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If you were the manager?
Aside from the obvious "get better players" given our last accounts were an £11m loss we can't have much wriggle room (if any) with FFP, so you'd think it's unlikely we will be splashing the cash.
The obvious problem this season has been goals and crating chances, I don't think anyone will disagree with that.
The crux of the problem for me is that we play a formation with 1 central striker and attacking wingers, but they are almost always far too isolated. Our midfield doesn't get up in support quickly enough, and the forwards don't hold the ball up enough to let them get there. Some strikers can do that job on their own well enough to bring other players into the game - unfortunately they are hard to come by and none of our current strikers really fit the bill.
For me a change of formation would be the best approach - I would be looking at a 3-5-2 (or 3-4-1-2).
At Centre back we will have Goutas, McGuinness, Ng and presumably Tsunoda to choose from, with possibly one of the youngsters bolstering that (although I believe Malachi Fagan-Walcott is out of contract in the summer) which seems like a good mixture of players for a back 3 - with Goutas and McGuinness providing the strength and Ng or Tsunoda able to bring the ball or pass the ball out of the defence.
Wing backs we would need to strengthen - if Ng is going to be in the back 3 again then we would ned a specialist RWB and I'm not sure Romeo is upto it, so that would be a big prioroty - I believe Drameh is out of contract.
Left side we have Collins, O'Dowda and the returning Bagan who can all do a job - it would be nice to improve on that though also as its such a key role for this formation.
Central midfield we have some sorting out to do whatever the formation. We have Ralls, Siopis, Wintle, Turnbull, Ramsey, Rinomhota, Adams and then the likes of Eli King and Joel Colwill to fit in - even if you class turnbull and ramsey as attacking midfielders only we still have a lot and it would be nice to bring in some extra quality as well.
Attacking midfield we would have R Colwill, with Turnbull and Ramsey possibly Robinson (if he can patch things up with the manager)
Up front we will have Meite, Etete, Robinson and the returning Isaac Davies, With Cian Ashford coming through as well - I think all of these work much better as part of a front 2 than on their own.
So we would definitely need a RWB to play this way - and then whatever other better players we can bring in as well.
The alternative would be to keep with the current formation but bring in a kind of striker that will make it all work.
This could make a significant difference - IF we can find that type of player (and a backup in case they get injured)
We would still have our ridiculous midfield to sort out and we would need to bring in wingers to replace Grand and Bowler (who are decent players at this level) unless we ant to play the likes of Maite, Davies and Ashford out wide?
Either approach COULD work, but It seems the 3-5-2 is more easily achievable with the current squad.
What would be your approach?
Aside from the obvious "get better players" given our last accounts were an £11m loss we can't have much wriggle room (if any) with FFP, so you'd think it's unlikely we will be splashing the cash.
The obvious problem this season has been goals and crating chances, I don't think anyone will disagree with that.
The crux of the problem for me is that we play a formation with 1 central striker and attacking wingers, but they are almost always far too isolated. Our midfield doesn't get up in support quickly enough, and the forwards don't hold the ball up enough to let them get there. Some strikers can do that job on their own well enough to bring other players into the game - unfortunately they are hard to come by and none of our current strikers really fit the bill.
For me a change of formation would be the best approach - I would be looking at a 3-5-2 (or 3-4-1-2).
At Centre back we will have Goutas, McGuinness, Ng and presumably Tsunoda to choose from, with possibly one of the youngsters bolstering that (although I believe Malachi Fagan-Walcott is out of contract in the summer) which seems like a good mixture of players for a back 3 - with Goutas and McGuinness providing the strength and Ng or Tsunoda able to bring the ball or pass the ball out of the defence.
Wing backs we would need to strengthen - if Ng is going to be in the back 3 again then we would ned a specialist RWB and I'm not sure Romeo is upto it, so that would be a big prioroty - I believe Drameh is out of contract.
Left side we have Collins, O'Dowda and the returning Bagan who can all do a job - it would be nice to improve on that though also as its such a key role for this formation.
Central midfield we have some sorting out to do whatever the formation. We have Ralls, Siopis, Wintle, Turnbull, Ramsey, Rinomhota, Adams and then the likes of Eli King and Joel Colwill to fit in - even if you class turnbull and ramsey as attacking midfielders only we still have a lot and it would be nice to bring in some extra quality as well.
Attacking midfield we would have R Colwill, with Turnbull and Ramsey possibly Robinson (if he can patch things up with the manager)
Up front we will have Meite, Etete, Robinson and the returning Isaac Davies, With Cian Ashford coming through as well - I think all of these work much better as part of a front 2 than on their own.
So we would definitely need a RWB to play this way - and then whatever other better players we can bring in as well.
The alternative would be to keep with the current formation but bring in a kind of striker that will make it all work.
This could make a significant difference - IF we can find that type of player (and a backup in case they get injured)
We would still have our ridiculous midfield to sort out and we would need to bring in wingers to replace Grand and Bowler (who are decent players at this level) unless we ant to play the likes of Maite, Davies and Ashford out wide?
Either approach COULD work, but It seems the 3-5-2 is more easily achievable with the current squad.
What would be your approach?
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