Questions for debate from our season so far

A few points Ive been discussing with my boy while taking evening walks. It'd be interesting to get others thoughts. Some may these as 'unpopular suggestions 'but lets have a go...

1. Is or can Jack Moylan be our best ever player?

2 Is BBM the hottest managerial property outside of the Premier League?

3. Was relegation the year before last the best thing that happened to the club (more so even, than our two promotions)?

4. Is BBM our best technical manager/coach ever?

5. Have our recent goalkeepers ever reached the heights and standards of David Marshall?

Some interesting questions there. I don't think I can give you an answer for all.

Trott did very well last season and I was thrilled to have him back. I don't think at the moment he could be put up there with some of our greatest yet purely due to the fact he's had less then half a season in the Championship. The others were consistently there for us in the Champ. He's well on his way though.

As for BBM, again perhaps the same reply. Did it in League One can he do it in the Champ. At the moment he's certainly doing well. ESPECIALLY with the small team, funds and injuries he's had to deal with. Some perhaps out of his hands some maybe not.
He's certainly been the best in getting the young players in and playing to the level we want. He's giving them confidence.

Both points then pointing to the fact it's probably a bit early to say but I don't think what you've said is far-fetched.

Interesting questions.

1. Not for me. He's been brilliant for three months but unfortunately I just can't see him being with us beyond one season. Compare that to club stalwarts like Joe Dwyer or especially Whitts and players from the past like John Charles and I don't think you can say he's our best ever player, though I would say he's definitely our best signing since Whitts.

2. He's one of them but I don't think any Premier League teams would be interested in him atm. He's done wonders with a team of young players but could he cope with a dressing room of self absorbed ego driven multi millionaire prima donnas? Not sure. Great fit for us because his philosophy works - not sure it would at many clubs.

3. Definitely not. Relegation is never the best thing to happen. I get the "reset" argument but let's be honest, the club got lucky with BBM who was certainly not their first choice last season. Two promotions made us millions of pounds (admittedly squandered) Relegation cost us millions and allowed Tan to believe that success could be obtained with virtually no investment in the playing squad.

4. Probably yes

5.David Marshall was a great shot stopper, but never commanded his area particularly well. Most of our keepers since then have had the same problem.

1. Depends what you mean by best ever player. If it means for us, then I think we'll probably only have him for 2-3 years so that's not a long career with the club (unlike some, I just don't think he'll leave in January or the summer - although there will be offers in the summer that we'll turn down). If you mean what he goes on to do, there's a high bar with other players we've had who have gone on to bigger things.

2. I think BBM is the best manager we've ever had, I've made that clear numerous times. I am talking about the ability of the manager and the character of him - other managers have more achievements to their name. When he came in last summer and only signed a few players, only us true believers said we'd get promoted with that squad - most thought we were barking mad and that he was as well. It was a phenomenal achievement. Likewise after this summer there were people saying we'd be in the bottom three all season - we're well clear of it. I've got the receipts of what people said about BBM during last summer and when we had an iffy spell in the autumn. If he stays long enough, and I personally think he will, then I have no doubt he'll take us to the Premier League. So for me it's a yes.

3. BBM wouldn't have got the job in the Championship I don't think. The whole club needed a reset. Relegation was a good thing in the end.

4. Yes, related to my answer to question two.

5. No. Trott is a good shot stopper but I do think sometimes our fans exaggerate his abilities. He'll make four saves of shots straight at him and will win a MOTM vote. There are times when his distribution is great but when it's wrong, it's really wrong. He's a good Championship goalkeeper but not at the level of Marshall, and neither are any of our goalkeepers in recent years - having Marshall and Heaton on our books at the same time was unbelievable. Heaton has gone on to have the better career.

I'll have a go with what I think as we're without a game for a while & they're all good talking points.

1. No he hasn't been here long enough & it's very doubtful he will if he keeps up his current form. I'm not sure anyone could ever eclipse the great John Charles but he would certainly be in the top 10 if he stays long enough.

2. Not at the moment, he's only really done anything in lge 1 so he still has a long way to go to be at the top of the list. A team in the bottom half might take a flyer on him one day but not at the moment.

3. As someone has already said, relegation can never be the best thing to happen to a club no matter the mess they're in.

4. Certainly close to the most technical if not the most.

5. None have even come close to Marshall in my opinion. He's found his level with the Championship but for me he doesn't command his area at all & I always think we're in danger at corners & crosses due to that. He might pull off the odd good save but he's average at best. Seen a lot worse but also a lot better although I think we have been spoiled with some good keepers lately..

With Trott I’d probably place him behind Marshall and Etheridge, and above Smithies, Phillips, Alnwick, Allsop and Horvath.

Not including keepers who didn’t really play that much like Amos or McGregor.

He makes the saves but his commanding of the box and refusal to leave his line is a problem.

1. Depends how you rank best ever player. The truth is if he's "too good" he'll won't be here very long and then he'd need to have a career better than Ramsey which is a tall order. If he's here a while it's possible

2. Yes I think he'll be highly sought after.

3. Relegation is never good, it's given some of our players a chance to develop and we got very lucky with the manager.

4. I'd say comfortably yes

5. I've always the thought Marshall to be our most overrated player ever, he was good but far to concerned with camera saves for me. Ethridge is the best keeper I've seen play for us by a long way. Trott is crucial to this team he's decent at the actual goalkeeping stuff I'd say he's an average standard at championship level, he's world class for a keeper with his feet though and we definitely use that. He contributes far more than saves to this team

1. Is or can Jack Moylan be our best ever player?
As I said a few weeks back he is by far to this point the player of the season - Chops was the last player for me to say "what a signing " - Moylan is up there .

2 Is BBM the hottest managerial property outside of the Premier League?
In the English league - He is up there by far the best manager to get young players believing in their talent .

3. Was relegation the year before last the best thing that happened to the club (more so even, than our two promotions)?
At the time NO - Moving forward to this point Yes as we have got better - High earners off the wage bill and youngsters given a chance to play .

4. Is BBM our best technical manager/coach ever?
Times have changed in the way football is played - each manager plays a way with the players here at that time.
If he is allowed to get his players in Jan - BBM can only get better doing it his way .

5. Have our recent goalkeepers ever reached the heights and standards of David Marshall?
We have been blessed with good keepers from Marshall /Heaton at the time and before -Trott was a good signing on loan and now here - again another who the manager wanted in .