So - Is this how we'll start?

If we assume that the new lads will be introduced gradually?

Davies

Yiadom? McDonald Jackson Fryers

Isgrove Moncur Mowatt Hammill

Bradshaw Payne

Bench: Townsend, McGeechan, Mallan, Pinnock, McCarthy, Lindsay, D'Almeida


Moncur and Mowatt wouldn't quite fill me with the same anticipation as starting out last year with Hourihane and Scowen in the middle, but they both have potential to step up further. Jackson will need to be on his toes, and we could do with at least two more strikers to push Tom and Stefan.

Overall, we'll need to improve considerably from what was a relegation-form ending to last season. But as others have said: In Hecky we trust!

 

No.

 

Definitely not.


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Unlikely the team the ream will evolve ovet the next few weeks. The new players signed didnt come to be bench warmers.It is a fresh start.

 

Not at all. Looking at our signings I'd not be surprised to see us play 3-5-2 at times.

 

Not that I know anything about the players that have come in so far, but before the recruitment process began, Hecky said that we needed 10 players. Since then, we have lost another 3, so his figure is presumably upped to 13. We have brought in 7, so the maths indicate that we are looking for another 6. We still look light at left back, defensive mid-field and striker/target man, so that is 4. I have no doubt that we will max out on our loans, so once again, the maths suggest that we will be looking for another couple of permanent transfers, one of which must be a forward.

I have no idea whether the players we have signed are any good, but it is going to be an interesting process finding out. There is no way that Hecky can get every signing right, and I hope that the fans will be patient with the team whilst they get used to each other and their new surroundings. There is no doubt that it will be a rocky ride for a time.

 

Your mantra of patience may be much required this season, my Lord. But the bank balance must bring you cheer?

 

We shall not know what our bank balance looks like until the publication of the accounts for last season in January 2018. I suspect that those accounts will also answer a lot of questions about fees paid for players and fees received for players. Far too much is made of the hearsay and speculation that is written on web sites that exist because of advertising income that is derived from the number of views their stories receive. Frankly, I treat almost everything that appears on the internet with doubt. You must also know that my support of the club's strategy for buying/developing/selling has nothing to do with its bank balance. My support is there because I can think of no other strategy that allows us to compete with clubs that can easily out-spend us. But I know that you know that, and I know that you are just gently tugging at my strings to see how I react.

Looking forward to the new season and getting to know all the new players... how about you?

 

Very true.

Last season we avoided a serious drubbing all season, due to solid defensive capabilities throughout the team.
I think this time out it's inevitable we'll get a few bloody noses & it will be down to fans & players to stick with it.

We need a quality front man, be it on loan or permanent & cover in most other positions, other than attacking midfield.

It won't be dull.

 

Might be very dull if Bradshaw and Payne are our best striking options.

 

I reckon it'll be

Davis
McCarthy McDonald Pinnock Fryers
Isgrove McGeegan Mallan Moncur D'Almedia
Bradshaw

I'm tipping Yids to be gone, so have left him out (controversial!)

Don't know much about Lindsey, he could possibly be in there, but there's a lot o new players to blood & lets hope they settle quick in pre season.
Think Hecky will have to try & play his 1st team asap, to give them the time to gel.

 

I think the team will still change a bit. I'd expect another winger on loan & 2 strikers, 1 loan, 1 permanent.

If I was picking a team based on our current squad it'd probably be-

Davies
McCarthy MacDonald Pinnock Yiadom
Isgrove Sessi McGeehan Hammill
Moncur
Bradshaw

 

Sessi is a defensive midfielder, not a winger.

 

Agree, however, I'd be very surprised if either start the first league match.
Bradshaw not a sole striker & it looks like we'll go one up front.
Payne I guess will either be moved / loaned, or used as an impact sub, if he has a decent preseason.
A lot of berths to fill at the moment. We'll just have to see what happens.

 

Concur with that. The players are interesting recruits and presumably hungry to do well. I worry about the short time Hecky has to "programme" them - that might have to happen as we go along. We have to remember that Hourihane, Scowen and Mawson all took time to get sorted out. While there is a slight chance it could go wrong with such an inexperienced squad I think that our coaching setup is too well-established for us to do a Rotherham. Also, at a critical point in the promotion season (namely when it was looking like a relegation season) the club injected the experience of Aidy White, Adam Hammill and Kevin Long to steady the ship. With the funds at the club's disposal I'd like to think that we would have the ability to do the same if we are in a predicament halfway through the season. But overall, I'm hopeful that Hecky and JC can work their magic again, and the Championship just looks better and better each year. Bring on John Terry! (And come on the Boro!)

 

No chance. I expect us to bring in at least 4 more players (I think we need 6) & for all those players to be first teamers.

 

Presuming that McGeehan won't be rushed back, and under the premise Yiadom stays and we sign more strikers, I reckon the side could look like this:



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I expect Lindsey to be a starter. He played at a higher level than the Conference (or whatever its called now), and was considered by his peers as the best centre back in Scotland.

 

Moncur will smash it this season, I have absolutely no doubt about that. What worries me is the lack of a hard tackler in the center. People are bigging up Sessi but why? We've not seen anything of him... he could turn out to be another Oneil Thompson or whatever he was called.

 

I'm thinking something similar based on who we've signed, but then we've got two wingers who you'd expect to be playing (unless Isgrove is going to be turned into a wing back?). Gives the WBs a lot of flexibility to bomb forward, with d'Almeida sitting back and allowing the three CBs to cover the pitch. I also wonder if your AN Other could be McGeehan (or Moncur? Or Mallan?) in a bit of a free role.

The friendlies will be interesting!