Summer

[Chris Black come back]

Quite a lot of business required:

We don’t actually own a keeper. Assume we sign one permanently and one on loan.

As good as he has been, I don’t see us signing Byrne. Likewise you wouldn’t see Faulkner being given a deal, on balance. That leaves us with McGrath and Pearson (33 by time season kicks off). A permanent signing and a loan signing at centre back. Can see Grehan getting loaned out.

Full backs you could potentially see him sticking with the four he has.

Central midfield. Close, Sbarra and Westbrooke to leave surely. That leaves Gotts, Bailey, Robinson, Clifton and Broadbent. Probably a permanent signing and a loan signing, with some variation in there. Ideally some creativity.

Wide players. Not sure what happens here. They’ve struggled to impress consistently but our 4 are all under contract I think so you might think he doesn’t add here but given how poor his loan wide signings have been, he might look at a permanent option with genuine pace. Hurst to depart.

Up top. Clearer here. One permanent signing and a loan. Again some variation and pace.

[Petche]

Isn't Gibson out of contract? If so must go surely?

[ncRover]

Isn't Gibson out of contract? If so must go surely?

Yes he is.

We need to then sign a 4th winger to compete with Molyneux. Maybe another left winger if Middleton can be moved on.

Out wide is where I think we need pace and directness.

Would look for a centre forward who is more comfortable back to goal and in the air than Hanlan. A centre forward who is something to aim for in the box.

[Rupee92ONLY]

Didn’t they say they’re looking to have 2 permanent goalkeepers come in? It will be about time.

Purely my own opinion if I got given McCann’s job tomorrow and on the basis we get a taker for all the contracted players i offer out we’d be looking at this.

New GK
New GK

Sterry
New RB

New CB
New CB
Neil Byrne
Jay McGrath

New LB
Jack Senior

Owen Bailey
Robbie Gotts
New CM
New CM

Luke Molyneux
New RW

New CAM
Harry Clifton

New LW
Hakeeb Adelakun

New CF
New CF
Brandon Hanlan

Loans Out:
Jake Oram
Jacob Bryant
Sean Grehan
Kasper Williams
Bayley McCann
Darren Robinson
Sam Straughan-Brown

So that’s 14 in. 5 loan spots leaves 9 in permanent. Not arsed about keeping players we know aren’t great. Clifton has just about done enough for me to be in the squad but if he wants more minutes guarenteed I wouldn’t be too fussed on him moving on.

So yeah pretty important we have the right people in the recruitment department. Budget will be fine i reckon.

[Chris Black come back]

Gibson has an option in our favour and McCann has demonstrated repeatedly that he is loyal to certain players. It wouldn't be a surprise if he triggered that option on Gibson. Whether you think it is wise or not, you could see McCann doing this.

It is very unlikely that any contracted player is going to be moved on this summer.

[Petche]

I see what you're saying and I too would'nt be surprised for the option to be triggered. If we're serious about progressing next season then we need better or at least someone with more heart and consistency, surely Grant can see this?

[scawsby steve]

If Dave Rennie can get to the bottom of Tom Nixon's recurring injury problems, I don't see the need for another right back IMO.

[Danmckay456]

Permanent number 1
Permanent Left back
Permanent Centre Back
Permanent Number 10
Permanent winger
Permanent Number 9 x 2

Gk Cb Cm loans

Tie down Senior and Clifton the rest out of contract release and a one or two need  August  to prove they can cut it at this level

[Armthorpe mickler]

You'll be lucky Dan .Uncle Terry does'nt fork out for a blind one legged knife grinder .

[danumdon]

Agree that for GM's preferred formation we have very little pace in the wide areas, its also apparent that we get eased off the ball very easily, running at defenders and taking them on seems to have left the game we play!

CF is as always a problem for us, The one active player we have is not really an out and out CF, he's not a header winning, hold up player who can play with his back to goal and link play, if we wanted this type of forward then the requirement policy failed.

What we do have is a striker who has strength and pace, if we played to his strength and gave him through balls to run onto we may have got more bang for our buck!

When we look across the team as a whole we lack a yard of pace and a mean streak, we just need players who are determined and committed, and can demonstrated that on a regular basis.

Lets hope some refreshed thinking is apparent in our recruitment in the summer.

[Rupee92ONLY]

I still don’t see pace when I see Hanlan i really don’t and I think he gets too much unwarranted stick.

[mpc123]

He has pace, he has shown on the wide areas a few times

[Nudga]

He has pace, he has shown on the wide areas a few times

He has pace, just not raw pace. I've not seen him win a 1v1 foot race yet.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

He has acceleration as opposed to constant pace, very different things.  Acceleration very key in football and he's very quick for those few steps.

We massively need two strikers, I'd probably go with two full backs too. My worry is McCann didn't want a huge turnover but it's hard to see anything but?

[sedwardsdrfc]

Imo it’s a good thing we’re due a bit of turnover to hopefully trim the squad to be a smaller but higher quality group.

Grant needs the pen hiding if he wants to offer deals to anyone other than key 1st choice players. Can’t be wasting money agsin like he has in the past.

[Ryaldinhio]

Ive got a feeling there is something in place for TLT to come permanent. I could be way off the mark with that.

I also consider Frankie Oko a possible permanent signing. Will be out of contract, young player. Looked useful in the games he played. Cant see anyone in Championship going for him. If he enjoyed his time here and we have faith in the medical team maybe he could return?

Im not sure of the full list of who's contracts are up but if Gibson is in there I wouldn't be renewing. There was a spell where he was decent but flash in a pan. He hasnt done it consistently in his time here and currently seems to be in real poor form and not exactly playing for a contract.

[mpc123]

Imo it’s a good thing we’re due a bit of turnover to hopefully trim the squad to be a smaller but higher quality group.

Grant needs the pen hiding if he wants to offer deals to anyone other than key 1st choice players. Can’t be wasting money agsin like he has in the past.

He hasnt wasted cash. He has built a squad, he has utilised it all. League and decent cup run.

No waste at all

[Rupee92ONLY]

No that’s just either delusion, trolling or stupidity mpc. We have very clearly wasted a chunk of this seasons budget whether you’re the world’s biggest Grant McCann fan or not.

[Chris Black come back]

I think that’s fair. The budget hasn’t been spent optimally and in particular, having McGrath up front yesterday was highly symbolic. I like that McCann has confidence in always having a strong second half of the season but that is usually because the recruitment problems obvious in the first half get largely addressed in January. Better to sort them in August.

[eastender]

Imo it’s a good thing we’re due a bit of turnover to hopefully trim the squad to be a smaller but higher quality group.

Grant needs the pen hiding if he wants to offer deals to anyone other than key 1st choice players. Can’t be wasting money agsin like he has in the past.

He hasnt wasted cash. He has built a squad, he has utilised it all. League and decent cup run.

No waste at all

I think the 4 Loanees he sent back in the New Year were a waste of money .

[Rupee92ONLY]

It’s so dangerous as well isn’t it, relying on a winter bail out. One year we have a bad January too and then what?

Me personally if I was Bramall i’d have lost faith this season in the recruitment entirely that i’d be really questioning upping it, at my own cost, with the current lot in place. Credit to Bramall for that cos he 100% will up it anyway.

McCann needs to accept losing some of his trusted circle and yes men. It’s never good to just be surrounded by yeses. Replace them with competent, modern systems and competent people.

And no mpc before you start, that’s not being unnecessarily ‘negative’ or a dog shit fan 

[Barmby Rover]

Try to sign Elliot Lee on a permanent, Byrne the same, keep Zander Clark and try to get Timmy on loan again, send Hanlan on loan if he can't be sold, and look at Scotland, Ireland or National league for two strikers that actually work in a central front role. The OP seems to have forgotten we have Owen Bailey in midfield!

[roversdude]

Can we pretend it’s November/December now and have a January window when the season ends.
We have a decent nucleus but need to be ruthless and cull some of the deadwood. I really like Gibson but have become so frustrated with him this season particularly how easy he is to nudge off the ball. Sterry frustrates me at times and is always going to miss a chunk of games, unfortunately Nixon doesn’t seem able to keep fit so we need to lose one of these for a right back who can stay fit (obviously no one can predict injuries but these two have recurring problems)
Would love to sign one of these 2 loan keepers.
We are likely to need a Bailey replacement would love him to stay but he must be on bigger clubs radar
Up front is going to need serious recruitment as we a toothless, particularly how we are playing utilising Hanlon as a back to goal forward.
Hopefully Glover has grown into his role and has a list of quality players on it

[mushRTID]

I feel like we bloat the squad with shite in the summer to see us though the cup games, and maybe a historical paranoia of mass injuries.

Maybe focus more on quality this time and allow the kids to play in the trophy.

Because we get well into the season then allow players to leave who we all knew wouldn’t be L1 standard (Hurst, Westbrook, SBarra).

I’d like to see us with less players of better quality now we have confidence in the medical team.

I’d upgrade both full backs…that is going to mean moving on Maxwell and one of Sterry/Nixon…maybe Tom out on loan?

A quality operator in CM and CB required, a #10…. 2 wingers, 2 strikers. And obviously sort the GK out and like mentioned above I could also see TLT coming permanently.

Keep Senior and Clifton, release the rest.

Robinson and Grehan out on loan. Bring Bobby into the squad and see how he gets on until January.

[ncRover]

Try to sign Elliot Lee on a permanent, Byrne the same, keep Zander Clark and try to get Timmy on loan again, send Hanlan on loan if he can't be sold, and look at Scotland, Ireland or National league for two strikers that actually work in a central front role. The OP seems to have forgotten we have Owen Bailey in midfield!

We’d need to pay a fee for Lee and he’d likely become one of the highest earners at the club if so at 31 turning 32.

Has he shown enough impact or that he’d suit or style of play enough to warrant that financial outlay that could be put to use in another fashion?

[GazLaz]

I feel like we bloat the squad with shite in the summer to see us though the cup games, and maybe a historical paranoia of mass injuries.

Maybe focus more on quality this time and allow the kids to play in the trophy.

Because we get well into the season then allow players to leave who we all knew wouldn’t be L1 standard (Hurst, Westbrook, SBarra).

I’d like to see us with less players of better quality now we have confidence in the medical team.

I’d upgrade both full backs, quality operator in CM and CB, a #10…. 2 wingers, 2 strikers. And obviously sort the GK out and like mentioned above I could also see TLT coming permanently.

Keep Senior and Clifton, release the rest.

Robinson and Grehan out on loan. Bring Bobby into the squad and see how he gets on until January.

“Less players better quality”


I think that’s an extremely risky approach and not generally what successful teams do.

I think we can trim the size of our squad a bit but I certainly wouldn’t go mad slashing it.

Our medical team is great, no disputing that, but so is the medical team at Milan, Madrid, Man City etc and they get plenty of injuries. Hugely luck dependant.

[mushRTID]

I feel like we bloat the squad with shite in the summer to see us though the cup games, and maybe a historical paranoia of mass injuries.

Maybe focus more on quality this time and allow the kids to play in the trophy.

Because we get well into the season then allow players to leave who we all knew wouldn’t be L1 standard (Hurst, Westbrook, SBarra).

I’d like to see us with less players of better quality now we have confidence in the medical team.

I’d upgrade both full backs, quality operator in CM and CB, a #10…. 2 wingers, 2 strikers. And obviously sort the GK out and like mentioned above I could also see TLT coming permanently.

Keep Senior and Clifton, release the rest.

Robinson and Grehan out on loan. Bring Bobby into the squad and see how he gets on until January.

“Less players better quality”


I think that’s an extremely risky approach and not generally what successful teams do.

I think we can trim the size of our squad a bit but I certainly wouldn’t go mad slashing it.

Our medical team is great, no disputing that, but so is the medical team at Milan, Madrid, Man City etc and they get plenty of injuries. Hugely luck dependant.

I understand what you are saying and I’m not suggesting we slash it to risky levels.

Some of these lads were never going to play though. We could have listed Westbrook and SBarra for a start and brought in one better player.

I hope we don’t fall into the trap of blind loyalty to those who won’t offer much going forward.

[Chris Black come back]

Try to sign Elliot Lee on a permanent, Byrne the same, keep Zander Clark and try to get Timmy on loan again, send Hanlan on loan if he can't be sold, and look at Scotland, Ireland or National league for two strikers that actually work in a central front role. The OP seems to have forgotten we have Owen Bailey in midfield!

The OP mentions Owen Bailey in midfield.

[Petche]

Try to sign Elliot Lee on a permanent, Byrne the same, keep Zander Clark and try to get Timmy on loan again, send Hanlan on loan if he can't be sold, and look at Scotland, Ireland or National league for two strikers that actually work in a central front role. The OP seems to have forgotten we have Owen Bailey in midfield!

We’d need to pay a fee for Lee and he’d likely become one of the highest earners at the club if so at 31 turning 32.

Has he shown enough impact or that he’d suit or style of play enough to warrant that financial outlay that could be put to use in another fashion?

I'm not sure he has.

[Upton Rover]

I would get rid of the lot of them