Alarming amount of work to be done

Mawson in - Cranie out
Roberts in - M'voto out
Watkins in - Lalkovic out
Wilkinson in - Waring out

Still to replace -

Holgate (RB)
Dudgeon/John (LB)
Pearson (CDM)
Bailey (CM)
Berry (CM/RW)
Jennings (LW)
Lita/Hemmings (ST)
Ibehre (CF)
O'Sullivan/Williams (RW/CAM)
Turnbull? (GK)

Whilst we don't necessarily need another CB we're also missing the experience of Ramage who made a big difference when he first came in as well as contributing 3 goals.

In terms of the players we've brought in its hard to say they're huge improvements. Mawson has great potential but will he be as steady as Cranie. Roberts for BFJ will hopefully see someone more reliable come in when called upon but again its a gamble. I'd like to think Watkins will have a greater impact than Lalkovic did although I do think Lalk is worth another go. And Waring did well for us on loan so hopefully Wilkinson can give us the same.

We've still got plenty of time as things stand but I really think LJ may have shot himself in the foot disposing of Bailey, Berry and Lalkovic so soon. We need a minimum of 7 players in. It won't be hard to find squad fillers but can we get players in better than what we had last season?

 

We're in trouble no doubt about, but Fu'ck nobody's died have they, what will be will be, we'll keep paying money into club and they'll do what the Fu'ck they want with it until we stop handing it over. And that's that

 

Don't think we need a RB fetching in If Holgate does go. Got Bree and Williams so that's enough. Think defence is pretty much there actually, just another LB and I think that's that. Never got the hype surrounding Ramage either, should have been much better considering the amount of experience he has

 

Bree is only 17 and was out for half of last season. He's had a few niggling injuries during preseason too. We dont know if Williams is up to it yet, I'm praying he is. IMO if we are to improve we need someone competing with Bree for a starting place.

 

It's worth noting that Johnson's on record as saying the squad was too big last season so I wouldn't expect all of them players to be replaced.

There's also Abbott & Maris who he probably considers as back up players who've come back in to the squad from loan spells.

Still plenty of work to do though

 

Defence is starting to look ok with two clean sheets. I agree with one of the other posts that Bree/Williams should be also be ok; they should at least be allowed to develop with game time which is exactly what pre-season is all about; the LB position might need more cover. Holgate does not need to be replaced as he is primarily a centre-back and not a full back; the centre-backs are starting to look solid.

 

Bree is a midfielder isn't he?

 

Yes, but Holgate was a centre half, so that means bugger all at Oakwell

 

I remain to be convinced that a 17 year old midfielder should be pretty much our only choice at right back. I thought LJ didn't believe in playing players out of position.

 

i think only meant left back and only if we can sign someone from cardiff

 

Where does the problem lie here? I wasn't worried 2 weeks ago but since then we have let more players go than we have recruited.

The way I see it is that LJ will declare his retention list and the management/board will then handle the departures I.e. Bailey, Lalkovic. In addition I would think the board would review any other offers and discuss with LJ (Turnbull, Holgate, Berry). Then I would think LJ would provide a target list for the board / management to secure.

So I'm now wondering 3 weeks before season start how far we have got through the list. We can already see the progress on players out.

If there aren't any quality signings by early next week I will get worried. I think the lack of a pre season as a first team squad last season cost us dearly and so far we look short in numbers and little if any cover for most positions.

 

We have cover. Unfortunately the club has decided that said cover must rot in a dark cupboard until their contracts expire

 

We have a mountain to climb if we are seriously aiming for top 6.

All I see is the same season I predicted last season, bad start, change of manager, initial run of form, fall away badly.

Hope to f@@k I'm wrong. LJ is the kind of guy we need to be backing, but I'm not confident we have the right infrastructure at the club.

I had come over to the new Mansford regime after some good PR stunts, but sadly I'm back to looking at the facts. Unprofessional, unthinking (I'm talking here about the Barnsley Player stuff recently) & making a mockery of a testimonial of our stand out player of the last 10 years.