The Squad so far

GK: Collins, Killip, Searle

DF: Williams, Cotter, Kitching, Moon, Cundy, McCarthy, Lopata

MF: Cadden, Russell, Styles(?), Kane Benson, Connell, Phillips, Wolfe

FWD: Norwood, Cole, Iseka, Shaw

Plus around 5 under 21s that could step up.

See what Neill & Jon can do. I reckon we have a good, solid base to be going on with. Maybe need 4 more additions IMO

 

No where near strong enough that squad.

Collins is off. Searle not first team standard.

Moon not good enough. McCarthy needs to seriously improve from what i have seen of him so far. Lopata and Cotter not seen really to comment.

Styles off. Benson and Wolfe out for a long time.

cant see Iseka stopping. Wages too high. Shaw, no one knows. The fact hes been at the club 6 month and not played a competitive game speaks volumes.

if we go into season with that basis and dont sign 5/6 then we will be in for a shock in my opinion. Look at the other squads that will be in the mix. Ours no where near at the minute.

 

Agree with you 100%. We have the numbers for the moment but like you say a fair few will either leave or aren’t really of the quality we need.
Definitely need 4 or 5 for me.

 

Totally agree, it's a strong league1 side without additions and I have no doubt we will sign more with a few quality loans as well.

 

I guess it depends if we are playing with wingbacks again.

And it's like deja vu. Cos we would need to strengthen/cover for a LWB (if styles doesn't want to be here) and possibly another striker (if we aren't gunna give the current back ups a go)... Which we seem to have that requirement/discussion every season.

I'd rather not sign a boat load of players hoping they make it eventually, cos most of them won't, but go for quality instead.

Be an interesting couple of weeks anyway, just hope we are not too far behind come kick off.

 

Genuine consistently proven top half League 1 performers:-

Collins (Off?)
Williams (Off?)
Kitching
Cadden (Last Year of Contract?)
Kane (LYoC?)
Connell
Phillips
Norwood (LYoC?)
Cole (LYoC?)

Enormous amounts of work to do in a diminishing time period imho

 

Gorra agree with all posts, i like the team as a foundation for Neil to build on, C,O,Y,R.

 

We're too static in central midfield. No natural ball carrier in there and Connell plays too deep. Need a 25/30 goal striker up front and another centre back plus wing cover. I'd say we're five short.

 

I think Joe ackroyd and his mate will be classed as first team squad this season.. both need to kick on and impress, also you can discount Wolfe and Benson at least regarding pre/early season.

 

Kane drives us forward well , the midfield is our strongest suit & regarding Connell , he was playing deep under Duffs instructions , it is unfair to shoehorn him into one role . A 25/30 goal striker is like gold dust so unless you get extremely lucky you are not going to get one but what we did as a team last season was to score goals all over the pitch , we need more of the same for me, I dont care where the goals come from & do not see it as a problem , we scored enough last season & although we should always strive for better I think we will be fine in that department .

 

I think where the three signings have arrived from and where the players we are linked with are at present playing. I'd say we're definitely going more scatter gun than quality. It looks to me we're bringing in maybes and see what Collins can do with em. Sure not all will work out. Might be more of transition season than a all out top two I feel.

 

No Phillips for first 3 games either. Does the League Cup tie count as one?

 

Just how long at League 1 level will transition seasons be deemed acceptable? It's a sure fire way of losing season ticket holders. Continually p1s sin' up their backs.

 

Take Wolfe out of that list,won’t play this season

 

We won't be running with the wolf.

 

I think every team in world Football, at any level is looking for that.

 

All the more reason to get in there early. There's got to be someone banging in the goals in the Ryman or Isthmian Leagues.

 

Not sure why we'd want a transition season after coming so close to automatic promotion.
The scatter gun approach in the non league is a concern along with the lack of any solid proven signings.
Adds credence to the poster who said Duff was being forced to blood and develop youngsters leading to him leaving.
Interesting few weeks ahead, it'll all be clear by the end of August.

 

Might be transitioning into League 2.

 

In fairness competing at the top of League One and playing decent football is likely to lose us less season ticket holders than the last season we had in the Championship.