Do We Need Any More Signings?

[Ric Flair]

We've made a decent start to the season, we could quite easily have started badly, but we've managed to use our strength and quality in areas to win matches.

I just wondered, is the squad complete yet for this season?

I have concerns about our central midfield, I don't think Oakley and King are particularly suited to each other and i've said this all season. For me, King's best games have come when he's not played alongside Oakley. Oakley, is very inconsistent as well. With Clemence out for a long while, Wesolowski a far cry from the performances he's capable of and Kishishev has disappeared, I think we're lacking an aggressive play maker.

Striking wise, Fryatt has scored at an impressive rate and if it wasn't for some diabolical refereeing/linesman decisions Howard would have 5 or 6 goals by now as well. But with injuries now occuring, I think it will highlight a weakness we have up front.

We have 4 strikers available on our books (Hayles is on loan and Chambers is definitely injured for a few more weeks) out of those 4, one has serious pace, but he's off form, unhappy, lacking confidence and not actually very good. We then have a former folk hero, who is injury prone and when fit, will be more suited to playing alongside Howard, but with Fryatt on form, he'll struggle to get in. From the bench however, he's looked un-impressive to me. Having said that, that's because he's often been played on the wing.

I just feel we are lacking a striker who can give us something else, with pace. Jermain Beckford has pace and power and we lack that. We have power in Howard, but he's very cumbersome and Fryatt has good control and movement, but neither pace nor dangerous skill. There will be games, and we've seen it already where we'll run out of ideas when teams sit back and we can't break through due to a lack of pace. DJ doesn't look to be the answer, he's a busted flush here, irrespective of his cameo at Hartlepool and Orient.

So to sum up this bollocks, I think a new central midfielder and striker wouldn't go a miss.

[AmericanScott]

I really like Jimbo and i want him to at least start sometime soon. I think he has the ability to well instead of Oakley or King.

[Uncle Albert]

Striker. Just because Dickov cant cut it and one injury to Howard or Fryatt and we are ballsed. Would love to see a striker who is a natural finisher come in and just get us something out of nothing and can lift the crowd when he touches the ball. That kind of player.

[Ric Flair]

Striker. Just because Dickov cant cut it and one injury to Howard or Fryatt and we are ballsed. Would love to see a striker who is a natural finisher come in and just get us something out of nothing and can lift the crowd when he touches the ball. That kind of player.

Do we have any suggestions for the sort of striker that might be? I am struggling for realistic suggestions right now. I can't believe Liam Dickinson has already been farmed out from Derby and is at Huddersfield. I liked the look of him as well.

[Munzie]

My call would be to go for a more creative central midfielder. It will be interesting to see what happens when Clemence returns to the team as he did show brief glimpses of controlling play last season.

[James.]

Agree about a striker with the qualities you've put down Ric. Centre midfield, not sure. Could Nicky Adams play that more aggressive role? From what I saw at Orient he likes to chase down and harry players and also likes to push forward and attack. He didn't seem particularly keen to take players on down the wing so maybe he could be more effective in centre midfield. I know he's not exactly what you would want there but I reckon he deserves a run in the team.

Saying all that I can't see Oakley being dropped as he's captain. Pearson seems to like the combination with King even if it didn't seem to work too well when I saw it last against Orient.

[Fez of Mahrez]

With the players we've got, threads like this aren't needed. We've not performed well for the last three games but we started the season extremely well and I think it's time to trust Pearson to get them back playing like that instead of chucking money at it like we did last season. There seems to be a good feeling within the current squad of players.

If we can't get a decent pairing out of Oakley, Clemence, King, Wesolowski and Kishishev / Howard, Fryatt, Campbell and Dickov - then we may as well pack up now.

Last season we thought we needed this, we needed that, in they all came one after the other and the complete lack of continuity cost us in the end. We've got a chance this year of creating a really decent young squad for the next few years and I think we should be putting faith in them now. We had a few kids come in for the Hartlepool game and they did really well in the end. Last night was poor but it shouldn't be seen as a marker for our overall performances this season - it was just job done, next round, now let's start playing to our strengths and get back to winning comfortably at home.

[The People's Hero]

Big Trev is still available.

[James.]

With the players we've got, threads like this aren't needed. We've not performed well for the last three games but we started the season extremely well and I think it's time to trust Pearson to get them back playing like that instead of chucking money at it like we did last season. There seems to be a good feeling within the current squad of players.

If we can't get a decent pairing out of Oakley, Clemence, King, Wesolowski and Kishishev / Howard, Fryatt, Campbell and Dickov - then we may as well pack up now.

Last season we thought we needed this, we needed that, in they all came one after the other and the complete lack of continuity cost us in the end. We've got a chance this year of creating a really decent young squad for the next few years and I think we should be putting faith in them now. We had a few kids come in for the Hartlepool game and they did really well in the end. Last night was poor but it shouldn't be seen as a marker for our overall performances this season - it was just job done, next round, now let's start playing to our strengths and get back to winning comfortably at home.

We're only talking about a maximum of 2 signings. And as I alluded to I agree that we have enough for centre midfield so really I'd only like to see 1 signing and that's a striker with pace that isn't DJ Campbell. I enjoyed what he did on Saturday but when I look back over his time here moments like that are few and far between. I'm not convinced he deserves to have faith put in him and would rather seem part exchanged for a newer, classier model.

Who? F**k knows. Damn. I guess you're probably right then after all...

[Fez of Mahrez]

We're only talking about a maximum of 2 signings. And as I alluded to I agree that we have enough for centre midfield so really I'd only like to see 1 signing and that's a striker with pace that isn't DJ Campbell. I enjoyed what he did on Saturday but when I look back over his time here moments like that are few and far between. I'm not convinced he deserves to have faith put in him and would rather seem part exchanged for a newer, classier model.

Who? F**k knows. Damn. I guess you're probably right then after all...

I'm just enjoying not being desperate for a new signing and concentrating on the matches. I can't remember feeling like this since we were promoted in 2002/03. I was even underwhelmed when we signed Berner and Dickov because I don't think we particularly need either of them.

[Dr The Singh]

We're only talking about a maximum of 2 signings. And as I alluded to I agree that we have enough for centre midfield so really I'd only like to see 1 signing and that's a striker with pace that isn't DJ Campbell. I enjoyed what he did on Saturday but when I look back over his time here moments like that are few and far between. I'm not convinced he deserves to have faith put in him and would rather seem part exchanged for a newer, classier model.

Who? F**k knows. Damn. I guess you're probably right then after all...

We've got a massive squad, if we are in a promo place we should try and build for next season in the champoinship and get rid of some dead wood!!!

[Mark]

Too many center backs. Too few center mids.

[breadandcheese]

Striker-wise we're alright. Our strikers when they get the service are very good. Meanwhile, Dickov and DJ Campbell would be first-choice strikers at most clubs in this division.

Centre-mid is a bit of a worry. When teams harry us and close us down quickly, our mdifielders struggle. This was evident at Orient, and the same last night. Lincoln worked extremely hard when they didn't have the ball. King and Weso couldn't cope with this, misplacing passes and giving the ball away cheaply.

[breadandcheesebrother]

Striker-wise we're alright. Our strikers when they get the service are very good. Meanwhile, Dickov and DJ Campbell would be first-choice strikers at most clubs in this division.

Centre-mid is a bit of a worry. When teams harry us and close us down quickly, our mdifielders struggle. This was evident at Orient, and the same last night. Lincoln worked extremely hard when they didn't have the ball. King and Weso couldn't cope with this, misplacing passes and giving the ball away cheaply.

How about Robbie Savage!

[Houdini Logic]

I really like Jimbo and i want him to at least start sometime soon. I think he has the ability to well instead of Oakley or King.

I agree on Wesolowski, but he didn't do him self any favours last night!

I think king has looked tired the last couple of games and someone else needs a go

[RowlattsFox]

We could do with a ball-winning physical centre-midfielder, we seen against Millwall that the midfield was bullied and at Leyton Orient the defence got no protection at all. Wesolowski could be that man but I'm not sure Pearson rates him and he's impressed that much when hes had opportunities. King and Oakley have done alright most games but Pearson seems reluctant to change them during a game, I think Adams could be an option to go centre-mid if we're struggling to break a team down.

Campbell's had decent impact as a sub so far, set up goals at Hartlepool and Orient but we could do with someone with similar pace and a bit of strength as well who we could bring on. Although we'd have to get rid of Campbell first.

I don't think we NEED to buy anyone, we should have enough quality in the side at the minute to do well.

[davieG]

I agree with Fez in that Pearson should and must get more out of the current squad, the majority have still not performed 100% in any game or consistently over a number of games.

I believe they are capable of more, they are still in the process of blending and getting used to each other at the same time adopting a style of play that, based on the last few seasons is alien to them, that takes time.

A settled squad gives players the chance to learn each others style and become effective at anticipating what a player will do next and where that player will be, we haven't got that yet.

This squad should be good enough to stay near the top, Pearson needs to demonstrate that he's got what it takes to deliver because if we do get promoted it'll be a darn sight harder to get results even with the benefit of an improved squad.

[Kilworthfox]

Reliable Goalkeeper would be nice, also would be some bite in midfield and some pace upfront.

If we played Adams and Campbell more then these may not be such an issue as the last 10 minutes at Orient showed. However Centre mid is a major concern for me.

Signings?

Fulop or Fulopesq keeper would be awesome

The guy who played a blinder for Millwall in centre mid 29?

[Ric Flair]

I agree with Fez in what he says, but we now have a set up where we shouldn't under achieve so strengthening our squad and side should be welcomed. In past seasons, we needed to strengthen and stop under achieving, unfortunately the players we signed didn't help us achieve that.

There's no harm in looking to improve and I think there's a few areas we could look to improve, pace up front has been a problem for a while.

However, if we don't strengthen, I still feel we have a manager and a squad that is capable of promotion.

[Jimmy]

I think we need another target man, a creative central midfielder and I'd also see if QPR would be willing to sell Camp as he's their no 2 atm

[JoeyB]

TBh we have a good enough squad for the championship, when you look at it, we have only sold 3 players who were in our first team last season and replaced them with other players.

Hume - Dickov

Stearman - Gilbert (loan)

McAuley - Morrison/ Tunchev.

but atm it feels like we have sold more because we have been hit by injuries to players who i would say are Key players,

Clemence, Mattock, Kisnorbo.

When we have those 3 players back fighting fit, our squad will be even better, we will have enhanced competition and players will be challenging more for first team footie, atm it just seems like players are resting on their lorals, thinking, oh i have started the first few games my position is as good as safe.

Pearson need to drum into them, that their position isn't safe and even after one bad performance players should be dropped.

Our squad is big enough, to cope with injuries as we can see now.

Our main problem is not that we need to sign players, its the fact that we need to learn how to break sides down, who put 10 men behind the ball.

thats just my feeling anyway

[Koke]

I'm worried about our strikers. When shit hits the fan and our two front men gets injured, then we in a bit of a mess.

We have two other strikers to call upon (not counting Ashley Chambers). One is a former hero, who I quite frankly don't think will quite cut it when needed, and the other is suffering from inscrutable unreliability and as Ric said isn't very good.

[dandannieldanok]

No more signings please, we've got to bed this new lot in.

[Candidcamera]

Fryatt is doing well and should be an automatic choice but Howard is only OK. If he was out we would need like for like and I'm not sure we've got such a player. I would go with Chambers but he's still young and injured.

Midfield have been good no need there nor defence iIMO.

[Joe.]

Another right back to cover Gilbert wouldn't go amiss for me.