Freeman is among the best in the entire squad at both passing and crossing. I don't think he was played in his optimum role when he was starting, having too many defensive duties.
More than anything, my concern is backup for GMac, who has not had his best season and I feel would benefit from some rest. Horgan and Kaikai were both candidates if we did want to rest him, but with them shipped out, Freeman has to be the best fallback option out wide.
I agree Freeman could play more centrally too, as long as he is the creative fulcrum rather than the grafter (we should be good on the latter now that both Scowen and Thompson are healthy anyway).
Good point, and I would certainly sign up for keeping Max that long. Wherever we all stand on the comparisons, I think most of us would agree we have gone from one stellar keeper to another!
Signing of a young goalkeeper is certainly one from left field. We already have three keepers , admittedly Dickinson and Blunkell not currently up to League standard. We have no specialist goalkeeper coach.We have left three attacking players go. Good luck to the young lad but I hope he’s not the” one or two we hope to bring in”. My feeling is due to our financial position, we are getting ‘ expensive’ players off our wage
Wow, I still have him in my mind as one of the younger players. Partly the way he covers ground, partly him being part of that golden generation that was coming through at the time Gareth became manager. Will be very impressive if he remains in charge long enough to see some of our players' careers both start and finish.
Got the impression he didn't leave on the best terms so unlikely to return but you never know, was a game changer in a few different positions at his best and has made zero impact over there.
As much as others might disagree, I wouldn’t want Fred back this time. We need a player who can play left back in a four and left wing back in a five - similar to Obita. Fred can’t do that. He also can’t stay fit consistently. Money better spent elsewhere in my opinion. Saw we were linked with Queen Park’s Charlie Fox (along with Fleetwood). That’s at least two left backs we’ve been linked with in the last six months. It’s fairly likely, therefore, that Gareth thinks JJ needs replacing at the end of the season.
Comments
Freeman is among the best in the entire squad at both passing and crossing. I don't think he was played in his optimum role when he was starting, having too many defensive duties.
More than anything, my concern is backup for GMac, who has not had his best season and I feel would benefit from some rest. Horgan and Kaikai were both candidates if we did want to rest him, but with them shipped out, Freeman has to be the best fallback option out wide.
I agree Freeman could play more centrally too, as long as he is the creative fulcrum rather than the grafter (we should be good on the latter now that both Scowen and Thompson are healthy anyway).
@Shev aye, but Stocko was an integral part of everything we did for thread seasons.
Good point, and I would certainly sign up for keeping Max that long. Wherever we all stand on the comparisons, I think most of us would agree we have gone from one stellar keeper to another!
You would have thought that they would use a clean shirt for photos??
The realisation that he's joined a failed club and looks like he's regretting his decision already!
Nice that they took it on a matchday with a typical home crowd behind him.
Decent clarification.
I see Fred made the bench for Luton on Saturday having had hamstring and groin issues this season.
He’s not played a full 90 all season and not scored for nearly a year.
Having let Kaikai and Horgan go could we see the return of Fred until the end of the season. He’s out of contract in June too.
Signing of a young goalkeeper is certainly one from left field. We already have three keepers , admittedly Dickinson and Blunkell not currently up to League standard. We have no specialist goalkeeper coach.We have left three attacking players go. Good luck to the young lad but I hope he’s not the” one or two we hope to bring in”. My feeling is due to our financial position, we are getting ‘ expensive’ players off our wage
Nobody who has left has been surprising to be honest. Yet.
I do slightly worry that today might be an interesting day.....
Dan Bentley left Bristol City yesterday and doubts over their other keeper - putting two and two together and possibly getting 47.26883.....
Wow, I still have him in my mind as one of the younger players. Partly the way he covers ground, partly him being part of that golden generation that was coming through at the time Gareth became manager. Will be very impressive if he remains in charge long enough to see some of our players' careers both start and finish.
Got the impression he didn't leave on the best terms so unlikely to return but you never know, was a game changer in a few different positions at his best and has made zero impact over there.
They are decent young lads but not ready for first team yet in my opinion. I think we would be kidding ourselves if we thought any differently.
TJ will be 23 in 6 weeks and Mellor 23 in September. Both are older than Anis. They've been signed on pro contracts. So they need to step up.
I have been impressed with TJ in his cameos, I think he can deliver and he will be key in the run in.
Not sure about Mellor, just not seen enough of him but would agree he doesn't look ready from what little we've seen.
If we don't sign anyone else this window, then the two of them are going to get chances to impress and I just hope they step up to the plate.
It does feel as though it's been far too long since we signed either Fred or Jason McCarthy
Fred left under a bit of a cloud, didn't he (unless the media team genuinely were 'busy cleaning the office'). Not sure that one 's likely to happen.
As much as others might disagree, I wouldn’t want Fred back this time. We need a player who can play left back in a four and left wing back in a five - similar to Obita. Fred can’t do that. He also can’t stay fit consistently. Money better spent elsewhere in my opinion. Saw we were linked with Queen Park’s Charlie Fox (along with Fleetwood). That’s at least two left backs we’ve been linked with in the last six months. It’s fairly likely, therefore, that Gareth thinks JJ needs replacing at the end of the season.
I would like to think that the new keeper will allow Dickinson to go out and get a good loan spell somewhere.
Charlie Fox - we are allowed to sign players who haven't played for us before... 😉
He's a CB first and foremost anyway
Or Keith Scott, for that matter.
Cleaning the office. Such a brilliant excuse for why someone can't do more than a 2 second "ahh yeah Fred has gone by the way" type text.
if Charlie Fox is the calibre of player we are after then we hVe kissed goodbye to playoff chances
Matty Lawrence
It’s a signing for the summer not now.
He’s out of contract in the summer and as he plays in Scotland we can get a pre contract agreement with him.
Have you seen him play recently?
D’Mani has joined Rochdale on loan for the rest of the season.
So he was it then? Wow he has been almost invisible for weeks I assumed he was injured.
Young next? To Hartlepool?
Good luck to Show Me - hope he does well
This is becoming quite the clear out. Let’s hope we have one or two coming in.