What do we think of the signings?

It's happened all season. Forcing players to become wing backs. I hate this formation but either way, we need a settled team and players playing in their right positions.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
You can also argue that we look better playing a 343 and we are lacking in the wide forward areas

Its a strange one letting Dale go to a rival and not replacing him, I also got the feeling with Critchley that he didn't know what to do with Dale, i wouldn't mind but he signed the bloke
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I've said it before but I'm not convinced he knows what to do with a large proportion of the squad. He has a system hes simply copying from Pep / Klopp but doesn't have the type of players available to Pep / Klopp, but he does have a significantly above average (for this division) squad, which he cannot get them consistently performing at anything like their peak.
 
TangerineBear said:
Trimming down the squad doesn't mean replacing every player like for like.

We are well stocked in every position and stronger than we were, a monkey could see that.
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We haven't replaced Dale who is an attacking option who's played over 30 games for us

Even a blind monkey could see that
 
bfcpete said:
I would classify our business as a 'score draw':

We have lost capable first team players in Dougall, Dale, together with fringe players or dead wood
We have recruited capable first team players in Coulson and Byers and two potential / unkbowns who are likely to be fringe players this season.
We have also not lost one of our key players, but we could lose quite a few in the summer
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And kept Rhodes which swings the balance for me.
 
On balance a reasonable window. The clear out was needed to free up wages and get better players in. We need experience in midfield and Byers should give us that. I’m not convinced about Coulson yet, concerned he might be lightweight (the wind could blow him over). Sassi is a good investment for the future and will be a good replacement for when Marv goes. Finnigan could be good, but always a risk signing a player who’s had a bad injury and who hasn’t proved his fitness again yet. On balance though not bad.
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
Clueless? I think you are. Have you watched all season? In a back three, this is what is happening:
- They shirk responsibility leaving it to others
- The offside trap is a joke. Much harder to be in sync with a back three than a two.
- Wing backs failing to stop crosses.

Defence is not a strong point so why are we playing three of them. Ekpiteta has proven to be a great defender in a back two. Ideally we would have an experienced centre back with him but I am sure Casey or Pennington could do a job.

The defending away from home has been atrocious and if it's not the formation, then what is it?

Happy to educate you.
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Yes clueless. if i spoke to you all day you could not educate me on one thing about football but happy to listen to you make a fool of yourself, yes watched all the games actually been to the ground as a season ticket holder (not like you)
With you being clueless why are you commenting on things that you don't know anything about.
Look forward to your football knowledge educational response.
 
Pleased with Byers, hope Finnigan doesn’t end up a sick note and lives up to his promise from Southampton and happy to see Sassi as it looks like proper future planning. We have cover in all positions which is good to see.
 
TommyHutch said:
On balance a reasonable window. The clear out was needed to free up wages and get better players in. We need experience in midfield and Byers should give us that. I’m not convinced about Coulson yet, concerned he might be lightweight (the wind could blow him over). Sassi is a good investment for the future and will be a good replacement for when Marv goes. Finnigan could be good, but always a risk signing a player who’s had a bad injury and who hasn’t proved his fitness again yet. On balance though not bad.
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Tommy,

I'm not saying Sassi or Finnigan won't turn into great buys, but we have literally no idea about either of them at this point. They could be brilliant, they could be average and they could sink without a trace.
 
BFCfan33 said:
Yes clueless. if i spoke to you all day you could not educate me on one thing about football but happy to listen to you make a fool of yourself, yes watched all the games actually been to the ground as a season ticket holder (not like you)
With you being clueless why are you commenting on things that you don't know anything about.
Look forward to your football knowledge educational response.
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You would think we were top of the league judging by your comments. I'd rather deal in facts. We have been shocking away from home all season. If it's not the formation, then what is the problem?

Having a season ticket does not give you any more right to discuss things or any more knowledge than someone who hasn't. If anything, it shows you are using the fact you have a season ticket to justify a gap in your football knowledge.

Why would anyone just write 'yawn yawn yawn' in reply to a point being made. Again, it proves you can't counteract an argument because you haven't got the knowledge on how to. Keep reading though, your knowledge might improve.
 
I don’t see how we’ve got weaker at all - I believe we’re a creative attacker short, but we’ve got in a strong midfielder and a better LWB than Thompson.

Regarding the ‘unproven’ players, we’ve got depth at centre back so I highly doubt we’ll be relying on Sassi for this season at least, he will be fine to fit in, more than Tharme at least, who never made the bench.

And Finnigan might be unproven, but I’d rather have an unproven midfielder over Oakley-Boothe who’s proven to be poor. We’ve overall strengthened IMO.

Roll on the end of the season, let’s keep a run going.
 
tonners1212 said:
I don’t see how we’ve got weaker at all - I believe we’re a creative attacker short, but we’ve got in a strong midfielder and a better LWB than Thompson.

Regarding the ‘unproven’ players, we’ve got depth at centre back so I highly doubt we’ll be relying on Sassi for this season at least, he will be fine to fit in, more than Tharme at least, who never made the bench.

And Finnigan might be unproven, but I’d rather have an unproven midfielder over Oakley-Boothe who’s proven to be poor. We’ve overall strengthened IMO.

Roll on the end of the season, let’s keep a run going.
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Playing Devil's Advocate, you've no real idea whether Finnigan is actually better than Oakley-Boothe. You've also no idea if Sassi will make the bench any more than Tharme did.

And I'm not saying that to be critical of our business - which I think looks solid across the window - I'm saying it because at this stage, it's the truth. None of us know how those players will turn out.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Thanks i wasn't having a pop I just get a bit sick of all these players "who can" play elsewhere

We do it all the time and need to get out of it and play people in roles that suit them best
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Didn’t take it as a pop Phil I’m sure l read or heard he can play anywhere down the left hand side, but he’s a decent enough LWB
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
We haven't replaced Dale who is an attacking option who's played over 30 games for us

Even a blind monkey could see that
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Think it's a sign that he's doubling down on wingbacks and hoping that Gabriel/Lyons/Coulson/Hamilton/Husband are enough. He seems happy with Hamilton's performance as a wingback as he plays him all the time, but maybe he wasn't with Dale's and he's happy to move him on without getting a replacement.
 
BWseasider said:
Think it's a sign that he's doubling down on wingbacks and hoping that Gabriel/Lyons/Coulson/Hamilton/Husband are enough. He seems happy with Hamilton's performance as a wingback as he plays him all the time, but maybe he wasn't with Dale's and he's happy to move him on without getting a replacement.
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Yeah maybe

But to me it should be Gabriel on the right with Cj in a front 3 it worked in the Cup games
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Yeah maybe

But to me it should be Gabriel on the right with Cj in a front 3 it worked in the Cup games
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Yes I agree I think CJ has looked better forward, I don't think he's necessarily bad at his defensive duties but you don't get the best of him going forward when he's so far back, so he's much less of a threat. With Gabriel back I was hoping for the same.
 
BWseasider said:
Yes I agree I think CJ has looked better forward, I don't think he's necessarily bad at his defensive duties but you don't get the best of him going forward when he's so far back, so he's much less of a threat. With Gabriel back I was hoping for the same.
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It's pretty straightforward with CJ. His best work comes when he has space beyond his opponent to attack. When he plays in a deeper position, he's tasked with playing a more technical passing/moving game that he really isn't that good at.

And fully agree with the 'X can play there'. Yeah. It's fine for a one-off game where injuries & suspensions are forcing your hand, but when it becomes a normal part of your strategy its a recipe for disaster.
 
BWseasider said:
Yes I agree I think CJ has looked better forward, I don't think he's necessarily bad at his defensive duties but you don't get the best of him going forward when he's so far back, so he's much less of a threat. With Gabriel back I was hoping for the same.
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He's extremely poor at his defensive duties. He might win the ball back but he's created a lot of chances for the opposition this season. He let one of the best strikers in this league take a shot inside the box on his stronger foot. He's not intelligent enough to be a defender. He needs playing to his strengths.

It's glaringly obvious what Neil needs to do but we've got a small mountain to climb to get into the play offs and he doesn't know his best 11 in February.
 
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BWseasider said:
Yes I agree I think CJ has looked better forward, I don't think he's necessarily bad at his defensive duties but you don't get the best of him going forward when he's so far back, so he's much less of a threat. With Gabriel back I was hoping for the same.
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As said above, you get the best out of players by playing them in their best position, not trying to shoehorn them in some role alien to them.

Coulson and Byers are more than an upgrade on existing. Keeping Rhodes as well, he'll come good again, but you just knew (I daren't post it at the time) once he signed he go on a lean spell.

Tin hat here, but losing Dougall and Dale are positives.
 
straightatthewall said:
It's pretty straightforward with CJ. His best work comes when he has space beyond his opponent to attack. When he plays in a deeper position, he's tasked with playing a more technical passing/moving game that he really isn't that good at.

And fully agree with the 'X can play there'. Yeah. It's fine for a one-off game where injuries & suspensions are forcing your hand, but when it becomes a normal part of your strategy its a recipe for disaster.
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Exactly. Which is why you play CJ in some games and not in others. This though has been obvious for quite a while now, like 3 years. Why can't the manager see this.
 
I think we are now strong enough across the squad to use CJ as a sub. Inevitably if you use him that way it will be as an attacking option which fits in with the agenda of playing further up the pitch.
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
You would think we were top of the league judging by your comments. I'd rather deal in facts. We have been shocking away from home all season. If it's not the formation, then what is the problem?

Having a season ticket does not give you any more right to discuss things or any more knowledge than someone who hasn't. If anything, it shows you are using the fact you have a season ticket to justify a gap in your football knowledge.

Why would anyone just write 'yawn yawn yawn' in reply to a point being made. Again, it proves you can't counteract an argument because you haven't got the knowledge on how to. Keep reading though, your knowledge might improve.
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You told me that you were going to educate me crack on i am still waiting your not doing because you know you can't. So from the bold statement are you telling me your knowledge is greater than mine after two games at Blackpool Mechanics
I went yawn yawn yawn because of the stupid clueless idiotic comments that you make which are like a record that just repeating itself
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
You would think we were top of the league judging by your comments. I'd rather deal in facts. We have been shocking away from home all season. If it's not the formation, then what is the problem?

Having a season ticket does not give you any more right to discuss things or any more knowledge than someone who hasn't. If anything, it shows you are using the fact you have a season ticket to justify a gap in your football knowledge.

Why would anyone just write 'yawn yawn yawn' in reply to a point being made. Again, it proves you can't counteract an argument because you haven't got the knowledge on how to. Keep reading though, your knowledge might improve.
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Oh by the way clueless where does it say in my previous post that i think we are top of the table, and deal in facts also and mine is your clueless with a capital C
 
BFCfan33 said:
You told me that you were going to educate me crack on i am still waiting your not doing because you know you can't. So from the bold statement are you telling me your knowledge is greater than mine after two games at Blackpool Mechanics
I went yawn yawn yawn because of the stupid clueless idiotic comments that you make which are like a record that just repeating itself
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Two games at Blackpool Mechanics - where do you get your shit from. Played for two seasons.

You just don't like any poster criticising the club. I get it, it's nice. Some people treat BFC like their wife and don't like the criticism. It's football though, not personal relationships.
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
Two games at Blackpool Mechanics - where do you get your shit from. Played for two seasons.

You just don't like any poster criticising the club. I get it, it's nice. Some people treat BFC like their wife and don't like the criticism. It's football though, not personal relationships.
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Played two seasons what does that mean? you said you were going to educate me and i am still waiting i am very open to what you have to say and what has my wife got to do with this
 
BFCfan33 said:
Played two seasons what does that mean? you said you were going to educate me and i am still waiting i am very open to what you have to say and what has my wife got to do with this
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You said I played two games for Mechanics so just corrected you. You don't know whether you are coming or going. Up the Pool.
 
Jeez ... reading this thread was a long haul.
At least there are some new faces that people seem to think are decent.
Will Critch deliver a winning streak - let's hope so.
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
You said I played two games for Mechanics so just corrected you. You don't know whether you are coming or going. Up the Pool.
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Aw right two full seasons now i get where all your knowledge comes from. Have you given up trying to educate me or even started to or have you conceded defeat on that one.
 
straightatthewall said:
Playing Devil's Advocate, you've no real idea whether Finnigan is actually better than Oakley-Boothe. You've also no idea if Sassi will make the bench any more than Tharme did.

And I'm not saying that to be critical of our business - which I think looks solid across the window - I'm saying it because at this stage, it's the truth. None of us know how those players will turn out.
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When I made the Finnigan/Oakley-Boothe comparison, I should’ve probably worded it by saying that the bar to be better than TOB is so low, that the probability of Finnigan being an improvement is quite high IMO.

And yeah it’s all a bet, it’s just how much you can calculate it and minimise your risk whilst getting a big benefit
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
There are but all a bit round pegs square holes sort of thing

I hate all this 'can play'
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Lyons at right wing back. Gabriel right wing n those 2 will link up well.
Husband LWB with Hamilton on left wing (or Coulson in the mix too) and they work well too.
I reckon those pairings are our best bet.
 
On paper it's not a bad window with Byers able to make an instant impact and a couple of decent prospects. I'm not convinced we needed an out and out replacement for Dale, we have excellent starters in wide areas and some good back up options.

It was sad to see Kenny go but hopefully Byers will soften the blow, overall we're looking decent in the middle.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
We are actually weaker

The 2 young lads have replaced fringe players Tharme and Oakley Booth and Byers has replaced Dougall

Nobody has replaced Dale
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Apter will replace Dale next season. Coulson better than Thompson (up to now) Sassi has come from a Premier League Club (Tharme from Southport). Byers has just as much, if not more Lg1, Championship pedigree than Dougall. Finnigan replaces TOB in the bit of a punt bracket. I would say we've exited the window stronger than we entered.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Thanks i wasn't having a pop I just get a bit sick of all these players "who can" play elsewhere

We do it all the time and need to get out of it and play people in roles that suit them best
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No you need players who are adaptable to play in more than one position also players evolve as their career progresses, think Jimmy Husband.
 
Mustn't grumble ! My Sheff Wed mate reckons Byers was a big loss for them.
Plenty of deadwood got rid of and squad that can only get better. Gabriel, Kouassi, etc will shine. Book your London hotels now!! UTMP!!
 
Why did we need a replacement for Dale?
Didn't fit into any of the formations we've played this season unless out of position.
 
BISONS said:
The lad from Burnley won’t feature in the first team. The other isn’t fit following an ankle op.
Byers would have been a superb show of intent but we’ve only borrowed him for 3 months.
Coulson is no better than what we already had.
Underwhelming as has become the norm.Theres a lot of money somewhere from player sales. Anybody seen it?
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Not cheap to run a football club!
 
Superbretty said:
With the players we’ve got now 4-3-3 would be perfect.
Gabriel, Casey, Marv, Hubby
Byres, Norburn, Morgan
Up front we would be spoilt for choice
I would go for Dembele, Rhodes, Joseph
Brilliant options off the bench with CJ, Kouassi, Beesley and Lavery
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100% but unfortunately it won't happen and one of Morgan, Norburn or Mike Myers will be on the bench.
 
voyeur said:
Dale's place in the team has gone to Coulson. So he's been replaced by Coulson. Dale wasn't going to get used in a more attacking position, so we've replaced a misfit wing back with a wing back. It's still a replacement. Coulson and Thompson are both as effective in an attacking sense as Dale was anyway. Probably more so, certainly Coulson. Whether we have enough attacking players is a separate issue, Dale wasn't going to resolee that in any satisfactory way and Critch wasn't going to use him there.
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We’ve looked much better attacking down the left side since Coulson arrived. In previous games anything that started down the left came backwards, then sidewards, then down the right wing!
 
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