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Very quiet day at work so I thought I'd share some thoughts. If you are interested read on.
All the best managers have two players for every position so that if one is injured/suspended/out of form there is a ready made replacement. Most managers also have utility players that can play in a variety of positions (i.e. John O'Shea - right/left/centre back and centre midfield). In our own squad do we have two for every position?
Goalkeepers: Cerny, Camp, Cole, Putnins, Bulmer - Each team needs at least three keepers (one to play, one for the bench and one as back up) and with Cole and Camp both likely to be sold we are left with only one keeper who has first team experience.
Does Cerny have competition? Putnins is receiving some plaudits but he is very young and inexperienced at a higher level. Would he make a suitable replacement if Cerny got injured? Surely too early to say.
Right Backs: None. Connolly, Hall, Rowlands, Leigertwood and Ramage can all play at right back but none of them are natural in that position. Leigertwood and Rowlands would give us an attacking option but defensively we would be weaker. Hall, Connolly and Ramage are all comfortable at right back but aren't natural at linking up with Routledge.
Arguably one of Ramage, Connolly and Hall can deputise at right back but there appears to be a need in this position and no competition for places.
Left Backs: Delaney and Borrowdale - With Borrowdale away at Brighton, Delaney has not had competition but has been dropped and replaced by Connolly. Not playing Connolly at centre back in the long term hinders his progression in that position.
Does Borrowdale have a future at the club? Where has the attacking threat of Delaney gone? Are either good enough in a team who has aspirations of making it in the top 6? Borrowdale was 3rd choice at Coventry, he was let go by Palace and has had mixed reviews from his time at Brighton. He is young and we've yet to see him wear the hoops but his history and the reports don't make for good reading. If Connolly can keep Delaney out of the first team then Delaney is hardly a first team option. He needs competition and needs a manager who trusts him to break forward as well as taking care of his defensive duties. Again there is a need for a natural left back.
Centre Backs - Hall, Connolly, Stewart, Ramage and Gorkss.
Our strongest position. No need for new players and if full backs are brought in we can even afford to let one go. Most likely to leave would be Hall as Ramage is showing signs of the reason he was brought in. Hall has had injury problems and has lost his place in the team to Gorkss. Stewart is now the deputy at centre back while Delaney and Ramage can cover if we have injuries.
Right Wingers - Routledge, Ephraim, Rose and Alberti.
Others such as Buzsaky, Balanta and Rowlands can play this position but we have enough quality if injury to Routledge occurs. Ephraim, although moved to centre midfield can play on the wing and Alberti has shown glimpses of quality but needs matches. Rose has done very well in the few matches he's played and looks one for the future in a variety of positions.
Left Wingers - Cook and Vine.
Unless we sign Taraabt I've not included him for next season because effectively he's left the club now that he is injured. Vine's best performances have been out on the left but a new manager might see him as a forward which would mean we are left with Cook. Cook has shown signs of getting back to his best but so far only signs and not full 90 minute performances. If Vine is moved to behind a front man then Cook will need competition. If not then we have enough quality on the left - time will tell.
Centre Midfield - Mahon, Leigertwood, Rowlands, Buzsaky, Ephraim.
Unless Lopez and/or Miller sign an extended deal neither are contracted to be here next summer. If either sign than maybe Mahon or Leigertwood's days are numbered. Rowlands splits opinion but most have noticed a change in the midfield since his injury. Buzsaky is special and doesn't need me to say anything. As for Ephraim, he's improving. For me he is like Anderson at Manchester United - works hard, sparkles occassionally but lacks goals. If he could add goals to his repeitoire then Buzsaky will have much need competition. Plenty of ball winners amongst those listed but without Buzsaky we lack creativity. If rumours are true and we are looking to bring in Prattley of Swansea we will have yet another ball winner when actually we need someone who can link up with the forwards and score goals. For me we need another creative midfielder.
Forwards - Balanta, Vine, Agyemang, Blackstock and Helguson
Depending on the formation and players chosen by our new manager we could find ourselves with plenty of attacking options and a need for just one upfront. If we play 4-4-2 then we are short of quality. Balanta is young and inexperienced but over time will come good - maybe next season is too early. Agyemang lacks both creativity and natural goal scoring abilities but is a handful for defenders for the last 20. He is not a player who I would rely to score 20 goals and to play 46, 90 minute matches. Helguson if he stays fit works well in a 4-4-2 formation but not on his own. Blackstock looks likely to be sold and I've left De Carmine off the list because his contract is up. This is our weakest department. Although some will disagree with me I believe selling Blackstock would be a mistake. 13 goals in this division is a very good return - especially when he hasn't played every game. At 22, he still has time to improve and unlike Helguson and Agyemang he doesn't have a history of injuries.
In summary there is some obviously quality in this squad, Cerny although he hasn't been perfect he has pulled off some amazing saves and has 20 clean sheets this season. Gorkss has come good and his partnership with Connolly looks solid. Stewart is a very hand deputy to have. Routledge hasn't been at his best for us but he has all the makings of being a brilliant right winger. The quality of Vine and Buzsaky speaks for itself. Rowlands for me is the final piece of the jigsaw. We all love free flowing attractive football but you need leaders and grafters. The records show that without Rowlands we are a poorer team both defensively and offensively.
Which positions would I buy? Right back, left back, creative midfield and two strikers. If selling Camp, Cole and Blackstock bring in £2.5m I would then ask the owners to double it. I've said on many threads before, that players like Marcus Tudgay, Tommy Smith, David McGoldrick and Andy Gray are all part of teams that aren't moving forward. In McGoldrick's case, Saints need the money. He has scored the same amount of goals at Martin Paterson did for Scunny last season and was sold for £1.1m so McGoldrick who is the same age would be a similar valuation. Michael Ball is available on a Bosman so would be IMO an excellent addition at left back. If not him then Bertrand, of Chelsea (who has been at Norwich this season) would be a better option than Delaney. I think we could also target Fabio (brother of Rafael Da Silva) who can play either left/right back. Another possible loan would be Gavin Hoyte who has had a very good season by all accounts at Watford. If we were to actually spend some money then Tommy Spurr has impressed many and so has Bradley Orr but I would target Daniel Fox of Coventry and Nathaniel Clyne of Palace. I believe if Fox were to leave Coventry he would be more likely to go to the Premiership than to another Championship side but is the best left back in the division. Clyne is young but is a natural at right back and impressed me greatly when switched against us to the left earlier in the month. As for competition for Buzsaky, I would go for Nicky Bailey. Although he has talked about helping Charlton get out of the league I believe most footballers would rather be playing at a higher level. Another option on loan would be Michael Johnson of Man City. City are unlikely to sell Johnson but he is also unlikely to get many games now they have De Jong, Ireland, Kompany and Elano in the middle. Maybe a daft suggestion but what harm is there is approaching these Premiership teams who have plenty of young talent and promising them game time at QPR? They worse they can say is no. Unless sold players like Wellbeck, Campbell, Evans, Johnson, Simpson, Vela, Randall and Wilshere won't get much game time and would benefit by a stint at Loftus Road. I'm not saying that there is any possiblity in signing any of them but no harm would be done by asking.
Thanks for reading I hope I haven't bored you silly.
All the best managers have two players for every position so that if one is injured/suspended/out of form there is a ready made replacement. Most managers also have utility players that can play in a variety of positions (i.e. John O'Shea - right/left/centre back and centre midfield). In our own squad do we have two for every position?
Goalkeepers: Cerny, Camp, Cole, Putnins, Bulmer - Each team needs at least three keepers (one to play, one for the bench and one as back up) and with Cole and Camp both likely to be sold we are left with only one keeper who has first team experience.
Does Cerny have competition? Putnins is receiving some plaudits but he is very young and inexperienced at a higher level. Would he make a suitable replacement if Cerny got injured? Surely too early to say.
Right Backs: None. Connolly, Hall, Rowlands, Leigertwood and Ramage can all play at right back but none of them are natural in that position. Leigertwood and Rowlands would give us an attacking option but defensively we would be weaker. Hall, Connolly and Ramage are all comfortable at right back but aren't natural at linking up with Routledge.
Arguably one of Ramage, Connolly and Hall can deputise at right back but there appears to be a need in this position and no competition for places.
Left Backs: Delaney and Borrowdale - With Borrowdale away at Brighton, Delaney has not had competition but has been dropped and replaced by Connolly. Not playing Connolly at centre back in the long term hinders his progression in that position.
Does Borrowdale have a future at the club? Where has the attacking threat of Delaney gone? Are either good enough in a team who has aspirations of making it in the top 6? Borrowdale was 3rd choice at Coventry, he was let go by Palace and has had mixed reviews from his time at Brighton. He is young and we've yet to see him wear the hoops but his history and the reports don't make for good reading. If Connolly can keep Delaney out of the first team then Delaney is hardly a first team option. He needs competition and needs a manager who trusts him to break forward as well as taking care of his defensive duties. Again there is a need for a natural left back.
Centre Backs - Hall, Connolly, Stewart, Ramage and Gorkss.
Our strongest position. No need for new players and if full backs are brought in we can even afford to let one go. Most likely to leave would be Hall as Ramage is showing signs of the reason he was brought in. Hall has had injury problems and has lost his place in the team to Gorkss. Stewart is now the deputy at centre back while Delaney and Ramage can cover if we have injuries.
Right Wingers - Routledge, Ephraim, Rose and Alberti.
Others such as Buzsaky, Balanta and Rowlands can play this position but we have enough quality if injury to Routledge occurs. Ephraim, although moved to centre midfield can play on the wing and Alberti has shown glimpses of quality but needs matches. Rose has done very well in the few matches he's played and looks one for the future in a variety of positions.
Left Wingers - Cook and Vine.
Unless we sign Taraabt I've not included him for next season because effectively he's left the club now that he is injured. Vine's best performances have been out on the left but a new manager might see him as a forward which would mean we are left with Cook. Cook has shown signs of getting back to his best but so far only signs and not full 90 minute performances. If Vine is moved to behind a front man then Cook will need competition. If not then we have enough quality on the left - time will tell.
Centre Midfield - Mahon, Leigertwood, Rowlands, Buzsaky, Ephraim.
Unless Lopez and/or Miller sign an extended deal neither are contracted to be here next summer. If either sign than maybe Mahon or Leigertwood's days are numbered. Rowlands splits opinion but most have noticed a change in the midfield since his injury. Buzsaky is special and doesn't need me to say anything. As for Ephraim, he's improving. For me he is like Anderson at Manchester United - works hard, sparkles occassionally but lacks goals. If he could add goals to his repeitoire then Buzsaky will have much need competition. Plenty of ball winners amongst those listed but without Buzsaky we lack creativity. If rumours are true and we are looking to bring in Prattley of Swansea we will have yet another ball winner when actually we need someone who can link up with the forwards and score goals. For me we need another creative midfielder.
Forwards - Balanta, Vine, Agyemang, Blackstock and Helguson
Depending on the formation and players chosen by our new manager we could find ourselves with plenty of attacking options and a need for just one upfront. If we play 4-4-2 then we are short of quality. Balanta is young and inexperienced but over time will come good - maybe next season is too early. Agyemang lacks both creativity and natural goal scoring abilities but is a handful for defenders for the last 20. He is not a player who I would rely to score 20 goals and to play 46, 90 minute matches. Helguson if he stays fit works well in a 4-4-2 formation but not on his own. Blackstock looks likely to be sold and I've left De Carmine off the list because his contract is up. This is our weakest department. Although some will disagree with me I believe selling Blackstock would be a mistake. 13 goals in this division is a very good return - especially when he hasn't played every game. At 22, he still has time to improve and unlike Helguson and Agyemang he doesn't have a history of injuries.
In summary there is some obviously quality in this squad, Cerny although he hasn't been perfect he has pulled off some amazing saves and has 20 clean sheets this season. Gorkss has come good and his partnership with Connolly looks solid. Stewart is a very hand deputy to have. Routledge hasn't been at his best for us but he has all the makings of being a brilliant right winger. The quality of Vine and Buzsaky speaks for itself. Rowlands for me is the final piece of the jigsaw. We all love free flowing attractive football but you need leaders and grafters. The records show that without Rowlands we are a poorer team both defensively and offensively.
Which positions would I buy? Right back, left back, creative midfield and two strikers. If selling Camp, Cole and Blackstock bring in £2.5m I would then ask the owners to double it. I've said on many threads before, that players like Marcus Tudgay, Tommy Smith, David McGoldrick and Andy Gray are all part of teams that aren't moving forward. In McGoldrick's case, Saints need the money. He has scored the same amount of goals at Martin Paterson did for Scunny last season and was sold for £1.1m so McGoldrick who is the same age would be a similar valuation. Michael Ball is available on a Bosman so would be IMO an excellent addition at left back. If not him then Bertrand, of Chelsea (who has been at Norwich this season) would be a better option than Delaney. I think we could also target Fabio (brother of Rafael Da Silva) who can play either left/right back. Another possible loan would be Gavin Hoyte who has had a very good season by all accounts at Watford. If we were to actually spend some money then Tommy Spurr has impressed many and so has Bradley Orr but I would target Daniel Fox of Coventry and Nathaniel Clyne of Palace. I believe if Fox were to leave Coventry he would be more likely to go to the Premiership than to another Championship side but is the best left back in the division. Clyne is young but is a natural at right back and impressed me greatly when switched against us to the left earlier in the month. As for competition for Buzsaky, I would go for Nicky Bailey. Although he has talked about helping Charlton get out of the league I believe most footballers would rather be playing at a higher level. Another option on loan would be Michael Johnson of Man City. City are unlikely to sell Johnson but he is also unlikely to get many games now they have De Jong, Ireland, Kompany and Elano in the middle. Maybe a daft suggestion but what harm is there is approaching these Premiership teams who have plenty of young talent and promising them game time at QPR? They worse they can say is no. Unless sold players like Wellbeck, Campbell, Evans, Johnson, Simpson, Vela, Randall and Wilshere won't get much game time and would benefit by a stint at Loftus Road. I'm not saying that there is any possiblity in signing any of them but no harm would be done by asking.
Thanks for reading I hope I haven't bored you silly.
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