Who needs to step up next season? Who is ready?

[Snowball]

Near on every game in 05/06, Little and Convey were subbed and replaced by SHunt and Oster for the last 20 minutes or so. Was this because Little and Convey were knackered? Was it because they were crap?

It's obviously very hard to say. Which is why I'd vary rarely trust any stat to tell me anywhere near the full picture.

It is potentially interesting to compare how much time Hunt spends on the pitch though, especially when you take into account what your eyes would probably tell you when you watch him. He often runs himself into the ground and often picks up little niggles.

As much as I agree that a good pre-season will help Manset as well as Hunt, I don't expect the situation to improve that greatly.

Perhaps he's under orders to run himself silly for 60
knowing it's McD's intention to bring on a sub for 30

[Hiram K Hackenbacker]

I agree

[@sonkimarsson]

What I will say is I'm feeling we're extraordinarily blessed with our goalkeepers. Not that I'm judging Mikkel Andersen on one fantastic save... (did anyone see that!?)

[paultheroyal]

This line up:

GK: Federici / McCarthy
RB: Griffin / Cummings
LB: Harte / Williams
CB: Mills
CB: Pearce / Morrison
RW: HRK
LW: McAnuff
CM: Karacan
CM: Leigertwood
CF: Church
CF: Hunt

Would be competitive next season.

= mid table

[Snowball]

This line up:

GK: Federici / McCarthy
RB: Griffin / Cummings
LB: Harte / Williams
CB: Mills
CB: Pearce / Morrison
RW: HRK
LW: McAnuff
CM: Karacan
CM: Leigertwood
CF: Church
CF: Hunt

Would be competitive next season. No doubt about that. I.

A few doubts there.

Biggest one is do we get Church 2009-10 or last season's? I have a feeling he may come good
but it's no certainty.

Second, IF Hunt is fit for the season, will he gel with Simon C?

Third, will Harte be as good as this season past or get even slower?

[Winnershroyal]

This line up:

GK: Federici / McCarthy
RB: Griffin / Cummings
LB: Harte / Williams
CB: Mills
CB: Pearce / Morrison
RW: HRK
LW: McAnuff
CM: Karacan
CM: Leigertwood
CF: Church
CF: Hunt

Would be competitive next season. No doubt about that. I.

Long not gone yet, speculation about Mills, reckon there will be a decent bid for Jem. If the team starts as above on August 6 I'd be surprised.


A few doubts there.

Biggest one is do we get Church 2009-10 or last season's? I have a feeling he may come good
but it's no certainty.

Second, IF Hunt is fit for the season, will he gel with Simon C?

Third, will Harte be as good as this season past or get even slower?

[Ian Royal]

For Church to come good we have to adapt our style of football. If we keep just playing percentage balls into the channels to chase, hoof it up to Hunt / Church and rely on breaks down the wings, he won't do particularly well.

It's like asking Long to play in a patient and intricate passing game. It's not playing to a strength.

Upfront (assuming Long goes) we look weak. But then we looked weak going into last season as well. On the assumption Mills and Long are off, my order of preference for new signings would be a fairly pacey centreback who can pass (Bikey, or someone less good who isn't utterly mental?), a decent pacey left back, and a decent passing midfielder, preferably who can score goals. I can live without the striker because I think those would fill holes in our squad and allow us to play a slightly better style - getting more out of Manset, Hunt and in particular Church.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Church and Manset will make a great partnership. I can see it now; 3 minutes into the game an exhausted Manset kicks the ball long from the halfway line to Church in an offside position, whose shot uproots the corner flag.

I think it could be our most prolific yet.

[tee peg]

Church and Manset will make a great partnership. I can see it now; 3 minutes into the game an exhausted Manset kicks the ball long from the halfway line to Church in an offside position, whose shot uproots the corner flag.

I think it could be our most prolific yet.

^^