Whilst I agree with those that suggest we’ve got a very tough start to the season, it could be a good time to play sides like Wrexham and Birmingham who will undoubtedly be in transition following their respective promotion and relegation. I’d love to give their fans an almighty humbling.
Without wanting to spoil all the fun of speculating on potential transfers, i wonder if we're actually not that far away now from a finished squad given we've kept so much of last year's team.
Goalkeepers - sorted.
Full-backs - plenty of right-backs (as ever), we're probably still short of a left-back to compete with Luke Leahy (and to replace him if he's needed in the midfield). There's also Woodhouse to provide back-up and hopefully come through.
Centre-backs - 3 first team CBs in place (Taff, Low, Hartridge) and then Grimmer if needed and Skura to come through. And then Jason McCarthy can also play there if down to the bare bones. Maybe we'll sign another one but if we think Skura's going to be good enough do we actually want to block his development or is he ready to be 4th choice now.
Midfield - A midfield 3 of Scowen, Butcher and Bakinson looks pretty good with Wheeler, Leahy, Young and Ward to provide competition. Possibly room for one more, but again do we want to block the paths of Young and Ward as we did 12 months ago by giving the first team opportunities they should have had to Kian Breckin?
Wide Forwards - McCleary, Sadlier, Lubala and Hanlan is a decent quartet of wingers, with David Wheeler also offering something a bit different too. Maybe room for one more given we don't know how fit Hanlan is and he and Beryl might by needed to play through the middle instead. Possibly a youngster to fill the Kodua role (maybe Kodua himself!!).
No 10 - The one place we've a bit of a dearth as we've no natural no.10 in the squad. May not matter as the signing of Bakinson lends itself more to us lining up 4-3-3 but you'd want to have the option of 4-2-3-1 as well.
Centre forwards - Kone to start with Vokes off the bench looks quite attractive, and then Lubala and Hanlan also being options and maybe we'll see Bartolo and/or Peart make an impact at some point. Maybe one more needed to ensure we've always got options off the bench even with a few injuries.
So overall we're in a pretty good place. If we sign a left back and a number 10/winger type, I don't think we'd be far off at all.
I suspect we will still see some loanees coming in. Matt would have considered the second half of the season loanees a success especially, maybe with Dan Rice's Roladex of talent we can pluck a rough diamond. I would love to see Gideon Kadua back for example.
I would expect at least six more signings (probably four loans): a left back, centre back, attacking midfielder, two wide players and a centre forward.
I’m fully expecting Saxon Earley to be our #3 this season. He’s expected to be back in full training before the season begins and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him join on loan until January.
Some of the quotes about him at the end of last season suggested he had not played for us YET. Heard lots of good things about him and would be surprised if Leahy was only left back.
I would like to see some electric pace coming in. There’s going to be games when we are put under a lot of pressure and I’d love to have someone with genuine pace able to help provide quick counter attacks and get there defence turning towards there own goal. I’m not convinced we have much at the top end of the field currently.
Comments
The brag of £10m to spend on wages and transfers is going to put a big target on their backs. And will also inflate any wage demand I guess.
Whilst I agree with those that suggest we’ve got a very tough start to the season, it could be a good time to play sides like Wrexham and Birmingham who will undoubtedly be in transition following their respective promotion and relegation. I’d love to give their fans an almighty humbling.
Couldn't agree more with this. Huge opportunity for us to hit the ground running before they've got up to full speed
Have you seen some of our starts to the season.
I believe Bristol Rovers have lost their opening game for the past 18 seasons? Or something like that.
Tyreeq confirmed, happy with that
If we’re not 2 down inside three minutes we’ll have started the new season better than the one just gone.
It’s not a high bar!
I dreamt last night we re-signed Matty Phillips...maybe it's a sign...
I have heard that he'd be delighted to spend his last few seasons back here. Still lives in the area
He will be familiar with Harlington as well having been based there with QPR
Without wanting to spoil all the fun of speculating on potential transfers, i wonder if we're actually not that far away now from a finished squad given we've kept so much of last year's team.
Goalkeepers - sorted.
Full-backs - plenty of right-backs (as ever), we're probably still short of a left-back to compete with Luke Leahy (and to replace him if he's needed in the midfield). There's also Woodhouse to provide back-up and hopefully come through.
Centre-backs - 3 first team CBs in place (Taff, Low, Hartridge) and then Grimmer if needed and Skura to come through. And then Jason McCarthy can also play there if down to the bare bones. Maybe we'll sign another one but if we think Skura's going to be good enough do we actually want to block his development or is he ready to be 4th choice now.
Midfield - A midfield 3 of Scowen, Butcher and Bakinson looks pretty good with Wheeler, Leahy, Young and Ward to provide competition. Possibly room for one more, but again do we want to block the paths of Young and Ward as we did 12 months ago by giving the first team opportunities they should have had to Kian Breckin?
Wide Forwards - McCleary, Sadlier, Lubala and Hanlan is a decent quartet of wingers, with David Wheeler also offering something a bit different too. Maybe room for one more given we don't know how fit Hanlan is and he and Beryl might by needed to play through the middle instead. Possibly a youngster to fill the Kodua role (maybe Kodua himself!!).
No 10 - The one place we've a bit of a dearth as we've no natural no.10 in the squad. May not matter as the signing of Bakinson lends itself more to us lining up 4-3-3 but you'd want to have the option of 4-2-3-1 as well.
Centre forwards - Kone to start with Vokes off the bench looks quite attractive, and then Lubala and Hanlan also being options and maybe we'll see Bartolo and/or Peart make an impact at some point. Maybe one more needed to ensure we've always got options off the bench even with a few injuries.
So overall we're in a pretty good place. If we sign a left back and a number 10/winger type, I don't think we'd be far off at all.
I did wonder if signing Bakinson means Luke is now our first choice left back.
Still think we need a left back and a Dale Taylor replacement.
Bakinson replaces Potts, Hartridge replaces Lonwijk.
Think we can afford to not replace Forino, with the cover of Grimmer and Skura.
I suspect we will still see some loanees coming in. Matt would have considered the second half of the season loanees a success especially, maybe with Dan Rice's Roladex of talent we can pluck a rough diamond. I would love to see Gideon Kadua back for example.
Gab Sutton seemed to think Hartridge is a left back (at least in a 442) and would only be used as a centre back in a back 3
I would expect at least six more signings (probably four loans): a left back, centre back, attacking midfielder, two wide players and a centre forward.
Dale Taylor, a left back and a quick tricky winger would be good. Obviously Lonwijk would be the dream signing.
A specialist left back and a game changing forward are probably the absolute key signings.
Clearly much easier said than done.
A couple of other signings at centre back and a wide option to compete with the starters on top.
Don't even suggest a back 3, the learnt that last season that it doesn't work and we don't want to see it again!
Does anyone else think it’s a bit strange that we haven’t had a single interview with MB since post Charlton on the 27th April.
Usually there’s an interview or two during the off season let alone when training resumes.
I’m fully expecting Saxon Earley to be our #3 this season. He’s expected to be back in full training before the season begins and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him join on loan until January.
Some of the quotes about him at the end of last season suggested he had not played for us YET. Heard lots of good things about him and would be surprised if Leahy was only left back.
I doubt it. We tend to leave it late and not make Earley signings.
I would like to see some electric pace coming in. There’s going to be games when we are put under a lot of pressure and I’d love to have someone with genuine pace able to help provide quick counter attacks and get there defence turning towards there own goal. I’m not convinced we have much at the top end of the field currently.
Daniel Udoh expected to be announced soon
https://x.com/SportsPeteO/status/1808174064701526296?t=ldd0f9rzm2qmNizEbljK_g&s=19
Daniel Udoh set to sign on a free transfer according to the football insider
I assume he is a wide forward, as he wore 11 for Shrewsbury?
He's a Christian. If we're still doing that.
Numbers don’t mean anything anymore, do they?
Maybe he's had a well deserved holiday or two