[madsteve]

Trying to digest yesterday's activity.

As I see it, there are two possibilities.

1) These are the players that SG really wants.

2) These are players that our scouting network recommended.

I don't know the answer to this but I know that Lees, Westwood, Dielna & Kelhar were signings selected by Paul Aldridge rather than SG. May was the only signing that was 100% SG's signing. This isn't to judge the value of these signings (I actually think they are all decent) but to point out that the likelihood is that the signings are most likely to be put forward by Paul Aldridge and/or the scouting network.

Put that in the bank for a moment & look at what we have signed. We have made three permanent signings & one loan with a view to making it permanent. All four players are relatively young with their best years ahead of them. We have signed essentially one RB, two CM players & a striker.

This reminds me a bit of the first signings after MM took over. We signed Morrison (CB), Reda (CB/LB), Reynolds (CB/LB) & Madine (Striker). We appeared to be signing young promising players regardless of whether we needed players for that position or not rather than what we needed. Hence, it is quite likely that Paul Aldridge was heavily involved in these signings.

Let's look at what we have signed and how they might fit in.

Melo is a holding midfield player who sits in front of the defence. He doesn't score but he is basically an upgrade on Semedo. McGugan is also CM but is more creative. Bus is a striker. Vermijl is primarily a RB but can play anywhere across the back line. Remember, he has played only one competitive game in England by the age of 22 so is likely to be behind Palmer & Buxton in the pecking order for now.


Here is how we stand for cover.

Keepers: Westwood, Kirkland, (Wildsmith, Dawson)

RB: Palmer, Buxton, Vermijl (Lee, Young)

CB: Lees, Loovens, Kelhar, Dielna, Zayatte (Buxton, Hutchinson, Vermijl)

LB: Mattock, Helan, Floro (Dielna, Vermijl, Buxton)

Winger: (Maguire, Palmer, Helan, Maghoma)

CM: Semedo, Baker, McGugan, Hutchinson, Melo, McCabe, Coke, Corry, Maghoma, Lee (Maguire)

Strikers: May, Nuhui, Madine, Keane, Bus, Maguire, Betra, Lavery

The players in brackets can play this position even though it is not their natural position or are not yet ready for first team football. The imbalance is obvious. We do not possess a single player who sees their natural position as winger yet we have three right backs, three left backs, five centre backs, ten centre midfield players and eight strikers. Also the players that can play on the wing are either playing poorly there or haven't played there for ages.

I cannot believe that this has happened by accident or is total mismanagement. There has to be some strategy behind it. It suggests that we intend to play without wingers. It could be by playing a midfield diamond with no wingers, 433,451 or 352 with wing backs.

The 433 doesn't really make sense. What would be the make up of the front three? When we have played this way, we have either played one striker flanked by two wingers (we don't have any) or we have pushed a striker out wide, which doesn't work for us. So why would we play with one striker when we have eight of them. The same applies to 451.

This leaves only 442 with a diamond in midfield or 352 as sensible possibilities. The strange thing is that we haven't used either of these formations since SG took over as head coach.

Put this together with my opening paragraphs and it suggests that SG's influence in these signings may be limited. Don't get me wrong. I am not suggesting that the players are foisted on SG. No doubt he approved them but it suggests that there is a wider plan within the Club regarding recruitment which involves a team approach.

In my opinion, Melo, McGugan & Bus have been signed to play immediately whereas Vermijl has probably been signed for the future. There is a chance that it may take some time for Bus & Melo to get used to the English game so signing them now may be with an eye towards next season.

Where does SG stand? Clearly, he is on trial like any manager would be when a mega rich owner takes over. The new owner means business & appears to expect promotion next season. When I look at these signings, it looks like they have been bought to play 352. If SG tries to shoe horn them into his rigid 442 formation then he is destined to fail. He is going to have to bite the bullet and play a more progressive formation if he is to be our Head Coach next season.

If we play 352, the team might be something like:

Westwood
Lees - Loovens - Dielna
Palmer - Hutchinson - Melo - McGugan - Helan
Bus - May/Keane

If we play the 442 the way we have been playing, it might be more like:

Westwood
Palmer - Lees - Loovens - Mattock
Maguire - Melo - McGugan - Maghoma
Bus - May/Keane

The second option means that Maguire & Maghoma probably stay in the side in positions where they are clearly not comfortable.

I am not sure what SG has to do to keep his job. Certainly he will be expected to perform much better than mid table for the remainder of the season with all the money that has been spent. I think probably top three on results from now until the end of the season will be required. It may be that there is little that he can do to save his job and that a replacement has already been lined up. SG deserves better but there is little time for sentiment in football and promotion next season will be an expectation now rather than a hope and they will be looking for the best possible man to coach the team and I suspect they won't see SG as that man.

Clearly the Sheffield Wednesday of today is a different animal to the Sheffield Wednesday of any time since our PL days. The aim is promotion & we will do what it takes to get there. There will be casualties (expect Buxton, Coke, McCabe, Corry, Madine, Maguire, Maghoma and possibly Lee, Mattock & Semedo to leave). Others will be frozen out and if the owner thinks we need better then he will get better.

The next couple of seasons look like being exciting ones for OWLS fans.