It has been a month since our last signing (Fosu - 19th June)
Since then we have seen: a striker leave, who although very frustrating has scored more than 20 goals in a season; A defender leave who was on very high wages for a League 1 player but played in a large percentage of our games last season; and a midfielder who has shown some signs of promise during pre-season and one I feel was never really given a real chance in the team.
We have seen 12 players leave/return to their parent clubs and have signed 3 replacements.
Our squad seemed inadequate and thin on the ground last year, the year before and the year before that - are we going for a new record this year?
Did we throw all of our eggs in one basket with Reeves and now we have nothing else lined up? Much like the long, drawn-out pursuit of Delort, which resulted (perhaps thankfully) in us not signing him or another striker and looking thin upfront. Didn't we also spend ages supposedly after Gradel and end up not signing a similar player when it failed a few seasons ago?
TLDR - we need some signings for our thin squad and fast.
12 outgoings and 3 replacements isn't unusual for most clubs in a summer. Most clubs will clear out the deadwood and bring in players for the first team meaning outgoings always outweigh incomings. While I accept we do need a few positions I don't think the squad is anywhere near as light as it was at Bury last season where we barely had enough players and I believe 6 of the 7 subs provided from the acadamy IIRC.
Once Da Silva is signed i'd say we then only need a GK, RB cover (although not urgent while we have Konsa and Barnes), a winger though Stewart would do as a cheap 4th choice option and another "no.10"
So 5 players needed IMO but i'd say Da Silva, Stewart and a GK are all highly likely to sign. I certainly think we'll be better prepared for Bristol Rovers than we were for Bury albeit with a couple of holes to plug.
Who is going to score goals ?
All depends who fills that "no.10" role. Within the last week it's had Reeves, Ceballos, JFC, Aribo, Watt, Clarke, Josh Wright all penciled in on here.
I'm not sure we're going to see anyone get 20+ goals but I think KR will be expecting Holmes, Magennis, Marshall and whoever "no.10" is to all pitch in with 10+ goals each with token contributions through the rest of the team.
We're going to need around the 70 goal mark, maybe slightly more dependant on our defence. it helps if you have a 20 goal a season striker, but if 4 score an average of 13/14 then that would be fine with 1/2 others chipping in.
At the moment, I would say only Magennis and Holmes can do that, with contributions from JFC, Marshall, Clarke and our other strikers. If we don't sign a striker, then the attacking midfielder would have to be able to score at least 12/13.
If we can't get Reeves (I am starting to not want him anyway based on his holdout) then Josh Wright is probably a modest upgrade. First, he scored more goals last year than Reeves. Second, go to Gillingham fan sites and they pretty much claim he was their best player last year. I'll take Wright over ... nothing.
Is being the best player at Gillingham anything to shout about?
Is being the best player at Charlton anything to shout about?
Please can the moderators delete all postings that are not transfer rumours.
But if they do, then they need to delete this post, but without this post, why would they delete the post in the first place. It like going back in time and killing your grandfather.
The more I see and read about this Wright rumour, the more I think it could happen. Would be a good signing in my opinion, definitely an upgrade on Crofts and shown last season Wright can score goals too.
The more I see and read about this Wright rumour, the more I think it could happen. Would be a good signing in my opinion, definitely an upgrade on Crofts and shown last season Wright can score goals too.
Agree better than Crofts, I'm also thinking there might be that unfinished business mentality that could really see him progress here if given the chance!
The more I see and read about this Wright rumour, the more I think it could happen. Would be a good signing in my opinion, definitely an upgrade on Crofts and shown last season Wright can score goals too.
Agree better than Crofts, I'm also thinking there might be that unfinished business mentality that could really see him progress here if given the chance!
If Wright comes then it's another body in so can't argue with it, the question is surely he'd only leave Gillingham if he was guaranteed to start. Can we promise him that? He's not a number 10, and is he any better than Kashi or JFC to play in the '2' in a 4231 formation?
The more I see and read about this Wright rumour, the more I think it could happen. Would be a good signing in my opinion, definitely an upgrade on Crofts and shown last season Wright can score goals too.
Agree better than Crofts, I'm also thinking there might be that unfinished business mentality that could really see him progress here if given the chance!
yeah bit like Danny Green!
Lawrie Wilson done alright...even though he used to be shite..in the end.
The more I see and read about this Wright rumour, the more I think it could happen. Would be a good signing in my opinion, definitely an upgrade on Crofts and shown last season Wright can score goals too.
Waste of a wage for me. GK, LB and a striker are my top wish list.
We have more than enough MF and the young backs can play wide if needed. I know I have said this before, but I firmly believe that you need to buy the best CF you can afford and build the team around him, which is what we did with Killer. You can have all the fancy formations in the world but you need someone to stick it in the net.
Mag is hardly prolific, but I expect this to be his most productive. If he is unable to play I think we could be in trouble. I wish Watt had left instead of Aribo as he is not a striker imo. Oh well.
If Wright comes then it's another body in so can't argue with it, the question is surely he'd only leave Gillingham if he was guaranteed to start. Can we promise him that? He's not a number 10, and is he any better than Kashi or JFC to play in the '2' in a 4231 formation?
Robinson says he wants two players off each position so Wright would be competing with the likes of Kashi and JFC.
The more I see and read about this Wright rumour, the more I think it could happen. Would be a good signing in my opinion, definitely an upgrade on Crofts and shown last season Wright can score goals too.
Waste of a wage for me. GK, LB and a striker are my top wish list.
We have more than enough MF and the young backs can play wide if needed. I know I have said this before, but I firmly believe that you need to buy the best CF you can afford and build the team around him, which is what we did with Killer. You can have all the fancy formations in the world but you need someone to stick it in the net.
Mag is hardly prolific, but I expect this to be his most productive. If he is unable to play I think we could be in trouble. I wish Watt had left instead of Aribo as he is not a striker imo. Oh well.
If Wright comes then it's another body in so can't argue with it, the question is surely he'd only leave Gillingham if he was guaranteed to start. Can we promise him that? He's not a number 10, and is he any better than Kashi or JFC to play in the '2' in a 4231 formation?
Robinson says he wants two players off each position so Wright would be competing with the likes of Kashi and JFC.
and Crofts, Aribo, Jackson, Lapslie, Dikjsteel? Thats more like 3 players for that position.
If Wright comes then it's another body in so can't argue with it, the question is surely he'd only leave Gillingham if he was guaranteed to start. Can we promise him that? He's not a number 10, and is he any better than Kashi or JFC to play in the '2' in a 4231 formation?
Robinson says he wants two players off each position so Wright would be competing with the likes of Kashi and JFC.
I don't doubt he'd be competing for a place, my point is will he leave a club where's he guaranteed to start, to potentially sit on our bench every week. Although i guess 1-2k extra a week might help that problem.
If Wright comes then it's another body in so can't argue with it, the question is surely he'd only leave Gillingham if he was guaranteed to start. Can we promise him that? He's not a number 10, and is he any better than Kashi or JFC to play in the '2' in a 4231 formation?
Robinson says he wants two players off each position so Wright would be competing with the likes of Kashi and JFC.
We have that at the moment with those two, Crofts and Aribo. Could see Wright coming in if one of them left.
If Wright comes then it's another body in so can't argue with it, the question is surely he'd only leave Gillingham if he was guaranteed to start. Can we promise him that? He's not a number 10, and is he any better than Kashi or JFC to play in the '2' in a 4231 formation?
Robinson says he wants two players off each position so Wright would be competing with the likes of Kashi and JFC.
We have that at the moment with those two, Crofts and Aribo. Could see Wright coming in if one of them left.
Konsa can also play there and Jackson too (although he'd be a last choice). It really isn't a position we need to strengthen
The more I see and read about this Wright rumour, the more I think it could happen. Would be a good signing in my opinion, definitely an upgrade on Crofts and shown last season Wright can score goals too.
Waste of a wage for me. GK, LB and a striker are my top wish list.
We have more than enough MF and the young backs can play wide if needed. I know I have said this before, but I firmly believe that you need to buy the best CF you can afford and build the team around him, which is what we did with Killer. You can have all the fancy formations in the world but you need someone to stick it in the net.
Mag is hardly prolific, but I expect this to be his most productive. If he is unable to play I think we could be in trouble. I wish Watt had left instead of Aribo as he is not a striker imo. Oh well.
Comments
I'm not sure we're going to see anyone get 20+ goals but I think KR will be expecting Holmes, Magennis, Marshall and whoever "no.10" is to all pitch in with 10+ goals each with token contributions through the rest of the team.
At the moment, I would say only Magennis and Holmes can do that, with contributions from JFC, Marshall, Clarke and our other strikers. If we don't sign a striker, then the attacking midfielder would have to be able to score at least 12/13.
GK - good enough to start
and LB - has to start as we have no other option at the moment.
Then a 10 - probably to start
and a winger -happy with Stewart at 4th choice or someone like Byrne who can cover RB
Then a striker to challenge Josh and Novak
And if there was time/money left an experienced full back who can cover LB and RB - Chicksen could do this job.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/ady-on-wright-rumours-129122/
That's what I call a pre- season friendly
We have more than enough MF and the young backs can play wide if needed. I know I have said this before, but I firmly believe that you need to buy the best CF you can afford and build the team around him, which is what we did with Killer. You can have all the fancy formations in the world but you need someone to stick it in the net.
Mag is hardly prolific, but I expect this to be his most productive. If he is unable to play I think we could be in trouble. I wish Watt had left instead of Aribo as he is not a striker imo. Oh well.
No brainer?