Current Squad 18/19

Since it looks like we're going to be sticking with one up front, I'd say we only need one more striker which looks like it'll be Sam Smith. I'd like to see another CM, but think Browne will allow Carruthers to drop deeper, meaning our strongest XI would probably be:
Eastwood
McMahon Dickie Nelson Garbutt
Carruthers Brannagan
Hall Henry Browne
Obika
... which I'd be happy with and think would do well

Think that will be our strongest line up but definitely think we might need 2 more strikers & a DCM, Obika had a great PS but his record of injuries over the seasons with us & other clubs would worry me just to have 1 player as back up
 
Since it looks like we're going to be sticking with one up front, I'd say we only need one more striker which looks like it'll be Sam Smith. I'd like to see another CM, but think Browne will allow Carruthers to drop deeper, meaning our strongest XI would probably be:
Eastwood
McMahon Dickie Nelson Garbutt
Carruthers Brannagan
Hall Henry Browne
Obika
... which I'd be happy with and think would do well
I would be very surprised to see that team starting for us.
 
We've got those on the positive bus and those who are glass half empty, but I think most of us would acknowledge that we are going into this season much stronger than we went into last.

Firstly, Eastwood has stepped up from being a very good keeper to one that is exceptional at our level. We also have Dickie and Nelson as solid CB's with Garbutt and McMahon adding class and experience in the full back roles. (Additionally both full backs look likely to get a fair few goals and assists with their set pieces).

Ledson was great, but he was often overrun in the middle of the park, now, with Brannaghan and Carrathurs we have so much more bite and creativity.

Jack Payne started well last season, but I thought that it interfered too much in the spaces where Hall and others play. As a result, we struggled to get the best out of them both together. Henry now plays the no.10 role more centrally which gives Hall and the likes of Whyte or Browne more space.

Obika is looking much fitter and sharper, and credit must go to both him and the boss for getting him really focused. Confidence will be a big thing for him, but I can see him doing the simple things well and picking up a good few goals.

Then we have the experience of Mackie, the versatility of Ruffels and Carroll, Long, Norman, Raglan and Mous who can all do a job at the back, and the exciting prospects of Napa, Baptiste, Lopez, Little and James to get involved.

We also have Robinson, Derry, Daz, Chrissy and the youth set up that is probably our strongest ever managerial team who will not accept second best.

All in all, I think this is going to be one of the most exciting seasons we've had in a long time. And even if that doesn't result in promotion, we will hopefully build even stronger for 2019/20.

The future's bright, the future's yellow!!!
 
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We've got those on the positive bus and those who are glass half empty, but I think most of us would acknowledge that we are going into this season much stronger than we went into last.

Moderately sensible comments


Obika is looking much fitter and sharper, and credit must go to both him and the boss for getting him really focused. Confidence will be a big thing for him, but I can see him doing the simple things well and picking up a good few goals.

Slightly misty-eyed hopeful calling of the player roster


All in all, I think this is going to be one of the most exciting seasons we've had in a long time. And even if that doesn't result in promotion, we will hopefully build even stronger for 2019/20.

The future's bright, the future's yellow!!!

Entertaining post to which I would like to offer a few pearls for the Gadarene.

Certainly agree with your first sentence and with hindsight you'd have to be BTBY to disagree. What about if the statement was 'more people think we're better able to compete than did of the team at the same time last season'?

The question of Obika is a mystery. I reckon he'll go back to the shrinking violet we know when he starts playing against proper league sides; and we have no other striker apart from Mackie, who even you consider has one attribute worth mentioning - experience. You could have said that about Tiendelli and it would have been as true.

This could be a very good season and I think it will be very entertaining if only all you moonshiners would stop whining on and on about how everything's just lovely.

And finally. The immediate future may be bright but the long-term is a nose-dive into a hole. I'd best go on.
 
I'm positive for Obika. He seems fitter, which was always the main thing.

Are people forgetting just how little pace we had on the flanks last year? This preseason, we've had Hall and Baptiste getting in behind defences to square for Obika to finish.

His link up play is better, because there are actually other players in the opposing half to lay the ball off to. Last season we were just punting the ball 40 yards, hoping he could just do something with nothing.

He could have been more clinical, and he's missed as many chances in the friendlies as he's put away, but I'm optimistic for him to get into double figures should he stay fit.

Not to say we don't need backup brought in!
 
I'm positive for Obika. He seems fitter, which was always the main thing.

Are people forgetting just how little pace we had on the flanks last year? This preseason, we've had Hall and Baptiste getting in behind defences to square for Obika to finish.

His link up play is better, because there are actually other players in the opposing half to lay the ball off to. Last season we were just punting the ball 40 yards, hoping he could just do something with nothing.

He could have been more clinical, and he's missed as many chances in the friendlies as he's put away, but I'm optimistic for him to get into double figures should he stay fit.

Not to say we don't need backup brought in!

Another on the Obika bus here. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him last night. He did some great work in midfield when needed, and even managed to win quite a few of those 40 yard punts. I thought the play between him, Henry and Hall was very impressive at times.
 
Well, I think you two are very polite and I hope you're right. I watched him last night and he looked like a proper footballer; unrecognisable :unsure:
 
Well, I think you two are very polite and I hope you're right. I watched him last night and he looked like a proper footballer; unrecognisable :unsure:

Looks like we all agree on that then!
 
Not a dig at the current recruitment but who’s been brought in on a permanent? I can think of two new arrivals on permanent deals but maybe missing one/two?

I’m all for the quality of the current crop of loanees and am sure we’re paying a decent wedge of some decent wages, however, it would be nice to invest in one or two permanent players we can ship on at a later date or won’t give the forum a meltdown should they be recalled in Jan.
 
Not a dig at the current recruitment but who’s been brought in on a permanent? I can think of two new arrivals on permanent deals but maybe missing one/two?

I’m all for the quality of the current crop of loanees and am sure we’re paying a decent wedge of some decent wages, however, it would be nice to invest in one or two permanent players we can ship on at a later date or won’t give the forum a meltdown should they be recalled in Jan.

Tony McMahon
Cameron Norman
Jamie Mackie
Gavin Whyte

Plusr Armani Little for the U23s, who will be making a few first team appearances before too long.
 
It will be interesting to see which of the above go out on loan in the near future.

The obvious imbalance is with the keepers at U23 level, with the balance between Shearer and Stevens as the main #2 being an important factor. From a position of no knowledge at all, I would suggest that Stevens will flit between the senior bench/cup runouts and the U23s, sharing the latter with Clayton, with Agboola being the one to go out, maybe even with an eye to a permanent move(!)

The rest depends on the frequency of U23 games, and whether that will be enough for the blue group to get enough pitch time alongside senior outings of various regularity, or whether one or two might go out until Christmas? IF I had to pick one, I'd lean towards Carroll being the player most in need of a sustained run of games, at a slightly lower level to learn a little more about the game.

From a personal perspective, I'd like to see Sam Long put his injury history behind him and have a strong season in the first team setup.
 
It will be interesting to see which of the above go out on loan in the near future.

The obvious imbalance is with the keepers at U23 level, with the balance between Shearer and Stevens as the main #2 being an important factor. From a position of no knowledge at all, I would suggest that Stevens will flit between the senior bench/cup runouts and the U23s, sharing the latter with Clayton, with Agboola being the one to go out, maybe even with an eye to a permanent move(!)

The rest depends on the frequency of U23 games, and whether that will be enough for the blue group to get enough pitch time alongside senior outings of various regularity, or whether one or two might go out until Christmas? IF I had to pick one, I'd lean towards Carroll being the player most in need of a sustained run of games, at a slightly lower level to learn a little more about the game.

From a personal perspective, I'd like to see Sam Long put his injury history behind him and have a strong season in the first team setup.
Agree about Sam Long. He has picked up a couple of injuries at bad times but went out on loan last season and earnt himself a new contract. Just hope he can get a few games to show his worth as he could certainly hold his own in league 1 with a bit of luck.
 
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