Wanted: Pace
Pen to Paper
By Johnny Doran
May 23 2024
The squad for next season is taking shape, or at least we know who is staying. No new signings announced but our retained list sees us keeping hold of the core of the team that avoided relegation last season. Nigel Adkins has said he wants to bring in 10 additional signings. Pace will be key.
Our forward line currently looks unthreatening. Jennings, Dennis and Norris delivered 20 goals between them. You could add the three additional goals from Harvey Saunders, but it's not clear if he will be played as a forward or out wide. By comparison, Dean & Gilbey, MK Dons leading scorers, delivered 31 goals between them. They still only finished 4th. The thing is, if you want promotion you need goals. The sluggishness of our forward line won't be bothering many teams. Sam Taylor might offer an additional option, yet he didn't make a huge impact last season.
Midfield is also lacking in pace. Morris and Hawkes have got slower. Last season we were transformed by the counter attacking pace of Rob Apter. We need someone who can replicate that. Apter was, of course, exceptional. We need someone else who can bomb on and release players in front of goal. Hawkes used to do this when he first arrived. Now? Not so much.
At the back it's great that we have retained Lee O'Connor. Lee can make telling contributions as he gets forward, but he doesn't solve the challenges we face. A few seasons back attacking wing backs were a key feature of our play. It would be great to see a return to this tactic, but we need to recruit appropriately.
Like other supporters I will be keenly watching what happens between now and the start of the season. As many have suggested, League 2 looks wide open at the moment. Getting our recruitment right is essential, and having a team that works together as a team from the off is crucial.
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All we are saying… is give pace a chance
I agree we need more pace throughout the team, LOC & Wood with JT & Davies in particular is a concern pace wise, i imagine 4 of the 10 players mooted will be a RB, 2 CB, LB. Ideally at least 1 FB and 1 CB with pace. And I agree, similar in the likely midfield 4, slow as any.
Will be interesting to see if the potential 10 or so to come in, how many actually will be first 11. I think it’s key, improve the first 11 rather improve the squad. By doing so that squad inevitably gets stronger, though with those currently signed up it seems most are first choice from last season and take up a big chunk of the budget in wage.
Come August, I’m hoping our bench is filled with current players such as Wood, Davies, Hendry, Morris, Hawkes, Saunders, with the likes of Merrie, Taylor, Dennis fighting to get on the bench.
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Well let's face it, Rob Edwards should have given more than one game.
Then I ate his Liver.......... with some baked beans and a can of coke.
Don't reckon this chap would have much in the way of pace, but we should sign him up anyway!