The way we're playing...


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Think our bad run is out the way. Sure, we'll still lose games, but not many. Our toughest match has been played and that was away to Rotherham. Let's see how they cope with us at our place.

The mighty Rotherham storming the league eh.
 
My big concern is upsetting the balance.

Watching the last two games we’ve absolutely found a winning formula. Pritchard looks every bit the player we thought we’d get, the system suits Stewart and our midfield, and you could see within two minutes last night, there was space to exploit with the formation we are playing.

If/when we get players back or sign players, I hope and pray we don’t do what we done last year and change a winning formula to shoehorn others in. We went through a spell of chopping and changing earlier in the season and look how that went. Hope and pray LJ has learned his lessons, we wrap our key players in cotton wool, and we don’t change it too much.

One of my biggest cheers last night was Pritchard coming off at 4-0. Great decision by Johnson, we need him to keep this going.
 
Everyone throughout the club - including the fanbase - need to keep their heads during the next dip.

It's tough to separate recency bias from stuff that is genuine new information. I'm trying to do it myself while trying to work out what I think we need in January. Would have previously said two midfielders and a striker were the key, but with Evans finally showing green shoots, Pritchard now dominant on ball (and a terrier off it) and Embleton seemingly on his way a transition to orthodox central midfielder I would think we should be fine with one. Still such a long way to go, though, and it will all have changed again in a couple of weeks. Only three weeks ago, many were talking about us needing a new left back in January - not without some justification! My guess is that we need a strong midfielder and an all-round striker as a matter of urgency. We can then sit back to see if anything interesting pops up elsewhere.

Just the one cm in that position for me and that hasn't changed tbh. Want to see someone come in who can break the play up there.

Evans did a fairly good job of it last night and is way more comfortable at taking the ball from a defender but he's been struggling with form/injuries. Tin hat on but I'd play him ahead of Winchester if he can stay fit.

Striker/forward is a must. One that can play up top or wide would be ideal and if Alves goes back we need another CB. Again one that can play in the middle or wide if necessary would be good.

If we fill those positions then we are in a good position for depth and competition and then only really need to bring someone in if they add a real increase in quality.
 
Hopefully we sign an O’Brien replacement striker, CM cover and possibly a RB, altho Bailey looking good and we’ve got Winch, Gooch and then Huggins coming back to fill that role.
Think our bad run is out the way. Sure, we'll still lose games, but not many. Our toughest match has been played and that was away to Rotherham. Let's see how they cope with us at our place.

The mighty Rotherham storming the league eh.

We looked good before and crumbled to lose 4/5 on the bounce don’t forget.
 
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I think expectations need to settle a little, despite our league position, I'd still suggest our squad isn't in the top three of the league and whilst it would be great to strengthen, there isn't a lot of wiggle room for numbers or wage budget.

Ideally I'd see cb, rb, cm and a striker within the squad to strengthen but doubt its possible at the minute.

How long is Evans and 09 contract?
 
Does anyone know how Xhemajli has been getting on since his game the other week? Had high hopes for the lad when we first signed him.
 
If we had a quality defensive mid to that setup we'd have a midfield good enough for the championship. That plus attacker are the areas that can push us onto the next level

I think EE could go either way at the minute, needs plenty of games but also to improve to the point where he will heavily influence form rather than roll with it.
 
Hopefully we sign an O’Brien replacement striker, CM cover and possibly a RB, altho Bailey looking good and we’ve got Winch, Gooch and then Huggins coming back to fill that role.


We looked good before and crumbled to lose 4/5 on the bounce don’t forget.

Don't really see the need to bring in another specialist RB tbh. We have Huggins, Winchester, O'Nien and Wright now who can play there well enough. Hopefully O'Nien's done at CM now.

If we go up this year then we can look at improving there when we can attract a higher quality player but it's overkill right now and just bloats the squad and makes it harder to bring someone in in the summer.
 
Yes, I agree. I'm not even sure we need one. I'm just thinking that Winchester may be needed at right back, may get injured, and although I love the thought of a midfield three of Neil, Embleton, and Pritchard, I'm not sure you would want to go into, say, Wycombe away with that midfield.

You'd prefer plodders like Power, Scowen and Dobson?
 
...coupled with the players we've still got to bring back in, (Huggins, Cirkin, Winchester, Xhemajli and the likes), the players we bring in are going to have to be real quality to shift what we already have.

Every one of our team last night, looked like they were staking their claim, not just for the rest of this season, but like they want to be part of our championship starting lineup.

What an awful problem to have. 😎
The way we are playing as a squad means we don't have to rush them back as well. Can afford to let them fully recover and ease in match fitness. Like he seems to be already doing with cirkin. I'm sure I saw cirkin hold the back of his knee against Doncaster so easy does it
 
midfield 3 of neil pritchard and embleton are good enough to play through/around anyone at the moment
Maybe so, but you can't ignore that they were supported by Evans last night. With those three you do need that extra bite from somewhere, whether it be Evans or Winchester.

Embleton's quietly come into good form at just the right time to supplement Neil and Pritchard.
 
We've found our best midfield

Winchester can play if Evans gets injured, but embleton, neil and pritchard are better

I think there are still question marks about us away from home at the physical sides and Wycombe will be a big test
 
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