[Archived] Transfer Window - January 2016

[Stuart]

Still think a right back is one of our priorities. The distribution from that area of the pitch has been erratic at best.

I really think that a striker and CM are required before RB.

[Speedie Dived]

It's not chicken and egg though. It's cold hard facts.

Look at the top scorers at all other clubs. Rhodes is in amongst his peers. Slightly poor by his own standards but respectable.

Then we have nobody to compete with anybody else's second highest scorer. At ANY of the 23 other clubs. Even Bolton!!

I can only infer from your comment that you believe that our midfielders don't get chances because of Rhodes. I say it's because they aren't good enough. I can't even remember the last time that they created a chance for Rhodes - never mind he for them!

We need pace in midfield and we need a battering ram with a bit of quality on the ball up front. To complement Rhodes, not instead of him. Let's say we drop Rhodes tomorrow and play Brown or Lawrence and Delfouneso for our next league game. Do you really see them creating chances for our midfield? For each other? For themselves? Do you see them taking those chances?

We are devoid of finishing quality. If Rhodes is taken out of the game we don't look to create chances by exploiting the space which that creates. If anything, with he right midfield, having Rhodes occupying defenders should meant that there is more chance of our midfielders creating chances. But there isn't anyone.

Yes I am saying our centre forward has a direct impact on chances created for team mates.

The last direct assist I can think of was setting up Lawrence against Burnley.

He never created one goal for Rudy.

Just because he scores you cant absolve him of any blame for others not.

[Speedie Dived]

Absolute bunkum den with respect.

We had 2 strikers last season that scored 40 goals between them and still we finished mid table, so that theory has been well and truly put to bed.

We need midfield players that can put a foot on the ball and pick a pass, with pace if possible, not 2 new strikers.

Clearly we need more quality in midfield, in the first 11 as well.

If I couldn't sell Rhodes I would surround him with as much pace as possible.

And some deep lying quality midfielders as you say.

The good thing with us being so poor at the moment is it's not that hard to improve upon.

I really think that a striker and CM are required before RB.

All ideally, but the RB areas needs addressing. Full backs are so vital in today's game, look at Trippier who basically played quarter back for Burnley.

[Stuart]

Yes I am saying our centre forward has a direct impact on chances created for team mates.

The last direct assist I can think of was setting up Lawrence against Burnley.

He never created one goal for Rudy.

Just because he scores you can absolve him of any blame for others not.

Utter, utter bunkum.

If nothing else he created space which Gestede exploited but besides that he was third highest in the assists stakes.

It's good to know that not only is Rhodes single-handedly expected to carry this team and not only does he not score enough (9) but he is also at fault for other players not scoring either!!

Unreal.

[Speedie Dived]

Utter, utter bunkum.

If nothing else he created space which Gestede exploited but besides that he was third highest in the assists stakes.

It's good to know that not only is Rhodes single-handedly expected to carry this team and not only does he not score enough (9) but he is also at fault for other players not scoring either!!

Unreal.

It's not an opinion, it's a fact. He never assisted a goal for Rudy.

[den]

Yes I am saying our centre forward has a direct impact on chances created for team mates.

The last direct assist I can think of was setting up Lawrence against Burnley.

He never created one goal for Rudy.

Just because he scores you cant absolve him of any blame for others not.

Precisely.

[JBiz]

Maybe it's more of the system than the players. Bowyer constantly used two defensively minded players in a 4 man midfield- maybe we need to play Lawrence, Taylor or Marshall behind rhodes with Conway and another out wide.

Koita is left footed I think - why not try him on the wing if we can't sign any players to test the first team. I think a wide forward position was more his history anyway. We all know Jordan isn't a target man or a pacy striker so why not make a system based on playing to his and the teams strengths.

We've tried playing this flat midfield for far too long and the only consistency we've achieved has been the last three defeats - consistently laboured and one dimensional. I've seen a few say we never looked liked fighting in past, but I never thought it was perspiration or effort that held us back - I thought it was the application of tactics and the overall quality of the squad.

The Bolton game in particular lacked effort.

[Baz]

We need both midfielders and strikers, arguing over which is needed seems a bit pointless to me.

[den]

Utter, utter bunkum.

If nothing else he created space which Gestede exploited but besides that he was third highest in the assists stakes.

It's good to know that not only is Rhodes single-handedly expected to carry this team and not only does he not score enough (9) but he is also at fault for other players not scoring either!!

Unreal.

Bunkum Stuart - and you used to be such a good poster.

Bet you had to check who posted this

[K-Hod]

Can people stop saying bunkum?!

[Stuart]

It's not an opinion, it's a fact. He never assisted a goal for Rudy.

Yes he did.

[JBiz]

Is that a banning offence now also :-)

[Stuart]

Bunkum Stuart - and you used to be such a good poster.

Bet you had to check who posted this

Leave it out DEN.

[K-Hod]

Is that a banning offence now also :-)

Don't be so cheeky! I saw that 'like' earlier on, you're on thin ice already Bizzle

[Blue blood]

I really think that a striker and CM are required before RB.

Agree, mainly because even with poor results we're not letting in many goals. Scoring them's our problem.

Btw I think Apkan can do a job for us, shown some promising signs and I feel he can fit into Lambert's pressing energetic style. However he needs someone next to him who can equally do that, or can keep the ball and pass it about, without being miles off the pace.

As for strikers - 2 are needed minimum. koita, Borwn and Delfonso are an embarrassment for a league 1 team as a strike force, much less a championship team.

[Speedie Dived]

Yes he did.

I stand corrected but can't recall it. Point still valid, his assists to Rudy will be criminally low.

[Mani]

RB, CM, Winger and a striker are an absolute must in this window.

I'd go on to overhaul the entire midfield in the summer!

[Speedie Dived]

What time are the early editions of the papers out? Can pretty much take Nixon's tales as gospel on Lambert's Rovers.

[davulsukur]

I think a Gestede replacement should be the priority in the short term.

The squad is set up for that style, we have no technically gifted centre mids, no pace either on the wings or upfront.

We have skill-less grafters in the middle. The only plan is to get the ball out wide to Conway and Marshall to whip a ball in for a Gestede-type striker to get onto the end of, with Rhodes feeding off the scraps.

By passing the midfield and punting it up the big man for flick ons to Rhodes or to hold up the ball and play it to the on coming wingers.

Koita isn't good enough and neither is Brown (if he is ever fit) Bowyer struggled like hell to get anything out of the squad this season without Rudy. Any change in playing style he tried to implement didn't work, presumably because the water carriers in midfield he has ammassed, simply aren't good enough to get the ball down and pass it around. None of them can make defence splitting passes.

The squad needs some serious work. Players need shifting out and replaced with more technically gifted players and we desperately need some pace.

Lambert is up against it massively, until the summer at least (hopefully) where he can shift some players out and get some better players in.

It will be a struggle until he can add to the squad. Bringing in one target man striker, who has a bit of quality, should be the priority.

Easier said than done.

[pick32]

Id keep Conway in midfield and one of Evans or akpan, need two new faces in mid, a winger who can run at defenders and a cm with creativity which we have lacked since Tugay

[sharpysharps]

RB, CM, Winger and a striker are an absolute must in this window.

I'd go on to overhaul the entire midfield in the summer!

My opinion also. I'll be surprised if we don't bring in 3 or 4, maybe even 5 new players, even if they are all loans with a view to permanent signings. Derby utilised this well last season and then made the likes of Tom Ince permanent in the summer.

We have been so poor recently but selection is limited. We haven't got a leader in central midfield, no support for Rhodes up top, and only really 1 consistent assist provider in Conway...not to mention there is zero pace in this team.

I suppose the positive at this point is that we don't have a league game for a couple of weeks, which gives the club some time to bring some new players in.

[patrickvalery]

Look at the bench today. Lambert must've looked at it and wondered what the feck he was supposed to do. Although Middlesbrough are proving what I'm about to say wrong, this division rewards attacking play. I'd say sod the right back, let's go all out to improve the top end of the pitch.

[DE.]

Look at the bench today. Lambert must've looked at it and wondered what the feck he was supposed to do. Although Middlesbrough are proving what I'm about to say wrong, this division rewards attacking play. I'd say sod the right back, let's go all out to improve the top end of the pitch.

We've got defence largely sorted. If we can improve our attacking play and attacking players we'll pick up points. It's something Bowyer was never able to get right in terms of balance, and Lambert is being paid considerably more (I assume) to get it right.

[Pedro]

It's the chicken and the egg again (Rhodes or midfielders).

A good point that a mate made recently, apart from long distance efforts our midfielders don't get presented with chances to take.

I can only think of Akpan getting into the box in open play.

[danger19_80]

Look at the bench today. Lambert must've looked at it and wondered what the feck he was supposed to do. Although Middlesbrough are proving what I'm about to say wrong, this division rewards attacking play. I'd say sod the right back, let's go all out to improve the top end of the pitch.

Didn't one of Boro's defenders score their winner? Most of ours (CBs especially) get the chances but fluff their lines all too often.