DanBoro4499
Well-known member
I thought the same, although it was a low bar that day
How do you solve a problem like Dela ?
- Thread starter Chorleygeorge
- Start date
Subbuteo_171
Well-known member
I think we'll see Erabi coming in, loan with option to buy.
I don't think Strelec will be here, and can't see a couplenof those fitting into what Hellberg wants. Wouldn't be surprised to see Whittaker moving on either.
I don't think Strelec will be here, and can't see a couplenof those fitting into what Hellberg wants. Wouldn't be surprised to see Whittaker moving on either.
Corcaigh_the_Cat
Well-known member
He's not good enough but you don't farm players out without replacing them with better.
We didn't do that.
We didn't do that.
DanBoro4499
Well-known member
He would have contributed a LOT more than Sarmiento in the last few months of the season, could not be more certain of that.
TeaCider
Well-known member
Replace him with better.
We clearly failed to do that in January.
We've got a situation right now where we'd probably want to replace a third of our remaining squad with better players, on top of the empty squad positions.
The problem is, quite a few of those players are ones we signed to try and replace previous failed signings, and they've went on to flop themselves.
We won't get every signing right, but we need to improve the ratio of successes.
We clearly failed to do that in January.
We've got a situation right now where we'd probably want to replace a third of our remaining squad with better players, on top of the empty squad positions.
The problem is, quite a few of those players are ones we signed to try and replace previous failed signings, and they've went on to flop themselves.
We won't get every signing right, but we need to improve the ratio of successes.
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MichaelDebeve
Well-known member
Make him captain
Watch him flourish
Watch him flourish
MickaelDebevePhenomenal
Well-known member
Sell him. The problem is he isn't good enough. The fact our replacements for him were also not good enough, doesn't mean he is the level we need moving forward.
The majority of Burgzorgs quality moments came in the back end of games when the opposition were throwing people forward and we were hanging on in games and hitting on the counter or when he played off the left and was there to contain the opposition.
The only game I think he might have helped was maybe Bristol city at home, but even then he would have ran clean through, chopped inside delayed, tripped over, and then shot straight at a recovering defender.
The majority of Burgzorgs quality moments came in the back end of games when the opposition were throwing people forward and we were hanging on in games and hitting on the counter or when he played off the left and was there to contain the opposition.
The only game I think he might have helped was maybe Bristol city at home, but even then he would have ran clean through, chopped inside delayed, tripped over, and then shot straight at a recovering defender.
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RobboTheRed
Well-known member
Why replace him when Sarmiento is the poorer player
How do you expect it to look?
We currently have:
McGree
Castledine
Sarmiento
Whittaker
Burgzorg
Hansen
Hamilton
Conway
Strelec
Sene
Peart-Harris
Joseph
12 players for the front 4.
How many of those do you actually expect us to move on and replace? We are currently 2 or 3 players heavy so we need to get 2 or 3 out the door just to get the right number. We probably need to get 5 out the door to sign two more.
I expect Hamilton and Sene will definitely be gone, or not registered if they can't be moved on.
I think we'll try and move on Burgzorg, Hansen and Strelec but they aren't players we'll just write off. If we can't get sales or loans for them then they'll be here.
That's a lot of work to do just to free space up for one or two incomings. To bring in another 3 or 4 like you are suggesting we probably need to get 6+ out the door and I just don't see that happening.
indeedido
Well-known member
It wasn’t good enough last season.
If it doesn’t have surgery it won’t be again IMHO.
Am really disappointed at the signing of Sarmiento, PH and Joseph.
Burgzorg, Hamilton Hansen and Sene are just not good enough and need to be moved on.
I don’t think Strelec will come good either.
You and I are at opposite poles re Conway , but of the deadly dozen above he is clearly one of our better options.
Whittaker and McGree have obvious ability, but Riley’s fitness is a concern unlikely to go away.
Castledine may progress, I’m not saying otherwise, but don’t see him as a starter at all.
You are right there are 12 for 4, but I find that 12 really uninspiring
I dont necessarily disagree with you.
I'm remaining open minded on the 2 new lads though and trying to look at why we've signed them. I haven't seen much of either so I'm happy to form an opinion after seeing them in a Boro shirt.
Sarmiento was poor last season. But we've found ourselves in a situation where we've paid £3mil for him so it's highly likely he's in the 25 man squad.
Conway and McGree were both starters last season and given the sales of Hackney and Fry, then the loss of Targett and Browne, we would be crazy to let either of them go. Whether they have question marks or not.
Whittaker was our top scorer, a frustrating player at times and maybe doesn’t fit Hellberg's style but while he's scoring plenty of goals I can't see us not going with him.
Castledine looked encouraging last season when he was fit and was signed when Hellberg is here so expect him to be part of the squad this season. He plays with good intensity.
So that's 7 players I would be very surprised if we didn't go into the season with.
P-H
Joseph
Conway
McGree
Whittaker
Castledine
Sarmiento
That leaves:
Hamilton - will be gone or deregistered
Sene - will be gone or deregistered
Burgzorg - I think likely sold or loaned out
Hansen - I think likely sold or loaned out
Strelec - I'm hearing from a good source that we are trying to move on but might be difficult to find a buyer that suits all parties. If we can't move him on he's too expensive to freeze out.
If we can get these players out the door then we probabky have space for 2 players. Another number 9 to replace Strelec. And probably someone as an alternative to Whittaker on the right. If we got the right players in, I wouldn't be too disappointed with that.
There's a mountain of work to do elsewhere though as well.
1 x GK
1 x CB
1/2 x LB
3 X CM
Possibly a RB.
indeedido
Well-known member
We need a starting CF and a step up at 10/ CF.
I’m not advocating selling Conway or especially Whittaker, given our turnover of players.
I agree that we have plenty of other recruitment to do, especially CM, LB and CB positions.
I just can’t get away from a poor forward line costing us and not getting stronger.
I'm sure the recruitment team and Hellberg will think they've already strengthened it with the two signings. Whether that's the starting team or depth is yet to be seen. My guess is Joseph comes in for Strelec as a starter and P-H adds depth in the AM positions (better than Nypan/Burgzorg/Hansen/Sarmiento et al).
If we replaced Strelec for a quality no9 which I believe we are trying to do then I think we've had a decent go at upgrading it.
We will have kept our strongest 3 attacking players in McGree, Whittaker and Conway and added 3 players that are hopefully better than the ones they are replacing.
Castledine is like a new signing as well. We hardy got to see him last season with his fitness issues and when we did he was often out of position playing as no9 of the bench because Sene was shyte.
I'm really hoping we replace Strelec, but if we can't we need to have him down the pecking order IMO.
I would be gutted if we went into the season with him as our starting no9. I just don't see him giving us what we need.