Yep. I think we have to presume that the teams below us will at least take a point each. We really need to turn up.
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As do the fans on all 4 sides of the stadium. PP can absolutely rock. It can also be deafeningly quiet. We need the place to rock this Saturday to encourage the lads to play with soul and pop in a hatful in a game full of rhythm that doesn't see us go home with the blues. Vickers will be helped by the ghost of Reggae Matthews.
Fans expectations are, probably unfairly, fuelled by the relatively free scoring performances of McGoldrick (22/23) and Collins (23/24) but I certainly don’t see Yates anywhere near the running for player of the season.
Personally, if we go down to L1 I’d try to keep him. If we stay up…not so sure, but I’d never fault his undeniable effort and availability record.
As you say, it’ll be an interesting summer - in all sorts of ways - and player retention is something best talked about after we know the outcome of next weekend.
Could tonight's game have a bearing on how things pan out. Brizzle haven't yet secured a play of spot whilst Leeds need to win to keep the fight for the top spot alive.
Will City still needing something from the last game work in our favour or would it be better if they'd already grabbed a top six and were more relaxed in a less tense atmosphere??
Yates' apparent lack of goal success? IMO, partly down to a lack of good service, partly down to him being asked to do all manner of stuff away from the opposition's penalty box, partly down to him not being a 20+ goal a season striker.
Could he become more productive? Indeed he could IF he was played alongside a target man. IF he spent less time all over the park (and in the current situation, it's often he HAS to be elsewhere rather than he wants to be) and more time looking for those runs, the darts into space to be fed a succulent pass from our #10... all things he hasn't had.
I think there is a top scorer in there provided we change style/formation and play to his strengths. That change would lessen some other areas on the park and then we have to assess the overall impact on the team.
Whatever JE decides, I think the strong defensive unit will be the basis he works from. Clough did exactly that. We did have some high scoring games under him but we also had a plethora of 1-0s.
A duo of Salvesen and Yates might work but then Yates would be the hold up man as his first touch/control is better that that of Lars.
I lean more towards Jerry being thanked for his services and moved back to Swansea than us paying 750K for him. Will JE agree? Time will tell.
If he is only 750k then I'd be inclined to acquire him as he seems to be the only dquad member that doesnt suffer from protracted injury spells. I thought he was bought by Swansea for quite a bit more than 750k (? 3m??) so that a healthy discount.
Whilst on subject, and touching wood we stay up, I'd like to see us buy Phillips but I'm not sure many of the other loanees have proved themselces except Armstrong, who is out of our price bracket I'm sure. jackson and Harness occasional moments but not enough of them - Ozoh looked good but then long term sicknote. Also give Matt Clarke a (new) contract / extension pretty much sorting the defence with Langas plus Nelson and Rooney hopefully back too fit for a week or two anyway.
Bit premature, but agreeing with you about Clarke, Phillips and Armstrong. Don’t think we have a hope in hell of hanging on to Armstrong and although I too would like us to hold on to Phillips I think he’s valued at about 3.5 million with, by our standards, astronomical wages. Can’t see it unfortunately.