1st match just 22 days away ..........

........ I wonder if Simon is starting to panic yet?

Maybe he is waiting until the last possible minute (the week before the season starts) to sign some players, the free agents will be looking for top wages and longish contracts at the moment, but given that the supply of players without a club exceeds demand, at some point they will have to lower their sights in terms of which clubs they are willing to sign for and on what terms, or find themselves without a club when the season starts.


On the other hand, he may not have a clue what he's doing

 

Two signings so far. A none league player and someone who's hardly played a first team game for years. Not been such a good pre season on the transfers front so far.

 

Well, if you believe...

What he say's in the Chronicle, we are 'close to 2 or 3 signings'. Gets frustrated 'when he gets close to a signing but it hits a certain stumbling block'.

Whether folk believe him or not is a different matter...

 

Maybe

the current players have done the unthinkable and taken the time to practice shooting at goal. There would be no need to sign players then. You know, if they were competant at what they are paid to do. On the other hand, they could be dicking around in Spain.

 

I think we need a bit more than shooting practice mate! nt

 

Many other clubs also been quiet in transfer market so far...... no need to panic

Some teams haven't yet brought any player in including; Doncaster, Newcastle, PNE, Reading and Coventry.......

So far only a few going for it, plenty of time left for SD to bring player in......... I hope Alan quinn rumour is true, I feel he would be ideal squad player playing cetral or wide left. If SD can then add targets Andy Gray, Adam Hammill and a Defender I feel we will be good to go. He may also have loan deals set up.

Also think we should take a look at this lad...........Morten Nielsen 19y/o 6ft 4" Danish youth international striker, just been released by Chelsea...... young with potential and a big lad too, so could slot into targetman role. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morten_Nielsen_(footballer_born_1990)

 

not to gloss over the facts hey!!

Sodje looks a frickin right freebie! I can see masses of potential there and enough to say he will play a big part this year. he will become a fans favourite without doubt. He is energetic and passionate - with skill to boot. And he certainly knows how to head a ball.

Preece also looks a very capable backup! Shows excellant distribution and shot stopping. Again another good buy.

I wish people would stop panicing. Ok its not ideal having everyone in for start of pre-season training but I have faith that we have things in place.

Maybe some other signings and nes is a smokescreen for other things. You dont know.

 

The facts are mate that he played ok ............

...... against Stan's team - that doesn't mean he's going to be a big hit for us in the Championship, the lad couldn't get in York City's team last season, and they were in the bottom six of the Conference most of the season.

Hope you are right about him but lets wait and see how he performs against a good team before we declare him a great find

 

Agree totally. Fast, keen, took his header well.

That's it.</p>

Lot of work to do with him, his control looked iffy for example - experienced Champ defenders would sort him in 10 minutes.</p>

Not fair on the lad to crank the expectations up - cos if he doesn't hit a hat trick in his first game you know what'll happen.
</p>

 

RE: Agree totally. Fast, keen, took his header well.

So it's ok then for him not to be up to it against experienced players??

I think what you mean is that you know what will happen when he doesn't manage to score three goals in his first 25 games but **** it - if it proves your point why not make out that fans demand far too much from players? At least it's easier to justify them when they turn out to be *****.

I'd say that if anything most people's expectations are extremely low.

 

RE: Agree totally. Fast, keen, took his header well.

I don't think you read what's actually there.

 

Did you not read Dirk's post?

He made the point that there's plenty of work to be done with him before he's ready for this level, but also the fact he might have some raw attributes that could help him on his way, so long as fans don't see glimpses and expect him to score a hatful. Us Barnsley fans tend to be miserable feckers like you, ryhill, supertyke etc, or completely the opposite and see the fact that KO has scored 4 in 4 to mean he's now the best striker we have. Not often is there much in between

 

RE: Many other clubs don't only have 14 1st team players in their squad

Our squad has less depth than the admin days when we were only allowed to register 20 players.
There are 3 weeks to the new season and so far all we've done is sell Muller and replace him with David Preece, send Mifsud back and replace him with Sodje, and got rid of Van Homoet, Leon, and Souza and not replaced them at all. Last season's squad nearly went down, this season's is looking loads weaker and we've still got the same manager who thinks JCR is a sweeper. How anyone can say they are optimistic is beyond me. Fingers crossed for at least 4 signings before 1st August but I'm not holding my breath.
If we do make signings they'll most likely be last minute panic loan signings like the magnificent Rigters.

 

on evidence I've seen Sodje looks decent buy... Mifsud showed me little... Leon, Van Homo no loss

And Muller to be honest is perhaps past his best, was superb when he first came but not the same player last year following injury..... still good shot stopper but not as mobile, and didn't command his area last season as he did previous year!

So no complaints from me.....

 

RE: Many other clubs don't only have 14 1st team players in their squad

Not entirely true, the fact is last season Potter was out on loan, this season he won't be (I hope!), so he could become a replacement for Souza, Leon was injured since January and Van Homoet was just pretty crap, so the latter are no real loss, but we do need to strenghten, but I firmly believe Davey is working hard to strenghten.</p>

He's certainly been looking at players, with plenty of trialists, and if newspaper reports are to be believed, we've been looking at a number of players - Gray, alan Lee, Quinn, plus we know he's bid for Hammill.</p>

I think this season we should see a few young 'uns pushing for the first team, plus Hume back, so they will seem like new signings.</p>

No need to panic yet, that's for sure
</p>

 

RE: Many other clubs don't only have 14 1st team players in their squad

I'm struggling to see Potter as a replacement for Souza as I thought he was more of a left back.
The other players who've gone might not have been that good but they still need replacing.
Sitting back and watching Nyatanga join Bristol City is a huge mistake for me. Quality defender and still only 21, ideal replacement for Moore who I believe will struggle to last another full season.
Given the fact that PC openly stated that Ritchie was sacked for failing to strengthen the squad, it makes me wonder what his take on the current situation is.

 

RE: Many other clubs don't only have 14 1st team players in their squad

Well possibly, I see your point, but Kozzy is played as a left back when everyone knows he's better suited to right back, so Potter could become the left back, freeing up Kozzy at right back, with Hassell then maybe back in the middle (where I think he's brilliant). But I'm sure Potter can play centre back too (though I could be wrong)</p>

Difference between the two managers (I'm just speculating) could be Ritchie maybe didn't want to strenghthen (perhaps thought he didn't need to), whereas Davey has admitted he knows the squad needs improving.</p>

Time will tell what happens, but I'm positive abou the coming season
</p>

 

At least the piggy bank's doing nicely! nt

 

you easily pleased then nt

 

REne thing that scares me is

we are looking for back up for moore and foster we should be looking for moore as back up and a new centre half what is davey feckin doing.