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I’d love a few to step up but Shaw hasn’t scored for anyone in nigh on two years and Oldham fans in the National League say that Dallas has looked awful. We really need to offload those two somehow to get a couple in.
Maybe Watters can come good but it’s difficult to see and I’m not sure Marsh has what it takes to break through with us.
Defensively I have hopes for Shepherd and Lopata but I reckon we’ll look to move McCarthy on.
The squad is top heavy with some mediocre players and it could stop us bringing in the key players we need.

 

We'll see! Maybe I'm an incurable optimist, but I saw a hint of first season Mads Andersen in MDG last season, and I think I remember Earl looking pretty good in the one or two games he played alongside Pines? I am basically ignoring the last quarter of the season though, to be fair.

I'd also say that I loved the marauding forward runs that de Givigney was making at the very beginning of the season. I suspect it was coached out of him, but with a bit more freedom I could see him playing with a lot more confidence.

 

Unfortunately we have players on long term deals who just aren’t good enough let’s hope we can come to some sort of arrangement and move them on , we need players for the here and now not wild punts from non league who may or may not come good.

 

Oh I agree mate. If we could move them on and replace with better, I’m all for what improves the squad as well.

 

Yes, I was impressed with him, I suspect he will go on to better things.

 

The New Model Red Army perchance?

 

That must be the best joke you've ever cracked!!!
For what its worth I'm happy the club have released all of those players in the big scheme. If they're not bothered, expensive and ultimately not good enough then get rid and trim the squad for the new guy. I thought Cadden was arguably the one with most potential after last season but none of them were 'good'. They were all 'ok' at best in my opinion and I for one, naive though I may be, want better than 'ok' even at this level. I think a lot of fans actually forget what good players actually look like after they've been subjected to mediocrity for a while...

 

McCarthy Cotter Styles Benson Wolfe Watters Shaw Dallas and Marsh for one reason or another need to move on I feel.

 

I'd always find space in the squad for Barry Cotter, he's the annoyingly daft puppy you can't not like. You're never getting a down tools attitude from him.

 

On Mael, I think he's been out of position for most of the year. He absolutely should not be played in the centre of a back 3. That spot has to be reserved for a physical presence who dominates in the air a la Helik, Andersen or Pines. I think if we play Mael on either side of a back 3 where he can better utilise his passing game and marauding runs we'll see a different player.

There's a real player in there, albeit one who has been very poorly managed.

 

Cotter has pace but no defensive ability, unless we play him as a winger he shouldn't get a game.

 

Do we think we will see a change in formation or will we be sticking to wingbacks?

 

Reminds me a bit of Odour, can beat a man, but can't defend. Would make a good winger, but we don't play wingers, so he's at the wrong club.

 

The problem with MDG is he's got absolutely no pace to play left of a back 3 and zero physicality to play in the centre of one. He's also nowhere near as good on the ball as he seems to believe he is which is why he gave the ball away so many times this season. His marauding runs were mostly as a result of (over) confidence rather than ability. It was just a man running with a football through space that opposition players had left because they didn't expect a defender to run forwards.

As for Earl. Well we managed a grand total of one clean sheet in all the games he plays. I don't think that's a coincidence at all.

Pines. God knows. I personally think his height makes people just assume he's good and coupled with his goals from scrambles in the box it created some kind of hysteria when in reality does anyone care if he can toe poke a ball into the net? It's at the other end that's important and in his few games I saw nothing to suggest he will dramatically improve things, we still didn't keep a clean sheet. Maybe he will, maybe he won't, but I think it's far too early to tell just yet.

 

I'm going with the happy-clapper glass half-full approach. Think Earl showed real quality when he first came in, but then struggled in a poorly managed team which was playing badly.

Get a good manager in and I think he could be a great find.

 

I don't see the hype with MDG, hope he proves me wrong

 

Disagree about MDG, I think you're being very harsh.

Agree on Earl and Pines.

 

I did mean to, but completely forget to, say that I think MDG would be more suited to playing in a back 4 where he can be a normal centre back

 

Personally wouldn’t have Cotter anywhere near the first eleven he’s just not good enough

 

Kane has found time to try and sweet talk Oxford, but not to mention his exit yet.