The January horizon .

[graingrover]

As we are about a quarter of a way into the season and have seen most of the squad it is greedy to think of adding more quality . Terry Bramall and Gavin share Grant's ambition .
Which position and with whom would you think would fit the goal of adding quality to this squad .. within reasonable bounds of likely transfer fees .?

[Nudga]

Another striker to push Joe and Billy. I feel Billy has lost a bit of oomph in his game which is understandable considering his age.
Also another wide player, send Yeboah back and offload either Lawlor or Jones.

I'd possibly look at another CB as Wood is coming to the end of his playing career.

[Usher wide.]

Another striker to push Joe and Billy. I feel Billy has lost a bit of oomph in his game which is understandable considering his age.
Also another wide player, send Yeboah back and offload either Lawlor or Jones.

I'd possibly look at another CB as Wood is coming to the end of his playing career.

Can’t agree about adding another striker, finding one who has the nouse of Billy & the tenacity of Joe would be nigh on impossible unless you throw big money at it even then it’s not a given you’re going to get the type of player you want. Look how we bemoaned Will Griggs not signing for us & his career has hardly taken off since.

If you think Billy has lost his ‘oomph’, look at how he chased the ball against Barrow that everyone thought was a lost cause, got to it before it went out of play & played a perfect ‘reverse cross’ to Sbarra who managed to head wide from 6 yards.

Another CB?

Joe Olowu, Tom Anderson, Jay McGrath, Bobby Faulkner, Kasper Williams, how many more do you want?

We need another midfielder with the energy & passing ability to make the most of our forward players. Someone to supplement Owen Bailey & Paddy Kelly in my opinion.

That or a permanent goalkeeper signing of ilk of TLT.

[roversdude]

Would still love for us to sign TLT on a permanent other than that maybe another Clifton type player

[ravenrover]

Another striker to push Joe and Billy. I feel Billy has lost a bit of oomph in his game which is understandable considering his age.
Also another wide player, send Yeboah back and offload either Lawlor or Jones.

I'd possibly look at another CB as Wood is coming to the end of his playing career.

Can’t agree about adding another striker, finding one who has the nouse of Billy & the tenacity of Joe would be nigh on impossible unless you throw big money at it even then it’s not a given you’re going to get the type of player you want. Look how we bemoaned Will Griggs not signing for us & his career has hardly taken off since.

If you think Billy has lost his ‘oomph’, look at how he chased the ball against Barrow that everyone thought was a lost cause, got to it before it went out of play & played a perfect ‘reverse cross’ to Sbarra who managed to head wide from 6 yards.

Another CB?

Joe Olowu, Tom Anderson, Jay McGrath, Bobby Faulkner, Kasper Williams, how many more do you want?

We need another midfielder with the energy & passing ability to make the most of our forward players. Someone to supplement Owen Bailey & Paddy Kelly in my opinion.

That or a permanent goalkeeper signing of ilk of TLT.

Harsh on Sbarra he needed to be another 6inches taller to get his full head on the cross as good as it was. Joe would have buried it

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Would still love for us to sign TLT on a permanent other than that maybe another Clifton type player

With him signing yet another contract extension, I think that ship may have sailed.

A permanent keeper would be desirable but for now, I think TSL has shown he's a competent keeper. Even showing yesterday how alert he is around the edge of the box, also has shown he's not afraid to get down at players feet. He may not have pulled off any world saves but he's done very well overall.

As someone else has said, another striker to score goals regularly would be great but, we already have Ironside, who's been barely used. I was disappointed Miller went, so if there's anyone out there who's a bit different to Billy (who's done well so far) and Joe, pace maybe, then great but top strikers may not be available without paying over the odds in January. Maybe a shuffle with loans might bear some fruit.

I'd like to see how the midfield continues to develop, paricularly with Kelly who might get more starts. We could be top heavy in that department so, I think we should offload before bringing in anyone else.

I really dont think we need to be rushed into anything and it will depend on what quality might be available. I'm sure if the right opportunity arises, McCann will be backed in adding a bit more cream on top.

[DonnyOsmond]

Thinking about it two ways, what do we need to give us the best chance of automatic promotion realistically? If we can get a better keeper that'd be ideal but otherwise once Maxwell, Wood and Westbrooke are back I don't think we're far off. The alternative way to look at it is what do we need to give us the best chance of having a quality season in League One, probably need a center back with Wood heading to retirement at some point and questions on Anderson's ability, keeper again, a Kelly replacement but otherwise we're not a million miles away from being an alright League One side.

[Nudga]

Another striker to push Joe and Billy. I feel Billy has lost a bit of oomph in his game which is understandable considering his age.
Also another wide player, send Yeboah back and offload either Lawlor or Jones.

I'd possibly look at another CB as Wood is coming to the end of his playing career.

Can’t agree about adding another striker, finding one who has the nouse of Billy & the tenacity of Joe would be nigh on impossible unless you throw big money at it even then it’s not a given you’re going to get the type of player you want. Look how we bemoaned Will Griggs not signing for us & his career has hardly taken off since.

If you think Billy has lost his ‘oomph’, look at how he chased the ball against Barrow that everyone thought was a lost cause, got to it before it went out of play & played a perfect ‘reverse cross’ to Sbarra who managed to head wide from 6 yards.

Another CB?

Joe Olowu, Tom Anderson, Jay McGrath, Bobby Faulkner, Kasper Williams, how many more do you want?

We need another midfielder with the energy & passing ability to make the most of our forward players. Someone to supplement Owen Bailey & Paddy Kelly in my opinion.

That or a permanent goalkeeper signing of ilk of TLT.

I'm not knocking Billy at all, what i mean by lost a bit of oomph is that he's missed at least 5 shots where 2or 3 years back he would have burst the net . I just feel he's lost a bit of that edge, again understandable given his age.

Centre backs wise, I don't believe Faulkner is in the plans at all, Wood is at the very end if his career and is now picking up niggly injuries. Kasper is nowhere near the first team yet but one for the future.
If we go up, Anderson should be moved on IMO so I am looking at the near future but maybe that position could wait until the summer?

[colincramb]

For me the weakest area of the team/squad is midfield. We were dominated by chesterfield in this area a few weeks back. If we are able to sign/loan something of the quality of Matty Craig then we go up automatically

[ravenrover]

It wouldn't surprise me if we did little in Jan with the size of the squad

[andyst79]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Close move on, his style of play doesn't suit how GM wants to play and Westbrook is far more dynamic. There were inquiries for him last Jan so can see him going and us fetching another midfielder in on loan.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

For me the weakest area of the team/squad is midfield. We were dominated by chesterfield in this area a few weeks back. If we are able to sign/loan something of the quality of Matty Craig then we go up automatically

We were only dominated cos our set up wasn't right. Unlikely they would have dominated us yesterday and the way we set up v Barrow.

[andyst79]

Wonder how Craig's doing at Barnsley? Maybe Tyke can provide an update?!

[GazLaz]

I think moving people out in January will be key to allow us a couple of signings. The January business will be the difference between us doing well and brilliantly.

[graingrover]

I would think Craig would strengthen our midfield even though we have lots of bodies already to select from .
I think that Grant wants  to win this league  which leads me to believe  we will again see a fruitful January window with Terry and Gavin’s  certain backing .

[DonnyNoel]

Hard to say given the size of the squad, as Gaz alluded to we may have to move one or two on, maybe from the attacking mid options.  I still think we're missing a bit of a #6 in modern football terminology.

[keith79]

I honestly think this team is good enough to go up as champions . Nothing needed imo

[Alan Southstand]

I don’t feel we’re a top 3 side yet. We may currently be 2nd, but I’m not convinced. We are doing better than last season’s start, but I don’t think we’ve replaced, like for like, either Adelakun, Craig & TLT.

Adelakun was a game changer and Craig, ably supported by Bailey, was different gravy. TLT was a much more commanding keeper and had that ‘presence’. Also, losing George left us a good option up top which we now don’t have. When Kelly finally settles into the side, he could improve the middle. Yeboah has been disappointing so far and I think we need a more explosive threat out wide, if Mols or Gibbo are off it. I’d love TLT back on loan, but we have to do something with Jones & Lawlor!

So, striker, wide man and keeper, for me, in January.

[ncRover]

Again, the keeper has done nothing wrong!

[Red wizard]

Hang on a minute. After every poor result most have moaned about the midfield yet only one or 2 have said that's where we need to add. Personally I think we need to trim the squad then look. A striker/wide player on loan is needed. If Billy get injured that leave Joe and he isn't scoring for whatever reason although he is a good player. The main thing is we keep hold of molly. He leaves and we ate play offs at best.

[roversdude]

Again, the keeper has done nothing wrong!

I agree my comment was more towards building for the future and getting a keeper in to be No.1 going forward.
By the way loved TSL tackle on Saturday

[Ryaldinhio]

I think we need to be careful in the Jan window.

Im not worried that we would be letting key players go like Moly, he is on a long term deal and key to plans.

We should move atleast one or two out if the option is there, maybe Close and Jones.

I would send Yeboah back and look for another option of that ilk.

We have players coming back into the squad in places that I think we can improve like Maxwell, Westbrooke, who we havent seen much if so far. CBs for me Joe and McGrath keep their shirts so have Anderson/Wood/Senior as back ups. Talk of another striker I don't agree with when we have Ironside still to get going, that's already 1 more than we had last season.

For me this window is move some out and if the right person is offered at CM or winger then go for that on loan. I wouldn't be clammering for permanent signings until the end of the season when we know out fate. There will be a lot more options if we ARE a L1 side rather than top of the L2 pile half way through season.

[IDM]

 

[Campsall rover]

I don’t feel we’re a top 3 side yet. We may currently be 2nd, but I’m not convinced. We are doing better than last season’s start, but I don’t think we’ve replaced, like for like, either Adelakun, Craig & TLT.

Adelakun was a game changer and Craig, ably supported by Bailey, was different gravy. TLT was a much more commanding keeper and had that ‘presence’. Also, losing George left us a good option up top which we now don’t have. When Kelly finally settles into the side, he could improve the middle. Yeboah has been disappointing so far and I think we need a more explosive threat out wide, if Mols or Gibbo are off it. I’d love TLT back on loan, but we have to do something with Jones & Lawlor!

So, striker, wide man and keeper, for me, in January.

There are no Stockport or Wrexhams’s in the league this season.
It is much more even so far.
I do think we will be the Stockport of the league come Feb/March.
The cream rises to the top and I am fairly confident the cream of this league will be Rovers, Notts County & Chesterfield. Port Vale and Bradford 4th and 5th

[Campsall rover]

Personally I think another striker is a possibility in January.
If either of Billy or Joe gets injured then we have no bench option.
All teams who are successful usually have at least 3 out and out strikers in their squad.
Yeboah I don’t consider as he is more a wide player it seems and he is still very raw.
Another midfielder is a possibility in January unless Broadbent can consistently be the player he was at Grimsby last week.
We have plenty of midfielders but they are at present not consistently working as a unit.
I do think Bailey, Kelly & Clifton have the capability to do the job.
One of Close, Westbrooke & Broadbent could feasibly be loaned out in January if GM wishes to bring someone else to the fold.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I don’t feel we’re a top 3 side yet. We may currently be 2nd, but I’m not convinced. We are doing better than last season’s start, but I don’t think we’ve replaced, like for like, either Adelakun, Craig & TLT.

Adelakun was a game changer and Craig, ably supported by Bailey, was different gravy. TLT was a much more commanding keeper and had that ‘presence’. Also, losing George left us a good option up top which we now don’t have. When Kelly finally settles into the side, he could improve the middle. Yeboah has been disappointing so far and I think we need a more explosive threat out wide, if Mols or Gibbo are off it. I’d love TLT back on loan, but we have to do something with Jones & Lawlor!

So, striker, wide man and keeper, for me, in January.

These two 'experts' provide an indepth analysis of all the leagues results and a progress update on their expectations for this season. Fast forward to 1hr 1min for their analysis of League Two.

https://youtu.be/FnqsOcDgBIM?si=1CtLkeiINAW-Au0z

They see us as one of THE favourites to go up still. Interesting comments about the other trending teams in the league.

Tend to agree we're not quite there yet. We are there to be shot at, and whether we like it or not, we will have to deal with teams who will see us as a scalp and a benchmark for them, so we will have more games like v Crewe, when it's more difficult to break them down.

I think we need to aim to be a more all round team where we get a few more goal contributions from our central midfield, our strikers, and defenders (mainly set pieces) as I still think we are over reliant on our wide men. We have to find different ways to win games, particularly when things are tight. We're   not going to be winning games by two or more clear goals every week. 

These next batch of 12 fixtures will tell us alot about how McCann has adapted to squad with the players we have, and whether we can be consistent enough in scoring more than we concede to win games. We're going to need as much mental toughness as physical, paricularly as the weather deteriorates into winter football.

[graingrover]

I was pleased to read MTty Craig’s praise and gratitude of his time at DRFC in an article with Yorkshire Post , mirrored in DFree Press
  .

[Dutch Uncle]

Agree with a lot of Ryaldinho's post above except for his confidence in keeping key players. If a championship club came in with big money for Moly, Bailey, McGrath or Maxwell we might have trouble keeping them, like Whiteman and Marquis (not Championship in his case but big club). But the good thing is they are all on long contracts so the money would have to be big. My fear would be it happening too late in the window to get a replacement. 

[GazLaz]

Agree with a lot of Ryaldinho's post above except for his confidence in keeping key players. If a championship club came in with big money for Moly, Bailey, McGrath or Maxwell we might have trouble keeping them, like Whiteman and Marquis (not Championship in his case but big club). But the good thing is they are all on long contracts so the money would have to be big. My fear would be it happening too late in the window to get a replacement. 

Only Maxwell has the potential to play at Champ level I think and he’s been injured all season. Really can’t see anyone leaving unless they are pushed.

[Dutch Uncle]

Agree with a lot of Ryaldinho's post above except for his confidence in keeping key players. If a championship club came in with big money for Moly, Bailey, McGrath or Maxwell we might have trouble keeping them, like Whiteman and Marquis (not Championship in his case but big club). But the good thing is they are all on long contracts so the money would have to be big. My fear would be it happening too late in the window to get a replacement. 

Only Maxwell has the potential to play at Champ level I think and he’s been injured all season. Really can’t see anyone leaving unless they are pushed.

I hope you are right Gaz. McGrath would be the most likely target IMHO given his age and potential.