As a Matter of Interest........

[Alan Southstand]

We know the manager has 3 more potential  signings yet to complete. But who do we think they are?

The talk was about 2 loan players and 1 permanent. Now everyone thought the permanent would be PG, but it looks like that is no longer relevant (more's the pity!), so who is going to be the permanent signing that we have yet to make? And, furthermore, why has he not been signed already? Have we missed out on the mystery man?

We also know that 1 of the 2 proposed loanees was hoped to be Keshi Anderson, but that fire has been dampened by DF, who reckons he is nowhere near fit enough as yet (much like the rest of the squad, then). The other loanee is anyone's guess? Possible a defensive midfielder, going on the fact that everyone we have for that role is either, injured or coming back from injury (and therefore will not be fit, either).

I would hope that DF has another decent CB lined up, as we are woefully thin on the ground with what we have left. Baudry not back until, at least, middle of August and there's been no chance to build any sort of understanding with Butler. It was my guess that he would have used McCullough as temporary fill-in until Baudry was back, but now that option has been scuppered. Mr Versatile (Allcock) will now be out for 3 months, so defensively, we are all at sea. Not good with 10 days to go.

We're hardly going to hit the ground running at this stage, we seem more likely to hit the ground injured!

Over to you guys.....

[The Red Baron]

"We're doomed."

[drfc1951]

Sack the board.

[Chris Black come back]

Looking on the bright side. These very unfortunate injuries have a silver lining in that he can't possibly continue with the 5/3 at the back.

There is a perfectly serviceable back four in Garrett, Butler, Wright, Lund.

If he is trying to find three centre backs with what is left after our injuries then he has learned nothing from the debacle last season.

[IDM]

To answer the OP, apart from Keshi, and Rowe and McSheffery, the manager has kept his cards to his chest before announcing signings, so I guess most fans would be in the dark.

I don't necessarily agree about the players not being fit - whilst I have not attended any friendlies just now, it always appears to me when I have on other occasions that the players don't give 100% in such games anyway, so this is hard to judge?

Injuries are a worry, however.  The loanees/further signings need to be at least one defender until January to cover Alcock, and IMHO a versatile midfielder or two, possibly a number 10 type also.

[Alan Southstand]

There is a perfectly serviceable back four in Garrett, Butler, Wright, Lund.

Agreed, but what happens if we get an injury in the first match? We're down to youth teamers, which is hardly ideal.

I wasn't particularly asking whether we knew who the 3 signings were, IDM, rather what you eventually answered in your last sentence. I'd go along with your theory/suggestion. On the striker, the manager has clearly stated that he wanted another 'someone that offers something different', which is what Keshi would have been, if he was fit and ready, so I would imaging, DF might shift his attention to someone other than Keshi.

[DearneValleyRover]

My belief in regards to the injuries is that they likely occurred due to the players not giving 100%. Impact injuries are far more likely if you go into tackles not fully committed. In respect to incomings I thought before the injuries we were a pacey striker, box to box mid and defensive/ball playing mid light. Now I believe we are those 3 plus a centre half and right back.

[The Red Baron]

Keshi got some time in a friendly for Palace yesterday, but I think he's some way off competitive match fitness yet.

Ferguson suggested he was more likely to be available for loan in January.

[raggytash]

Does anyone know the latest with mcsheffery??

[Drover]

ALAN S,The permanent signing might have been Vaulks or Greeny,or someone else who like you and we wonder,has decided not to sign for us,(for whatever reason).Also remember,it was said they had a shortlist of 6/7 players they was looking at,to select those 3,Hopefully he's other options and DF gets one of the men he would like to be the permanent signing. 

[The Red Baron]

Keshi latest:


http://www.palace.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=453923

[steve@dcfd]

From DF latest interview post York.

We're still looking at bringing one or two in - we're definitely looking at bringing in a centre half as Mitchell Lund has played there tonight and then the striker that we've always talked about,” he said.
Read more at http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/ferguson-post-york-3210055.aspx#yhmtUVzkRo0ES3uO.99

So if both are loans? Then there does not seem to be a permanent now unless we sign Yule Blair?

[Danmckay456]

I think Blair will get signed

[steve@dcfd]

Leeds are getting close to signing Billy Whitehouse for their U21 side therefore if that happens we then may sign Yule Blair.

[Danmckay456]

I doubt the wages would be an issue either way as Billy won't be on a huge wage

[Sammy Chung was King]

In league two, you can't have massive squads, the money just isn't there to do it for any side. Any team in this league, would be struggling having so many out, all at once.
We can still put a good side on the field, it's the bench options that are very light, plus match fitness, due to lack of games. It's a shame because we were all getting optimistic.
In football, injuries create opportunities, it's always been that way, one of the young players might use the opportunity, to show us he is better than we thought.

[DearneValleyRover]

In league two, you can't have massive squads, the money just isn't there to do it for any side. Any team in this league, would be struggling having so many out, all at once.
We can still put a good side on the field, it's the bench options that are very light, plus match fitness, due to lack of games. It's a shame because we were all getting optimistic.
In football, injuries create opportunities, it's always been that way, one of the young players might use the opportunity, to show us he is better than we thought.

Orient have 28 players.

[Sammy Chung was King]

In league two, you can't have massive squads, the money just isn't there to do it for any side. Any team in this league, would be struggling having so many out, all at once.
We can still put a good side on the field, it's the bench options that are very light, plus match fitness, due to lack of games. It's a shame because we were all getting optimistic.
In football, injuries create opportunities, it's always been that way, one of the young players might use the opportunity, to show us he is better than we thought.

Orient have 28 players.

I would think a fair few of those, are players on big wages that nobody will take, it's stupid to have a squad so big, a squad of twenty two is usually more than enough, if you have no injuries, the problem is we always get more than our share.
To have so many injured, and many from the same part of the team, is pure bad luck, or mismanagement of fitness training, i suspect it's been mostly the former.