - when we were 8th in the Premiership and got to an FA Cup semi final, our first choice midfield was CYL, Holden, Muamba and Petrov.
Now, this season, we might not be far off that. Obviously Muambas fitness is the biggest issue. I don't think CYL or Holden will be allowed to leave until at least January.
I think we need another centre half, a sub keeper and another striker mainly, apart of that, I think we are all set for a good crack at promotion next season.
Looking forward to it already.
Our current squad
posted on 6/6/12
Holden is easily one of, if not the best player we have. However he has been out injured for nearly 2 years. We still don't know if he will be ready for this season yet. It would be a massive risk for any team wanting to sign him. But if he proves his fitness and carries on his form then I could see a number of clubs looking at him in January. Thankfully he's got a few years on his contract and is happy here, so it'd depend on our position and likelihood of promotion, the offer and whether he actually wants to go.
posted on 6/6/12
It's clear after the set-back of the first injury, they've wanted him to take his time and recover. No rushing, no cutting corners, not that I'm saying they did it before, just ensuring he is 100% fit when he comes back.
He may have issues with his knee is future, after all, he has cracked and dislocated his knee cap an his cartilage had holes in it. His knee cap is now fully healed, obviously, but with cartilage having a very very small amount of blood supply, it will take longer to heal. The same reason why feet injuries last longer as less blood spreads through your feet.
Never been a player for niggly injuries, but being in the wrong place at the wrong time and gettin piledrived 3 times in your career is nothing more than unfortunate. Fingers crossed he will be fine, and seeing as he's been able to exercise, unlike Sean Davis who had ligament damage, and he's younger, he won't have problems with groin, thigh and calf strains.
posted on 6/6/12
Its too soon to call, it all depends on how confident Stuart is and how confident the specialists are. With injuries like this one it can have a long term affect on the player. Its unlikely he'll be playing the full 46 games minimum. The problem we face is that one minor knock could put him out for months as opposed to weeks in any other case. We just have to hope it has healed fully and that he gets lucky in terms of further knocks. Either way we still need to cover CM because we could be left with Pratley and Vela only if Mavies gets sold.
posted on 6/6/12
I'm looking forward to seeing more of Vela in any case.
You can tell he has a spark, something I've always felt Mavies has missed.
posted on 6/6/12
He has only had a few mins. Remember Michael ricketts has an England cap
posted on 6/6/12
True, but you can tell when a player has a spark when you see him. It's up to him to improve and it become a regular part of his game. In turn he will become a regular.
Mavies has had a years trial and failed IMO.
posted on 6/6/12
I would sell mavies as he has never progressed. I am only dubious that with our best CM out all season another having a fatal incident pratley looking like a donkey and NRC carrying an injury that if vela was so good and ready he only got a token end of season run out. How much will he have improved I eight weeks. He probably would not have had a run out had pratley been fit
posted on 6/6/12
I am not knocking him but I am not excited by him either.
posted on 7/6/12
Well, the obvious answer is that those with experience were used.
That's why KDavies was brought back in.
It's not that I'm overly excited by Vela, I can tell he has a spark. You can teach someone to tackle, you can teach someone to pass, but you cannot teach vision, and I think he has that.
It's the reason why the media are so angry about Ferdinand not being at the Euro's. But in Rio case, what's the point in taking a 33 year old who will be 5th choice, with only 1 cap in 2 years, to just sit on the bench, taking a young player to get exp of being at. Tournament for 2014 is a better more useful idea.
posted on 7/6/12
I agree we persisted with players who were going to be released at the end of the season. That failed and we should have given players like vela Riley ohalloran more of a chance