M
MearnsUnionist
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RB CB AM W ST
5 for me (assuming Morelos will be going)
I take it you are assuming Tav is leaving if you are signing a RB mate?
RB CB AM W ST
5 for me (assuming Morelos will be going)
That’s what I voted for those 5 positionsRB, CB, LB, RW, CM, ST.
Get rid of Tav, Goldson, Polster, Kamara, Jones, Barker, Stewart.
I take it you are assuming Tav is leaving if you are signing a RB mate?
Five starters minimum. Too many in this squad are masters of failure and will never win anything of note.
Every single midfielder needs upgraded. That’s where I’d be looking as a matter of urgency.
Nobody could question James Tavernier is a good footballer. The concern is his mental state after 5 years of kickings.
Defending Tavernier is probably the thing I've spent the most time doing while I've posted on FF. As recently as his mistake against YB this season.
However, it feels like now is a good time for him to move on. He's 28 and it's one of the last times we'll get good money for him.
I think the team would benefit from a new voice as captain.
Tavernier has just been at the centre of too many failure stories.
The team as whole can 'get up' for the Celtic game but across a season they lack consistency and the goal return from midfield is not title winning stuff.We both know that won't be happening mate.
Our midfield has totally dominated Celtic's midfield in 4 out of the last 6 meetings and in one of the other 2, they more than held their own when it was 10 v 11 at the piggery.
What we need is more depth of a similar quality in the midfield so we can shift the load a bit.
Davis and Jack, in particular played too many high intensity games and didn't get the required recovery time needed.
The team as whole can 'get up' for the Celtic game but across a season they lack consistency and the goal return from midfield is not title winning stuff.
It's about doing it over a season though and winning a title.We were the top scoring team in the league before the new year break uncle.
Scoring goals wasn't a problem up until then.
However, I would hope the proposed signing of Hagi would mean more goals coming from outside Defoe or Morelos.
It's about doing it over a season though and winning a title.
Being able to perform in fits and starts is no use to us.
This team has had a ton of criticism but how they've performed in OF games is not one of them. I don't think anyone is unhappy about those performances.
What about now?Then, 11.
Kent got 7 in the league, Arfield 5, Aribo 3.We need an attacking midfielder who can regularly score against the dross we fail to put away
For purposes of comparison: Forest, Christie and McGregor got 30 between them.Kent got 7 in the league, Arfield 5, Aribo 3.
Stewart got 3. Hagi, Barker and Ojo 1 each.
Jack got 4 but plays deeper.
21 goals from our 7 attacking midfielders, it needs to be double that to win the league for me.
Fair play to you to keep backing Tav, I think we need to move him on now. Get some money back for him but more importantly get a new Captain who doesn’t think, feel or say we can’t handle the pressure or the like, without upsetting the camp with a deposed Captain in the ranks.Tavernier is comfortably the best right back in our league, so imo there are other areas of the team that are more of a priority.
Obviously how many players we need depends on how many leave.
Middle to front is where I'd like to see improvements.
A defence of Tav, Goldson, Helander and Barisic has already proved itself to be very solid, including in games against Celtic and top European sides.
Our inability to break down deep lying defensive teams in certain games, was a big issue for us.
A back up LB, a 3rd striker, Hagi, or some other creative spark behind the striker, are priority for me.
Fair play to you to keep backing Tav, I think we need to move him on now. Get some money back for him but more importantly get a new Captain who doesn’t think, feel or say we can’t handle the pressure or the like, without upsetting the camp with a deposed Captain in the ranks.
Tav as Captain does not win us a league in my humble opinion, sometimes a fresh start is required and now is that time!
The thing is I don’t see Gerrard taking the captaincy off him while he is still at the club and I think it’s crucial that we have a new driven no nonsense Captain in the shape of Gerrard himself, who can when required single handedly drag the team with him.I'm only defending Tav because he is way superior to any right back in our league, so in that sense it's not an area we need to strengthen as a priority.
However, if Gerrard wants to move him on, then as long as we recruit someone of a higher quality, then I'll be absolutely fine with that.
As for him as a captain, well I don't see him as a natural leader, but then, apart from possibly Goldson, who is, in the current squad?
What I will say about Tav is, he never hides and always tries to lead by example, particularly over the past couple of seasons against the mentally challengeds, when he's been outstanding.
We were the top scoring team in the league before the new year break uncle.
Scoring goals wasn't a problem up until then.
However, I would hope the proposed signing of Hagi would mean more goals coming from outside Defoe or Morelos.
I disagree - we still have the best goalkeeper and left back in Scotland. I’m more than happy with our four centre half’s, Ryan Jack is a guaranteed starter every week and Alfie when his head is in the right place is the best forward. CM I agree on - possibly a new RB but wouldn’t be a priority for me.Although progression has been made year on year I don’t think there is any in the first 11 that we would be majorly disappointed if they were replaced. Which is a depressing thought consider the money that’s been spent over the past few years.
For me we still need RB, CB, CM, Hagi, CF and RCF.
I would echo exactly what you’ve said, we need adequate replacement for Davis full back cover and striker alternative for when alfie is injured or suspended. The core is there, just need some strong back up who can fight for places.Not as many as people think. We need quantify over quality. A younger version of Davis to run the midfield and Hagi and that’s it for me for a first 11. After that we need a backup for Alfie (assuming he stays) and a backup for Barisic. If we get those four and keep who we have I’ll be pretty happy with the squad. Remembering every team around is will be weaker, we just need to stand still to be better than them next season!
A season lasts beyond New Year. I don't really care for 5/6 months of stats. In the last two seasons we've been rotten second half of the season - the business end.