(23-04-2021, 09:00 AM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: I will add, CH defining how we want to play next season should determine comings and goings in the squad. Not the other way around as we have historically done ie sign a load of random players then try to shoehorn them into the side.

(23-04-2021, 08:53 AM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: Good grief, its not a recipe book. Far too simplistic a view that just signing a few forward players will sort us out. I do think CH can do it but he cant magically turn a team set up to be tight defensively into a free flowing attacking unit overnight. He needs to work with the squad over the summer, integrate any new members and redefine how we play.

(24-04-2021, 09:26 AM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: Who said anything about losing defensive resolve? we have the =4th best defence in the league, you need that to get promotion. We have scored 35 goals this season, we would probably need double that to get promoted next season. My point is you don’t achieve that simply by buying a couple of new attacking players.

There needs to be an adaptation of our playing style with a quicker transition to attacking play all of which Hughton knows and I trust him to deliver. To do this he needs to bring in the right players across the team to deliver that style, full back, midfield as well as up front. Then he needs time to work with that team pre season.

Utter nonsense to say we need to go all out attack, go back to Montanier days although Im sure Warburton might point out he is 10 places above us in the league. Look at how the top 6 teams play, its far more fluid  than how we play, our record against top teams is appalling this season, we have accumulated points against lower teams where we have ground out results. We need to adapt but not revolutionise this if we want to progress.

(24-04-2021, 08:59 AM)Sniffer Dog Wrote: Agreed. We don't need to go back to Phillip Montanier style of football.

We can become more dangerous and score more goals whilst keeping our defensive resolve. Hughton will know what he needs to do and who he needs to do it.

(24-04-2021, 09:38 AM)Sabricadabra Wrote: Our goal difference is -7. Swansea have 11, Barnsley 9. A swing of 16-18 would be enough.

Our defence has improved since the first couple of months so our goal difference would already be improved next season, but even if we say we need to add 20 extra goals scored to make sure, that’s only a goal every 2-3 games over and above what we’ve done this season. If Lolley hadn’t been so poor we might have got close to that total.

(23-04-2021, 07:57 AM)Sabricadabra Wrote:

(22-04-2021, 05:27 PM)Strawberry Avenger Wrote:

(22-04-2021, 04:23 PM)Jean_claude_killy Wrote: I think Hughton holds all of the aces at the moment.

There is no doubt in my mind that we were heading down until Hughton brought in Krovinovic and Garner in January.

He has inherited 90% of this squad and managed to coach it into a fairly decent defensive unit; but that is not enough; nowhere near enough.

We need forwards and we need them bad - one might do, two would be ideal.

The recent downturn in form can be a blessing; imagine sticking with some of these players next season and they go and fold on us late on, just like they are doing now.

Some of these players are blowing their chance, and its no ones fault but their own.

Hughton can make a very cogent case for quality over quantity and then its up to Vretzos to back him to the hilt.

Boiler plate reading.  Nail gunned on.  Can't fault that.   :cool:

Apparently only 5 teams have conceded less than us.  Four of them in the top 4?  Imagine adding that to some serious forward fire power?  That would make us contenders.

SA.

This is why we aren’t far off being contenders. 

Hughton has got the foundation in place, that is, a really tight defensive unit and an organised set up where everyone knows what their role is. Add a dash of attacking penetration in the summer and more clinical finishing and we will be a top 6 side next season.