Yeah not to mention they’ll be skint. Aiden McGeady’s expiring contract still has him on Prem wages.Donkey Toon wrote: ↑Sat May 22, 2021 5:26 pmBlimey, in the Mackems post-match analysis they just said that they have 16 players either out of contract or finishing loans this summer. Could be a completely new lineup next season.
2020/21 Season Review
Re: 2020/21 Season Review
I had the first custom w***
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
Aiden was treated pretty badly under last manager. But agreed to waive an auto extension on big £££ for playoffs. Fair play
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
It has been pleasing to see progress in the shape of attitudes and the approach to games when we secured safety, we pushed on and finished the season strongly as opposed to last season where everyone downed tools. The squad seem to believe / want to be in the top half and not content with merely staying up. Hopefully we keep our key players and add a couple of quality additions.
As for Bruce, I’d probably give him 6.5/10 this season. It hasn’t been easy with Covid, injuries (same for all clubs) and him losing his parents, he has made mistakes but appeared to address things as the season went on one way or another and since the Brighton defeat only 5 teams accumulated more points than us. He probably needs some media training as he puts his foot in it sometimes but on the other hand the way some of our fans react to the smallest comments is equally ridiculous.
How we finished 17 points clear of the bottom three I’ll never know, but by finishing the season well at least we can have some positivity looking forward to next season. I can’t see us (or many teams) spending big so I’d blow our entire budget on Willock if we can and try and get a couple of decent loan signings in for upfront.
As for Bruce, I’d probably give him 6.5/10 this season. It hasn’t been easy with Covid, injuries (same for all clubs) and him losing his parents, he has made mistakes but appeared to address things as the season went on one way or another and since the Brighton defeat only 5 teams accumulated more points than us. He probably needs some media training as he puts his foot in it sometimes but on the other hand the way some of our fans react to the smallest comments is equally ridiculous.
How we finished 17 points clear of the bottom three I’ll never know, but by finishing the season well at least we can have some positivity looking forward to next season. I can’t see us (or many teams) spending big so I’d blow our entire budget on Willock if we can and try and get a couple of decent loan signings in for upfront.
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
Willems on a free, push the boat out for Willock, Rondon on loan from his Chinese overlords? Bring the band back together Being linked to a loan move for Connor Gallagher again.
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
Agree with your points on Burce, I don't think he's done as bad a job as his critics claim to be, in fact despite him matching Rafa's highest points total the Rafa lovers are claiming, Rafa finished 10th and won 4-0 on the last day against Fulham despite both of these things happening in two different seasons.Bodacious Benny wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 12:12 pmIt has been pleasing to see progress in the shape of attitudes and the approach to games when we secured safety, we pushed on and finished the season strongly as opposed to last season where everyone downed tools. The squad seem to believe / want to be in the top half and not content with merely staying up. Hopefully we keep our key players and add a couple of quality additions.
As for Bruce, I’d probably give him 6.5/10 this season. It hasn’t been easy with Covid, injuries (same for all clubs) and him losing his parents, he has made mistakes but appeared to address things as the season went on one way or another and since the Brighton defeat only 5 teams accumulated more points than us. He probably needs some media training as he puts his foot in it sometimes but on the other hand the way some of our fans react to the smallest comments is equally ridiculous.
How we finished 17 points clear of the bottom three I’ll never know, but by finishing the season well at least we can have some positivity looking forward to next season. I can’t see us (or many teams) spending big so I’d blow our entire budget on Willock if we can and try and get a couple of decent loan signings in for upfront.
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
Good review, agree with a lot of it. Bruce has done alright all in all, he's largely clueless tactically though and he's not the man to take us forward.
I think when looking at some players there's reputations being taken into account rather than performance. Ritchie was abysmal around December/January time, Gayle looks finished at the top level, Hayden was shocking before getting injured, Clark was dropped at the end of the season.
I think when looking at some players there's reputations being taken into account rather than performance. Ritchie was abysmal around December/January time, Gayle looks finished at the top level, Hayden was shocking before getting injured, Clark was dropped at the end of the season.
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
I'll go farther and say Gayle was never really good enough for the top level, but especially not now.ALF wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:16 pmGood review, agree with a lot of it. Bruce has done alright all in all, he's largely clueless tactically though and he's not the man to take us forward.
I think when looking at some players there's reputations being taken into account rather than performance. Ritchie was abysmal around December/January time, Gayle looks finished at the top level, Hayden was shocking before getting injured, Clark was dropped at the end of the season.
Re: 2020/21 Season Review
I don't disagree. 26 goals in 135 games in the Premier League isn't a good return at all.Remember Colo wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 9:12 pmI'll go farther and say Gayle was never really good enough for the top level, but especially not now.ALF wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:16 pmGood review, agree with a lot of it. Bruce has done alright all in all, he's largely clueless tactically though and he's not the man to take us forward.
I think when looking at some players there's reputations being taken into account rather than performance. Ritchie was abysmal around December/January time, Gayle looks finished at the top level, Hayden was shocking before getting injured, Clark was dropped at the end of the season.
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
Clark was more dropped due to an ankle/heel injury so I've heard via Ireland sources as to why he wasn't in national squad.
With Hayden and Ritchie yes they had their bad form but tell me a player who doesn't have a blip during the season.
Yep Gayle as I've said is championship level, he'll score the odd goal but you need to be that little bit more instinctive to be PL level which I don't think he's ever been.
With Hayden and Ritchie yes they had their bad form but tell me a player who doesn't have a blip during the season.
Yep Gayle as I've said is championship level, he'll score the odd goal but you need to be that little bit more instinctive to be PL level which I don't think he's ever been.
I'll Hazard a guess
Re: 2020/21 Season Review
As always though that has to be caveated with "whilst never getting a proper run in the side and playing in front of horrifically uncreative players". I do think his time has passed now, but if he'd got a sensible run of games 2 or 3 seasons ago he might have been a reasonable option. Rafa wrote him off almost as quickly as he did Mitrovic.ALF wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 9:47 pmI don't disagree. 26 goals in 135 games in the Premier League isn't a good return at all.Remember Colo wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 9:12 pm
I'll go farther and say Gayle was never really good enough for the top level, but especially not now.
Re: 2020/21 Season Review
I think our defence improved without Clark though. He wasn't playing well.lassassinblanc wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 10:01 pmClark was more dropped due to an ankle/heel injury so I've heard via Ireland sources as to why he wasn't in national squad.
With Hayden and Ritchie yes they had their bad form but tell me a player who doesn't have a blip during the season.
Yep Gayle as I've said is championship level, he'll score the odd goal but you need to be that little bit more instinctive to be PL level which I don't think he's ever been.
I know nearly everyone has a blip in form but Ritchie really was terrible. Work rate (which is normally his fall back quality) just consisted of fouls in stupid areas. Hayden was more to do with being inexplicably played out of position. Summed up Bruce as a manager. Hayden hadn't done anything bad enough to be dropped so instead of bringing in somebody who could play an attacking role in midfield he just moved Hayden there.
If Gayle drops to the Championship I can't see him getting more than 15 goals again.
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
Gayle I think would be well into double figures in a championship team, Solanke just managed 15 this season for Bournemouth. Whilst Gayle clearly isn’t PL quality as others have said, he’d still be one of the best strikers in the championship IMO.
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
That's historically been the case, but he's getting older now and seems to have lost some of the athleticism that he used to leverage. Any Championship side looking to count on him for the production he was good for a couple seasons ago might be a bit disappointed.Bodacious Benny wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 7:42 amGayle I think would be well into double figures in a championship team, Solanke just managed 15 this season for Bournemouth. Whilst Gayle clearly isn’t PL quality as others have said, he’d still be one of the best strikers in the championship IMO.
Re: 2020/21 Season Review
I bet Chopra could still do a job though.
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
Not that Palace was ever a particularly creative side either, but he had several years of poor goalscoring (in league play) for them too. It's not really surprising his best returns for them were in the League Cup against lower level sides.Colly wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 10:03 pmAs always though that has to be caveated with "whilst never getting a proper run in the side and playing in front of horrifically uncreative players". I do think his time has passed now, but if he'd got a sensible run of games 2 or 3 seasons ago he might have been a reasonable option. Rafa wrote him off almost as quickly as he did Mitrovic.
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
That’s true but still only early thirties and more of a right place right time striker in the box as opposed to being a vardy type player always looking to run in behind. if he did move it would be to a top end Championship team so i'm sure he'd get ample opportunities.Remember Colo wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 4:05 pmThat's historically been the case, but he's getting older now and seems to have lost some of the athleticism that he used to leverage. Any Championship side looking to count on him for the production he was good for a couple seasons ago might be a bit disappointed.Bodacious Benny wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 7:42 amGayle I think would be well into double figures in a championship team, Solanke just managed 15 this season for Bournemouth. Whilst Gayle clearly isn’t PL quality as others have said, he’d still be one of the best strikers in the championship IMO.
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Re: 2020/21 Season Review
Again though he never got a full season, and his record wasn't that bad. I just don't think anyones particularly shown any faith in him. Not saying he'd be a worldbeater but a run in any side always helps, Bamford was written off enough times.Remember Colo wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 4:06 pmNot that Palace was ever a particularly creative side either, but he had several years of poor goalscoring (in league play) for them too. It's not really surprising his best returns for them were in the League Cup against lower level sides.Colly wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 10:03 pm
As always though that has to be caveated with "whilst never getting a proper run in the side and playing in front of horrifically uncreative players". I do think his time has passed now, but if he'd got a sensible run of games 2 or 3 seasons ago he might have been a reasonable option. Rafa wrote him off almost as quickly as he did Mitrovic.
Re: 2020/21 Season Review
This. You need to play to his strengths too to get the best out of him. He's 31 now and past his peak, I don't think he was ever good enough for the Prem but he did have his moments with Palace (he scored 7 in 23 in 13-14 season) & with us when he was paired with Perez towards the end of the 2017-2018 season he went on a good run but he's never been a double figure striker at this level and especially now were he's lost a yard of pace & his athleticism/acceleration has declined significantly. He's OK to have as back-up as 3rd / 4th choice. Pecking order (depending on formation) is Wilson, NEW ST (Armstrong/King/Rondon/etc), Joelinton & Gayle. But if we play the 3 at the back formation there's a lot of options like Miggy, ASM, Murphy & Fraser who can all play in the forward roles if needed.Bodacious Benny wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 4:28 pmThat’s true but still only early thirties and more of a right place right time striker in the box as opposed to being a vardy type player always looking to run in behind. if he did move it would be to a top end Championship team so i'm sure he'd get ample opportunities.Remember Colo wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 4:05 pm
That's historically been the case, but he's getting older now and seems to have lost some of the athleticism that he used to leverage. Any Championship side looking to count on him for the production he was good for a couple seasons ago might be a bit disappointed.
Maybe a swap deal with Toney would make sense if they don't get promoted? Or 10mil/15mil + Gayle.. but knowing Brentford they'll want someone younger & fresher with a resale value. Or swap deal with Armstrong at Blackburn? He'll still score 15+ in the Champs especially with a team like Brentford or Swansea who dominate possession & create a lot of chances.