New signings.

Anyone happy with the squad we have, or do you think we still need to strengthen? With Ludwig playing for us last season, we've only got 1 new player. With B. Williams out for the season and Ritzy being sh*t, we're short at L. B. Especially with other Williams is now a CB it seems.
If we play 3 at back, I reckon we might need a new CB. Depends how highly G. S rates Halme. Anyone know what is going on with Bambo? Although if my memory serves me right, he wasn't very good anyway.
A proven championship striker would be nice. Problem with that, is there are 23 other clubs in our league who also need 1. Although we do have a lot of strkers/forwards and we'd probably need to let 1 or 2 go before we brought anyone in.

 

I am quite happy with the squad as it is ,apart from the fact that I still think one or two players could be moved on for me , Bahre , Victor & Thomas can all go for me , regarding players coming in , you can always strive to improve the quality of the squad but quality usually costs big bucks & I am not so sure we can shop in that market ,however the loan market might be a route to take . I disagree with your comment about Ritzy , Struber rates him & I know the fans have to have a whipping boy but I hope like Anderson he proves to be the player we hoped he would be , I actually thought he played quite well on saturday & does a lot of good work which seems to go unnoticed .

 

Happy with the squad as things stand.

 

Reckon were 2 or 3 short should injuries and suspensions kick in. Cover at full back, different type of striker and perhaps another ball winner in midfield and weve got all bases covered. Si thi

 

I think that’s right but given financial climate probably makes sense to utilise loan market if and when that eventuality arises

 

I think we need dead wood replacing with squad players that are going to push for a place and we'll be fine.

 

I know it’s not be all and end all, but I would like a target man up front to bring on if teams try push us wide, not entirely necessary but I think it would strengthen us

 

Probably need another decent CB. Move victor, Bahre and Miller on. Replace with a striker and maybe another midfielder. I know styles has been playing really well but I think he would do a decent job where Woodrow has been playing, push Cauley back up top wi Chappers.

 

It's more a tactical thing for me. If Chaplin or Woodrow can't hit a camels arse with a banjo for a number of games costing us points it ad' be nice to have someone to bring on or start instead.

 

If we can ever get Bambo back it would feel like a new signing and avoid the need for another CB. It would be interesting to see how he would do now that Struber has got the defence stabilised.

 

Still need a central midfielder a forward with height and pace and cover at full back. Let’s not run away with what was essentially a win in a friendly. There are still gaps there. Whether we use the loan market due to current uncertainties is a different question but we are still too light in some areas and some players need moving on.

 

I thought Bambo was a liability.

 

Happy that nobody has left, yet. I'd like to see us add a bit more depth to the squad though. I'd look to bring in a left-back, but if we're to play the interchanging diamond/5-3-2 setup, then Oduor, Ritzmaier and maybe even Frieser could do a job there.

Another midfielder and striker would be ideal.

 

I think we are still a little light, but also if we are sticking to wing backs we could use browny on right as I feel he doesn’t score enough up top but has some decent ball in for the attackers. So would suit him better. GS seems to prefer Ritzy on left we also have Odour. But we still need a striker. With exemption of cauley and Chappers I Dunt feel others we have are championship quality. But also if he changes the formation we could be light in other areas

 

Me too. Although so was Mads, so I'm holding out hope.

 

I always try to look at things as if i was an opposing manager or fan. I would see our weakness down our left side, especially defensively. So i, as a manager, would be pressing Williams and closing his possession. I wouldn't be worried too much how we attack left but would be more worried of Barnsley's right side attack. Also i think its important to see where we are vs last season where we were a relegation candidate. So i think we have a better first team now that last season, player for player either as they have improved or been replaced compared to first few months of last season. Our squad depth though is perhaps a bit weaker when you look at players not here vs early last season.

So for me we need a LB that would be a first team choice. Then Williams can cover. I would like to see Odour compete more in an attacking left and can provide cover for LB. Maybe instead of Ritzy. Im not sure Odebeyojo is a solution for the attacking slots but maybe we are ok to at least start the season with the striker options we have. Centre halves Halme and Bambo can cover and compete, with Halme giving and emergency holding mid option. Ludewig seems to have improved the RB and Brown can cover, perhaps also Halme or Odour at a push as RB cover.

I would be OK with a trade up with a LB improvement and maybe we are in good shape for the first few games and perhaps until end of year.

As a squad, i know we want to reduce numbers but a lot of players have left and im sure it opens up a slot or two further at this stage and another one or two if needed in Jan.

 

The lack of signings reflects both the shortened pre-season period and the general uncertainty around lower league football finances at the moment. We've had relatively few signings but, importantly, no mass exodus of key players either. Given how we ended the season, having a largely settled squad from the one that finished it is a good starting point for me, and gives Struber a chance to work with them further during a (short) pre-season.

Ultimately, all the transfer shenanigans might still happen before the window closes, and I expect that we'll lose a couple of key players who will be replaced with 'potential'. However, whatever happens, we're starting with a core group who have more Championship experience than last season and a head coach who's got half a season of experience of this division too.

We undoubtedly have areas where we need to strengthen, but I suspect the bigger part of our transfer activity is still to come when we lose one or two of the key players and need to bolster the squad further. As long as this doesn't become a large-scale mass exodus, as seen in previous seasons, then I'm generally more comfortable that we have talent in depth, albeit with limited experience, than I have been in recent years.

 

As mentioned before the transfer window opened - 4 positions need strengthening.

Replacement for Brown - tick (Frieser).
Replacement for Mowatt (Whiteman?).
Gerhard - dosen’t seem to like Halme at centre back - even with Bambo back if we play 343 we still need cover - so another centre back / full back.
If need be we haven’t any height up front - tall quick centre forward.

 

You've mentioned replacing Brown and Mowatt before? Must've missed that.