Ex Player Alex Rodriguez Gorrin

[unification]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Looking back on the posts on this thread, it’s a mix of understanding Obita desiring a longer deal that we weren’t willing to match, praise for commanding a fee for him and investing that in McNally and various views of him as a place from disappointment to him going to not-that-bothered.

Personally I thought Obita offered something. At this moment in time after four losses in five you do desperately reach out for excuses and I’m not surprised that his name has cropped back up. Having any form of extra midfield option at present would be worthwhile.

 

[Yellow There!]

I'm thinking keep people like Henry, they've been around for time, they know the way the club works. I think our problem this season has been that we don't seem to have a cogent squad who know each other and work as a team. I'd go as far as to say we basically have a squad of utility players.

In terms of who we get rid of, I'd say we'd be hard pushed to get offers for Winnall or Hanson, but here's hoping. Clare, keep. No one'll take Sykes so he can stay, he's young. Hall, sell him to Forest Green. Grayson can jog on. As can Kelly, I've supported him a lot but he's consistently a bit weak, and McGuane would fill his shoes nicely. Back 6, keep all of 'em, they're the only ones who seem to be working together, and we saw what happened at the start of the season when just one of them was missing. Barker and Shodipo I'm not sure about - they've both shown their class but they need to be consistent. Lee's similar, he's versatile so can probably stay.

As to who we bring in, God knows. We need a Dickie, a Fosu, a Baptiste, someone young with genuine ability.

But how many more injured 31-year-old former Championship second choice strikers are there in the world?

 

[WRox]

Shifting Obita and signing Grayson seemed perfectly sensible at the time, and probably helped us get Barker and Lee done too.

The assumption was though that Grayson had been properly scouted and impressed, and could genuinely cover three positions. On reflection it looks like one that was a bit of a rushed deadline day panic.

Hanson’s hideous at left back btw. It’s not his fault but there were so many occasions yesterday where he played into midfield where a left footer would have played a safer ball down the line. The balance of the team was all wrong as well with a right footer at left back. He played fine within his huge limitations but we shouldn’t ignore the bigger picture.

 

[Jolteon]

If we’ve got to the point where we’re praising Hanson for doing “pretty well”, we really are accepting mediocrity.

I’m not sure the man is even L2 standard in all honesty (as demonstrated by our inability to offload him, due also to his eye-watering salary).

Derby must still be chuckling at us (if they can remember who he is).

You also have to consider the squad cap, though. Offloading Obita meant we had a squad space free for Barker, who offers a lot more than Obita ever did. I'm not saying we SHOULD be relying on Hanson, but that's where the cards have landed in us bringing in an exciting attacking player and Grayson being well below the standard we expected. I would've taken Obita over Hanson, 100%, but I also would take Barker over Obita 100%.

 

[Oxford84]

Yep, I’d say the majority were disappointed he left and concerned that we didn’t have suitable cover in place

he couldnt even play 2 games a week.

 

[MiddleBartonYellow]

Can’t blame that every season. We aren’t special. Every single club deals with it.

Although one way to avoid this would be to not sign as many players who either are or have recently been injured.

I don’t think there are many clubs where the 3 first choice midfielders have missed large chunks of the season because of illness and injury.

 

[Berliner]

Can’t blame that every season. We aren’t special. Every single club deals with it.

Although one way to avoid this would be to not sign as many players who either are or have recently been injured.

And yet people on here are clamouring for McGuane to sign.
Be very, very careful what you wish for.

 

[mooro]

Shifting Obita and signing Grayson seemed perfectly sensible at the time, and probably helped us get Barker and Lee done too.

The assumption was though that Grayson had been properly scouted and impressed, and could genuinely cover three positions. On reflection it looks like one that was a bit of a rushed deadline day panic.

Hanson’s hideous at left back btw. It’s not his fault but there were so many occasions yesterday where he played into midfield where a left footer would have played a safer ball down the line. The balance of the team was all wrong as well with a right footer at left back. He played fine within his huge limitations but we shouldn’t ignore the bigger picture.

I'm right footed and preferred playing left back, then again, I wasn't known for my overlapping prowess.
What I liked about obita was that represented a more conservative option on the left with an eye to supporting the left back, rather than the out and out wingers we now put there instead.
Saying that, I was happy with him moving on as he did, with McNally and Barker instead

 

[Northernyellow]

If we’ve got to the point where we’re praising Hanson for doing “pretty well”, we really are accepting mediocrity.

I’m not sure the man is even L2 standard in all honesty (as demonstrated by our inability to offload him, due also to his eye-watering salary).

Derby must still be chuckling at us (if they can remember who he is).

Hanson is pretty hopeless. I actually feel sorry for the bloke, as he looks like he always at least trying. He isn't that quick, his first touch is horrendous, and while his long-range passing isn't too bad, his short passing is consistently poor. When he first arrived, I was quite impressed at the number of last ditch tackles he made, until I realised that was because he was constantly out of position. If we did pay big money for him, then it was/is a total waste. I would be reasonably surprised to see him find a L2 team when he is finally released.

 

[southcoastyellow]

I’m supportive of signing players like McGuane but it’s true that players not playing, become better players, he’s played very little and the biggest mistake KR made was relying on him being fit all season, after 3 years KR has still not got the squad balance right LB is another prime example.

 

[Jolteon]

And yet people on here are clamouring for McGuane to sign.
Be very, very careful what you wish for.

Is McGuane seen as a serious injury risk? I know he's had this big one this season, but I personally haven't heard anything that would show him as a Baptiste/Winnall/Holmes level injury risk? I'm not that versed on his career before us so if there is a history I'd be perhaps less interested at signing for a larger fee unless we signed a solid L1 midfielder with a very good injury history alongside.

 

[uptheus]

Hanson is pretty hopeless. I actually feel sorry for the bloke, as he looks like he always at least trying. He isn't that quick, his first touch is horrendous, and while his long-range passing isn't too bad, his short passing is consistently poor. When he first arrived, I was quite impressed at the number of last ditch tackles he made, until I realised that was because he was constantly out of position. If we did pay big money for him, then it was/is a total waste. I would be reasonably surprised to see him find a L2 team when he is finally released.

Or like Ruffels his first touch is so poor that his second touch has to be a tackle!

 

[uptheus]

Hanson has done pretty well at left back in my opinion. He struggled on the right against Lincoln but picked his game up second half on the left and kept their RW pretty quiet. He got rinsed once against Sunderland but the movement from their player would've left every L1 full back on their ass, especially with the lack of backup from Barker. Obita came in for free, played a couple games where he was no better than average at best, then buggered off bringing in 150k for us. It was a good deal that in reality we had no business turning down. Grayson came in looking like a player with good pedigree that could cover multiple positions, and turned out to be a bit useless, but not one person on this forum complained about the Grayson signing at the time so to claim some kind of foresight is ridiculous.

What, like when he had to cut inside to have the ball on his favoured foot and had the ball snatch off him which they then went on to score or when he did it again and ended up getting booked? (This was in previous games!)

I actually think he’s better at right back (apart from first few games when bedding in/getting to match fitness).

Surprised Karl didn’t put him in the Gorrin role yesterday as it was the actual position he initially came here for to then allow Brannagan to have gone further forward etc, but hey ho.

 

[uptheus]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Looking back on the posts on this thread, it’s a mix of understanding Obita desiring a longer deal that we weren’t willing to match, praise for commanding a fee for him and investing that in McNally and various views of him as a place from disappointment to him going to not-that-bothered.

Personally I thought Obita offered something. At this moment in time after four losses in five you do desperately reach out for excuses and I’m not surprised that his name has cropped back up. Having any form of extra midfield option at present would be worthwhile.

We cannot afford to have Henry and Lee In the midfield as they are both past their sell dates in terms of pace etc, add Winnall to that and you might as well play with 8 players.

They all have their moments, especially Henry (still trying to think of others for Lee and Winnall, but gave them the benefit of doubt!), but they’re too slow so offer nothing at pace e.g. quick break always so leaves Taylor completely isolated.

 

[Followtheox1]

They all have their moments, especially Henry (still trying to think of others for Lee and Winnall, but gave them the benefit of doubt!),

In terms of moments, I think Lee's goals to games started ratio speaks for itself.

 

[RyanioBirdio]

The assumption was though that Grayson had been properly scouted and impressed, and could genuinely cover three positions. On reflection it looks like one that was a bit of a rushed deadline day panic.

Grayson hadn’t played a first team game at any level for 18 months when he signed, and had spent a full year out with a massive hamstring injury. Google will tell you that. He’s also not very good.

Apparently, though, that’s the fault of mere supporters who didn’t immediately jump all over him and slag him off after the deal had already been done, rather than the fault of those who signed him to begin with.

Next season we need four, PROPER full backs at the club. Not two starters and two cheap as chips kids who know they won’t ever realistically play, or two midfielders we’ve decided to retrain or who can ‘do a job’. Four actual, real life full backs who offer genuine competition as well as depth. We’ve got over a dozen midfielders on the books at the moment and a couple more out on loan; I’m sure we can make room.

 

[WRox]

Grayson hadn’t played a first team game at any level for 18 months when he signed, and had spent a full year out with a massive hamstring injury. Google will tell you that. He’s also not very good.

Apparently, though, that’s the fault of mere supporters who didn’t immediately jump all over him and slag him off after the deal had already been done, rather than the fault of those who signed him to begin with.

Next season we need four, PROPER full backs at the club. Not two starters and two cheap as chips kids who know they won’t ever realistically play, or two midfielders we’ve decided to retrain or who can ‘do a job’. Four actual, real life full backs who offer genuine competition as well as depth. We’ve got over a dozen midfielders on the books at the moment and a couple more out on loan; I’m sure we can make room.

Totally agree with that last paragraph. We could certainly improve on Long and Ruffels as well but it’s not imperative, only that competent cover is in place one way or another.

It is a shame that we don’t seem to be able to pick out u23 talents like we used to under Appleton - Lundstram, Ledson, McAleny, Roofe.... and he’s still doing it with Rogers at Lincoln. Grayson perhaps an example of this as was playing fairly consistently at that level I thought (could be wrong).

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

Is this the Obita that is currently injured and has been for the past few weeks ?

 

[bazzer9461]

Totally agree with that last paragraph. We could certainly improve on Long and Ruffels as well but it’s not imperative, only that competent cover is in place one way or another.

It is a shame that we don’t seem to be able to pick out u23 talents like we used to under Appleton - Lundstram, Ledson, McAleny, Roofe.... and he’s still doing it with Rogers at Lincoln. Grayson perhaps an example of this as was playing fairly consistently at that level I thought (could be wrong).

Ah but in all fairness Rogers was already known as a special talent

 

[bazzer9461]

Grayson hadn’t played a first team game at any level for 18 months when he signed, and had spent a full year out with a massive hamstring injury. Google will tell you that. He’s also not very good.

Apparently, though, that’s the fault of mere supporters who didn’t immediately jump all over him and slag him off after the deal had already been done, rather than the fault of those who signed him to begin with.

Next season we need four, PROPER full backs at the club. Not two starters and two cheap as chips kids who know they won’t ever realistically play, or two midfielders we’ve decided to retrain or who can ‘do a job’. Four actual, real life full backs who offer genuine competition as well as depth. We’ve got over a dozen midfielders on the books at the moment and a couple more out on loan; I’m sure we can make room.

Sam Long isn't that bad he has certainly improved