Team by Team 2016/17 Season Preview Part 2 of 3

[mowgli]

I'm just happy that most on here have us down as mid-table as after 2 seasons ago when we stayed up on goal difference that would be a good season,jesus that last day of the season nearly gave me a heart attack.

 

[Youpies]

It's always amusing to read fans say we definitely will make the play offs or top 3. It's a bloody long season, no definites until the final few weeks.

Said it before, but footballs not s recipe where you add x player and storm the league. Far too many variables

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I don't think it's that harsh tbh - he is ridiculously inconsistent. For every "unplayable" game there are two "can't pass five yards to an unmarked team-mate under no pressure" games. The Sissoko comparison is pretty apt too - looked like he had huge potential as a box to box CM, but has ended up being moved out wide for large chunks of his game time because too often he looks like he can't be arsed, fails to do the very basics properly and consequently can be a liability in a key central area.

He's still got potential to kick on (he was absolutely brilliant against Brighton the other day playing centrally), but this has to be the season for him to step up now. He needs to stay injury free, he needs to nail down a spot in the XI (and play the same position week in, week out), and he needs to develop his consistency levels.

The problem for us is, he is by far the most creative passer we have in the midfield area currently. And if he doesn't develop his consistency, we'll be left without a creative midfield player 50% of the time at least.

I assume the much-delayed final signing will be designed to address that but we'll see. As of right now it is a concern for me, how often did we see us labour to break down dogged defensive teams last season? We've addressed the central defence, we've addressed the front line - we've done nothing with the middle of the pitch yet (well, we have bought Rea of course, but he's not going to be opening teams up with his passing).

Excellent summation of my concerns RE the midfield. Given Jones wants to play and dominate possession its really very surprising we haven't added more quality there as it is absolutely key to what he wants to do. Lets hope this guy we are wanting to bring in addresses this, we seem to be willing to wait it out with his club so hopefully is a good player.

The wildcard in this (aside from Pelly!) is of course Bakinson, he looks a superb talent but im wary of throwing him in there and asking him to play a huge role this year, which at the moment when Pelly invariably gets injured he very well might have to.

 

[Hatter86]

If our midfield was stronger on paper than it currently is, I'd be of the opinion to bring Bakinson in slowly. However as it looks like we are going to be bringing at most one more midfielder in, then we my as well throw the lad in at the deep end. Didnt seem fazed when he made his debut and has looked the part in pre season

 

[AdamStag]

Nice to know that Mansfield haven't been researched as per.

Top half last season and have actually strengthened from last season, but we'll finish 19th?

Cool, all about opinions I suppose

 

[NolansOrient]

Nice to know that Mansfield haven't been researched as per.

Top half last season and have actually strengthened from last season, but we'll finish 19th?

Cool, all about opinions I suppose

You undoubtedly know Mansfield better than I do, but I wouldn't say you have strengthened at all, Rose will be underwhelming as ever and your defence must be weaker after losing your, in my humble opinion, best player.

I'll probably be proven wrong, but I agree with the above post that Stags fans sure are touchy!!

 

[AdamStag]

You undoubtedly know Mansfield better than I do, but I wouldn't say you have strengthened at all, Rose will be underwhelming as ever and your defence must be weaker after losing your, in my humble opinion, best player.

I'll probably be proven wrong, but I agree with the above post that Stags fans sure are touchy!!

Not touchy, opinions are what makes football football - would be boring if all thought the same.

Green played well last season scoring 15 when he was often on his own upfront, Taff will be missed in defence, but in Taft and Collins we should hopefully be pretty alright.

Another one - http://www.thefootballab.co.uk/2016/league-two-season-preview-2016-17/ - has us down for 6th which is too optimistic by some distance in my opinion.

I'd imagine a position similar to last would be the best bet - again all about opinions mind - and whether other stags fans seem to think differently.

 

[Conker]

Losing Taff is a important point but I think we did really well in our replacement but no doubt we will miss him.

Green (barring getting injured) should get around the same, and hopefully a few more goals as I believe he's one of the better strikers in the division. Pretty harsh review on him considering he was pretty much out for two seasons injured, I didn't even realise he scored 15 goals which is a decent effort in my opinion.

I think we should better last season with hopefully a chance at the play-offs towards the end of the season, nothing would surprise me though being how unpredictable football can be.