Assessing the Opening Performance and League Form
What have you made of our start to the season?
David Meagher: Realistically, we have been a work in progress as the nature of relegation is that until the transfer window closes everything is unstable. As a result, we have been playing with limited resources and with an eye on the in-out door. Thankfully, that is now sorted and we know what has to be done. We look shaky at the back and the failure to see off Burnley was annoying. Charlton was a smash and grab raid. It was a lesson in playing against sides that sit deep which will be a recurring challenge this season. I think Piroe is pretty average but more aggressive than our other attacking options, which gives us a Plan B against bus-parking sides. Mavro and Kilman are good aerially too so we can expect plenty of goals from set pieces. Watford was a chore. Wolves was a crazy affair but we look capable of scoring if sides dare to come at us. The cup is a sideshow that allows extra match training, nothing more.
Meirion Williams: I have to say it’s pretty disappointing. It was clear that this was going be tough. We have never had an easy ride since the Championship was formed and I did not expect one now. What I also didn’t expect was a continuation of our troubles from last season, those primarily to do with holding on to leads and having players on the field who look world beaters one moment and uninterested the next. It was interesting to see the academy kids, when given a chance against Southampton, really put on a show, clearly wanting to play for the club. With the transfer window now closed it will also be interesting to see if those who remain will perform on a regular basis.
Marcus Johns: I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed by it, however, I think with hindsight it’s to be expected. There are clear elements of us being some teams cup finals – just look at the Charlton celebrations post-match – and a lot of teams will dig in against us and play lots behind the ball. We’ve struggled against low blocks from Charlton and Watford, but if you look at Southampton and Wolves, two teams who came to play, we’ve had too much quality and picked them off. Once we work out how to take the games to defensive sides, I think we’ll be there or thereabouts come May.
Overall Window Verdict and Retaining Core Stars
What did you make of our transfer window overall?
David Meagher: Pretty uninspiring. Engels looks decent. Soloman looks lively but lacks product. Mukasa may be the jewel but he’s young and may struggle for consistency. Austbo has looked a bit overwhelmed but has huge potential. Boiro at left back is a key signing as I think Scarles is pretty modest. It seems like Magassa and Alvarez are stuck with us so let’s hope Nuno’s charm can get them contributing.
Meirion Williams: The jury is still out on this one. I suppose the big news here is more around who we kept rather than who we bought. We managed to keep Bowen, Taty and Mavropanos so we have a clear spine in the team. I felt it was more about damage limitation. It was important for the club to keep those players just purely on ticket sales alone. We also got rid of players who wanted to leave. Overall it was better than I expected.
Marcus Johns: As with Merion, I think the jury is still out. Overall, we should probably be judged on who we kept and who we moved on – throw Soucek into those players, and it’s a very solid spine. It would be arrogant to expect us to sign top class players in the Championship, but I trust that the players we have signed will be enough to see us through, even if the depth does look a bit worrying.
Evaluating New Arrivals and Early Impact
What have you made of our new signings so far?
David Meagher: Engels looks decent and Piroe has an edge, albeit a bit blunt. Soloman needs to deliver more. Mukasa offers huge possibility – compared to the departed Potts, he has a much wider skillset and we are going to need creativity to win enough games to challenge for promotion.
Meirion Williams: Early days yet but I do feel that Solomon and Piroe could have a pretty good season. It was also good to see Mukasa return as I always felt he left far too early in his career. He has already proved that he can score goals at this level with two already. As for the others, it’s very early days yet.
Marcus Johns: It’s tough to judge them so far. Engels showed against Wolves that he can be a big presence at this level, after a few uninspiring displays, and Mukasa looks like the talent we always felt he could be from his days in the academy. Solomon has an air of Benrahma about him and I worry he might be a one trick pony that gets sussed out soon. All in all though, solid Championship signings.
Point Targets and Match Predictions Heading Into Autumn
How many points do you think we’ll pick up between now and the end of October?
David Meagher: I think our ship has steadied and the end of the transfer circus. I expect a series of wins – in the nine league games we need to win five or six and maybe pick up 18-19 points. Taty, Piroe and Bowen are all looking capable of delivering goals if we can steady the defence. Kilman and Mavro’s limited pace will be a problem against counterattacking sides and the incoming Morato is no sprinter, so we shall see.
Meirion Williams: Hopefully the win against Wolves is the turning point as, let’s be honest, I don’t think there were many of us who thought we would be below Lincoln in the table at the end of August. We need to climb the table quickly but I will go for a conservative 16 points.
Marcus Johns: Agree, the Wolves win will quell the worries and instill a bit of confidence – the squad is complete, bad apples shifted and no more uncertainty amongst the players. I’m also going to say 16.
Selection Debates and Deciding Our Best Starting Eleven
Based on what you’ve seen so far, what do you think is our best starting XI, and why?
David Meagher: Herm, Veltman, KWP, Mavro, Kilman, Engels, Kante, Mukasa, Bowen, Taty, Piroe, Soloman. Let’s hope Austbo and Boiro crash into that starting line up. And let’s not forget that Super Tomas Soucek will soon be back.
Meirion Williams: Same as David but I would bring in Morato in our defence.
Marcus Johns: It’s a tough one, especially when all fit. If Alvarez is to be re-integrated, the midfield is suddenly a tough call – him, Soucek and Engels. I’ve also been impressed with Orford when he’s played, and dare I say it, we look better with Pablo in the side. Hermansen, Veltman, Mavropanos, Kilman, Boiro, Soucek, Engels, Bowen, Pablo, Solomon, Taty.
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