Looking at the 22 man squad rules I have started to think it could be a Wheeler dealer remaining window as we simply can’t now just stack up loads more players.
Looking at the squad we have to assume a left back is coming in. And as per the list below with that, the only way any more can arrive is if people leave:
Macgillivray
Gunter
Famewo
Inniss
NEW LEFT BACK
Arter
Gilbey
Lee
Washington
Stockley
Kirk
SUBS:
Harness (U21)
Matthews
Pearce
Watson
Morgan
Schwartz (EXIT?) (New striker?)
Jayiesimi
Purrington
Elewere (U21)
Clare
Dobson
JFC
Blackett-Taylor
So that’s at best a new striker to replace Schwartz. I can’t work out how Tucker and Dempsey fit in unless two are on their way out (or if JFC isn’t even registered this season for the first team)
I can confirm We are definitely pursuing becoming a Cat 1 Academy.
Our academy is what has kept us going over the years and being in the South London hotbed means there aremore out there.
We are also coming under pressure from other clubs nabbing kids from our areas hence category one is essential
@Swisdom this is great news, there’s surely a phenomenal bill attached to this? Especially on a training ground we lease. Is there a timescale attached, by when we are planning to achieve it?
I regularly see the development at the p*l*ce academy and it is very impressive. Despite the smell. It’s tremendously heartening to see us try to compete as the catchment for them would easily encroach into our traditional talent base and worried me each time I saw it.
The costs aren't small, but there are financial benefits among the many reasons to do this.
Valley Gold will be making a decent contribution to this project, so it's a good time to join if people would like to support the academy directly.
Arter has already been disrespected . I heard somebody outside the ground say “Looks like we are signing Harry Arthur” Another one to go on the list with Ventokeke, Harriots, Wiggin and co.
Looking at the 22 man squad rules I have started to think it could be a Wheeler dealer remaining window as we simply can’t now just stack up loads more players.
Looking at the squad we have to assume a left back is coming in. And as per the list below with that, the only way any more can arrive is if people leave:
Macgillivray
Gunter
Famewo
Inniss
NEW LEFT BACK
Arter
Gilbey
Lee
Washington
Stockley
Kirk
SUBS:
Harness (U21)
Matthews
Pearce
Watson
Morgan
Schwartz (EXIT?) (New striker?)
Jayiesimi
Purrington
Elewere (U21)
Clare
Dobson
JFC
Blackett-Taylor
So that’s at best a new striker to replace Schwartz. I can’t work out how Tucker and Dempsey fit in unless two are on their way out (or if JFC isn’t even registered this season for the first team)
Goalkeepers aren't counted in the 22, and Morgan is classed as under 21 for the purpose of determining the squad limit.
Looking at the 22 man squad rules I have started to think it could be a Wheeler dealer remaining window as we simply can’t now just stack up loads more players.
Looking at the squad we have to assume a left back is coming in. And as per the list below with that, the only way any more can arrive is if people leave:
Macgillivray
Gunter
Famewo
Inniss
NEW LEFT BACK
Arter
Gilbey
Lee
Washington
Stockley
Kirk
SUBS:
Harness (U21)
Matthews
Pearce
Watson
Morgan
Schwartz (EXIT?) (New striker?)
Jayiesimi
Purrington
Elewere (U21)
Clare
Dobson
JFC
Blackett-Taylor
So that’s at best a new striker to replace Schwartz. I can’t work out how Tucker and Dempsey fit in unless two are on their way out (or if JFC isn’t even registered this season for the first team)
Goalkeepers aren't counted in the 22, and Morgan is classed as under 21 for the purpose of determining the squad limit.
Ah that’s handy! So we could theoretically bring in Dempsey, Tucker, a striker and a left back
I wouldn’t be suprised if we got arter and one more attack minded midfielder. Lee could be the striker we have been back up striker we have been wanting to come in. Also he can also be deployed out wide and in the 10 allowing Washington to play that role up top.
Looking at the 22 man squad rules I have started to think it could be a Wheeler dealer remaining window as we simply can’t now just stack up loads more players.
Looking at the squad we have to assume a left back is coming in. And as per the list below with that, the only way any more can arrive is if people leave:
Macgillivray
Gunter
Famewo
Inniss
NEW LEFT BACK
Arter
Gilbey
Lee
Washington
Stockley
Kirk
SUBS:
Harness (U21)
Matthews
Pearce
Watson
Morgan
Schwartz (EXIT?) (New striker?)
Jayiesimi
Purrington
Elewere (U21)
Clare
Dobson
JFC
Blackett-Taylor
So that’s at best a new striker to replace Schwartz. I can’t work out how Tucker and Dempsey fit in unless two are on their way out (or if JFC isn’t even registered this season for the first team)
Goalkeepers aren't counted in the 22, and Morgan is classed as under 21 for the purpose of determining the squad limit.
I make that 17 active players not counting Ronnie, JFC, the keepers and the kids.
So plenty of room for five more signings!
I was told yesterday that a busy few days are expected and the Comms team will be working the bank holiday.
Assuming Arter signs if we get another midfielder a winger probably makes more sense, and ideally a left footer.
An injury to Kirk or DJ means we’d be relying on CBT stepping up. He’s a short term gamble to see if he comes good, and while Clayden looked promising in preseason he doesn’t seem ready to be starting league games yet. It would also mean we don’t need to play Washington out wide.
I can confirm We are definitely pursuing becoming a Cat 1 Academy.
Our academy is what has kept us going over the years and being in the South London hotbed means there aremore out there.
We are also coming under pressure from other clubs nabbing kids from our areas hence category one is essential
Great to hear but won’t TS need to own the training ground? We’ll need to upgrade the facilities (as well as hiring more coaches), will he want to do that while it’s owned by RD?
I can confirm We are definitely pursuing becoming a Cat 1 Academy.
Our academy is what has kept us going over the years and being in the South London hotbed means there aremore out there.
We are also coming under pressure from other clubs nabbing kids from our areas hence category one is essential
Great to hear but won’t TS need to own the training ground? We’ll need to upgrade the facilities (as well as hiring more coaches), will he want to do that while it’s owned by RD?
Ideally yes. Would make it all a Bit easier but not impossible
I don’t believe this to be true at all but if it is then I’ll finally believe TS is serious about creating a promotion capable squad. We’d still need a left back. & striker though
Not sure why you think it's totally out of the realms of possibility. As others have said, 'the72' is fairly reputable with transfers. I do agree with you though, my view on this summers recruitment will change if we pull this off.
I don’t see TS stumping up £1m+ and it’s the Sun.
feels more like Gills trying to stump up some more interest. Never know they may get desperate on Tuesday if the need the cash
I don’t believe this to be true at all but if it is then I’ll finally believe TS is serious about creating a promotion capable squad. We’d still need a left back. & striker though
Not sure why you think it's totally out of the realms of possibility. As others have said, 'the72' is fairly reputable with transfers. I do agree with you though, my view on this summers recruitment will change if we pull this off.
I don’t see TS stumping up £1m+ and it’s the Sun.
feels more like Gills trying to stump up some more interest. Never know they may get desperate on Tuesday if the need the cash
I don’t believe this to be true at all but if it is then I’ll finally believe TS is serious about creating a promotion capable squad. We’d still need a left back. & striker though
Given the source is our good pal Mr Nixon I don't know what to make of it. Would be a bit of a statement to get both of them. Left back and striker as the other loans then which wouldn't bother me too much.
Over the last 15 years, The Sun has got 80% of its transfer rumours wrong. The Guardian is streets ahead of the rest, getting only 60% wrong. (It's a shame that they don't have a better breakdown so we can see if newspapers are getting worse or better over the years.)
Be shocked if we bring in a second Goalkeeper before the window closes based on Adkins words
I know its not you Callum, but does make me smile as saw a few comments on twitter yesterday about us having too much in Midfield now - First Sandgaard was skint and didnt have the money that we thought he did - Now its... "We've got too many Midfielders"
Probably the same people that were moaning that the Ipswich squad was massive compared to ours and how nice it would be to have so many options ourself.
We have no-one capable of replacing Stockley when he's knackered or injured.
Absolutely need to replace Chuks.
I just don’t expect it.
Chuks was a one of a kind player, a physical freak who just can’t be replaced like for like.
Either we end up with a lanky lower league target man who isn’t good enough anyway… or a Premier League loan who’s parent club demand gets x number of starts which limits Jayden’s playing time.
We have no-one capable of replacing Stockley when he's knackered or injured.
Absolutely need to replace Chuks.
I just don’t expect it.
Chuks was a one of a kind player, a physical freak who just can’t be replaced like for like.
Either we end up with a lanky lower league target man who isn’t good enough anyway… or a Premier League loan who’s parent club demand gets x number of starts which limits Jayden’s playing time.
It’s a difficult one but we need to find a way to cover him with better than Davison.
What free agents are out there?
Any young target men in this league or below who would see us as a step up?
Or perhaps a loan player who can also play deeper or out wide?
We have no-one capable of replacing Stockley when he's knackered or injured.
Absolutely need to replace Chuks.
I just don’t expect it.
Chuks was a one of a kind player, a physical freak who just can’t be replaced like for like.
Either we end up with a lanky lower league target man who isn’t good enough anyway… or a Premier League loan who’s parent club demand gets x number of starts which limits Jayden’s playing time.
It’s a difficult one but we need to find a way to cover him with better than Davison.
What free agents are out there?
Any young target men in this league or below who would see us as a step up?
Or perhaps a loan player who can also play deeper or out wide?
We have no-one capable of replacing Stockley when he's knackered or injured.
Absolutely need to replace Chuks.
I just don’t expect it.
Chuks was a one of a kind player, a physical freak who just can’t be replaced like for like.
Either we end up with a lanky lower league target man who isn’t good enough anyway… or a Premier League loan who’s parent club demand gets x number of starts which limits Jayden’s playing time.
It’s a difficult one but we need to find a way to cover him with better than Davison.
What free agents are out there?
Any young target men in this league or below who would see us as a step up?
Or perhaps a loan player who can also play deeper or out wide?
Lee is the last of those!
I’d say he’ll mainly play deeper or out wide. There will be times when we need a lone striker and that alternative to Stockley needs to be physical enough to suit that role. Lee’s a good signing but he isn’t that player.
I can confirm We are definitely pursuing becoming a Cat 1 Academy.
Our academy is what has kept us going over the years and being in the South London hotbed means there aremore out there.
We are also coming under pressure from other clubs nabbing kids from our areas hence category one is essential
@Swisdom this is great news, there’s surely a phenomenal bill attached to this? Especially on a training ground we lease. Is there a timescale attached, by when we are planning to achieve it?
I regularly see the development at the p*l*ce academy and it is very impressive. Despite the smell. It’s tremendously heartening to see us try to compete as the catchment for them would easily encroach into our traditional talent base and worried me each time I saw it.
Don’t know timescales and, as you say, there is cost implication and the fact we don’t own the training ground yet to consider but where there’s a will there’s a way. there is a LOT of work going on behind the scenes in the quest for Cat 1 status so hopefully it all gets there
I don’t doubt this at all but am curious (as I just don’t know) what sort of things this includes?
We have no-one capable of replacing Stockley when he's knackered or injured.
Absolutely need to replace Chuks.
I just don’t expect it.
Chuks was a one of a kind player, a physical freak who just can’t be replaced like for like.
Either we end up with a lanky lower league target man who isn’t good enough anyway… or a Premier League loan who’s parent club demand gets x number of starts which limits Jayden’s playing time.
It’s a difficult one but we need to find a way to cover him with better than Davison.
What free agents are out there?
Any young target men in this league or below who would see us as a step up?
Or perhaps a loan player who can also play deeper or out wide?
I look at Adkins’ promotion winning squads of the past and see two main goalscorers. We already have Stockley and Washington in the building. Lee compliments them really nicely.
Southampton 10/11 finished their season with these strikers:
Lambert (21 goals) Barnard (14 goals) Connolly (3 goals) Forte (2 goals) (signed in January)
We have further depth in Davison and even Schwartz.
I just don’t see another striker coming through the door, even if Schwartz and Davison leave.
Or Scunthorpe 2008-09 with these:
Gary Hooper (24 goals) Paul Hayes (16 goals) Jonathan Forte (0 goals) Ben May (2 goals) Kayode Odejayi (1 goal)
Without digging into it too much, given the type of player he was, Jonathan Forte must’ve been the target man back up option in both these squads for Hayes and Lambert. He managed two goals across a season and a half!
I’ve long since resigned myself to not expecting a magic Chuks replacement. And we will be fine without it too.
As has been discussed, a player of that type is rarely both a) good enough and b) happy to play second fiddle. Would it be so terrible if we had Washington and Lee (or even Schwartz!) up front? Davison isn't completely useless either and if our midfield clicks and gives the forwards a bit of service he may even start to seem handy. Not that if there's a good striker available we shouldn't pounce. Likely to be a loan tbh...
I can confirm We are definitely pursuing becoming a Cat 1 Academy.
Our academy is what has kept us going over the years and being in the South London hotbed means there aremore out there.
We are also coming under pressure from other clubs nabbing kids from our areas hence category one is essential
@Swisdom this is great news, there’s surely a phenomenal bill attached to this? Especially on a training ground we lease. Is there a timescale attached, by when we are planning to achieve it?
I regularly see the development at the p*l*ce academy and it is very impressive. Despite the smell. It’s tremendously heartening to see us try to compete as the catchment for them would easily encroach into our traditional talent base and worried me each time I saw it.
Don’t know timescales and, as you say, there is cost implication and the fact we don’t own the training ground yet to consider but where there’s a will there’s a way. there is a LOT of work going on behind the scenes in the quest for Cat 1 status so hopefully it all gets there
I don’t doubt this at all but am curious (as I just don’t know) what sort of things this includes?
Its not Stockley we need cover for, Davison can do that, it is Washington. Our best likely formation is 442 and we have no natural goalscorer to play off Stockley. Washington is an in and out player, sometimes effective sometimes not. We could have had 5 goals yesterday with a natural goalscorer up front, and we are unlikely to play many teams as weak as Crewe this season.
Comments
Absolutely need to replace Chuks.
Looking at the squad we have to assume a left back is coming in. And as per the list below with that, the only way any more can arrive is if people leave:
Macgillivray
Gunter
Famewo
Inniss
NEW LEFT BACK
Arter
Gilbey
Lee
Washington
Stockley
Kirk
SUBS:
Harness (U21)
Matthews
Pearce
Watson
Morgan
Schwartz (EXIT?) (New striker?)
Jayiesimi
Purrington
Elewere (U21)
Clare
Dobson
JFC
Blackett-Taylor
So that’s at best a new striker to replace Schwartz. I can’t work out how Tucker and Dempsey fit in unless two are on their way out (or if JFC isn’t even registered this season for the first team)
Valley Gold will be making a decent contribution to this project, so it's a good time to join if people would like to support the academy directly.
So plenty of room for five more signings!
I was told yesterday that a busy few days are expected and the Comms team will be working the bank holiday.
WIOTOS
An injury to Kirk or DJ means we’d be relying on CBT stepping up. He’s a short term gamble to see if he comes good, and while Clayden looked promising in preseason he doesn’t seem ready to be starting league games yet. It would also mean we don’t need to play Washington out wide.
We have too many CM’s they are miles off the team so surely need to be playing some real football not U23’s
Although Ben Dempsey surely has to be heading to League Two on loan if there are any plans for him to have a future here.
feels more like Gills trying to stump up some more interest. Never know they may get desperate on Tuesday if the need the cash
Over the last 15 years, The Sun has got 80% of its transfer rumours wrong. The Guardian is streets ahead of the rest, getting only 60% wrong. (It's a shame that they don't have a better breakdown so we can see if newspapers are getting worse or better over the years.)
Chuks was a one of a kind player, a physical freak who just can’t be replaced like for like.
What free agents are out there?
Any young target men in this league or below who would see us as a step up?
Or perhaps a loan player who can also play deeper or out wide?
I don’t doubt this at all but am curious (as I just don’t know) what sort of things this includes?
Southampton 10/11 finished their season with these strikers:
Lambert (21 goals)
Barnard (14 goals)
Connolly (3 goals)
Forte (2 goals) (signed in January)
We have further depth in Davison and even Schwartz.
I just don’t see another striker coming through the door, even if Schwartz and Davison leave.
Or Scunthorpe 2008-09 with these:
Gary Hooper (24 goals)
Paul Hayes (16 goals)
Jonathan Forte (0 goals)
Ben May (2 goals)
Kayode Odejayi (1 goal)
Without digging into it too much, given the type of player he was, Jonathan Forte must’ve been the target man back up option in both these squads for Hayes and Lambert. He managed two goals across a season and a half!
I’ve long since resigned myself to not expecting a magic Chuks replacement. And we will be fine without it too.
We could have had 5 goals yesterday with a natural goalscorer up front, and we are unlikely to play many teams as weak as Crewe this season.