Squad depth
I'll begin by dispelling something I keep hearing on every social network and media outlet - Wolves do not need any more players.
We have four players for every position, if you think about the versatility of certain players. Jackett will be confident that his reserve player can do the job. Having three goalkeepers and three strikers is sufficient when one place is up for grabs there.
GK: Ikeme - McCarey - Flatt - Jez
RB: Doherty - Ricketts - Foley - Ebanks-Landell
CB: Batth - Stearman - Ricketts - Ebanks-Landell
LB: Golbourne - Ricketts - Rowe - Foley
CM: McDonald - Rowe - Saville - Evans - Price (5)
Wingers: La Parra - Sako - Jacobs - Henry
ACM: Edwards - Jacobs - Clarke - Evans
ST: Dicko - Clarke - McAlinden - La Parra
Transfers
So it seems we are now looking at players in a position of luxury. Which for many of us is a surprise considering several of the old guard are still moping around haunting the place and taking a wage.
George Saville was a luxury - we didn't need him. He was even bought despite a good fortnight from Evans and Tommy Rowe not even having chance to play. It seems 4-3-3 has now become a viable option.
So my question is, which players are leaving us on deadline day? And in the sudden freeing of wages within the evening, are we going for some meaty loan deals or permanent transfers?
Priority Outs
Johnson - Championship loan non-rival if one exists - GOING
Doyle - lower prem/ want to give him to a championship rival? - GOING
Doumbia - French club/championship loan GOING
Margreitter - chance of a foreign club - STAYING
Boukari - injured - STAYING
Eusabio - League One football or integrating at wolves? 50/50
Price - League One loan for first team football - GOING
Ebanks-Landell - League One loan first team football - DEPENDS on CB
Clarke - if a £500k bid arrives and we can get in two strikers - GOING
Ins
So with maybe 4 players going out on loan I think we will see up to two players in if they have the right quality. The situation changes throughout the evening and very good players suddenly become available.
Whilst it's clear a striker and centre back are preferable, in my eyes both Clarke and McAlinden may be packing a loan suitcase. If Johnson and Doyle go we could see a permanent striker and a loan striker signed.
There could even be a possibility of Delort and Graham alongside Dicko. Then we really would be in it deep, sitting in the golden palace again no longer underdogs with our eyes on promotion.
New Formation
So with the transfer window closing on Monday evening we will at least have two new players in contention for Blackpool - Rowe and Saville. I think these are the players who will finally see Kenny move to a 4-3-3, which he likes.
This system is easily adapted into 4-2-3-1 but I think he has a blend of talent in the midfield now that may allow our wingers even more freedom if Saville and Rowe can tuck inside to support the defence. McDonald is playing well as a deeper lying playmaker but initially he arrived as a player playing behind a forward. I don't think Kenny will change him now. Rowe will provide the balance of being left footed and will sit in the midfield when we're committed forward. Saville is a box to box player who likes to do a bit of everything. I think he may replace the intensity of Edwards closing players down, but he will sit deeper with him having a bit more composure on the ball.
What many on here fail to realise is that Kenny doesn't pick individuals. He brings in and selects the players who suit the way he wants to play. A style that is now imprinting on the team and one which is now gaining appreciation from fans. Kenny wants three things:
- a solid defence with attacking wing backs. Our midfielders sit deeper and cover the space when they push on.
- players composed enough to pass and maintain possession
- a counter attacking threat of power and pace
Rowe and Saville have the attributes for the first two and allow our forward players to push on for the third.
Blackpool:
----------------------Ikeme
Doherty----Batth-----Stearman----Golbourne
-------Saville----McDonald----Rowe
---La Parra---------Dicko-----------Sako
Subs: McCarey, Ricketts, ? Evans, Edwards, Jacobs, Clarke?
4... is the magic number
posted on 29/8/14
I think it's a little early to declare RVLP as our second best striker given he's only played a handful of games on the wing and hasn't scored yet.
I also disagree with sending our first choice CB reserve out on loan. the four players for each position is also misleading when talking about CBs...because we generally need two in each game. meaning we have two reserves. so if our two first choice CBs are injured/suspended we have no back ups in CB on the bench. on top of which, ricketts was poor as CB in the third division and doesn't inspire me as cover outside of the full back places.
posted on 29/8/14
the four players for each position is also misleading when talking about CBs...because we generally need two in each game. meaning we have two reserves. so if our two first choice CBs are injured/suspended we have no back ups in CB on the bench.
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Where to start with this?...
Ricketts is our reserve centre back. Unlikely two are out at once, but even in that extreme we're covered.
If you'd read the article you'd have noted I said Ebanks going would depend on a CB coming in.
I won't bother in the future.
I'll just look forward to reading Wolfgang and tamewolf's riveting threads.
posted on 30/8/14
Pundit, if you count names only once, and exclude Foley, who's been told to find another club, you've actually only got seven players to cover RB, CB and LB - Doherty, Ricketts, Ebanks-Landell, Baath, Stearman, Golbourne and Rowe. That number comes down to six if Rowe is going to be used in MF. Most coaches would like to have two players for each position, so I think you actually need to get at least one more defender in, and maybe two.
posted on 30/8/14
posted on 30/8/14
If you don't like people disagreeing with you Pundit, the maybe a forum isn't for you.
posted on 30/8/14
Oh bore off
posted on 30/8/14
have to agree with tamwolf here pundit,
not sure what the point of writing an article like this is if you don't want to hear other people's opinions. some of those people will disagree with you. if all yr wanting to do is tell the world what you think is right can I suggest finding a hill in a big empty space and shouting yr views out to the sky - it won't reply and nor will it care.
you say it is unlikely that we would lose two defenders at the same time. tell that to man united, a club with massively more resources than us who found themselves scratching around for CBs last season. wolves were fortunate last season in being able to field a fairly stable back four for most of the year. but Doherty (our first choice RB) has shown in the past two seasons that even young and fit players can break down and take time to come back. and we know stears is always a candidate for a last ditch rugby tackle red card
it would be foolish to think we would choose to go into the season with just four recognised CBs, some of whom were also our cover for LB and RB. which is why KJ has been looking at defenders during the summer break.
I'd also repeat that even if ricketts is seen by you as our first reserve CB, having watched him play that role a few times last season I have serious reservations about his ability to do it. one of the good things about KJ compared to recent ex managers is that we've mostly stopped playing people out of position. so for me, ricketts remains the back up full back, and we do need one more good CB. but that said, I actually have a lot of faith that ebanks-landell will be a regular wolves player in future as he looked a real prospect to me last season.
posted on 30/8/14
Gb
The only issue I have is that you've just agreed with everything I said originally.
Tamwolf has twisted things to suit his argument in a way that posters are now believing the drivel he's spewing.
Read the OP again where I had Ebanks in the transfers out section, saying it depends on us getting a decent CB in.
posted on 30/8/14
sorry pundit,
I didn't agree with what you said originally, in as much as I still think yr double counting defenders means we are actually more exposed than yr article suggests. I missed yr comment that E-L only goes out on loan if we bring in another CB, but I'd still want to retain him even in that eventuality.
for me:
RB - Doherty, rickets
CB - Batth, E-L
CB - Stears new CB
LB - goldy, rowe
is a more accurate reflection of the current squad depth, foley having been told he can leave.
I know ricketts can also cover LB for example but he can't play two positions at once. so when a club talks about two players for every position, which is standard, they do not double count by putting the same player in more than one role. when you set out our defence in the proper fashion, it is only covered by having a new CB as second choice to stears, with E-L as standby for the other CB slot.
that isn't to say KJ wouldn't select ricketts ahead of E-L in such an emergency with one player out, but that is a different argument as to whether we have sufficient cover and competition for all places.
posted on 31/8/14
comment by Pundit /\_/\ (U16869)
posted 1 day, 4 hours ago
Tamwolf has twisted things to suit his argument in a way that posters are now believing the drivel he's spewing.
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I haven't twisted anything or even posted an opinion on the topic. Unlike you to get flustered.