LJM Owl

We’ve had the 3 Cs over the last decade that have killed the growth of the fanbase. Chansiri, Covid and Cost (of Living). Initially some people didn’t come because of the price increases by Chansiri. Then some more people stopped going because they didn’t want to support Chansiri. Then we had Covid which stopped everyone from going at one point (and more people fell out of the habit). Now, we’ve got a serious cost of living crisis and most people (that don’t already go) can’t really justify spending money on a new hobby in effect (Even with tickets being £20, you’ve got other costs of going to matches etc). People have fallen out of the habit - now the habit has been broken for a number of years, it’s really hard to get back into the habit. If we can get some positive momentum within the fanbase for next season and a feel good atmosphere post-takeover, we’ve got a really good chance of getting more people back through the door next season but saying we should be getting more now, for a home game 5 weeks before Christmas, when we’re 20+ points adrift, is a bit silly really.

Pretty much this - our underlying support over the years is what matters, not 3-4 games getting a bit of a bumper attendance. All buyers should know by now if they get prices right, we will sell 20-22k season tickets next year and hopefully get 24-25k each week.

This is the one sort of reservation (not sure if that’s necessarily the right word for it) I have in regards to people saying Pedersen should be sacked. Inherently I don’t think we’re actually playing that badly in spells, it’s just the overall quality and thinness of the squad (eg our subs being horrendous for the standard) that are really hurting us (and him). In balance, I’m happy either way with what a new owner would decide - if they keep him next season, fully back it. If they get rid, they want their own man. Feels like another Stuart Gray type scenario in a sense.

100% agree, although I think it is a lot rarer for players sub 19 to play than people think (especially substantial minutes). There is only 14 players that have actually played any minutes this season in the championship that were younger than 19 - Only 3 of them were 16-17. In League 1 there has been 18 players play under the age of 19 - only 5 were younger than 18 at the time. Grainger (and Alao) would be in a very exclusive group if they’re part of next seasons plans.

How far off (as in years) do you think Grainger realistically is from being near/first team ready? I’ve seen people suggest he could break into the first team next year but surely he’s still another year or two off?

The majority of our proper senior squad will either not want to play in League 1 (Lowe, Valery, Amass, Bernard and maybe Charles) or aren’t good enough to start for a league 1 promotion chasing side (Iorfa, McNeill and Kobacki) Personally, I think we will need 10-12 signings like you said but that’s mostly because next season will be a consolidation year and to properly bed in the youngsters (Fusire, Weaver, Brown, Johnson, Otegbayo, maybe Grainger).

Absolutely 100% this. Whether it ends up being him or not, he’s a safety net. Ultimately, it might not be him, but he’s there if absolutely required, which should be a comfort if any fans still think we could go out of existence.

No, not until 2027.

Release for me - as has already been said, he’s basically just another Paterson except not as good as Pato and less versatile. Thank him for his time at the club and wish him well, but we need better in the long term.

I completely agree regarding sentimentality; however, I think that applies more to someone like Iorfa than Palmer and Bannan. Whilst we’d all love a squad of exciting wonder kids, reality is most teams have a mix of ages and experiences. Look at a prime example of someone like Peterborough - known for their exceptionally young squads, they always have a couple of players 27-28+ with at least 1 player in the starting squad over 30 (Tom Lees this season for example). Personally, I think we should keep Bannan and Palmer as they’re both useful in different ways in League 1 and then allow anyone over the age of 25 to go if they want to over the summer (subject to suitable offers for those under contract obviously).

In terms of our current players, I’d say the following: Goalkeepers: Charles would be the best keeper in league 1 by a distance, we need to do everything we can to keep him longer term. Barrett probably would be okay as no 2 given he’s had multiple loans in national league now; however, I can see us bringing in an older pro to pair with Charles (if we manage to keep him). Right Back: Valery will go, he’s a good solid championship player in the prime of his career, wish him well. Fusire would be a good 2nd choice right back at league 1 level - either bring in another youngster on loan for competition or have a look who’s available on a free. Send Siqueria? Out on loan to National League for half the season and see how he adapts. Left Back: Max Lowe most likely goes, I can’t see him playing League 1 football at this stage of his career. We won’t get Amass back on loan in league 1 unfortunately. I liked the look of Reece Johnson from the bits we’ve seen him play so far, we’re not going to bring in 15-20 players over summer so I’d say give him a chance as the 2nd choice left back. Alao is too young, let him develop in the under 18s/21s properly for a year or two. Centre Back: I don’t know where to best place Palmer but I’d say to keep him (squad player), knows the club, knows expectations, solid player at that level and can play basically anywhere - should transition into a coaching role really. Early days regarding Cooper but not opposed to him being a mentor figure for the young lads at Centre back, see how he holds up the rest of this season. I would say it’s time for Iorfa to go - he has more bad performances than he has good, needs a fresh start elsewhere. Bernard I would like us to keep, although I’m not sure if he’d be particularly happy playing in League 1. Weaver and Otegbayo should both be in our squad plans for next season, not sure if they’d be starting 11 quality for League 1 but both deserve a chance to earn a place. Emery, McGhee etc, try and get them out on loan for first half of season to see how they do. Midfielders: Bannan is obviously someone we should keep, great player, great ambassador for the club and a role model for the younger lads. Ingelsson probably goes I would imagine if he’s out of contract, probably do okay in league 1 but not someone I think has a long term future at the club, so can see him going. Chalobah probably leaves/retires I would imagine. Send as many of the young lads (Thornton, Shipston etc) out on loan as possible, don’t think any of them have earned a place in the squad just yet. Forwards: Cadamarteri should start week in, week out for us. Brown isn’t far behind Cadamarteri for me - expect him to be a sub at first and maybe gain a starting role as the season goes on hopefully. Must keep both of them and develop them. I reckon Jamal Lowe stays, would be good player at that level, seems a good character in the dressing room also. Feel sorry for Ugbo but I think all parties probably agree he needs a move elsewhere, can see him going out on loan abroad maybe. McNeill and Kobacki probably need to either go out on loan or be released, I don’t think either are particular up to the standard we’d need even in League 1. Grainger the same as Alao - let him develop in youth football for god sake, no need to rush him into the men’s game just yet. Based off all the above, I reckon we’ve got half a squad required for next season already at the club/should be at the club going into next season, which isn’t all that bad.

Personally, the 4 current free agents I’d love us to try and sign with a view to playing next season in League 1 would be Fosu-Mensah, Reece Oxford, Emmanuel Dennis and Jayden Braaf. Oxford and Fosu Mensah have both had significant injury problems but also have insane upside if we can get them fit and they’re in the prime of their careers age wise. Jayden Braaf is a failed wonderkid in the vein of Musaba, still young and at the start of his career, all upside. Emmanuel Dennis is a very solid squad option at championship level, would probably get 15-20+ goals in league 1 and is only 28.

We won’t be able to pay fees, I believe - unless the EFL decides to lift that specific fee embargo, which given I don’t believe they did it for Derby, I doubt it gets lifted. We will be able to sign free agents and loans etc, so we can still pick up 5-6 players in January hopefully in preparation for next season. The oddly nice thing is nobody in the championship, League 1 or League 2 currently know if they’re going to actually be in League 1 next season… except for us. We have a 6 month head start to plan a promotion push.

It potentially might not be all of the bids are over £30m; however, it probably means that they’re confident that at least a few of the current offers are over the threshold and are actually deliverable.

The only person I recognise on the photos is Kris Wigfield with the big Wednesday scarf on the 3rd pic.

I reckon Big Sam could be alright for a Director of Football type - he isn’t as archaic as people think (outside of his style of football).

Only positive after that performance is that at least half these players hopefully won’t be here next season. No passion or desire from so many of them.

Could you imagine the meltdown from some on here if the only one spotted was Mike Ashley

100% agree - all you have to do is look at the numbers we’d have to achieve to even stay up at this point (with or without a points deduction). Even without any points deductions, we’re the worst side in the league currently - 8 points from 15 games, 5 points from safety, meaning we’re averaging 0.33 points per game less than we potentially require currently (through 15 games). When you build in the reality of the current points deduction (which is almost certainly going to increase, arguably we’d want it all this season really) - we’re 17 points from safety. If we assume it’s an average season and 4th bottom gets 1 point per game, we’d need to get 50 points over the next 31 games to even match this (1.65 ppg) - that’s a 76 point season, comfortable playoff form. For reference, when we achieved the great escape under Röhl, we got 51? Points from 35 games (1.46 ppg). When you build in the fact that we probably won’t be able to massively change the squad for the next 9 games before the January window, maybe we can get 2-3 freebies in and we improve a bit and can get 1 ppg over the next 9 games - that’s would put us on 5 points from 24 games (without any further points deductions in the meantime). This means we’d need 41 points from 22 games to achieve 46 points (1.86 ppg), which would be an 86 point season, basically automatic promotion form. This isn’t meant to be a doom and gloom post - reality is we shoild just enjoy a stress-free season knowing the outcome for us already and back the team to hopefully build the foundations of a promotion challenging season next year. At this point, if we can beat Rotherham’s 23 points total, it should be seen as a good achievement given our current situation and squad.

It would be great to actually start building proper developmental relationships with the best academies in the country. Hopefully Amass (and others if they join in January) continue doing well here and we can get another 2-3 exciting youngsters on loan for League 1 next season.

Yes Here is an interview he did in June: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-united-premier-league-netherlands-ajax-ruben-amorim-b2779009.html?utm_campaign=lighteradlayout# Seems like he still wants to play for the right reasons (not a final last payday at 27). Worth a punt in our position tbf.

Presume these would both be with a view of playing next season for us in League 1. Fosu Mensah clearly is/was a very talented footballer, however he’s only played 1050 (12 Games worth) since 2020/21 which isn’t a fantastic sign for a 27 year old - but got to keep an open mind I guess.

100% agree - I think someone like Bernard is the type of player that likely stays next season in League 1 under a new ownership, he’s out of contract next season (I believe?) and is coming back from a long term injury, so a mega season in League 1 could get him a very good championship move if he doesn’t stay further. I think any player that doesn’t want to be here next season should be allowed to leave in January (not for free obviously but for a reasonable/agreeable amount with the player) - Every senior player that is still at the club has more than earned the right to go if they get the opportunity considering the months of turmoil and upheaval. Personally, I’m of the assumption that basically only Palmer and Bannan are guaranteed to be here next season (assuming neither retire) - I’d love to build a squad of all the promising youngsters but I can see Charles, Cadz, etc getting decent interest from vulturous clubs come January.

Personally, if we finish 12th next season and properly bed in 4-5+ of the youngsters as starters (Cadz, Weaver, Fusire, Brown hopefully establish themselves as starters every week - I don’t think we keep Charles past January unfortunately), I’d be more than happy with that as an outcome. I would rather a new owner comes in and invests in the longer term health of the club (Stadium, Training ground, etc) and we shift the first team to be more of a pathway for the academy/younger players (to buy and sell for profit) and make the squad more on the younger end of the league as a whole. Thinking we will do a Birmingham etc is a nice thought but also could easily end up back where Chansiri has.

He’s the new Ross Barkley loan - everyone can see the talent a mile off. He will have a very good career at premier league level.