Current squad

[Chris Black come back]

Currently a squad of 24 players on professional contracts:


Lawlor
Oram
Bryant

Nixon
Sterry
Williams
McGrath
Maxwell
Senior
Flint

Close
Westbrooke
Gotts
Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Straughan-Brown
Sbarra

Gibson
Hurst
Ironside
Sharp
Molyneux
Middleton

[Chris Black come back]

At the very least we are going to be bringing in a further four players - keeper, two centre backs and a striker. That will be a squad of 28 players, without any departures.

[DonnyOsmond]

Sharp
Gibson Clifton Molyneux
Broadbent Gotts
Maxwell McGrath Bailey Sterry
Lawlor

Subs:
Oram
Nixon
Senior
Westbrooke
Sbarra
Middleton
Ironside

[Danmckay456]

A big pre season ahead for Close , Westbrook and Hurst all 3 need to impress McCann or they will be out on loan / permanent , 4 more permanents and then a few loans later in July to add more strength in depth in areas we might need adding to

[Alan Southstand]

All the young lads will be going out on loan, except (maybe) Flint, as he can fill in at either defensive midfield or defence. So take Bryant, SB & Williams out the frame straight away.

Of the seniors that’s left, I’m struggling to see much of a future for Close, Westbrook, S’Barra and Hurst, so they’d be my choice for loan or moving on. That leaves us a very different picture:

Lawlor / Oram / new No1

Sterry / Nixon / Maxwell / Senior / McGrath / 2 x new CB’s

Broadbent / Bailey / Gotts / Clifton / Flint / new defensive midfielder

Sharp / Ironside / new striker / Molyneux / Gibson / Middleton / new winger

I make that 5, which could be a mix of permanents and loans.

Sorted!

[ncRover]

All the young lads will be going out on loan, except (maybe) Flint, as he can fill in at either defensive midfield or defence. So take Bryant, SB & Williams out the frame straight away.

Of the seniors that’s left, I’m struggling to see much of a future for Close, Westbrook, S’Barra and Hurst, so they’d be my choice for loan or moving on. That leaves us a very different picture:

Lawlor / Oram / new No1

Sterry / Nixon / Maxwell / Senior / McGrath / 2 x new CB’s

Broadbent / Bailey / Gotts / Clifton / Flint / new defensive midfielder

Sharp / Ironside / new striker / Molyneux / Gibson / Middleton / new winger

I make that 5, which could be a mix of permanents and loans.

Sorted!

Good work Alan but I make that six.

Personally I’d keep Westbrooke and loan out Flint to a National League club. That’s the best thing for his development to keep playing. He had a good loan last year but we’re asking him to step up 3 levels otherwise.

[Alan Southstand]

Yes, you’re right - I missed the very important striker when checking!

Doh.

[Shawn_drfc]

Think we will sign 3 defenders, 2 permanent and one on loan probably.

Then a midfielder on loan

Another winger on loan

A striker on a permanent

GK could be either but probably Permanent the way McCann mentioned it.

Flint, Williams, SSB all will probably be going out on loan probably.

[In the box]

At the very least we are going to be bringing in a further four players - keeper, two centre backs and a striker. That will be a squad of 28 players, without any departures.

A goal keeper 3 central defenders and a striker have still not been replaced !

[Jonathan]

Essentially I think we still need:

- new first choice goalkeeper

- two new central defenders capable of playing in the first team. With Faulkner having signed a new deal that would leave us strong in this position

- a new central midfielder. I understand the argument that we have enough numbers, but to me that only means we need to rebalance the squad and move some out that are surplus. In the last two years our best from (by a mile) has been with Matty Craig or Charlie Crew running the midfield. We don’t currently have a player like that in the squad, and we need one to compete in League One

- a new striker in the mould of Rob Street (i.e. that can compete physically and run in behind)

Anything else is a bonus, but the above are fundamental to us competing in my opinion.

[Pancho Regan]

Essentially I think we still need:

- new first choice goalkeeper

- two new central defenders capable of playing in the first team. With Faulkner having signed a new deal that would leave us strong in this position

- a new central midfielder. I understand the argument that we have enough numbers, but to me that only means we need to rebalance the squad and move some out that are surplus. In the last two years our best from (by a mile) has been with Matty Craig or Charlie Crew running the midfield. We don’t currently have a player like that in the squad, and we need one to compete in League One

- a new striker in the mould of Rob Street (i.e. that can compete physically and run in behind)

Anything else is a bonus, but the above are fundamental to us competing in my opinion.

I think that's a good summary Jonathan.

Charlie Crew improved and developed noticeably during his time with us last season and I would be happy to see him return again on loan.

[scawsby steve]

I'm just leaving it all to Grant. He knows better than any of us.

[Chris Black come back]

Now 25 on professional contracts:

Lawlor
Oram
Bryant

Nixon
Sterry
Williams
McGrath
Faulkner
Maxwell
Senior
Flint

Close
Westbrooke
Gotts
Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Straughan-Brown
Sbarra

Gibson
Hurst
Ironside
Sharp
Molyneux
Middleton

[IDM]

At the very least we are going to be bringing in a further four players - keeper, two centre backs and a striker. That will be a squad of 28 players, without any departures.

A goal keeper 3 central defenders and a striker have still not been replaced !

For f**ks sake give it a rest will you.?

We all know where we have squad shortfalls and you could bet your b*llocks grant and his team will know too.

I’m sure we’ll have some surprises in store but why the hell do you expect everything to happen yesterday.?

Have a bit of patience and faith in the club.  It’s still only 5th June.!

[DonnyOsmond]

Hanlan
Gibson Gotts Molyneux
Broadbent Bailey
Maxwell McGrath Pearson Sterry
Lawlor

Subs:
Oram
Nixon
Senior
Clifton
Sbarra
Middleton
Sharp
Ironside

[scawsby steve]

Hanlan
Gibson Gotts Molyneux
Broadbent Bailey
Maxwell McGrath Pearson Sterry
Lawlor

Subs:
Oram
Nixon
Senior
Clifton
Sbarra
Middleton
Sharp
Ironside

Just curious. Have subs been increased to 8 this season?

[DonnyOsmond]

Hanlan
Gibson Gotts Molyneux
Broadbent Bailey
Maxwell McGrath Pearson Sterry
Lawlor

Subs:
Oram
Nixon
Senior
Clifton
Sbarra
Middleton
Sharp
Ironside

Just curious. Have subs been increased to 8 this season?

Nah I just amended it from the previous post and didn't count. Apologies.

[sedwardsdrfc]

In still not sure we haven’t weakened the team by Bailey coming back in midfield. He was a level above at centre half and everyone else clicked so much better in midfield.

It’s a good problem to have of course

[Sammy Chung was King]

Probably get another young up and coming goalkeeper on loan.
Another centre back again with experience. A wing back probably. Midfielder with a creative side.
We’ve signed Hanlan, Gotts, Pearson, decent signings who we won’t know how good they are until moulded into the team. I know we have four strikers now but I would like another one, considering we are going up a level.

[selby]

  Division1 that back four will get slaughtered down the left with lack of any covering pace central.
  We would have to play very deep and keep the full backs as covering players, and that's not our managers way.
  Bailey to start with Pearson for me or another newby with pace and defensive minded like Pearson left side and Bailey as defensive mid fielder.
 Faulkner and McGrath if fit to play early season cup games with Flint in defensive mid field role given their chance to challenge for the shirt.
  Its all to play for not to walk into on past play, that's gone.

[Alan Southstand]

In still not sure we haven’t weakened the team by Bailey coming back in midfield. He was a level above at centre half and everyone else clicked so much better in midfield.

It’s a good problem to have of course

I don’t think we’ve weakened anything yet, as there are other players lined up to join us. But, there was no mention of a central defensive player being added, certainly not in this next batch anyway.
The problem we have is we’ve got Close and Westbrook for this next season and I don’t see them fitting into the structure. Neither are ‘tacklers’ as such and they’re not the type to get about the pitch (which Grant likes).
If we’re going with a 4-2-3-1 set-up, then we are low on numbers in that midfield area. If a loan (Crew) comes back, then that changes the picture, but 1 of Close/Westbrook need to seek alternatives, imho.
Offensively and defensively I think we’re going to be ok, but I see a gaping hole in that midfield, or, at the very least, the lack of suitable cover.

[Sammy Chung was King]

We need two experienced centre backs, then either one of the younger guys at the side of an experienced player or you put both older players in and use them as back ups.
If you have pace in front of them you can get away with it. Like you say if you have centre halves with little pace, your full backs must be able to tuck in and cover that. I would like to think we are going to be higher up the pitch and not dropping too deep, unless we plan on playing counter attacking football.

[Chris Black come back]

Now 25 on professional contracts:

Lawlor
Oram
Bryant

Nixon
Sterry
Williams
McGrath
Faulkner
Maxwell
Senior
Flint

Close
Westbrooke
Gotts
Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Straughan-Brown
Sbarra

Gibson
Hurst
Ironside
Sharp
Molyneux
Middleton

Following the latest signings, now a squad of 27 players on professional contracts:

Lawlor
Oram
Bryant

Nixon
Sterry
Williams
McGrath
Pearson
Faulkner
Maxwell
Senior
Flint

Close
Westbrooke
Gotts
Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Straughan-Brown
Sbarra

Gibson
Hurst
Ironside
Hanlon
Sharp
Molyneux
Middleton

[In the box]

Now 25 on professional contracts:

Lawlor
Oram
Bryant

Nixon
Sterry
Williams
McGrath
Faulkner
Maxwell
Senior
Flint

Close
Westbrooke
Gotts
Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Straughan-Brown
Sbarra

Gibson
Hurst
Ironside
Sharp
Molyneux
Middleton

Following the latest signings, now a squad of 27 players on professional contracts:

Lawlor
Oram
Bryant

Nixon
Sterry
Williams
McGrath
Pearson
Faulkner
Maxwell
Senior
Flint

Close
Westbrooke
Gotts
Broadbent
Bailey
Clifton
Straughan-Brown
Sbarra

Gibson
Hurst
Ironside
Hanlon
Sharp
Molyneux
Middleton

With potentially five or six players with some of them loans it’s looking a like a large squad with over 30+. So who’s going to be let go or loaned out ..

[roversdude]

Slightly skewed if you look at that list purely in terms of numbers as we have 3 keepers none of whom are a first choice and a number of very young pros who will obviously go out on loan.
As others have said it will be interesting to see where Close, Westbrooke and Hurst fit in/end up

[Nudga]

I think we'll see a bit of outward movement in the next couple of weeks.

You would think Close and Hurst are now nowhere near the first XI, so out permanently I reckon.

The young lads obviously going out on loan.
I've had a feeling about Ironside going too, heard a rumour in January that he wasn't happy with lack of games, how true that is I don't know as just a rumour.
Couldn't actually see him going to Chessy.

[IDM]

We need two experienced centre backs, then either one of the younger guys at the side of an experienced player or you put both older players in and use them as back ups.
If you have pace in front of them you can get away with it. Like you say if you have centre halves with little pace, your full backs must be able to tuck in and cover that. I would like to think we are going to be higher up the pitch and not dropping too deep, unless we plan on playing counter attacking football.

Don’t think we need two more experienced CBs, one yes.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I think we'll see a bit of outward movement in the next couple of weeks.

You would think Close and Hurst are now nowhere near the first XI, so out permanently I reckon.

The young lads obviously going out on loan.
I've had a feeling about Ironside going too, heard a rumour in January that he wasn't happy with lack of games, how true that is I don't know as just a rumour.
Couldn't actually see him going to Chessy.

Agree. I think it's fair to say Ironside didn't function very well last season. Whether his homelife and/or his hernia were factors, who knows. We'll either see a rejuvenated player or one who might go the same way as George Miller last season.

If we look back at the line up for the opening game last season v Accrington then we can compare to where we are now.

TSL, Sterry, Anderson, Wood, Maxwell
Bailey, Broadbent
Molyneux, Hurst, Gibson
Ironside.

Other than the keeper, we're ready to go but clearly, McCann wants to refine the squad even further.

Even though we've stepped up a league, there's alot to be said for momentum with the core players carried forward. Once again though, it will be the spine of the team which will determine how successful we are.

[Chris Black come back]

It's of some note the type of player that McCann has brought in this window. Profile is more experienced, with lots of experience at a higher level:

Pearson - 525 career league games and majority at League One or above
Middleton - 203 career games and majority at League One or above (Scottish top flight League One equivalent)
Gotts - 207 career games and outlier in pretty much all games being at League Two level
Hanlon - 324 career games and vast majority at League One level

We've done very well with non league and lower league signings e.g. Bailey, Molyneux, Sterry, McGrath, Maxwell, etc but he's dramatically changed the profile for this window so far.

[Danmckay456]

With another wide player hopefully coming in next week it looks bleak for Hurst, I purely think it was so we got a fee that’s why we extended his deal.

Close will probably end up back down south it’s just not happened for him here and in need of a fresh start.

Westbrooke will probably head out on loan too much competition in midfield and I think flint will get more game time next season.

Faulkner and the rest of the young lads probably head out on loan