The quality of this league.

[markwwfc1992]

Tom Bradshaw is decent too, I'd hope Walsall would sell him to us since they like us so much...

 

[MagpieBee]

I think most top L1 teams only need to add a couple of top players to be competitive. Our most started players last season were:

Button (from L1)
Odubajo (£1m from Leyton Orient)
Dean (from L1)
Tarkowski (from L1)
Bidwell (from L1)
Douglas (from L1)
Diagouraga (from L1)
Pritchard (loan)
Jota (£1.5m from Celta)
Judge (from L1 - though we did have to make his deal permanent, so £200k)
Gray (£600k from Luton)

So 7 of our first XI had played for us in League 1 the previous season, and the remaining 4 cost us c£3m, which was mostly covered by selling Forshaw.

 

[hodge]

Yeah I expect most of our money to be spent on depth as opposed to quality. Running through our starting XI last season

Fielding - Won't be replaced
Little - Maybe, but wouldn't be surprised if not replaced
Ayling - Won't be replaced
Flint - Won't be replaced
Williams - Doubt he will be replaced
Bryan - Won't be replaced
K.Smith - Won't be replaced
Pack - Could be replaced, may need to be
Freeman - Won't be replaced
Strikers - Need replacing (Wilbraham could maybe act as a second supporting striker as foil for main striker).

So don't think we will change much, just our squad is too small.

 

[D B Disco]

Well Pack has just signed a new 2 year deal, so I guess Cotts thinks he's good enough.

Strikers definitely the priority I think. As others have suggested I don't think Wilbs will quite cut it in the Championship, and Agard just doesn't have enough quality IMO.

 

[HertsWolf]

To be honest...for Preston and Bristol City fans, the sad part is going to be a few games in when you watch players who were outstanding in L1 and realise that they are run-of-the-mill up in the Championship. It's a bit deflating to suddenly realise that your team of all-conquering heres needs to be put up on ebay with a "Buy Now!" price. And that's when a legion of oddball journeymen will turn up with their Armenian agents and their perma-tanned girlfriends demanding £25,000 a week to solve all your problems.

At Wolves, we fixed this by signing Roy Race and Blackie Grey. Turned our team around completely.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

To be honest...for Preston and Bristol City fans, the sad part is going to be a few games in when you watch players who were outstanding in L1 and realise that they are run-of-the-mill up in the Championship. It's a bit deflating to suddenly realise that your team of all-conquering heres needs to be put up on ebay with a "Buy Now!" price. And that's when a legion of oddball journeymen will turn up with their Armenian agents and their perma-tanned girlfriends demanding £25,000 a week to solve all your problems.

At Wolves, we fixed this by signing Roy Race and Blackie Grey. Turned our team around completely.

We went for Hotshot Hamish, turn's out he's a bit shit!

 

[JJH]

Think our fans have it pretty much spot on really.

We certainly need to make signings to not just strengthen the depth, but improve the first team IMO.

Last time we came up we did magnificently well, I'm not expecting repeats, but I imagine we won't be off the top half.

IMO, we need a number Number 1 - as good as Fielding's been this Summer, he's not a big or commanding enough keeper for the Championship. I'd welcome Daniel Bentley judging by what I've seen of him to date.

Also, I'd have a new left sided CB. Never been confident with Williams, a good L1 player, but often gets exposed and targeted as our weak spot - would be out of depth in the Championship IMO.

Also, I'd have a new Right Wing Back, not for first team, but for cover, as I believe Wagstaff will be off, and he's not a RWB by trade anyway.

In the centre of midfield, we need at least another two with Elliot and JET (can play attacking midfield) departing. Pack signed a 2 year deal today, and I've always been a massive fan of Pack, but wouldn't be confident on him as a starter in the Championship just get, but I'm sure as a squad player he'll develop into one over the years, has a great range of passing.

In the attacking midfield department I think we're alright, as long as we get a CM in who can also do a job there no need for direct backup for Freeman. Although - in the striking department, we look very weak. Wilbraham isn't getting any younger, and the jury's still out on Agard and his finishing, and he can't afford to be as wasteful as he has been at times in the Championship, as we won't be gifted with that number of opportunities. Definitely two new strikers needed, one needs to be prolific and proven at this level.

Not too much to ask for is it?!

 

[markwwfc1992]

It's funny that were saying you need strikers when you scored 8 in your last game

Just shows how tough and competitive the Championship will be next season.

 

[SF_]

The core of our team will remain the same I think (well, until January at least and providing we re-sign the on-loan trio), unsure how some of our lot will cope but trying to maintain some momentum could be sensible. I think Grayson's priority is two new full-backs, pace isn't something we have in abundance.

 

[JJH]

It's funny that were saying you need strikers when you scored 8 in your last game

Just shows how tough and competitive the Championship will be next season.

True - but this season we've been gifted to have goals from all over the pitch - I mean Flint scored 14 ffs!

But with JET departing, Agard not being proven at this level, and Wilbraham ageing, it's more than needed.

 

[TomPNE94]

Love giving McCarthy abuse when he's in the opposition dugout as he's the most Yorkshire man ever but I respect him as a manager. Great record at this level.

I don't know, Grayson runs him pretty close in the Yorkie stakes.

 

[hodge]

Being honest I don't see us getting a starting replacement for Fielding (Bently suggested, will demand being #1 and Fielding won't want to be a back up) or Williams.

Just some ideas on players
GK - Joe Lewis (affordable competition, Bentley would be big money)
RWB - Todd Kane, Joe Edwards, James Tavernier
CM - Ed Upson, George Saville, Conor Hourihane
ST - Matt Smith, Tom Bradshaw, Will Grigg, Joe Mason

 

[SF_]

I don't know, Grayson runs him pretty close in the Yorkie stakes.

Grayson out.

 

[Gerry Gow]

The good thing about our squad is we have got goals all over the pitch. We all know we had a weak striking force compared to PNE and MK Dons but when you have a centre half scoring 15 goals, having the likes of Bryan and Little bombing forward and Freeman in the hole, you tend not to worry too much.

 

[TractorBoys]

The good thing about our squad is we have got goals all over the pitch. We all know we had a weak striking force compared to PNE and MK Dons but when you have a centre half scoring 15 goals, having the likes of Bryan and Little bombing forward and Freeman in the hole, you tend not to worry too much.

I'm not saying they will or won't - but it will be interesting to see if those goals dry up in the Championship.

 

[City169]

It's funny that were saying you need strikers when you scored 8 in your last game

Just shows how tough and competitive the Championship will be next season.

Are you trying to suggest we won't get goals like these next season?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSmZxPDq4fg

 

[hodge]

Are you trying to suggest we won't get goals like these next season?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSmZxPDq4fg

I still reckon Freeman will come out and shine next season, hard to keep a player of that quality down, same goes for Bryan, Little I'm not sure sure on, imo he quite often got lucky with getting past players, better defenders won't be beaten the same way. Bryan was more often a sprint past and cross guy rather than try and beat the man, harder to stop him doing it as defenders look to not get beaten as oppposed to stopping the cross. One reason I'd like to see Matt Smith back.

 

[SF_]

I missed the part where I asked about the quality of Bristol City...

 

[hodge]

Just like we don't give 2 shits about the quality of Preston

 

[markwwfc1992]

Are you trying to suggest we won't get goals like these next season?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSmZxPDq4fg

Jesus that defending

You may have gotten away with it against Blackpool up here last season, sadly I don't think you'll be so lucky this time around.

 

[Gerry Gow]

I'm not saying they will or won't - but it will be interesting to see if those goals dry up in the Championship.

Will have to wait and see. I don't think we will struggle though, that's all I will say on the matter.

 

[hodge]

I was at that game, genuinely couldn't believe what I was seeing, especially Little's goal.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Have Barcelona realised they're facing the threat of Bristol City yet? Suarez and Messi v Wilbraham and Diego Freeman

 

[TractorBoys]

 

[hodge]

Have Barcelona realised they're facing the threat of Bristol City yet? Suarez and Messi v Wilbraham and Diego Freeman

Just think, you guys get a minimum of a season of all of us in the championship forum. It's going to be a fun season

 

[Gerry Gow]

Have Barcelona realised they're facing the threat of Bristol City yet? Suarez and Messi v Wilbraham and Diego Freeman

Ark at ee mind!

 

[blademan89]

Not jealous mate, I despise the Dingle c***!

Why? Only thing hes ever done wrong is manage that vile shitstain of a country.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

I saw him play mate, he was a sneaky fucking bastard, oh and he was a c*** when managing Wolves.

 

[markwwfc1992]

He wasn't that bad, and he was always by the book at Wolves. Certainly a lot worse managers around in this league than MM. I know some people may not be a fan of his but he's a solid manager in this league.

 

[JJH]

Are you trying to suggest we won't get goals like these next season?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSmZxPDq4fg

That second is absolute comedy value.