Next season prediction??

I hate to say it but unless we make a few quality signings I think we might struggle next year, we need to have our targets and recruit early like with Sercs last year. A few tidy players out of contract Matt Godden and Oztumer.

Hard to answer that because we all don’t know who’s going to be here next season and who we will bring in and what sort of budget that DC will get.

If there is no incomings or outgoings and everything stays how it is, I think we will finish 11-12th similar to how we will most likely finish off this season. The division isn’t going to get any stronger or weaker in my eyes as a couple of big teams will go up (most likely Blackburn and Wigan) and a couple will go down in Sunderland and Barnsley/Bolton.

One recurring mistake that we must rectify over the summer is having our players on contracts that are not secure enough to ward off interest from bigger clubs. If we can get Sercombe and Harrison on longer contracts, even if this means increased terms, this will be the first step towards becoming a top six team.

If we can also get 2-3 signings in key positions and retain some of our better players, I think we can finish 8-9th minimum and maybe even get our way into the top six depending on how well we do. The last couple of seasons in this division have seen us start fairly poorly, lose our best player in January and then really start to pick up results to finish in the upper reaches of mid table. If we can be better over the first period of the season, keep our better players for the course of the whole season and have a similar January and February to the last couple of seasons, then I do not see why it wouldn’t be possible to have a really decent campaign next year.

I think we look in good shape for next season.

I’d like us to sign Telford and another striker. That means probably letting Gaffers or Nichols (if possible) go.

I’d like a fit Ollie Clarke rather than one constantly struggling with injury. If that’s not possible then with a heavy heart, we would need to replace him. An experienced pro in front of the defence would not go amiss in any case.

All in all, not too much business needed.

I’m very excited to see the development of the likes of Menayese, Russe, Kelly and Baghdadi, who will be pushing the established first teamers even more next year.

Bennett, Sercombe, Ellis and Lines will remain key players. Obviously we need to keep DC and our best players. That is not a given.

Our players can continue to flourish under our coaching set up. No-one predicted that Ellis would have the season he has had. The development squad has been excellent. Only need to keep tinkering a little to get more quality and know how in a couple of key positions (defensive midfield and up front). Definitely no big squad overhaul required.

Crystal ball out: We will finish 6th.

Thanks Wes.

We got a transfer embargo have we

Who’s Wes?

Scoring -wise I think we'll be ok - with Harrison, Sercombe and Bennett - we need one new player minimum to contribute with 10 - 20 goals ( now no Bodin).

But our biggest problem, not rectified this season, is our defence and goals against - playing top 10 sides away you pretty much know we're going to concede the first goal and then that's game, set and match.

The spine needs to be stronger and we need full backs that are tough and mean who hate being passed / letting crosses get over. DC hasn't sorted this in two seasons - time to get it right !

i like the optimism! Hope you’re right. Agree with much you’ve said but at this stage we don’t know who’s staying, who will be recruited or even who will be in charge. I think D.C. will stay and the squad could evolve much as you said. I suspect we will know more by the start of August! But even in August after recruitment people get it wrong, remember Bury and Northampton last Summer, they bought everything that moved and look where they are now! But bring in a bit of quality in 2/3/4 players, keep the squad ethos and fightbackability of these players and we could do well. 
I know it goes against much of what’s being said on here but I like this gradual improvement, window by window, this evolution keeps us improving. Whereas some of our rivals over the past four years, Barnet, Grimsby, Oxford, Northampton, haven’t done and have regressed. AFCW with their ground, Accrington, Plymouth and Pompey have, like us gradually improved and are doing well. I like this evolution not revolution. I am of course aware that the new ground remains the elephant in the room!
UTG!

I'm hoping DC signs quality over quantity with three key positions filled and then replace any players leaving. Those positions for me are cover/competition for Lee Brown , Ollie Clarke and Tom Nicholls.

Keep a first team squad of about 20-24 players and use the development squad to cover cup games, injuries and suspensions until January when we can reassess what is needed. Then add another 2 or so depending on requirements.

Last season DC was quick to name those being released but as far as I can tell there haven't even been hints this time (which is better in my opinion, even if it means fewer discussion points) .

Another interesting situation is whether the development squad is added to or if existing players are released to make room, and how any youth team players given contracts are fitted in to the structure.