Okay so we're 3 weeks off of the start of the season and we have 6 senior players, or 10 if you include the new keeper, Rose, Reuben and Digby. We've just lost our leading goalscorer, our reliable goalkeeper and our captain looks set to follow. Not the ideal situation I grant you. But I reckon by next Saturday, we'll have 5 new players in. We seem to have been active in the transfer market, without actually signing anyone and the majority of our targets still haven't decided their future. We all agreed at the end of last season that we wouldn't be upset if the entire squad left, barring O'Grady, Jennings, Steele and Cranie, but admitted it was a slim chance all of these players would stay. The wage bill has been reduced dramatically and now I reckon Danny has more freedom over his signings. As for the players we've been linked with, I can only be encouraged. Michael Smith, Sam Winnall and Tommy Lee were all in the league 2 team of the season for good reason last year. The last time we were promoted from this division we made similar sort of signings in Hayes, Richards, Devaney and Howard, all had impressed in the bottom 2 divisions and we put together a squad capable of being competitive in the league we were in. We need to do the same this time. I know very little about Hemmings and Hourihane, but given our budget and our new football league status, they are the sort if signings I welcome, a goalscorer (albeit in the Scottish 2nd division) and a young lad who has just captained a team in transition in Plymouth. So whilst the current situation isn't ideal, I hardly think it spells certain relegation either. I for one am looking forward to us getting stuck into this division, I think Crewe home and away will be my first games.
I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt on this one archey. We have till this time next week to get 5 players as you say and if it don't happen it will be full blown negativity from me. I have a "Danny out" in my drafts Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
To be honest, the way I see it is, we need at least 5 more players before this time next week. IF 4 of these 5 players are Winnall, Lee, Smith and the lad from Dundee, we will potentially have the basis of a decent foundation to carry us into the season. We've been in this position before and maybe even worse. I remember us starting seasons where Simon Davey ' s only signings were O'Neil Thompson and Mounir El Haimour. I reckon we're looking at a more long term plan, start a fresh and build a side who can be competitive in the championship from the word go, rather than trying to build over 8 seasons, with 6 or 7 different managers. Lay the foundations and we might become more like a Bournemouth or Brighton, than a Doncaster or Peterborough.
I'd be concerned if lots of transfers had been going on around us and we'd missed out on what we as fans might say were possible targets. But its not the case. Yes its a disappointment its so late on, but better wait for players Danny wants than signing poor ones early on. He was quite adament that he would be patient and wait for the right players. Let's see how things stand this time next week.
I for one felt hugely positive at the start of last season, which shows How little I really know about football. So this time, I'm firmly in the wait and see camp. Yes, it's not great losing your better players..But there's no denying our team was woefully imbalanced last year (predominantly because of a shambolic midfield). If this is what we have to do to build a more balanced team then it's a price worth paying. Whether we do build that balanced team remains to be seen..But there's still plenty of time and we've obviously got a list of targets we are confident of getting .
One advantage is that Danny gets time to work with the young lads. He'll have a much better idea of their ability and 1st team potential after the last few weeks.
Read your first paragraph again and you've answered your own question. I hope we do bring five players by next Satdi. It won't be enough (especially if we have two more going out) but it would be a start. I just can't see it happening.
At the minute I'd say it's impossible to feel anything other than negative about our pre-season. We have dismantled our whole team. Some players have gone who were very poor and needed shifting along others we have seemingly been unable or unwilling to keep. We find ourselves pretty near to the season kicking off probably needing to recruit 10 players. To get 10 good players who will can afford and who will add value is a very tall order. To gel a and new squad into a proper team in even less time should we get those players in is an even taller order. At the minute lower mid table would look like a massive achievement. We look less prepared for a season than any other I can remember other than the one under Gudjon when we were in administration. Things can change and getting 5 quality signings in the next 7 days would be a great start. I don't think anyone is in despair yet. We have a good experienced manager who's forte is youth development and spotting talent so there are positives. It's just no good pretending this is what we intended or that it Is ideal. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
I have the following concerns right now and i will see if they change in the next 7 days - We have a skeleton squad right now with little 'senior' first team experience - We have lost 19 players and brought in 3. We must have wages available for players so i hope we see new players come in - We shopped L1 when in the championship for players saying our budget was nearer L1 than top of Champ. We now are shopping in L2 and outside the top British league and state we will be 'competetive' - We seem to have the ambition to completely clear out the team through our own cost position and some forced contract issues. We therefore have no backbone to start from and as such need a good pre-season for the new squad to gel. Right now we have nowhere near a competitive team let alone squad. - A lot of good L1 players are already signed up. - We waste money on an Italian trip for the kids, only 1 or 2 look ready for challenging for a first team squad place at this time - The sub league of Wilson vs Hill will be an interesting watch. - I still don't like the new shirt lol The positives are:- - Hourihane looked good at Halifax - Looking forward to seeing the new scoreboard and the advertising revenue it brings - The Wilson vs Hill sub league - Ill save 50 quid on a new shirt
I believe Wilson's got target's in mind & will try & sign them in the next fortnight now we've cleared O'Grady, Steele & possibly Cranie off the wage bill
I don't expect us to start the season 'ready-made'. The percentage call is that clubs who start well often falter. Hopefully we can build and grow. One thing though - Danny has managed in all four divisions. He will have a much better idea of who will cut it at this level than Hill or Flitcroft. I excuse him the failed sticking plaster solutions last year because that was a hopeless task. I think we can look forward to this season with some interest, and a little more optimism.
One other advantage is that those young lads have a much better chance of getting in the team at this level than the Championship which was a very tough division to bring young players through. I'm optimistic we'll see some much needed progress in that area.
I hope I'm proved wrong, but I can only see us struggling this season. If we'd let players like Steele, COG & Cranie move on at the end of last season & acquired replacements in time for a proper pre season I would have felt much better. My fear is a bad start, Wilson under pressure from fans & a load of loan players again. Whatever players we pick up now are going to struggle for fitness for the early weeks of the season & it is hard to see where to cohesion will come from. We have potentially 3-4 players who will be very good in this league & a lot of young lads who haven't really been given a chance up to now. What is very worrying is the lack of any message coming from the club.
My opinion for what its worth In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision. Dalai Lama That's what I believe the club are attempting to do. They are still in the process of development, so kindly leave em to it. Praise them or criticise them when the league as started.
If I was Danny Wilson I would adopting a strategy of deflecting all the failings of the club to the board. If there is any pressure from the fans it shook be on the Field Marshall Haighs running the club. Not the manager.
Re: My opinion for what its worth What are they attempting to do exactly? Reduce the squad to unworkable proportions?
Is the positive vision our desire to enter the Wath and Dearne 5-a-side league? Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD