This. The same team that almost got relegated last season came back after the summer with loanees such as Silva and Sharif gone and just Saah and Murphy really added to the first 11 and we had an alright start. Add Hines to the team with appearances here and there from Obafemi and it took us to the verge of the play offs.Richie wrote:I couldn't make it today, but to suggest we need 6 new players for the starting 11 is well OTT in my opinion. The keeper and back four are pretty solid and with Murphy/Hines (if he stays) back fit I don't think we're as bad a side as people are suggesting.
When the loanees disappear, the squad is streamlined a bit further and we make 2-4 additions, we'll be alright and we'll go again. I think people underestimate the value of a pre season. At the minute, we're going week to week, changing team, any philosophy Wayne implemented over the summer has largely disappear. We need a good 3-4 week training block over the summer to readapt the way we want to play, drum that into the players get a consistent 11-15 regulars sorted out. I hope over the summer Wayne brings in a bit more experience. We've got some good young players here (Connors, Shields, Obafemi etc) but at the moment, they don't have any experienced players to bounce off of. We could badly do with 1-2 Arber/Gain/Currie type players to help out.
I will say this also. Femi has been useless this season and today was the tipping point for me. Couldn't control, slow to pass when he did have the ball and his ability/confidence to take a man on has completely disintegrated. If you'd have told me 18 months ago that I'd be saying get rid of him, I'd have laughed at you. But honestly, I'm struggling to see him becoming any better in a Wayne Burnett team. I think it's time for him to move on perhaps.