Summer Rebuild 2016/2017

[RoyalJones]

For me, Chris Gunter typifies the current malaise at the club. Lovely guy, great athelete, bang average defender and just so meek and mild. He screams bottlejob.

I hope he has a fantastic tournament with Wales and someone buys him because he's our soft underbelly.

I mean compare him to Murty, or Griffin, Bernal, or Newman. Any one of them had more backbone in one vertebra than he has in his entire spine.

And he carries the losing mentality that we have had for the past few years since we were relegated. As you said, a great athlete but can't cross and doesn't come across as being a championship winning/promtion full-back because he is so weak defensively. The same could be said for Obita where he is a good crosser (sometimes) but is not great at defending and a lot of goals conceded come down from his flank.

[Ian Royal]

For me, Chris Gunter typifies the current malaise at the club. Lovely guy, great athelete, bang average defender and just so meek and mild. He screams bottlejob.

I hope he has a fantastic tournament with Wales and someone buys him because he's our soft underbelly.

I mean compare him to Murty, or Griffin, Bernal, or Newman. Any one of them had more backbone in one vertebra than he has in his entire spine.

And he carries the losing mentality that we have had for the past few years since we were relegated. As you said, a great athlete but can't cross and doesn't come across as being a championship winning/promtion full-back because he is so weak defensively. The same could be said for Obita where he is a good crosser (sometimes) but is not great at defending and a lot of goals conceded come down from his flank.

Obita is at least up for the fight. He's just not great defensively (better than Gunter in attack). The weakness in defence and tendency to commit silly fouls is a product of being a young winger converted to full back IMO. I think he'd make a good wing back with slightly fewer defensive duties and a back three to keep him out of trouble.

[Maneki Neko]

obita / gunter would be absolutely fine at this level if they had some competition pushing them on
and played in a formation that suits em

[Royalwaster]

Same goes for Kermie - think he's confidence is shot from playing for such a crap team ... IMHO

[Kuhl_Runnings]

Keep Al-Habsi, Bond, Moore, Keown, Sweeney, McShane, Cooper, Obita, Watson, McCleary, Quinn, Tshibola, Barrett, Kuhl, Evans, Rakels, Dickie and Samuel.

For the last 5 seasons, and especially now, what have we needed? A god damn 20-30 goal striker, some pace, wide players who can cross, full backs who don't piss around up front and charismatic midfielders.

[Kuhl_Runnings]

I work with some of Aaron Kuhl's mates and by the sound of things, he'll be off this summer. Apparently he's only been offered a one-year deal here and a longer deal elsewhere.

Well my screen name is buggered

[Rollerbob]

I work with some of Aaron Kuhl's mates and by the sound of things, he'll be off this summer. Apparently he's only been offered a one-year deal here and a longer deal elsewhere.

Well my screen name is buggered

We should be offering a 10 year deal to Kuhl, based on the hair alone. Plus I like him; when big Nige brought him in to first team duties, he was excellent.

[Kuhl_Runnings]

I work with some of Aaron Kuhl's mates and by the sound of things, he'll be off this summer. Apparently he's only been offered a one-year deal here and a longer deal elsewhere.

Well my screen name is buggered

We should be offering a 10 year deal to Kuhl, based on the hair alone. Plus I like him; when big Nige brought him in to first team duties, he was excellent.

I recall him playing well during the start of 14/15, as well as Edwards and Taylor. Let's hope he doesn't go down the same path as those two.

[Maneki Neko]

Keep Al-Habsi, Bond, Moore, Keown, Sweeney, McShane, Cooper, Obita, Watson, McCleary, Quinn, Tshibola, Barrett, Kuhl, Evans, Rakels, Dickie and Samuel.

For the last 5 seasons, and especially now, what have we needed? A god damn 20-30 goal striker, some pace, wide players who can cross, full backs who don't piss around up front and charismatic midfielders.

is charisma really that important in a midfielder?
are 20-30 goals a season championship strikers really that common/easy to get/cheap enough?

agree on rest

[Slater1993]

Replacement for Cooper (if he goes)?

https://www.clubcall.com/championship/burn-confirms-fulham-exit-1809688.html

[Tommio]

Replacement for Cooper (if he goes)?

https://www.clubcall.com/championship/burn-confirms-fulham-exit-1809688.html

Decent player, but similar to Cooper in the fact that he's lanky and clumsy. Not sure i'd want him, even if cooper goes.

[Top Flight]

For me, Chris Gunter typifies the current malaise at the club. Lovely guy, great athelete, bang average defender and just so meek and mild. He screams bottlejob.

I hope he has a fantastic tournament with Wales and someone buys him because he's our soft underbelly.

I mean compare him to Murty, or Griffin, Bernal, or Newman. Any one of them had more backbone in one vertebra than he has in his entire spine.

And he carries the losing mentality that we have had for the past few years since we were relegated. As you said, a great athlete but can't cross and doesn't come across as being a championship winning/promtion full-back because he is so weak defensively. The same could be said for Obita where he is a good crosser (sometimes) but is not great at defending and a lot of goals conceded come down from his flank.

Obita is at least up for the fight. He's just not great defensively (better than Gunter in attack). The weakness in defence and tendency to commit silly fouls is a product of being a young winger converted to full back IMO. I think he'd make a good wing back with slightly fewer defensive duties and a back three to keep him out of trouble.

If we had two Jordan Obitas. A cloned copy of the original Jordan. 1 to play left back and the other to play left midfield, we would be pretty strong down the left hand side both defensively and offensively.

[genome]

Replacement for Cooper (if he goes)?

https://www.clubcall.com/championship/burn-confirms-fulham-exit-1809688.html

He has a cool name, so sign him up.

I only sign players on Football Manager if they have a cool name

[Maneki Neko]

yep- had a team of great names before, couple of Jesus' in there always helps.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I once edited my Football Manager game so everyone in the Reading squad had my name/variations of my name

[genome]

GK: Pepe Horseman
DR: Horseman Pepe
DC: Pepeman Horse
DC: Horse The
DL: Pepe Horse
MR: The
MC: Manhorse Pepe
MC: Man Horse
ML: The Horse
ST: Pepe Man
ST: Manpepe Horse

[genome]

yep- had a team of great names before, couple of Jesus' in there always helps.

IN for Jake to change his name by deed poll to Jesus Cooperio

[Hoop Blah]

Replacement for Cooper (if he goes)?

https://www.clubcall.com/championship/burn-confirms-fulham-exit-1809688.html

Decent player, but similar to Cooper in the fact that he's lanky and clumsy. Not sure i'd want him, even if cooper goes.

I think we could maybe do with two new centre halfs this summer. He'd make for a decent option if we were also bringing in a more proven and experienced defender as well (a Gorkss or Brown type signing).

McShane, AN Other, Burn and Cooper would be decent set of options.

If someone is stupid enough to offer us serious money for Cooper then Burn would be a good freebie.

[Kuhl_Runnings]

Keep Al-Habsi, Bond, Moore, Keown, Sweeney, McShane, Cooper, Obita, Watson, McCleary, Quinn, Tshibola, Barrett, Kuhl, Evans, Rakels, Dickie and Samuel.

For the last 5 seasons, and especially now, what have we needed? A god damn 20-30 goal striker, some pace, wide players who can cross, full backs who don't piss around up front and charismatic midfielders.

is charisma really that important in a midfielder?
are 20-30 goals a season championship strikers really that common/easy to get/cheap enough?

agree on rest

Yes, a charismatic midfielder can be the engine of a team, unlike Williams and Norwood who run around like headless chickens and play long passes to Mr Nobody (respectively). We need presence in the middle otherwise we can't supply the strikers, which has been a problem for a while now (not to mention our god awful crossers of the ball). Also - passion and character. A great midfielder that I imagine should not be pulling out of tackles or pass the ball with the sloppiness and half-heartedness that we're used to.

And true, 20-30 goal strikers are kind of hard to come by, particularly with a low spending team like ourselves. We should at least check the lower leagues for another Le Fondre or something. Not 20-30 goals perhaps, but a striker that is capable of making an impact, scoring wining goals and one that doesn't disappear during crucial games. The player must have great finishing abilities too and not f0ck up a chance at the last hurdle (looking at you Matej).

[Kuhl_Runnings]

Replacement for Cooper (if he goes)?

https://www.clubcall.com/championship/burn-confirms-fulham-exit-1809688.html

Great idea, always loved Burn since my oldest brother scored against him for Walton Casuals against a Fulham XI a few years back.