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Evolution or Revolution


Professor
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Nigel Adkins talked about the squad evolving. By releasing Bart and loaning Martin he made it clear he wants a GK and a CB, neither of which have yet been signed, so that seems definitely 2 to come. The signing of Jay Rod and Steven Davis both add quality leaving the most obvious weakness on the RW. Five new players GK, CB, CMF, RW and STR would seem to be in line with NA's evolution plan but many of the players being linked with the club would take us into the realms of revolution. Buttner and Clyne may be good players but how great is the need when LB and RB are positions that are well covered and we have young players ready to step up? So is the speculation just paper talk, or are the club actually going for revolution?

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Nigel Adkins talked about the squad evolving. By releasing Bart and loaning Martin he made it clear he wants a GK and a CB, neither of which have yet been signed, so that seems definitely 2 to come. The signing of Jay Rod and Steven Davis both add quality leaving the most obvious weakness on the RW. Five new players GK, CB, CMF, RW and STR would seem to be in line with NA's evolution plan but many of the players being linked with the club would take us into the realms of revolution. Buttner and Clyne may be good players but how great is the need when LB and RB are positions that are well covered and we have young players ready to step up? So is the speculation just paper talk, or are the club actually going for revolution?

 

Have we signed Buttner and Clyne...does the season start tomorrow that we dont have a GK or CB?

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Nigel Adkins talked about the squad evolving. By releasing Bart and loaning Martin he made it clear he wants a GK and a CB, neither of which have yet been signed, so that seems definitely 2 to come. The signing of Jay Rod and Steven Davis both add quality leaving the most obvious weakness on the RW. Five new players GK, CB, CMF, RW and STR would seem to be in line with NA's evolution plan but many of the players being linked with the club would take us into the realms of revolution. Buttner and Clyne may be good players but how great is the need when LB and RB are positions that are well covered and we have young players ready to step up? So is the speculation just paper talk, or are the club actually going for revolution?

 

Some of the speculation is paper talk, we're evolving, but have always needed at least 5 new players.

 

It seems the idea now is to use the step up to get young proven Championship talent in this summer, before the reality of the Prem hits and we're potentially put in a position of having to sign more in less favourable circumstances if struggling at Xmas.

 

I said in January 2012 we'd need a new GK, maybe RB, a CB (or two), RM, CM (or two) and ST even after we'd signed Sharp and Lee and before we shed Bialkowski or Martin, and it seems we can add a LB to that too. I was assuming we'd not sign more than 5 at a time, but assuming we're signing a GK and CB to replace the leavers, there's also Jaidi and Connolly/Barnard to replace (Rodriguez has started that) along with the evident shortage at right mid.

 

That's a lot of new players, no two ways about it.

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Without a GK x2, RB, CB, LB and a RM I think we'd be in serious trouble, but as long as they're all covered I think we'll be alright. Anything else like another ST or CM is a bonus.

 

Not sure we need 2 goalies, but possibly. RB, CB, LB and RM - spot on.

 

We look close to sorting out the RB and LB slots, CB is in the pipleline and I'd imagine we'll sign 2 new CB's.

 

I bet you we'll also sign Zaha as an option on RM.

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Taking a quick view of our current squad and asking the question, "do we have 2 PL level players in each position" I would argue we still need to sign a GK, RB,CB,LB,RM&LM.

Even then, this would mean considering Seabourne & Chaplow as decent enough at CB & CM (probably not, but maybe good enough as 4th choice). I have not considered the likes of JWP or Shaw etc. in this.

 

I'm suggesting we should look to move Hammond, Harding, Punch, De Ridder, Barnard, Butterfield, Forte & Dickson on, as they IMO are not good enough. Thats tough I know, especially on the first 6, who have all played to varying degrees a part in our rise to the PL.

 

If this is done, it would mean signing 8 players during this window, which I believe is around the number Norwich signed when promoted. Not revolution for sure, but strong evolution.

 

Lets see what NC & NA go with. My guess is we will sign 6 of the 8 and both Hammond & De Ridder will not leave and there would be no harm in that.

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Taking a quick view of our current squad and asking the question, "do we have 2 PL level players in each position" I would argue we still need to sign a GK, RB,CB,LB,RM&LM.

Even then, this would mean considering Seabourne & Chaplow as decent enough at CB & CM (probably not, but maybe good enough as 4th choice). I have not considered the likes of JWP or Shaw etc. in this.

 

I'm suggesting we should look to move Hammond, Harding, Punch, De Ridder, Barnard, Butterfield, Forte & Dickson on, as they IMO are not good enough. Thats tough I know, especially on the first 6, who have all played to varying degrees a part in our rise to the PL.

 

If this is done, it would mean signing 8 players during this window, which I believe is around the number Norwich signed when promoted. Not revolution for sure, but strong evolution.

 

Lets see what NC & NA go with. My guess is we will sign 6 of the 8 and both Hammond & De Ridder will not leave and there would be no harm in that.

 

I posted in late Feb/early March that Both Norwich and Swansea had replaced 7 or 8 of their Championship starters from Feb 2011 by Feb 2012 - but that's 2 transfer windows rather than just the summer.

 

Of your list I think only Puncheon and De Ridder are arguable, the former we know is of adequate standard for the first month of any contract ;), the latter I think could still have a role as an impact sub.

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Latest quotes from Nigel Adkins suggest quite a lot more development of the squad than might have been expected from the immediate post-season comments. Although that might be hard on some of the players who contributed to the two promotions, epsecially getting the club out of the NpC, its hard to see a place for sentiment in top-level football, where winning as many games as you can is really all that matters. So it seems the total recruitment could be 9 players: GKx2, FBx2, CBx2, 1xCMF, 1xRW, 1xSTR. Only two signed so far, but based on the speculation, its possible there could be 7 more signings to come. I'm inclined to think I'll believe it when I see it but it doesn't look like fantasy land.

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