Thinking ahead

[richtherover]

Over 3 hours to kill before kick off (4 a. m. here!) and have been thinking - should we achieve promotion, how many of the current squad would be good enough for the Championship? Would there be sufficient investment to enable us to compete against the "big" teams like Blackburn, Leicester (and possibly QPR and Villa)? We found before that crowds wouldn't grow massively so I guess what I'm saying is are we ready for such a quick return? I'm not saying we should wait and keep building a stronger squad - let's go for it - but would we be seriously out of our depth? We couldn't be any worse than Peterborough or Barnsley could we? This is not a negative post - why would I not want promotion? Just wondering what the general consensus is.
That's half an hour nearer to kick off anyway. Here's to another 3 points today and let's hope it's a monkey hanger not a cliff hanger.
RTID. Rich the Rover

[streatham dave]

 I think we will go up and we will need additions in most areas. We need competition for Woods. He might step up but I think for Championship he needs to. Jones I think will do fine but we need more pace around him particularly centrally. Husband I think will step up. Keegan, Cotts and Syers are definitely at least worthy of being in the squad but not sure 1st 11. Copps is slowing slightly but is still Championship in my opinion. Bennett needs to bulk up a bit and maybe Flynn is right in trying him more centrally. He needs to improve if Championship is to be his level but he is young and eager so he might. We urgently need a player who can break up play in central mid as competition for Keegan and to replace Harper. Hopefully we can make Hume permanent. We will need at least 1 and perhaps 2 new strikers to complement what we have got. One of them to replace Blake. I'd like us to try to loan Lundstram for the rest of this season and next if possible. So IMHO we need at least 4 additions to what we have got and maybe a few more besides. To be honest though I think we need to be going for quality not bodies. I'd rather have 4 really good signings than 6-8 average ones.

[Dare to dream!]

We will need a new Gk, cb, 2 cm's and a couple of strikers

[wilts rover]

Given that Coppinger, one of our best players, couldn't get a game in 6 months for a mid-table championship team, that should tell you all you need to know.

[DonnyOsmond]

That Billy Sharp lad isn't getting many starts at Forest under Davies. Maybe we could make an offer to Saints for a loan next season.

[RedJ]

Given that Coppinger, one of our best players, couldn't get a game in 6 months for a mid-table championship team, that should tell you all you need to know.

Still capable of bottom half Championship I'd say. Forest have millions and a stronger squad to begin with.

[MachoMadness]

Copps never got a chance at Forest to be fair to him. I think he could still do a job for us helping us to stay up next year.

[mrfrostsdad]

A complete new squad IMO.
Copps could hold his own, Husband will only get better. Possibly Spurr, but in my opinion that's about your lot

[MachoMadness]

Martin Woods can still do a job I reckon. Rob Jones also, if we get someone a bit quicker alongside him to complement his organisation and strength. Cotts has the ability for sure, it's just his consistency. Syers and Hume have the energy if not the technique. We'd need a bit of an overhaul but I think we underestimate how good our first XI is.

[Bristol Red Rover]

Having a season of Lundstram is wishful thinking, but I wish! Copps is our Giggs - he'd play a significant part.

Looking at the squad as a whole, I think Woods and Maxted are good enough. Jones, Spurr, Syers and Husband for sure. Cotts, Hume, Keegan, Quinn, Wakefield will be in there, and I'd like to think Ball will begin to feature but he needs competitive games. Bennett has to up his game massively - maybe Flynns idea of playing him more centrally will come off. Some other youngsters will come along too - Middleton, Finnegan.

But we do need at least one quality central MF, two good strikers (come back Billy!) and an experienced CD/RB. Not too big an ask, and if we can get auto promotion, and before the end of the season, we have that crucial start to line people up.

[MachoMadness]

If Lundstram does well, and we do go up, hopefully Moyes would be keen on giving him a season at a higher level with us. I don't see why not, no way will he be in L1 next season though whatever happens.

[RobTheRover]

If Lundstram does well, and we do go up, hopefully Moyes would be keen on giving him a season at a higher level with us. I don't see why not, no way will he be in L1 next season though whatever happens.

I just hope Lundstrom doesnt go back, shows Moyes his L1 Champions medal and say "Eh, wack, dat Donny av got a ded ded gud left futah colled Usband. Yoo wanna geddim signed up, like"*






*Apologies to any Scousers reading this.

[RoversAlias]

Martin Woods can still do a job I reckon. Rob Jones also, if we get someone a bit quicker alongside him to complement his organisation and strength. Cotts has the ability for sure, it's just his consistency. Syers and Hume have the energy if not the technique. We'd need a bit of an overhaul but I think we underestimate how good our first XI is.

Aside from the bolded bit I agree with this assessment of the squad. If we do go up (and actually, even if we don't) I think this summer is the time to bring to an end Martin Woods' tenure at the club.

[RedJ]

Martin Woods can still do a job I reckon. Rob Jones also, if we get someone a bit quicker alongside him to complement his organisation and strength. Cotts has the ability for sure, it's just his consistency. Syers and Hume have the energy if not the technique. We'd need a bit of an overhaul but I think we underestimate how good our first XI is.

Aside from the bolded bit I agree with this assessment of the squad. If we do go up (and actually, even if we don't) I think this summer is the time to bring to an end Martin Woods' tenure at the club.

Got good news for you RA. As far as I know, his contract is up in June.

[walter the red]

Surprised on this thread that no one yet has mentioned  Billy Paynter-will he still be in contract next season and what do fans think of him in a higher division ?

[Red wizard]

Surprised on this thread that no one yet has mentioned  Billy Paynter-will he still be in contract next season and what do fans think of him in a higher division ?

I think Billy would hold his own if playing every week. He seems to get better when he has a run of games.

[MachoMadness]

Depends on his fitness I suppose, if he can prove his fitness then I say keep him as I rate him in terms of ability. It's a real shame what's happened to him though. Wasn't he on about legal action against our former physio because of his negligence or something?