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Post by harr on Aug 22, 2022 14:06:48 GMT
3-0 up so far
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Post by harr on Aug 22, 2022 11:44:56 GMT
M Beale on Talksport saying he communicates regularly with Stevie G and he is getting somewhere in terms of a player off them ? Could be interesting but no idea who we would be after.
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Post by harr on Aug 22, 2022 11:36:21 GMT
Sarr deal collapsed allegedly because Watford wanted Archer on loan as part of the deal.
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Post by harr on Aug 22, 2022 9:11:30 GMT
This certainly was not a good result at home against mediocre opposition. Despite dominating play it seems we had trouble hitting the proverbial barn door....No surprise to me considering the poor standard of Championship strikers we currently have on our books. By the way we did have Austin and Gray at the club but they were let go I think Gray would have been the better option to keep, sadly out of our price bracket for this year. Going back to Nomars question about a new forward being better than what we have, on Dykes current form which is something like 2 goals in 16-18 games, I would hope to think we could improve on that. He does average 12 a season but on his current form and confidence levels it may take him to get 2025 to get his next 12. Still the only good thing is, this has all come about after 5 games, the owners and Ferdinand can see the issue, now they have to carefully address it in the next week or so.
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Post by harr on Aug 21, 2022 13:36:21 GMT
The stats were only to show how our strikers have been scoring goals at goals per game ratio, that’s all.
We could have had 5 points we could have had 7. If Senny doesn’t score we could have had 4. It’s not about could it’s about what we have have got and what we deserve, we can’t finish so we deserve to be where we are. Everything pans out even over a season, injuries, penalty decisions, red cards but you HAVE to take your chances. Since Boro we have not done that, played well in three games in patches but struggled to score.
Fact is we have 5 points, I think it’s the joint third or fourth worst start in the last 10-12 years we have recently been in the Championship. I think the average start someone posted over the last 10-12 years is between 7-8 points so not far adrift. We have a new Manager though and new players, I don’t think we had the best pre season, but he needs more time and he needs the owners to sort a Striker now.
I understand about shipping out two many players and we might well have to stick with Shodipo and Niko but honestly if we are trying to improve the squad these two should really of gone a year ago. Shodipo has never ever had any end product and Niko is error strewn. sorry it’s so harsh but that’s just the way I feel, they would be good League One players but not Championship.
Let’s not start tinkering changing formations two much , let’s get a win behind us first.
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Post by harr on Aug 21, 2022 11:33:24 GMT
My input would be Dykes is currently averaging 12 goals a season since we bought him. That’s not the end of world if he is consistent. However 2 goals in his last 16 is like 6 a season.? If we could get someone to score around 15 a season that would be fantastic , one every three games minimum. Anything else would be a bonus. It’s very difficult to goalscorers that get 20-25 a season on our budget. Grabban, Wells , they would fall into the 15 a season type players. I’m not sure what Premiership youngsters would get you goals, Archer at Villa is talked about , any others ? Good points. Even if we had a 20 goal a season striker are we saying we are happy to be dependent on that one person for our goals. It would certainly help if we had the likes of a first time round Charlie Austin but what if he was injured suspended or losses form. I think the real answer is similar to when we had Eze Wells and Hugill and the goals were shared around. We have defenders such as Dickie who can score with head and feet, midfielders such as Willock, Chair Amos and Richards who can all score plus the actual strikers. So if we can get 4 or 5 players scoring 10 to 15 goals each, sharing the load we will be doing ok and relieving the pressure on one man. How much of Dykes loss of confidence is due to the pressure of too much expectation on his shoulders? One good strike could turn his season around. Willock can certainly reach that sort of total if fit for the season, Chair should make it as well. With our financial constraints the answer will probably rest in it being a team game with everyone contributing at both ends. Seny has set the example already Yes exactly, like last year when we had 3 strikers each getting say 10,11 or 12 If we play with our main Striker yet to buy and he gets you 15, if Dykes and Sinclair can get another 15 between them as sub appearances or the odd start, then the midfielders will make up the balance. You are right, we score goals from defence also. As much as our start is poor, we only need the three injured players back asap ( 4 inc Thomas) and with a decent forward we suddenly have a whole new dynamic. I think at the same stage last season we had 7 points not 5 so we can turn things around but it has to be said a single home point off Blackpool and Rotherham was pathetic. I was hoping for minimum 7 points by this stage. The Club need to sort it this week or before we play Hull at home.
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Post by harr on Aug 21, 2022 8:47:41 GMT
My input would be Dykes is currently averaging 12 goals a season since we bought him. That’s not the end of world if he is consistent. However 2 goals in his last 16 is like 6 a season.?
If we could get someone to score around 15 a season that would be fantastic , one every three games minimum. Anything else would be a bonus. It’s very difficult to goalscorers that get 20-25 a season on our budget.
Grabban, Wells , they would fall into the 15 a season type players. I’m not sure what Premiership youngsters would get you goals, Archer at Villa is talked about , any others ?
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 23:41:24 GMT
I agree. Unless MB can get a better option loan, I think someone like Grabban would be a good fit for 12 months. I guess there will be other Championship clubs that have started badly that will also be eyeing him as a potential option. I’m sure I read a week ago that Gerrard wanted Cameron Archer in his squad this year ? I presume that’s still the case after buying a 24 Million Watford forward Sarr tonight. But then will Watford go for someone like Grabban? Will Archer be loaned to Watford for a year as part of deal? All will be revealed in the next 10 days. A bonus if Sarr in not playing against us I suppose?
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 21:03:15 GMT
owners might realise if they don’t do something we could be scrapping at the wrong end of the table as we spurn chances for fun. If we really are right up against the FFP threshold as both Hoos and Beale have said recently, there is little the owners / board can do. That is why i think they will let one of our assets go (possibly on the cheap) - - more outcry! Something must have changed financially, because we did not want loans - only players with an option to buy, Beale thought he had players lined up, we bid for MacNamara but now we are broke apparently. Beale said this week that 'It was not quite what it said in the brochure'. So the only options to me are: 1) Something has changes / or we misled Beale 2) We are being readied for the sale of one of our players to facilitate incomings 3) We are not currently being told the truth. I do not think that the owners (or Hoos) will chance breaching FFP, so that is why I think that it is number two above, or otherwise we have to go with what we have got. If Bonne goes, at best that will generate small funds for a loan or a lower league player. To change the depth of the squad, we have to sell one of the jewels in the crown. I understand we have used up all the coffers over the last 2-3 year of this ffp instalment. Whay about Bonne monies being used to pay the wages of a forward if the player is free. I guess even the wages would be 500k plus ? I suppose Chair could be going then?
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 20:15:11 GMT
Dykes 2 goals in last 16 matches really means should not be leading the line. Trouble is the club have decided not to address this yet and with Bonne not wanting to play for us or on the verge of being sold for a fraction we paid for him , what Alternatives do we have. After the last 5 games , owners might realise if they don’t do something we could be scrapping at the wrong end of the table as we spurn chances for fun. We also need those other 4 players back asap from injury as having Shodipo and Niko on the bench means the bench is weak. If you were an opposing team at 1-1 and see Willock go off and Shidipo come on your are loving life.
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 19:22:43 GMT
Ferdinand said Kelman was the best finisher at QPR on the pod. Don’t say much for Bonne that he paid 1,5 Milion for then or Dykes.. ……
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 18:54:50 GMT
League Goal scoring records, average to score goal.
Bonne has 3 goals in 37, 8% Dykes has 22 league goals in 79, 27% Wells got 20 in 66 , 30% Gray got 10 from 28 and lots of those were subs. 35% Austin 13 in 55 second spell, 23% Austin first spell 45 in 84. 53% Austin overall 41% Grabban 54 in 144 at last club Forest 37%
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 18:38:05 GMT
I’m not sure. Grabban is free, we need an experienced Striker to lead the line. not sure what wages he would request at 34. I would rather an experienced Gray, Austin, Grabban, Wells type come in than a 19 year old kid from the Premiership. We need some experience up front. To be honest they have been saying something could happen for weeks, the McNamara debacle went on for a month and whatever you say it appears our first offer was insulting and that was confirmed by WLS. However the Man Utd youngster looks decent, the only annoying thing there no option to buy.
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 18:24:22 GMT
Watford 2 QPR 3
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 18:23:38 GMT
Why has it gone so wrong since January after such a good 2021. Imo, our team misses a true leader, dearly. We need someone who has some Balls (sic) to shout to anyone on field for too complanency, no matter a starplayer or not and can perform as an example to others. We give too easy goals and our midfield can be ruined quite easily. I tend to think that when we are able to keep clean sheet, it will also help our forwards.
Well, Dykes have been very poor with his finishing. But how much have Chair been doing? Have he performed virtually at all?
That’s why nobody has come in for Chair for big money else he would have been gone. Brilliant one game non existent the next. He rarely has a spell of 3-4 continuous games. Arent Johansen and Field our two leaders though? Sadly unable to have a good run of keeping clean sheets since Warnock left us, that’s a fact. Some say the football weren’t that great, however, he kept us up and then got us promoted by keeping clean sheets consistently. The Manager needs a Striker , the owners don’t seem to know what they want, who knows if they will back him. Dykes,Sinclair and Bonne at the minute is a strike force probably in the bottom 5-6 of the Division. Unless we get someone fresh, that’s quite possible where we might end up.
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 17:20:45 GMT
That’s also now 5 wins since the end of January after we beat Reading 4-0. 23 matches , 5 wins and 20 points , equal to 40 points in a season, realise new manger but still going at less than a point a game since start of Feb. Why has it gone so wrong since January after such a good 2021.
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 16:46:38 GMT
What options have we for a Striker? Surely Beale has contacts for a loan striker as he supposedly knows them all? Grabban is currently a free agent , not sure what his wage demands would be but has scored goals wherever he went. Wells return probably out of our pay structure. We definitely need someone in the next 10 days, if we lose at Watford , 5 points from 18 would put huge pressure on Hill game if still no forward in. Dykes confidence is shot, think that’s clear, he has never been prolific but now looks like a Washington, tries his best but no end product.
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 16:07:32 GMT
Dreadful result. As Nomar says a point at home against two of the teams that will be near the bottom, very sad. Apart from Willock and occasionally Chair nobody else can finish, shameful. We are a team of shocking finishing, week after week we have so many chances it is a joke.
Dykes needs to be sold with Bonne , while they are at it send Shodipo to league 1 where he should of gone years ago.
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 15:32:25 GMT
Sinclair on finally ….
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Post by harr on Aug 20, 2022 14:51:05 GMT
Willock who else. Please replace Dykes after 10-15 mins of second half, give the kid more time. Hopefully we are going to get rid of Bonne and get a new striker, looks like he doesn’t want to play and wants to be at Ipswich.
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Post by harr on Aug 19, 2022 18:42:35 GMT
Dykes,Kelman and Bonne for 4.5 million, shocking bit of business as current things stand. As of today looking at about 1-2 Million return for the three. Charlton fans think the amount they got for Bonne was laughable.
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Post by harr on Aug 19, 2022 14:46:25 GMT
Wealth and Club Ownership It is often said that players move on, managers move on (even quicker) and even owners move on, but supporters stay for ever and are the real owners of the soul of the club. However, it is the corporate owners determine the destiny of the club. For a long time, the corporate owning of a football club has been about personal wealth and especially ego. Many start out as vanity projects, or just fulfilling a childhood dream, but so many tenures end in tears though. Successful businessmen lose all their business acumen when put in charge of a football club (see Chris Wright and QPR). In more recent times, other motives (e.g. money laundering) can confuse objectives. There are some owners who have little conscience and asset strip and destroy community clubs – I don’t think they necessarily set out to do so, but when the drain on their cash becomes painful, they take what they can and scram. It is for that reason that we have the FFP restrictions, restricting the risk and debt that a club can incur. We do not know how many prospective owners fail the fit and proper test before acquiring clubs, but we have a lot of dodgy owners or dodgy objectives still in our 92 clubs. I have worked for very wealthy corporate owners. They can be a different breed. When I have returned a good set of financials, they could often celebrate with another Ferrari, race horse or speed boat. When there is a financial downturn (for whatever reason) they can take it as a personal insult. No matter how much money they hold, they do not want to even consider losing any, the knee jerk is often to sack the CEO – I saw that happen to several competent colleagues. But it is that mentality that has led to the ‘sack the manager mentality’ that is fully embraced by the fan base now. – ‘We are losing, he has to go’ (see Flavio Briatore & Bernie Ecclestone at QPR). Surprisingly, it is rarely the CEO or DofF who has to fall on his sword, but with a results-driven business and the strength of social media, the manager must pay. In my view, that is often unfair. Some owners see an opportunity to develop a club using their acquisition and mergers skills (see Jim Gregory and David Bulstrode at QPR). The notion of merging clubs has never worked and is sure to produce a hostile reaction from the fans (the keepers of the conscience) but that hasn’t stopped many trying. We have nearly merged with brentford, Fulham and Wimbledon in my time. Other owners believe that the answer lies in the land, build a leisure centre, a supermarket or the ultimate dream….housing. At the end of the project, they still have a club needing cash, and often planni8ng permission has left a very different outcome. So what you may well ask! Well think about our current owners. We have some of the most independently wealthy club owners around. They can afford to keep the club afloat to the tune of £1.5m a month if they want to. With Fernandes, we were something of a vanity project, he is all about ego, being popular, even idolized (see his book for details). He thought that he could buy success and tried very hard to do so. But just like Chris Wright, he had no idea how to run a football club. He made footballing decisions, listened to social media and all his business sense deserted him, leaving a total mess. He trusted in Philip Beard, there was no Director of Football conduit to the playing side, he recruited very badly and listened to the wrong people (especially agents). He was totally seduced by it all. Our owners are used to getting their own way. They are used to throwing cash at a problem but expect results in return or to sack the culprit who messed up. They are not used to being told ‘no’ or ‘you cannot do that’ or ‘you cannot spend your money how you wish’. In many ways it is incredible to step back and think how badly QPR was punished for spending the owner’s own money, albeit badly. In the real world, losing excessive money is pain enough. In football, you are told that you are not allowed to do it again – even if you have substantial proof of funds. I can only image the frustration that Gnanalngam must now be feeling. Asked to stump up £18m a year to keep his club in the second tier albeit with a bottom six budget. In many ways it is truly amazing that he and our other owners are still around. He is faced with the decision to walk away or invest within the rules -those rules being stringent. Unusually, he seems to have a conscience and so has not walked away. One of the few things he can reasonably invest in is land (training ground and new stadium) but even then, the return can only be small or long term. Hammersmith and Fulham do not want our corporate owners to benefit financially from any stadium move, although I suspect that the opportunity at least keeps them interested. Watching Nottingham Forest spend more than £150m on new players shows the ridiculous situation that football has got itself into. Win promotion and bet the farm to stay up. If Forest fail to do so, then ten years of recovery will confront them for their failure. I am not saying what Forest have done is the only way (see Brentford) but the financial structure that FFP has forced upon clubs is actually making some clubs take ridiculous risks to achieve success. When it does not happen the answer is to first sack the manager, then try to avoid financial meltdown. Last season we went for it. We failed. Warburton failed in the eyes of our owners. Ruben Gnanalngam was more vocal about Warburton’s parting then at any time or issue before. It was made clear that the the severance was the owners’ decision. But in defence of our owners, last season they were asked to dip into their pockets, to go for it, to run close to the limits and when we were in with a chance at Christmas, of course they went for it. Come March and the reality of starting again next season was there for all to see. I can not think of an owner that I have worked for who would have been prepared to do the same again for another season – hoping for a different outcome. Asking Warburton to press the re-set button again, give it another go, on a smaller squad with no money….well would you with your money? So, the option was to find a new strategy. A young manager, the new training ground, invest in youth, a more joined up approach with the academy coaches. The CEO would have had to deliver an alternative to last season to keep the owners engaged. For how long remains to be seen, but this is not just treading water, the future of our club depends on it. We will never get such benevolent owners again. I think they would love to be able to buy success for the club, to succeed, but the daft rules (that could easily be qualified) do not allow them to do what they enjoy most – spending money. If we are frustrated, imagine how frustrating it must be for our owners with little prospect of recouping their investment or to even reach break even. I fear for the future and for clubs like ours So, when as supporters we get frustrated and the calls go out for another striker, for the board to spend money, to forget the rules and go for it, perhaps sometimes we need to consider the poor sod writing the cheques every month – if only because he can always walk away, and if he did, 3rd Division South awaits us (where I came in), or even worse. Oh for some common sense regarding the FFP sustainability rules though – it could change our world. All comments welcome! Last year we went for it, ok. I’m not sure what we had left in the pot in January but that was the time to bolster things up for the rest of the season. We didn’t do anything, another addition up front may have helped, who knows but seeing where we were last January, I think they missed a trick last Jan. Again we are still having problems finding someone to score goals as a forward. Our team scores goals from various parts of the team but the forwards from last January until now have let us down. In my opinion we kept the worst of the three, Gray was used as sub mainly and scored as many as Dykes and Austin. I wish we kept Gray, sold Dykes and tried to get someone else with his funds. Not just because of the sitter he missed Saturday but since August 2021 how many minutes has he played against goals scored, would love to see the figures and might even tot them up myself if bored.
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Post by harr on Aug 18, 2022 22:59:19 GMT
Trouble is defence will only be good when we can score goals at the other end. At the minute without Willock and Amos we look devoid of goals. Dykes has to be dropped now. Wonder who comes out top this week Dykes or Washington ?
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Post by harr on Aug 17, 2022 7:59:57 GMT
I thought Beale was very honest in his pre match and post match interviews. But it was a typical Championship game. Once Blackpool scored first they were going to defend deep and rely on a break for the second - and could have got it at the end. But if anyone thought the new coach was going to transform us into a top team overnight, then they would be mistaken. We are very much a work in progress. My main concern is the depth of the squad. Dozzell, Field and Johansen did not individually have poor games, but collectively they lack flair, especially in games where the opposition are defending a lead. When Armstrong came on, it showed (again) what we are lacking, but he is a raw talent. He could have scored three, but he probably needs that first goal to get some composure. But he is ours and a real hope for the future. We had so much possession, but we have to discover how to convert that into goal threats. As I said above, we are poor in the final third. Bonne was not even on the bench tonight. I wonder if he is ofski? I think it is time we stop talking about managers and as Ricky points out look at the squad. Over the previous 3 seasons we built a team capable of the play-offs and at times hoping for promotion. Then we hit a bad run at the end of last season and as usual the manager carried the can and got the chop. However in reality that bad run just happened to coincide with long term injuries to Willock and Amos, plus other squad members, Dykes and Austin out of form and Gray absent for periods but at least when he played he popped in enough goals to be our top scorer. The truth was with a full team in form we were good but with a very thin squad losing a couple of key players turned us into relegation form. Fast Forward to now and we have started just as badly if not worse than the end of last season. 30 adrenaline filled minutes against Boro, (with Willock at the centre of things) a lucky point at Sunderland and nothing else. Willock and Amos are missing, Dykes has lost the plot completely and no confidence, the injured squad players have been released and 2 of our 4 signings are out injured. Taylor is just reaching match fitness and Armstrong is new and trying to adjust to the Championship. So in terms of available players we are no better off than the end of last season, key players are missing, confidence must be low and probably desperation is not helping in front of goal. So was it Warburton's fault ? You can only work with what you have. Is it Beales fault? - likewise but if it continues be sure people will be calling for yet more change. Managers can only do so much, when the players are on the pitch it is up to them to deliver what they have been trained and paid to do. But they can only play within their ability - some are not doing that at the moment and probably need better players around them to be able to step up. Facts of life - we are financially constrained , have a very thin squad and nothing will change that for the foreseeable future. Lose Dieng Chair and Willock and we have a League One squad. Change managers as much as you want but it is the playing squad that is the bottom line. For once the International break may help us - if we can get everyone fit and stop this endless run of injuries that the squad cannot cover. I agree with pretty much all of this .. However, other clubs smaller, smaller budgets can still perform better than us year on year. My big concerns is about Dykes, can someone tell me how many minutes he played last season for his 10 goals or whatever it was . This year he looks even worse. If the young lad is not ready to start yet then fair enough but otherwise let Bonne start or sell Bonne and let the replacement start. Sticking with this guy week on week is embarrassing now. To think how much we paid for Dykes and Bonne and what they have so far given us.
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Post by harr on Aug 16, 2022 21:48:57 GMT
I didn’t think this was honest. Unfortunate, that’s the wrong word for me a bit limp, should have said wasteful.
Beale says Bowler showed the one moment of quality in the game. Also adds that his team had plenty of good moments and they were unfortunate.
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Post by harr on Aug 16, 2022 21:35:20 GMT
There was not a lot in it to be fair. We did not deserve a point on Saturday, but I think we did today. It is just that final third. Dykes is a 'nearly man'..... not quite in the right place, not quite moving at the right time. He needs a purple patch, but not sure he has it in him - his confidence looks shot again. Armstrong looks a real talent. Concern that Dieng nearly didn't come out for the second half. Laird looks very good. Bowler always scores against us.....sigh! At this point anyone scores against us. I think Blackpool well and truely deserved it , they scored, hit the post, outmustered our midfield most of the game. Out midfield was sluggish, same ol same ol we had endless attempts , no goals, no Dieng to save us a point this time. we deserved nothing from both games lucky to get a point. if Rotherham beat us , probably be in the bottom three and that’s exactly where we would deserve to be.
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Post by harr on Aug 16, 2022 21:01:09 GMT
Shocking. We have set piece coach, should be a learn to score a goal coach. After watching that dross expect Rotherham to rock up and get three points. When’s the club gonna learn we need an actual finisher, got rid of two of the best out the three we had and kept the one who can’t hit a barn door. I would take Washington over Dykes at this point. Some fortress Loftus road, more like a charity case
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Post by harr on Aug 16, 2022 19:49:40 GMT
Dykes should not be starting games for this team it’s beyond a joke now his conversion rate is pathetic. Crap performance and losing 1-0:ht Fortress QPR , Blackpool must have been laughing at that 45 from us. Without Willock this is a whole weak different team, he carries us.
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Post by harr on Aug 14, 2022 9:51:56 GMT
Not sure if we have funds for Left back, right back looks like will happen early this week, Forward and Left Back.? I think we had to put players out before we could get a forward even. Owens went out but that won’t save much, I think we will loan or sell Bonne. If Bonne goes and we can get a new forward in , I’m ok with that but for a left back surely someone else would have to go , unless you loan out Shodipo and Nico ?
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Post by harr on Aug 13, 2022 22:10:37 GMT
The finishing was poor today. The forwards need to take some responsibility of getting a few goals rather than leaving to midfield far to often to get them out of jail. Dykes needs to attend the Les Ferdinand finishing school.
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