Hunt out.

[Snowflake Royal]

Ahmed's started 3 games, it's rather premature to expect him to be sold for big money. Unless you want to do an SCR flounce.

We'd still have most of a decent spine with Pereira, O'Connor, Williams, Fraser, Wing

Were you excited by Abrefa or Ahmed signing new deals a few months ago? And your touting one for a big sale and the other is an early top performer

I’m not necessarily expecting Ahmed to be sold for big money, that was an example

Point is from that list of players we probably need to sell a couple to make ends meet

This season we had Wing, Knibbs, Savage, Abrefa, Elliott under contact coming into the season

Next year the spine might be JP, Wing, O Connor, Fraser, Williams, Kelvin E plus a few solid players who we re-sign during the season

The first group is probably stronger than the second

Point is that I wouldn’t next expect is to be better next year. Players like Savage and Elliott won’t be easily replaceable with the budget we have

And we need to do well this year. A season of struggle this year could make it really difficult to attract quality next

Savage’s contract expires at the end of next season, so he can be added to that list.

Hound is assuming he's sold.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Difficult to say how much weight to give last nights game in terms of monitoring progress; cups can yield result outliers with their different pressures and team selections from both sides, but at the very least win with a changed lineup demonstrates we actually have a bit of strength in depth for once.

The team goal showed we have a team in there somewhere. Fraser looked tidy - would like to see him combine with Wing in what many think would be the more natural positioning of the two (Fraser deep, Wing ahead of him); could see Wing loving that sort of hand-off.

Let’s call it a half step forward, Hunt-wise. Team selection was good, the players seemed a bit more confident, and the football is starting to spark. Will be interesting to see Hunt’s selection for Saturday, especially with Marriott joining us.

[Hound]

I’m not sure it changes loads, but maybe the hierarchy will be look at the result more favourably if we pull that Spurs away draw out the bag in the next round

Definitely some positives - mainly the second goal. The set up was better, no one was running like a headless chicken. Starting to get something useful out of O Mahony. Line up and subs all made sense

I’m not sure we were particularly impressive though. Reckon they prob had the better chances. We still don’t create a lot and we didn’t get behind them a lot

But a wins a win and we certainly have some good players and depth, and I reckon we’re not far off having a clear first 11 (or 11 from 13 with some rotation)

[Extended-Phenotype]

Yeah, Elliott/Fraser and Doyle/Savage are clearly interchangeable. It’s nice to have options there which wouldn’t disappoint if their names cropped up on the starting lineup.

Decent backup in defence, out wide, and even up front now. I think the only thing we need now is time and consistency. A bit of flexibility tactically would be the next step. Obviously we have to avoid being predictable, but getting Plan A sorted is the priority. We should be able to tweak it to be more attacking/defensive as necessary.

[Snowflake Royal]

Yeah, Elliott/Fraser and Doyle/Savage are clearly interchangeable. It’s nice to have options there which wouldn’t disappoint if their names cropped up on the starting lineup.

Decent backup in defence, out wide, and even up front now. I think the only thing we need now is time and consistency. A bit of flexibility tactically would be the next step. Obviously we have to avoid being predictable, but getting Plan A sorted is the priority. We should be able to tweak it to be more attacking/defensive as necessary.

I don’t see Elliott/Fraser or Doyle/Savage even remotely interchangeable.

Doyle/Elliott - yeah sure. Savage/Fraser... maybe.

[Extended-Phenotype]

Lol, it’s funny how often two people can watch the same matches and get completely different takes.

To me, Elliott looks like a player who keeps the midfield three ticking over while two more creative players take their chances. Fraser seems to fit that mould, and I’m not sure I’d want a midfield without one of those two anchoring it.

With Wing arguably the first name on the team sheet, Doyle and Savage feel like players you’d happily throw into the mix to make up the three.

Of course other variations are possible, but Wing, Fraser/Elliott, Doyle/Savage would be my favoured formula.

[Snowflake Royal]

Lol, it’s funny how often two people can watch the same matches and get completely different takes.

To me, Elliott looks like a player who keeps the midfield three ticking over while two more creative players take their chances. Fraser seems to fit that mould, and I’m not sure I’d want a midfield without one of those two anchoring it.

With Wing arguably the first name on the team sheet, Doyle and Savage feel like players you’d happily throw into the mix to make up the three.

Of course other variations are possible, but Wing, Fraser/Elliott, Doyle/Savage would be my favoured formula.

Yeah, I'm often surprised by how differently even fairly clued in and sensible people see things. And it's interesting to see them.

I see Elliott as the guy who finds space, receives the ball turns his man and breaks forward, then playing in someone else to either shoot or assist. Furthest forward of the midfield.

Doyle same role, turning his man, finding space... bit more pace driven, bit more twinkle toes through challenges.

Fraser on the other hand to me is the workman. Keeping it simple. Lay off, distribution, harrassing, cover, challenges. Better defensively than Wing, but without the speed of passing or quality of passing. Like Savage but without the high octane lung busting running everywhere.

I think we've seen Fraser doesn’t work well with Wing and Savage, it's all a bit safe, lacking someone who'll turn their man and burst into space or tiptoe through a few challenges. That's what I think Knibbs brought us, and what I think Elliott and Doyle replace. Obvs Elliott has some way to go on fox in the boxing like Knibbs did.

I absolutely would not play Wing, Fraser, Savage together again unless I absolutely had to.

And I think Wing, Elliott, Doyle is a bit fancy dan and lightweight to combo well.

But opinions and arseholes is the phrase isnit?

[Hound]

Some of Fraser’s passing is excellent tbf. Very quick to spot a pass

Big fan of his actually. Wins headers and tackles. Doesn’t suit that Knibbs-esque role Hunt gave him in the league games though

I think you have to play at least one of Doyle and Elliot. And I think you could go Fraser, Doyle, Elliott but it’d be a brave (and prob foolish) man to drop Savage and Wing