What do we need?

[Ryaldinhio]

As we go into Jan window what do we need?

We talk of recent signings that did well TLT, Matty Craig, Haks. Etc.

Yes they did very well back end of last season, but what are we missing......

I think TLT is better than TSL so I would take it if a perm signing but not desperate.

Craig would play in our midfield but as good as he was he wasn't dressed in assists last yr.

Haks, I think ppl look with rose tinted glasses. Yes he did well and his 9 goals were important BUT last 3-4 games he disappeared and given he played a while did he get an assist? Which is what you want from a winger????

For me we need a left winger that will get the ball in the box ASAP and encourage Moly to do the same. Also a back up striker in case of injury.

Other than that it's a nice to have or a swap/upgrade on what we have.

[ncRover]

Adelakun got 7 assists in 19 games.

[Nudga]

For me it's just as important who we move along.

Close
Westbrooke
Jones
Kuleya
Fleming

That would free up space and wages.

[Alan Southstand]

Close
Westbrooke
Jones
Kuleya
Fleming

Emmanuel?
Yeboah?
Lawlor?

[adamtherover]

Josh had a great game on Tuesday?

[Usher wide.]

Emmanuel & Fleming (yes I know we’re ‘blessed’ with left full backs but Fleming is a great squad man) have too much still to offer even in Lg1 I believe.

I wouldn’t argue about the other four mentioned (Yeboah can go back as soon as for me) if we could sign a good keeper for next season.

[i_ateallthepies]

After Tuesday's performance I'd like to see Emmanuel given another start tomorrow.

[Reg of the Rovers]

Emmanual been decent when he's started, was really good on Tuesday. But he does have unexplained absences, he'll be in the squad then gone for a couple of weeks - not sure if he'll ever be fit enough consistently to be decent.

I'd happily give a lift to any of the rest on Nudga's list to get rid, Ben Close being my main frustration - an awful signing from start to finish. Yeboah also hugely disappointing. And giving Sbarra Billy Sharp's No10 shirt increasing feels like a slap in the face!

[DonnyBazR0ver]

For me it's just as important who we move along.

Close
Westbrooke
Jones
Kuleya
Fleming

That would free up space and wages.

All of those bar Fleming are under contract so we don't have the final say in their departure. McCann would obviously have to have conversations with each of them and possibly circulate their names for transfer or loan but someone's got to want them, and they would need to agree. They can just sit on their contracts otherwise.

This is why January isn't a good window for a high turnover of players.

Most likely is some shuffling of loans but I wouldn't expect much with permanent players leaving right now, or signing for that matter.

McCann voluntarily gave the info that we've put in a loan bid for a forward. That seems to be his priority, so I wouldn't expect much in addition to that. (Plus, if other clubs are in for this loanee, it could take longer to sort out)

No doubt McCann will be probed more by the media as January draws closer but we need to be patient.

[ncRover]

Ironside scored 20 goals last season. We know what he’s good at - winning headers, holding the ball up and being clinical. We know what he’s bad at -  driving at defenders and running in behind. So what do we need around him? We need someone whose strengths are his weaknesses.

In the 4-3-3, we are lining up with Jordan Gibson on the left. A typical McCann wide player is more of a goalscorer than a traditional winger, looking to break in behind opposition defences at pace and drift in to central positions. Gibson doesn’t do that.

The alternative is the 3-5-2. Again looking at Ironside’s strengths and weaknesses, if we were to design him a perfect strike partner for him would it be Billy Sharp? Billy is very experienced and a very accomplished finisher of course. But is he the right fit with Ironside in a front 2? No, he’s slow. But could both Joe and Billy work better with a different type of player alongside or on the left of either of them? Someone to run the channels? Yes. The lad from Forest looks to fit that bill.

There’s two sides to good service for the front 2 / front 3. There’s the ability of the midfield to pick out a pass but there is also the movement of the attacking players stretching opposition defenders here and there to create space and openings, which then lead more dangerous opportunities.

[DearneValleyRover]

We need a DM, another wide player, a creative midfielder and a striker with pace

[Owl in peace]

We need a DM, another wide player, a creative midfielder and a striker with pace

From watching Donny on numerous occasions this season, this is exactly what I think you require.

Adelakun is proving to be a huge miss too.

[ncRover]

Emmanual been decent when he's started, was really good on Tuesday. But he does have unexplained absences, he'll be in the squad then gone for a couple of weeks - not sure if he'll ever be fit enough consistently to be decent.

I think that’s just been selection Reg, because Grant doesn’t have many defenders on the bench and we hear about all injuries nowadays.

I’d like to see him start a lot more and at wing back. He’s an attacking outlet.

Look at him here for Grimsby (blue no.7). This is what we’re missing!

https://youtu.be/kwqxeV1yimU?si=y9ZBQa9JqyiFdXI4

[In the box]

After Tuesday's performance I'd like to see Emmanuel given another start tomorrow.

He did and was awful !!

[i_ateallthepies]

They all were awful, ITB.  Clueless.

[StocksArmy]

I think if I’m TB and looking at where we are right now I’m not a happy bunny at all. Getting towards hoping we go on another run to turn our season because what’s happening now has no chance. In theory January’s window should be there to give you that one last push to make sure the squad can get you over the line. Not salvage something. McCann left us short in the summer and we are massively paying for that right this moment. The home form lays firmly on his doorstep. Had that been sorted even as late as the Bromley game, we could have lost today and it wouldn’t have felt so poor. Managers to blame for me.

[In the box]

I think if I’m TB and looking at where we are right now I’m not a happy bunny at all. Getting towards hoping we go on another run to turn our season because what’s happening now has no chance. In theory January’s window should be there to give you that one last push to make sure the squad can get you over the line. Not salvage something. McCann left us short in the summer and we are massively paying for that right this moment. The home form lays firmly on his doorstep. Had that been sorted even as late as the Bromley game, we could have lost today and it wouldn’t have felt so poor. Managers to blame for me.

We need players with grit and weight not this weeny bunch of kids !!

[oggycompton]

A more attacking lineup and using the two best strikers in the league together whilst also occasionally dropping the favourites who seem immune from being dropped irrespective of performance.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Can't disagree, he's got to take responsibility and find a way. We have players who are better than this. It's easy to knee jerk and use January as an excuse, We've got games to play before then and we have to rely on the players we've got. 

[StocksArmy]

Can I ask what you feel is more attacking? Genuine question because last game we started Molyneux, Hurst, Ironside, Sharp and we were ran off the pitch. So the attacking threat is there, that’s one thing we can grumble at.

[Copps is Magic]

We've got a massive squad. GM needs to be getting more out of what we've got. We can't just be signing more players.

[The Dav]

We need consistency and he needs to know his best side ! I hate saying this but maybe singing Billy has had a negative effect on Ironside, thoughts?

[StocksArmy]

We've got a massive squad. GM needs to be getting more out of what we've got. We can't just be signing more players.

This is what I am saying in a lot less words. How much money can TB put up before he says no? I am certain in the summer there was a plan in place to be in a better position than we are now yet we are here putting mini league tables up to challenge everybody. It’s absolutely ridiculous is it not?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

We need consistency and he needs to know his best side ! I hate saying this but maybe singing Billy has had a negative effect on Ironside, thoughts?

These two share a car every day and surely, they'll be egging each other on one way or another. If you listen to Billy the other week, it sounds like they prefer to be on the pitch together.

[selby]

  We have already said we have made an offer for a forward, Josh Stones if available would be my choice but trust the management,
   Two may already be in the house, Faulkner is our best out and out defender and poses a threat in the oppositions area from set pieces and when sent forward. We need to start getting clean sheets and solve the problem of direct running and squaring up defenders teams are doing it more often now they have twigged a weakness at the back.
  Flint is having a great loan, is a good defensive midfielder with vision and can put a foot in and like Faulkner is quick or apart from Olowu quicker than most of what we have now.
  They both need game time here and will improve and were a formidable pair in the u18s.
 
   
 

[ncRover]

  We have already said we have made an offer for a forward, Josh Stones if available would be my choice but trust the management,
   Two may already be in the house, Faulkner is our best out and out defender and poses a threat in the oppositions area from set pieces and when sent forward. We need to start getting clean sheets and solve the problem of direct running and squaring up defenders teams are doing it more often now they have twigged a weakness at the back.
  Flint is having a great loan, is a good defensive midfielder with vision and can put a foot in and like Faulkner is quick or apart from Olowu quicker than most of what we have now.
  They both need game time here and will improve and were a formidable pair in the u18s.
 
   
 

Stones’ loan runs out at the start of January.

What sort of striker is he Selby? He looks like a rugby league player.

[dickos1]

I’ve sent messages numerous times to McCann and copps stating we should be trying to sign stones.
No idea if they’ve read the messages but he’d be a great signing for us.
And I know he’d sign for us.
Works hard, aggressive, and a goalscorer

[selby]

  First saw him in a FA youth cup game v Tadcaster for Guisley as a 17 year old, Guisley won 8-1 he scored four and a lad called Hebda also another good player got a hat trick.
  They were good but there was no places in our academy vacant.

[danumdon]

  We have already said we have made an offer for a forward, Josh Stones if available would be my choice but trust the management,
   Two may already be in the house, Faulkner is our best out and out defender and poses a threat in the oppositions area from set pieces and when sent forward. We need to start getting clean sheets and solve the problem of direct running and squaring up defenders teams are doing it more often now they have twigged a weakness at the back.
  Flint is having a great loan, is a good defensive midfielder with vision and can put a foot in and like Faulkner is quick or apart from Olowu quicker than most of what we have now.
  They both need game time here and will improve and were a formidable pair in the u18s.
 
   
 

Stones’ loan runs out at the start of January.

What sort of striker is he Selby? He looks like a rugby league player.

It does make you wonder how much some managers look at the size or physicality of a player alongside his footballing skills.

When you look at some of the sides we have played this season and over the last few years it always looks like they are bigger and stronger than us in size and physicality. I always look at the two sides as they exchange handshakes before the start of the game, its very rare that an opposition look or are smaller than us.

When you think back to some of the games where we have struggled to impose our game on the opposition its usually to a side with size, height and just brute strength. At this level athleticism gives you a fighting chance.

We need something, the amount of times our "footballers" are run off the ball and manhandled like little kids is quite depressing to watch.

We need a blend of footballing ability but with the desire and determination to counter some of these lower league sides who have majored on size.

[Campsall rover]

Reading some othe posts on this and many other threads you would think we are 18th in the table and 20 points of the top.

We are 5th and 7 points off the top. We have Walsall to play twice,
Port Vale, Crewe, Wimbledon, Mk Dons, Chesterfield, Notts C, Bradford, Salford all to play once.

You would think we are in crisis mode at present reading these posts.
Yes we are not playing anywhere near as well as we can we all know that but we have only lost one game since the Bromley game in mid October.

I think a little perspective needed here. GM knows where the problems are he isn’t stupid.
We have good players at DRFC, they are just not gelling as a team right now.
The sum of all parts. There is one glaring one in the middle of the park missing.
A 3-0 win v Tranmere on Saturday would be a massive tonic and could re ignite the team.
We then have a huge game at Walsall on Boxing Day.