Copy and pasted for those that avoid ThisIs:
I think Danny said something to the effect in his interview that the team is a work in progress.
Adjustments have to be made with no Paynter and no Greer. The spine of the team as defined by Cloughie in his autobiography are Goalkeeper, Centre-Half, Central-Midfield and Center-Forward. We no longer have the spine of the team from last season. Cloughie was the first manager to pay for a goalkeeper, in the same manner a manager would pay for a striker. He was ridiculed, but two European Cups later, plus the odd World Cup to go on, the man was a genius.
Greer going will soon be seen as a blessing in disguise, he has great attributes, but lacks pace. Pace is not going to improve at twenty-nine or thirty. If a contract extension had been in the offing, it would have been taken care of in one way or another.
Paynter suddenly became a prolific goalscorer after a reserve game at Reading, when he played along side Charlie Austin. Paynter and Austin clicked, but Austin was the bigger threat, arguably making life easier for Paynter. The midfield with the defence's helpwas working like a well-oiled machine, also. From Easter Monday onwards, the Town were never the same team, as the play-offs approached there was more talk of Paynter going to Leeds, in fact he was asked point blank about it by a younger supporter. Unfortunately for Paynter, he has not played for Leeds due to injury, whereas Greer is on a run of consecutive sending-offs. Just my guess but I don't think Paynter will be at Leeds for more than a season, and I don't think that Greer will be a starter at Brighton for more than a season. Brighton appear to be doing what Leeds were doing when Grayson arrived, be physical and intimidate the other team and the officials (especially the weak ones) - this may work with 40,000 home fans and 5,000 -10,000 away fans, don't think Brighton will pull it off.
Paynter looked disinterested towards the end of the season, while Greer looked tired after unusually for him a full season (he has made less than 200 first team appearances in his entire career - hardly instilling confidence for an extended contract).
The development of a team is fascinating, and a reason for following a lower league team. Pericard, Dossi and Ball are getting there. Soon, Paynter will soon not be missed. Ward, though, is irreplaceable at this level, but not part of the spine.
Back to Greer. It's the link-up play to midfield that is being missed. This results in Prutton not being the attacking midfielder he needs to be. Why prefer Prutton to Ferry? Because Prutton can score a few. Why worry about it anyway with a five player midfield starting away from home?
Why worry at all? Danny and his staff will make the adjustments that are needed. They are clear that a new CB are needed. Are Morrison, Cuthbert or LJF bad players? Of course not. It's a question of blend. An organiser who can feed the ball to midfield in the manner of Greer, is needed in the spine of the team.
Cracking post.
