Matty Craig

[Lifelong supporter]

Don't understand the obsession with Craig.
Decent player and a good lad but took a while to settle in before he started to play really well, as did the rest of the team, over the latter part of the season.
But we've had better players on loan and, like him, they go back if they are any good.
Let's concentrate on the players we've brought in.
I think Sbarra will partner Bailey if it's a 4-2-3-1 formation and hopefully everyone will be going on about how good he is once we get underway.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Is Clifton not going to be the man to replace Craig?

Hardly anyone has mentioned him at all. Yes a different player to  Craig & Grimsby’s best player for the last 2 seasons. I do think GM has  brought him in to start games.
We will see.

Crikey, I forgot about Clifton. Even more options available.

[Jonathan]

I don’t care what anyone else thinks, it’s a sickener for me! I was looking forward to watching the Bailey Craig partnership back together - they were absolutely purring at the back end of last season.

We simply don’t have Craig’s equivalent in our squad, currently. Hopefully, Grant has got other ideas.

I understand this feeling and don’t get why it’s been hard for others to. Even if Craig coming back was unrealistic, the faint hope was there dangling until this. It’s no disrespect to Barnsley at all, which is a good move for his development.

Until now I guess I held some faint hope that we could pull off a miracle and get him back for another year. I do still feel we need to look at that area of the team and whether we need a little bit more presence and physicality. Although we’re numbers heavy, I do still feel that need. 

[Chris Black come back]

For League Two, we have a very good squad. No need to fret because Craig isn’t here.

[ncRover]

I think sometimes we can't see the wood for the trees.

GM knew he was never going to be coming back so don't we think he will have a plan to compensate for this?

The plan may not require a like for like replacement, when you look at some of the quality he has brought into the squad i believe he already has the personnel required.

More than one way to skin a cat!

Yes.

The issue was that it was starting to become obvious to opposition teams that Craig was the only playmaker for us playing out from the back.

Crewe just marked him out of the game in that second leg and we had no answer to it.

This is why we have signed Sbarra. He can offer another option more advanced, while Close or Westbrooke can offer composure on the ball a bit deeper. Then depending on the opposition or in-game situation, this is balanced with the industrious nature of Bailey and/or Clifton/Broadbent.

Hurst and Gibson can play in midfield as attacking options too. Then we have Flint and SSB coming on strong.

There’s lots of different combinations in that midfield that make us more adaptable. So contrary to popular belief, I actually think our midfield is potentially stronger than last year.

[ncRover]

I don’t care what anyone else thinks, it’s a sickener for me! I was looking forward to watching the Bailey Craig partnership back together - they were absolutely purring at the back end of last season.

We simply don’t have Craig’s equivalent in our squad, currently. Hopefully, Grant has got other ideas.

I understand this feeling and don’t get why it’s been hard for others to. Even if Craig coming back was unrealistic, the faint hope was there dangling until this. It’s no disrespect to Barnsley at all, which is a good move for his development.

Until now I guess I held some faint hope that we could pull off a miracle and get him back for another year. I do still feel we need to look at that area of the team and whether we need a little bit more presence and physicality. Although we’re numbers heavy, I do still feel that need.

Clifton is meant to be one of the best athletes in the division. And he is usually injury-free.

Broadbent is a big lad and Bailey wins duels for fun.

[Chris Black come back]

If Close and Westbrooke can stay fit 10% longer and if Broadbent can step up 10% more, then we are going to be very strong. All three of them didn’t contribute enough last season.

[pib]

We gradually found a way of playing that suited last year. To say we stumbled into it would be a bit harsh, but it was certainly a learn-as-you-go process. I'm sure GM has thought through how he wants to play in regard to the loss of Craig and now he's got experience of the division and has put his own stamp on the squad. I wouldn't expect us to set up the same way we did from January onwards last season and will play to suit the personnel we've got.

Having said that, I still wouldn't be surprised to see another loan addition to the squad once PL and Championship squads are settled towards the end of the window.

[steve@dcfd]

It was not stumbled upon before Close was injured Craig played further forward. Soon as Close was injured he paired up with Bailey and it worked. So we will see if Close and Westbrooke can play regularly this season and what Clifton can offer. Then will realise we have a good midfield or we are missing something. Let’s see how we set up in the next three games in preseason and hope we don’t get any injuries.

[Alan Southstand]

Sbarra is an attacking midfield player and not a replacement for Craig. The only one we have in the squad nearest to what Craig gave us, is Clifton I’d guess. I really don’t know that much about the lad, but GM told us he’d been signed to replace Rowe (Sbarra was signed to replace Biggins).

Grant has never said who’s been signed to replace Craig. If everyone thinks ‘that’ player is either Close or Westbrook then that’s worrying!

[steve@dcfd]

If Close and Westbrooke can stay fit 10% longer and if Broadbent can step up 10% more, then we are going to be very strong. All three of them didn’t contribute enough last season.

Ben Close played 20 games in league two last season so he needs to improve by 100%to see him regularly and contribute more. He missed 100% of games through injury.
Westbrooke played 28 games in League two last season again over 70% improvement in his fitness to be available.
Will either be ready to start the season
Broadbent played more and was mostly available athletic player he could improve this season and at least will be available.
Having those three available will definitely help but I’m not sure the midfield will be better than when we finished even if they are.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Nobody has suggested Close or Westbrroke are replacements for Craig. What folk are trying to suggest is we have midfield options. We have players who can play 'defensive' midfield for want of a better word, Bailey, Clifton and Broadbent at least. Then we have at least two more creative, ball playing midfielders in Close and Westbrooke, then we have attacking midfielders in Sbarra, Hurst, Gibson, Molyneaux, Yeboah, even before we add Flint and Strughan Brown into the mix.

McCann has to find the combinations that work best. For example. If we were totally dependant on Craig, then how did we beat Barrow when he was subbed off on the hour, when we were 2-1 down?

[steve@dcfd]

The point is we are aiming to finish top of the league and we all hope that can be achieved we will have to see how we develop but Close and  Westbrooke have to be available to contribute not injured for half the season. I’m not disputing that Grant will find a way but until we see how the new players develop then the midfield is our weakest link imo

[ncRover]

Sbarra is an attacking midfield player and not a replacement for Craig. The only one we have in the squad nearest to what Craig gave us, is Clifton I’d guess. I really don’t know that much about the lad, but GM told us he’d been signed to replace Rowe (Sbarra was signed to replace Biggins).

Grant has never said who’s been signed to replace Craig. If everyone thinks ‘that’ player is either Close or Westbrook then that’s worrying!

I’m aware that Sbarra is an attacking midfield player. I think you’ve missed my points.

[Alan Southstand]

I was replying to Lifelong Supporter, nc. Apologies, I should have copied his statement in, as he clearly thinks Sbarra will partner Bailey!

Reading all the posts, it’s clear most of us believe we havn’t got a direct replacement for Craig, but are trying to satisfy themselves that our options will make up for him. Personally, I’m not convinced and have made my case.

I sincerely hope GM will calm any concerns before the window closes.

[vaya]

Have I missed something in all this? Has GM said he wants to directly replace Craig?

[scawsby steve]

Have I missed something in all this? Has GM said he wants to directly replace Craig?

No. It's some fans on here who are saying it. We'll soon find out if they're right or wrong.

[Alan Southstand]

Have I missed something in all this? Has GM said he wants to directly replace Craig?

He hasn’t been asked! What he has clearly said, though, as mentioned above, is who the new players, particularly in midfield, were replacing.

[vaya]

Have I missed something in all this? Has GM said he wants to directly replace Craig?

He hasn’t been asked! What he has clearly said, though, as mentioned above, is who the new players, particularly in midfield, were replacing.

So no clear indication then.

[donnyguy]

Barnsley have confirmed he’s signed a season long loan.

[ncRover]

I was replying to Lifelong Supporter, nc. Apologies, I should have copied his statement in, as he clearly thinks Sbarra will partner Bailey!

Reading all the posts, it’s clear most of us believe we havn’t got a direct replacement for Craig, but are trying to satisfy themselves that our options will make up for him. Personally, I’m not convinced and have made my case.

I sincerely hope GM will calm any concerns before the window closes.

No worries.

I was trying to calm those concerns. We have upgraded lots of other positions to the point where Close or Westbrooke instead of Craig isn’t really that big a deal.

Last season was a transitional one for the club, we had a massive injury crisis and still finished 5th. We will be ok.

[Lifelong supporter]

I was replying to Lifelong Supporter, nc. Apologies, I should have copied his statement in, as he clearly thinks Sbarra will partner Bailey!

Reading all the posts, it’s clear most of us believe we havn’t got a direct replacement for Craig, but are trying to satisfy themselves that our options will make up for him. Personally, I’m not convinced and have made my case.

I sincerely hope GM will calm any concerns before the window closes.

The way pre-season has gone so far it looks as if Hurst will play just behind Ironside or Sharp with Gibson and Moly as the wide men.
That leaves only one spot next to Bailey in the front six.
Sbarra is a box to box player but could easily play the role alongside Bailey.
Anyway, we might find out more tomorrow night.
But, please, can we all have a break about drooling over Barnsley players.

[Chris Black come back]

Sbarra has to start. We’ve suffered last season from having limited creativity. He is an excellent player.

[steve@dcfd]

We will only see if Sbarra Gibson Close Westbrooke are the best fit for the midfield when League two starts. I can’t see Hurst playing in the attacking role behind the striker every game especially away.
I don’t know Sbarra or Clifton whether the are the right players for the box to box roles, GM has selected them so when he selects the teams we will see. But in the two friendlies Sbarra as played the attacking role,
Tomorrow night we have Bailey Broadbent Sbarra Flint Brown Hurst to pick from.
With Molyneux Gibson Yeboah Miller Ironside Sharp in front of them.