The original poster is likely right but if anyone leaves we'll hopefully want to replace and if we strengthen at all others might want to leave, can see JMac and Butcher wanting loan moves if they don't see more of the pitch. Then there's new prospects and loan renewals or changes, probably enough to keep someone busy
I agree McCarthy and Butcher need to go out on loan and possibly Lubala as well if we are confident Hanlan is fully fit. If Bishop is fit by the end of the year and we want to keep him then George would need to go out on loan as well?
I was suggesting this on the basis that there will be 2 or 3 signings. Lubala already has Kone, Udoh, Hanlan, McCleary and Fred ahead of him plus potentially Vokes if and when fit.
Quite so, it's the strength of the players who haven't had so many minutes that keeps those in the team at their best.
Just watched MB's interview from yesterday and he specifically mentions the "generous" squad that he has at his disposal and makes the point that progress in the BSM and FA Cup are vital to give those players minutes so they are ready to step up for Lg1 action when needed.
Also watching Franco's interview it's very clear that the ethos of "the team" runs deep. I can't imagine Lubala & Butcher being in a hurry to be loaned to a Lg2 team (we wouldn't loan to a Lg1 team IMHO) just for minutes when, I suspect, they are very much a part of what might be something special at WWFC this year.
I’d be surprised if McCarthy goes out on loan - think a permanent seems more likely? I don’t see any world where he becomes a squad player again, 4th choice RB at the moment? Hope he gets a move that works because he’s a cracking bloke
Unfortunately McCarthy has slipped down the food chain and I cannot see him getting many minutes even in the cup games. Think he needs to go out on loan and start finding somewhere for next season. Cannot see him being retained.
We knew that ML was serious about a data driven academy, it was near enough the first thing we learnt. I know little about how these things work but it seems to be that progress on reconstituting the academy has happened remarkably quickly and we will have an U18 team next season. The top layer have been open with the very up front about plan - the way for the club to be self sustaining is to have a really good academy and they see that means leaning into using data more than any other Academy. Club culture is the other thing that they say they deliberately chose. I think this is important as it is one thing money finds difficult to manufacture: I am sure each one of us can think of examples where money has destroyed it.
The primacy of an Academy as both the wellhead of club culture and the well spring of finance does put a very different complexion on the job of Head of Recruitment, but I don't think it changes the job of 1st team manager at all. ML, DR and SR have said they chose the club at least because of its culture and Matt is in fact Mr Wycombe. The club has in its bones the idea that a long serving manager is an asset not to be discarded lightly.
Biggest concerns on the horizon are being professional - team and fans - against Wealdstone and then doing the best we can - team and fans - at Lincoln. Putting six past Crawley would be a bonus.
That's enough caraway philosophy from me - I deem myself a nutmeg to have tarragon on about it.
I would select a FIT Hanlan over Lubala as I think he is a more difficult player for defenders. However Kone, Fred and Udoh would be my front three. Sorry for having a different opinion to you!
Lubala ahead of Hanlan every day of the week for me.
Hanlan can be phenomenal and is a tricky customer out on the wing but he can also be frustratingly inconsistent. He’s not a target man and struggles when leading the line on his own.
Lubala has looked more of a complete attacker when I’ve seen him this season.
We've not seen what Hanlan can do in THIS current team, two brief appearances so far from the bench after a year out. It's far too early to tell who is more likely to grab a goal in the long term.
Clearly Lubala has the edge for now but I'm just excited to get another striker into the rotation - and we still have Vokes and Sadlier to come back.
Plenty of opportunity at the moment to do rotation with our six current teams, CheckaPizza Competition Starters, CheckaPizza Finishers, FA Cup Starters, FA Cup Finishers, the League One Starters and last but not least, the League One Finishers. Long may it continue!
Fully agree with this. The only reason people will be leaving is if MB is told he has to make budget cuts, otherwise why would he want to change a winning squad. I doubt if finances are a problem, others we wouldn’t have anything like the squad we currently have. Certain players may decide they need more game time of course, in which case MB probably won’t stand in their way.
I'm thrilled to see Hanlan back. No player deserves to go through what he has been through mentally or physically. But we are being quite generous in thinking he will challenge any of the 4 strikers ahead of him. He has shown flashes of inspiration (Bristol Rovers & Ipswich for example) but he was largely lacking in terms of goals and assists. Maybe this formation will give him something else but if it is the same Brandon I don't think he will get ahead of Kone, Udoh, Bez, Gideon or Vokes.
Lubala and Butcher are absolutely key members of the squad. There is no way we will let either go and it is utter madness to think we will. With cup games and the winter schedule, rotation is going to be key if we are to mount a promotion challenge. The difference with this season to last season (and most other seasons) is that if a player is injured, we don't even notice. We have like for like replacements all over the pitch. The only position i feel we don't have that is left back.
If we are to let anybody go on loan, I would only allow:
George
McCarthy
Hartridge
and that's only if we keep all of our loan players.
While we could probably name 9/10 "first choice" starters each week, we could also interchange another 10-12 players from the squad in without much impact.
Left back is probably the one position that's hard to say the same for, although Hatridge did have a solid game there, and for me i'd prefer him there then central.
Will see what the back 4 is on Tuesday, very possibly Hartridge Taf Skura Pattenden?
Comments
Whether we need players or not in January probably depends on where the likes of Morley, Taylor and Humphreys are by February 1st.
We have two available slots for senior players and we could lose any one of the five loan players we have.
I suspect we will bring in at least 3-4 new faces if not more.
The original poster is likely right but if anyone leaves we'll hopefully want to replace and if we strengthen at all others might want to leave, can see JMac and Butcher wanting loan moves if they don't see more of the pitch. Then there's new prospects and loan renewals or changes, probably enough to keep someone busy
I expect us to strengthen in January.
I agree McCarthy and Butcher need to go out on loan and possibly Lubala as well if we are confident Hanlan is fully fit. If Bishop is fit by the end of the year and we want to keep him then George would need to go out on loan as well?
I doubt Butcher and Lubala will be going anywhere. Both key figures in Wycombe’s 18.
Sorry, but no way Hanlan starts over Lubala for me. I wouldn't let Butcher go either
I was suggesting this on the basis that there will be 2 or 3 signings. Lubala already has Kone, Udoh, Hanlan, McCleary and Fred ahead of him plus potentially Vokes if and when fit.
Quite so, it's the strength of the players who haven't had so many minutes that keeps those in the team at their best.
Just watched MB's interview from yesterday and he specifically mentions the "generous" squad that he has at his disposal and makes the point that progress in the BSM and FA Cup are vital to give those players minutes so they are ready to step up for Lg1 action when needed.
Also watching Franco's interview it's very clear that the ethos of "the team" runs deep. I can't imagine Lubala & Butcher being in a hurry to be loaned to a Lg2 team (we wouldn't loan to a Lg1 team IMHO) just for minutes when, I suspect, they are very much a part of what might be something special at WWFC this year.
Butcher and Lubala are both crucial members of our squad. Utter madness to even countenance the idea of sending them out on loan
What makes you assert that Hanlan is ahead of Lubala?
Lubala came on before Hanlan yesterday for one thing.
McCarthy very likely needs a loan though. Getting 10mins in the cup rotation games.
The only senior player heading out on loan is surely likely to be McCarthy. The others are too pivotal for us
I’d be surprised if McCarthy goes out on loan - think a permanent seems more likely? I don’t see any world where he becomes a squad player again, 4th choice RB at the moment? Hope he gets a move that works because he’s a cracking bloke
Unfortunately McCarthy has slipped down the food chain and I cannot see him getting many minutes even in the cup games. Think he needs to go out on loan and start finding somewhere for next season. Cannot see him being retained.
We knew that ML was serious about a data driven academy, it was near enough the first thing we learnt. I know little about how these things work but it seems to be that progress on reconstituting the academy has happened remarkably quickly and we will have an U18 team next season. The top layer have been open with the very up front about plan - the way for the club to be self sustaining is to have a really good academy and they see that means leaning into using data more than any other Academy. Club culture is the other thing that they say they deliberately chose. I think this is important as it is one thing money finds difficult to manufacture: I am sure each one of us can think of examples where money has destroyed it.
The primacy of an Academy as both the wellhead of club culture and the well spring of finance does put a very different complexion on the job of Head of Recruitment, but I don't think it changes the job of 1st team manager at all. ML, DR and SR have said they chose the club at least because of its culture and Matt is in fact Mr Wycombe. The club has in its bones the idea that a long serving manager is an asset not to be discarded lightly.
Biggest concerns on the horizon are being professional - team and fans - against Wealdstone and then doing the best we can - team and fans - at Lincoln. Putting six past Crawley would be a bonus.
That's enough caraway philosophy from me - I deem myself a nutmeg to have tarragon on about it.
..
I would select a FIT Hanlan over Lubala as I think he is a more difficult player for defenders. However Kone, Fred and Udoh would be my front three. Sorry for having a different opinion to you!
POTW
Lubala looks far more dangerous and likely to grab a goal than Hanlan ever has done as long as he's been here. Just my opinion.
Mine too. Lubala would be a serious contender in my best XI.
Lubala ahead of Hanlan every day of the week for me.
Hanlan can be phenomenal and is a tricky customer out on the wing but he can also be frustratingly inconsistent. He’s not a target man and struggles when leading the line on his own.
Lubala has looked more of a complete attacker when I’ve seen him this season.
100% agree , don't think Lubala is direct enough
Opinions are fine but you seemed to be asserting it as fact. When it's very much to be seen with Hanlan only 2 cameos back after a long injury.
I'd probably see Hanlan best on the left but Bloomfield has tended to use him on the right, although central as sub on Sat.
There's also Sadlier to fit in somewhere too.
Interested in other options but I'd definitely agree with you and @Midlander .
I think Hanlan has it all to do to get regular outings and not become the McCarthy of the front positions.
We've not seen what Hanlan can do in THIS current team, two brief appearances so far from the bench after a year out. It's far too early to tell who is more likely to grab a goal in the long term.
Clearly Lubala has the edge for now but I'm just excited to get another striker into the rotation - and we still have Vokes and Sadlier to come back.
Plenty of opportunity at the moment to do rotation with our six current teams, CheckaPizza Competition Starters, CheckaPizza Finishers, FA Cup Starters, FA Cup Finishers, the League One Starters and last but not least, the League One Finishers. Long may it continue!
Fully agree with this. The only reason people will be leaving is if MB is told he has to make budget cuts, otherwise why would he want to change a winning squad. I doubt if finances are a problem, others we wouldn’t have anything like the squad we currently have. Certain players may decide they need more game time of course, in which case MB probably won’t stand in their way.
I'm thrilled to see Hanlan back. No player deserves to go through what he has been through mentally or physically. But we are being quite generous in thinking he will challenge any of the 4 strikers ahead of him. He has shown flashes of inspiration (Bristol Rovers & Ipswich for example) but he was largely lacking in terms of goals and assists. Maybe this formation will give him something else but if it is the same Brandon I don't think he will get ahead of Kone, Udoh, Bez, Gideon or Vokes.
Sorry
And McCleary
Lubala and Butcher are absolutely key members of the squad. There is no way we will let either go and it is utter madness to think we will. With cup games and the winter schedule, rotation is going to be key if we are to mount a promotion challenge. The difference with this season to last season (and most other seasons) is that if a player is injured, we don't even notice. We have like for like replacements all over the pitch. The only position i feel we don't have that is left back.
If we are to let anybody go on loan, I would only allow:
and that's only if we keep all of our loan players.
Very much agree.
While we could probably name 9/10 "first choice" starters each week, we could also interchange another 10-12 players from the squad in without much impact.
Left back is probably the one position that's hard to say the same for, although Hatridge did have a solid game there, and for me i'd prefer him there then central.
Will see what the back 4 is on Tuesday, very possibly Hartridge Taf Skura Pattenden?