[hardgums]

We are clearly missing a midfield enforcer. We lack muscle and aggression in the middle of the park. Tranmere just brushed us off the ball today. I like Metcalf, but he's still a kid. DJ, when he plays gets knocked off the ball too easily. Banksy tries to make his presence felt but he isn't a daunting presence. Physicality ain't Tom Naylor's game. No 1 target for me next season is a Sammy Morsey/Micky Kennedy type who ain't afraid to leave their foot in

[Mr Mercury]

hardgums, on 05 April 2025 - 05:38 PM, said:

We are clearly missing a midfield enforcer. We lack muscle and aggression in the middle of the park. Tranmere just brushed us off the ball today. I like Metcalf, but he's still a kid. DJ, when he plays gets knocked off the ball too easily. Banksy tries to make his presence felt but he isn't a daunting presence. Physicality ain't Tom Naylor's game. No 1 target for me next season is a Sammy Morsey/Micky Kennedy type who ain't afraid to leave their foot in

Mick Kennedy? Wow that’s a low low bar mate.
Please don’t ever mention him and Morsy in the same sentence again.

This post has been edited by Mr Mercury: 05 April 2025 - 05:52 PM

[hardgums]

Mr Mercury, on 05 April 2025 - 05:51 PM, said:

Mick Kennedy? Wow that’s a low low bar mate.
Please don’t ever mention him and Morsy in the same sentence again.

True but I tell you, some of those Tranmere players would have known that MK was on the pitch today.

[Bonnyman]

No1 for me is a big athletic forward who can get in behind hold up the ball and be an outlet

[sophocles]

Bonnyman, on 05 April 2025 - 06:05 PM, said:

No1 for me is a big athletic forward who can get in behind hold up the ball and be an outlet

Brilliant idea. Only problem is Haaland's wages might be a little bit of a stumbling block.

[Bluekent]

Bonnyman, on 05 April 2025 - 06:05 PM, said:

No1 for me is a big athletic forward who can get in behind hold up the ball and be an outlet

That’s where the 5m investment goes then.

[Wooden Spoon]

How about just asking the team to play with pace and aggression and earn the right to play football?


Expecting teams to just let us play?

[Town_Fan]

Wooden Spoon, on 05 April 2025 - 06:51 PM, said:

How about just asking the team to play with pace and aggression and earn the right to play football?


Expecting teams to just let us play?

I like Cook but his achilles is the complete inability to change a game when weve been sussed and we cannot overcome a competent press.

[Bluekent]

Town_Fan, on 05 April 2025 - 07:36 PM, said:

I like Cook but his achilles is the complete inability to change a game when weve been sussed and we cannot overcome a competent press.

Yet he’s got the best record in the whole of the leagues when it comes to a player coming on as sub and bagging.

[TJ Blue]

We need a midfielder that’s prepared to tackle and drive forward, we just don’t have that at the moment and it leads to a lot of sideways and backwards play, we also need a lot more pace in the side.

[rodney]

Bluekent, on 05 April 2025 - 07:41 PM, said:

Yet he’s got the best record in the whole of the leagues when it comes to a player coming on as sub and bagging.

Stats are wonderful! Yes, we have the most goals scored by subs….. but we have only come from behind to win in one game all season. The second stat is the more important one to me

[SocraticCFC]

hardgums, on 05 April 2025 - 06:02 PM, said:

True but I tell you, some of those Tranmere players would have known that MK was on the pitch today.

Mick Henderson

[jack bauer]

one of our most important players in the previous 2 seasons was mike jones, a player i really like as he was generally in the right position, did the simple things well, never gave up and just an all round character that you want in your team, day 1 this season we conceded a goal by allowing swindon to parade through the centre of the pitch an invited a shot, it is an area i am certain will be high on the summer recruitment list.

[danblue]

Town_Fan, on 05 April 2025 - 07:36 PM, said:

I like Cook but his achilles is the complete inability to change a game when weve been sussed and we cannot overcome a competent press.

Football is forever evolving.
IMO not only do you need a squad of depth of talent but also certain players that can play multi roles eg Mandeville.
But also add to this, different formations which is where Cook needs to have a little look.
Not necessarily today, but when we find ourselves behind, struggling and chasing a goal, I feel Cook's tatic of swapping a striker for a striker kind of defeats the object of chasing a goal. Why not remove a midfielder for a forward so that we have at least two threats on goal.
I know Cook says he/they cant change players mind sets of what they revert to - start passing it around the back I assume he's on about, but sometimes I think the tactic has to be to just go for it ti get a foothold back in the match - and you need as many attacking players on the pitch to do that.

And before folk jump on the old Cook has won X, Y and Z, read my opening line.
And I still think Cook is the man for us if anyone is going to question that

[dart in the crossbar]

danblue, on 05 April 2025 - 08:27 PM, said:

Football is forever evolving.
IMO not only do you need a squad of depth of talent but also certain players that can play multi roles eg Mandeville.
But also add to this, different formations which is where Cook needs to have a little look.
Not necessarily today, but when we find ourselves behind, struggling and chasing a goal, I feel Cook's tatic of swapping a striker for a striker kind of defeats the object of chasing a goal. Why not remove a midfielder for a forward so that we have at least two threats on goal.
I know Cook says he/they cant change players mind sets of what they revert to - start passing it around the back I assume he's on about, but sometimes I think the tactic has to be to just go for it ti get a foothold back in the match - and you need as many attacking players on the pitch to do that.

And before folk jump on the old Cook has won X, Y and Z, read my opening line.
And I still think Cook is the man for us if anyone is going to question that

With the injuries and the necessary, brought in replacements being primarily across the back and upfront, and his use of three 10s Cook has probably had less opportunity to strengthen CM. It's been said on here many times that the likes of Oldaker, Jacob's and Banks aren't going to win the ball and then play it forward. I'd go as far as to say that our last CM ball winner was Jones.

Other than the in-contract players I'd be surprised if any of the ex-CFC NL players are here next year.

[Bonnyman]

sophocles, on 05 April 2025 - 06:11 PM, said:

Brilliant idea. Only problem is Haaland's wages might be a little bit of a stumbling block.

Haaland can’t hold suspenders up

[Wooden Spoon]

Town_Fan, on 05 April 2025 - 07:36 PM, said:

I like Cook but his achilles is the complete inability to change a game when weve been sussed and we cannot overcome a competent press.

I guess you’d say his plan B is working with the players to make sure plan A works often enough to be successful


He’s excellent at building a team who can make plan A work, it might take him a season or two but generally he gets it’s right


Ipswich aside, he’s managed within a season or two build a side that achieves success.

[Mr Mercury]

Wooden Spoon, on 05 April 2025 - 09:20 PM, said:

I guess you’d say his plan B is working with the players to make sure plan A works often enough to be successful


He’s excellent at building a team who can make plan A work, it might take him a season or two but generally he gets it’s right


Ipswich aside, he’s managed within a season or two build a side that achieves success.

Not sure if it’s true or not but isn’t the Ipswich side that are now, albeit briefly, in the Prem the basis of Cooks team.

[Wooden Spoon]

Mr Mercury, on 05 April 2025 - 09:24 PM, said:

Not sure if it’s true or not but isn’t the Ipswich side that are now, albeit briefly, in the Prem the basis of Cooks team.

Largely yes

[Zigsuk]

Mr Mercury, on 05 April 2025 - 09:24 PM, said:

Not sure if it’s true or not but isn’t the Ipswich side that are now, albeit briefly, in the Prem the basis of Cooks team.

They won’t be there much longer.