I have a bad feeling that we will end up with 4 young loan signings, which would be a huge gamble.
Depends on whether it's only 4 young loan signings (which yes absolutely would be bad) or 4 young loan signings in addition to others (which may or may not be bad depending on those theoretical others.)
However I am withholding judgment until we know which of those situations we actually end up in.
This window cannot be judged fully until it closes.
So far, we've improved on the calibre of signing, been linked with more but won't pay silly money and still have dead wood to move on. I would say average so far.
The reason I believe it hasn't been better is mr sandgaard! If he didn't pull the plug in January and drag this out until June, new owners would have had 5 months to plan and implement rather than take over when a large chunk of the transfer window had been on gone. Blaming the new owners for that seems very harsh
Fully expect us to fill out the loan slots anyway , it's just standard League 1 things. If we are playing the waiting game for the pick of the PL loans it does feel like a slightly dangerous game to play.
I also wonder how much the decision of Gallen to leave during the window is going to finder our business.
Targets may have changed but there will also be players that we have wanted for a while. Gallen may have developed a rapport with some and other agents, now that has gone we could be starting from scratch in that department.
I accept him leaving, just think at the end of the window might have been better for all.
I think people need to go easy on @Redhenry. There’s obviously those who are not as sceptical as he appears to be but after recent years of poor ownership I think any fan is entitled to voice doubts/fears about their view of the current squad and where it’s at. I can see both sides and tbh I had hoped at least a couple more faces would be in by now as I still think we need 5/6 more players. I’m hopeful that this will be addressed in the coming weeks but tbh I’ve been similarly hopeful before and we’ve been bitterly let down with what was delivered. Here’s hoping we’re waiting for the right targets and they shall be delivered unto us! Time will tell. The next few weeks…
I think we'll get: 2 ST, one loan and one permanent 1 AM/Winger on loan 1 RWB (Sess most likely) 1 CB on loan
This would be ideal.
The key signing however is the perm striker. That’s where we need to push the boat out & bring in quality. Goals get you promoted and we don’t have many in the current side.
I think we'll get: 2 ST, one loan and one permanent 1 AM/Winger on loan 1 RWB (Sess most likely) 1 CB on loan
This would be ideal.
The key signing however is the perm striker. That’s where we need to push the boat out & bring in quality. Goals get you promoted and we don’t have many in the current side.
I still think we need a high quality CB as I’m not totally convinced by our current crop of indeed our defence. I’d add a left sided defender/wing back to the above list too.
I think we'll get: 2 ST, one loan and one permanent 1 AM/Winger on loan 1 RWB (Sess most likely) 1 CB on loan
Ideal window if we can get all that done really. Could see loan CB being a bit of a hard sell to a parent club but it would only need a knock to make them a regular
@Redhenry what exactly is your concern with the ownership? I know you used to have some ITK links is the dislike driven from there or is this just a hunch on the lack of signings?
The lack of signings. Also the signings made in Jan, they were under Andy Scotts watch, some seem to have forgotten those. Most new owners at other clubs will have raised the money to buy the club and enough to invest in the squad to at least have a crack at promotion. I'm hoping they will invest in the playing squad, but I am a little disappointed so far...
I agree to a point, but I really believe that Scott’s main remit in January was to get rid of the players that Holden did not want. Given his wages, and form, I was pleasantly surprised that he managed to get Stockley out the door permanently and offload a number of the others on loan.
I do think we have better players available this season in May & Camara. I’m hopeful others such as Taylor & Edun will also be an improvement on what we’ve had before. There’s a lot to be done and we have a few weeks to get there whilst trying to get as many points as possible.
It’s possible to be optimistic about what the new owners will do to get us there, without gushing about them and remaining wary of them. Fingers crossed that they have the ambition and funds to get what’s needed as soon as possible.
They've had input since the January transfer window
House buying time
a purchaser can go and measure for new curtains during the purchase but it's very risky to purchase the curtains until the contract has been signed. Unfortunately, someone may have already bought the curtains during that time
Absolutely right with the new curtains analogy. But what if the carpets are moth ridden and you regret replacing the curtains first of all?
Didn’t we always suspect that the first six games was all about hanging in there until we complete our business ? I’m sure we’ll look very strong once the window has shut.
But why wait 5 matches before being "very strong" ? We could be 5-6 points behind the leaders by that point.
And (as usually happens) any players we sign don't generally start the next game. The window closes on Friday1st Sept & my best guess is that anyone signed late that week wont be playing on the Saturday. That's 6 games gone.
Point taken Golfie but some clubs will want to do there business later in the window to get there own replacements etc.
I dont know this for any kind of fact but it wouldn't surprise me if Exeter have that stance with Nombe for example.
Ideally, you want your team done and dusted before season kick off but what you want and what you get are 2 very different things.
I think some signings will be in soon but we all have to patient.
I think we'll get: 2 ST, one loan and one permanent 1 AM/Winger on loan 1 RWB (Sess most likely) 1 CB on loan
Ideal window if we can get all that done really. Could see loan CB being a bit of a hard sell to a parent club but it would only need a knock to make them a regular
Not IMO, none of them are dead certs to start, Thomas is the only one comfortable on the left so if they're left footed they can potentially take over from him, and all of Lloyd, Hector and Ness have been making mistakes in pre season and now so far.
I'm just dealing with the facts so far. As I said before, I really hope I am wrong. Lots of negatives so far for me.
LOTS?
1. We only have one fit striker & have a severe lack of goals in us across the whole team (we don’t have any CMs who will get double figures or a CB that is a threat from corners etc).
2. Last night highlighted our weak squad depth.
3. Without CBT we create little (JRS has not been replaced).
4. Our GK department has weakened since Wollacott left and Isted replaced him
5. A number of our new signings are not fit (Camara, Taylor, Jones all still recovering from significant injuries). You can add Edun to that too (due to lack of match fitness)
6. Concerningly some retained players also seem of the pace I.e Hector & Ness etc
7. We often look defensively all over the place when playing 352
8. Impossible to get a beer at half time 😉
In all seriousness I think @Redhenry has a point. We’re fortunate that a couple of youngsters have stepped up to help cover over the cracks as it’s debatable whether the squad is stronger than last season if they hadn’t happened.
Kept a clean sheet and limited Orient to very little on Saturday with a back 3. Last night we were fine with a back 3, then in a 4 we looked a mess and conceded 3 goals. It’s not the formation that’s the issue we just need to sign 1 more defended (left footed) that is a consistent performer at this level
I'm just dealing with the facts so far. As I said before, I really hope I am wrong. Lots of negatives so far for me.
LOTS?
1. We only have one fit striker & have a severe lack of goals in us across the whole team (we don’t have any CMs who will get double figures or a CB that is a threat from corners etc).
2. Last night highlighted our weak squad depth.
3. Without CBT we create little (JRS has not been replaced).
4. Our GK department has weakened since Wollacott left and Isted replaced him
5. A number of our new signings are not fit (Camara, Taylor, Jones all still recovering from significant injuries). You can add Edun to that too (due to lack of match fitness)
6. Concerningly some retained players also seem of the pace I.e Hector & Ness etc
7. We often look defensively all over the place when playing 352
8. Impossible to get a beer at half time 😉
In all seriousness I think @Redhenry has a point. We’re fortunate that a couple of youngsters have stepped up to help cover over the cracks as it’s debatable whether the squad is stronger than last season if they hadn’t happened.
Kept a clean sheet and limited Orient to very little on Saturday with a back 3. Last night we were fine with a back 3, then in a 4 we looked a mess and conceded 3 goals. It’s not the formation that’s the issue we just need to sign 1 more defended (left footed) that is a consistent performer at this level
We missed two glorious chances on Saturday and while I agree that there will be tougher tests than Orient, the problem of a forward line that carries a threat must be addressed. Plymouth proved last Season that if you have goal scorers in your team you can achieve a top six place.
I still don’t think we are far off at all. Put one new striker into this team and it would make a huge difference and I think be enough for us to get in the top 6 with Leaburn returning soon also. If we could add a couple of new defenders in as well (1 wing back, 1 centre back) then I think we’ve got a good chance of getting in the top 2.
To only be 3 or 4 players short at this stage is a good position to be in compared to previous years, it’s only the injuries that have made things a bit tough for the next couple of games. I doubt any team will win 5 out of 5 so we won’t be far off the top at the end of the window
Comments
CB, LWB, RWB, CM, FW, FW
If not more!
However I am withholding judgment until we know which of those situations we actually end up in.
So far, we've improved on the calibre of signing, been linked with more but won't pay silly money and still have dead wood to move on. I would say average so far.
I accept him leaving, just think at the end of the window might have been better for all.
2 ST, one loan and one permanent
1 AM/Winger on loan
1 RWB (Sess most likely)
1 CB on loan
The key signing however is the perm striker. That’s where we need to push the boat out & bring in quality. Goals get you promoted and we don’t have many in the current side.
Some people really need to take a deep breath - and maybe limit their social media use to an hour a day.
Ideal window if we can get all that done really. Could see loan CB being a bit of a hard sell to a parent club but it would only need a knock to make them a regular
I dont know this for any kind of fact but it wouldn't surprise me if Exeter have that stance with Nombe for example.
Ideally, you want your team done and dusted before season kick off but what you want and what you get are 2 very different things.
I think some signings will be in soon but we all have to patient.
We were lucky to play a team with a forward line as depleted as ours (bearing in mind Piggott is also not yet fit).
Let’s see what happens on Sat against Peterborough’s forwards. Definitely agree we need another CB. The current crop won’t get us many clean sheets.
Smyth now plays in the starting 11 for a championship side so we can’t really laugh about him too much.