07-07-2015, 14:02
Looking at the squad as it is, we clearly still need a lot of work. I'd say we need reinforcements in the following positions:
Centre back - Hudson is on his way downhill and at times last season looked well past it. Lynch when fit and motivated is superb, but is usually good for a 2 month spell on the sidelines throughout a season. Outside of them we're looking at Murray Wallace who has never been anything other than woeful. Someone to play alongside Lynch and provide competition for Hudson should be a priority.
Right back - Smith impressed me greatly when he first arrived and started playing at the right of a back 3. Since moving back to a straightforward right back position however I've been much less impressed. Gets caught square on a lot and really struggles with any kind of pacey winger running at him. Not terrible by any means, but this is a certainly a position we could strengthen quite easily.
Centre midfield - Butterfield is far and away our best player. Hogg is a very good box to boxer at this level but his injury problems haven't allowed him to put an extended run together in the first team. Whitehead has been brought in to add a bit more experience in the middle of the park and I'll wait until I've seen him to judge. Coady and Gobern have both left so we're left with the likes of Holmes, Billing and Tronstad as potential back-up, and given how little first team experience they have that's worrying, especially considering how naturally negative Powell is playing 3 central midfielders. Definite priority.
Winger - Credit where it's due, Scannell improved massively last season. He's a definite starter however, he digressed a fair bit at the back end of the season and still lacks end product. Bunna and Lolley both have potential which is yet to be fully shown, while Hammill is massively unlikely to feature. Again, not a necessity but certainly an area we should be looking to improve on if we want to progress.
Striker - Vaughan is immense and one of the best strikers in this league when fit, but he's simply never fit therefore can't be depended on. Miller impressed me massively and really proved me wrong at the back end of last season, a perfect option to have given how Powell likes us to play, but not a goalscorer. Wells was indeed our top scorer again last season, but looks lost 90% of the time and misses far too many good chances to be relied upon. Another massive priority.
Centre back - Hudson is on his way downhill and at times last season looked well past it. Lynch when fit and motivated is superb, but is usually good for a 2 month spell on the sidelines throughout a season. Outside of them we're looking at Murray Wallace who has never been anything other than woeful. Someone to play alongside Lynch and provide competition for Hudson should be a priority.
Right back - Smith impressed me greatly when he first arrived and started playing at the right of a back 3. Since moving back to a straightforward right back position however I've been much less impressed. Gets caught square on a lot and really struggles with any kind of pacey winger running at him. Not terrible by any means, but this is a certainly a position we could strengthen quite easily.
Centre midfield - Butterfield is far and away our best player. Hogg is a very good box to boxer at this level but his injury problems haven't allowed him to put an extended run together in the first team. Whitehead has been brought in to add a bit more experience in the middle of the park and I'll wait until I've seen him to judge. Coady and Gobern have both left so we're left with the likes of Holmes, Billing and Tronstad as potential back-up, and given how little first team experience they have that's worrying, especially considering how naturally negative Powell is playing 3 central midfielders. Definite priority.
Winger - Credit where it's due, Scannell improved massively last season. He's a definite starter however, he digressed a fair bit at the back end of the season and still lacks end product. Bunna and Lolley both have potential which is yet to be fully shown, while Hammill is massively unlikely to feature. Again, not a necessity but certainly an area we should be looking to improve on if we want to progress.
Striker - Vaughan is immense and one of the best strikers in this league when fit, but he's simply never fit therefore can't be depended on. Miller impressed me massively and really proved me wrong at the back end of last season, a perfect option to have given how Powell likes us to play, but not a goalscorer. Wells was indeed our top scorer again last season, but looks lost 90% of the time and misses far too many good chances to be relied upon. Another massive priority.