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Post by knowlewestgas on Aug 3, 2015 12:34:11 GMT
From what I have seen in pre-season Mildy is far from looking at his best, Puddy has been injured and Preston looks like an exciting prospect for the future.
with Mildenhall looking out of form and seems to me to have very little confidence.
Puddy being injured and probably take a couple more weeks to get match fit.
How long do you any you think it will take DC to maybe think about a new keeper or may he already be thinking about it??
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Post by RD on Aug 3, 2015 12:41:53 GMT
I've no idea.
If you had told me a couple of months ago, that less than week until the season kicks off, we'd have signed 3 players, I'd have laughed in your face. And that's if every single player had stayed!
The fact that we've lost Balanta, Monkey, Ballbag and Trots means we're actually at -1 in terms of ins/outs at the moment. Absolutely mind-boggling.
Don't get me wrong, I really rate our team and I think some people are under-estimating how far a good team spirit and an excellent work ethic can get you. So even with the squad as it stands, I definitely don't expect us to finish below mid-table (for clarity, around 10th - 14th place).
But I cannot believe that following promotion back to the Football League, we've only signed 3 players less than a week before the new season begins.
Furthermore, one player was Non-League and had worked with Clarke previously so would have been an incredibly straight-forward signing, one of the players was on-loan with us last season and really wanted to move back to Bristol, and the other one was a free agent; so none of the signings have been particularly hard work/difficult to make happen.
Don't get me wrong, I know we're getting someone in later today (I believe) on-loan, but even still!
DC said he wanted 5 players when we went up and that was before a single player had left! (I believe). So when you consider we've since lost 4 players, that's arguably 9 players he'd have liked to have signed... we've signed 3.
I'm still buzzing for the new-season but, I must admit, I more deflated than I ever felt possible following our win against Grimsby. That's not to say I feel deflated, just that I feel less... inflated?!?... than I did immediately following promotion.
It's so frustrating as another 4 good signings or so in our weakest positions and I'd be absolutely convinced we'd be looking at a play-off spot - maybe even automatic! And 4 signings isn't being greedy either given that we're at -1 on ins/outs as it stands! That would only put us on +3 and given we're now back in the Football League (increased revenue) and have 7 places on the bench each game now, I don't feel that that's unrealistic! Especially given the fact we did have a small squad last year - it's not like we're looking to go from a big squad to an even bigger one!
Very frustrating.
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Post by knowlewestgas on Aug 3, 2015 12:53:25 GMT
I agree with you on the signings front, in my opinion I would say we need 3 more signings.
1. A goal keeper 2. A wide attacking player 3. A out and out goal scorer (may get shot down for this)
i think taylor and blisset may struggle this season leaving 3 strikers 1 with very little league experience being Jamie lucas and Harrison and easter who both pick up a few injuries along the way!
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Post by UpTheGas on Aug 3, 2015 12:55:19 GMT
We've signed four players RD - Clarke, Lines, Montano, Bodin. You may have not counted Bodin as he is on a short-term deal, but you counted 'Ballbag' as a player who has departed so it's only right BB is counted too! When you factor in that we are close to signing a RW on loan from a Championship club (as per James McNamara), we will have made 5 signings.
I know what you mean in terms of wanting more, though. I thought we may have signed a couple more by now and had a bit more strength in depth, but obviously we don't have a massive budget like other clubs do and DC wants to save a bulk of what he does have for during the season. It's a wise move, but it's frustrating at this time of year when you just want some news.
I am not convinced by either Mildenhall or Puddy if I am being brutally honest. We cannot justify having another keeper on our books, though, so we have to make do with what we've got until next summer. I think Mildy would have gone at the end of the season if DC could have released him, but that pesky appearance trigger that we used to put in contracts has worked against us.
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Post by CrispPusher on Aug 3, 2015 13:00:17 GMT
Wonder if Ian McLoughlin is still knocking about?
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Post by DTGas on Aug 3, 2015 13:07:00 GMT
Admittedly I've only been to the Reading game, but I thought Mildenhall looked fine. Made a couple good saves and looked to distribute it far quicker than before. I'd be happy with him starting as number one this year.
And in response to RD, James Clarke has replaced Trotman, Montano and Bodin have replaced Monkhouse and Balanta and Baggie didn't ever play a minute. So I don't consider us short on numbers.
Personally, I would of liked monkhouse to stay as he gave the midfield a good balance and linked well with Brown, plus adding a good tally of goals as well. Im not fussed with the others leaving at all.
With a new winger soon to arrive on loan, I think the squads pretty much there and im more than happy with DC giving the lads who worked hard last year to get us back at the first attempt a real chance to prove themself in league two.
I can't wait for Saturday now and I'm confident that we can compete for a top 7 finish, even if it does mean a few adjustments are needed to the squad as the season progresses.
UTG!!!
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Post by RD on Aug 3, 2015 13:20:09 GMT
We've signed four players RD - Clarke, Lines, Montano, Bodin. You may have not counted Bodin as he is on a short-term deal, but you counted 'Ballbag' as a player who has departed so it's only right BB is counted too! When you factor in that we are close to signing a RW on loan from a Championship club (as per James McNamara), we will have made 5 signings. I know what you mean in terms of wanting more, though. I thought we may have signed a couple more by now and had a bit more strength in depth, but obviously we don't have a massive budget like other clubs do and DC wants to save a bulk of what he does have for during the season. It's a wise move, but it's frustrating at this time of year when you just want some news. I am not convinced by either Mildenhall or Puddy if I am being brutally honest. We cannot justify having another keeper on our books, though, so we have to make do with what we've got until next summer. I think Mildy would have gone at the end of the season if DC could have released him, but that pesky appearance trigger that we used to put in contracts has worked against us. Sorry, you're absolutely right, Bodin completely escaped me! I certainly am prepared to count him, short-term or not; so you are correct - it's of course 4 signings. Cheers Can't argue with any of your post either. The only thing I would say, is that (I believe) Darrell mentioned 5 players before anyone left? So that would have been current squad plus 5 extra. So with 4 leaving, that would mean 9 players required to get to where he wanted us to be. So even with 4 signings, that's still 5 short. I appreciate 5 more signings is probably unlikely but, even with a new loan signing imminent, I'd have like us to have bought in an additional 4 (3 minimum) and I don't think that's being too greedy if I'm honest. It's all just very frustrating
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Post by socrates on Aug 3, 2015 13:21:25 GMT
Who's Ballbag ?
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Post by oddsongas on Aug 3, 2015 13:30:57 GMT
But surely signing 9 players after being promoted is way to much change?
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Post by grayraydon on Aug 3, 2015 14:20:45 GMT
Bell Baggie I'm guessing. As for the op, I'm not totally sold on either keeper but at the same time don't think that they're rubbish, whichever is chosen will do a solid job I think and hopefully not drop too many clangers. Don't think our squad overall is that far away from being what we need, and as I've said elsewhere I think DC keeps a bit of budget back so he can assess the team during the season and get loanees in rather than spunking it all at the start and being stuck with what we've got, also agree with the fact that a good atmosphere in the squad and team helps massively.
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Post by Topper Gas on Aug 3, 2015 15:00:34 GMT
I've no idea. If you had told me a couple of months ago, that less than week until the season kicks off, we'd have signed 3 players, I'd have laughed in your face. And that's if every single player had stayed! The fact that we've lost Balanta, Monkey, Ballbag and Trots means we're actually at -1 in terms of ins/outs at the moment. Absolutely mind-boggling. Don't get me wrong, I really rate our team and I think some people are under-estimating how far a good team spirit and an excellent work ethic can get you. So even with the squad as it stands, I definitely don't expect us to finish below mid-table (for clarity, around 10th - 14th place). But I cannot believe that following promotion back to the Football League, we've only signed 3 players less than a week before the new season begins. Furthermore, one player was Non-League and had worked with Clarke previously so would have been an incredibly straight-forward signing, one of the players was on-loan with us last season and really wanted to move back to Bristol, and the other one was a free agent; so none of the signings have been particularly hard work/difficult to make happen. Don't get me wrong, I know we're getting someone in later today (I believe) on-loan, but even still! DC said he wanted 5 players when we went up and that was before a single player had left! (I believe). So when you consider we've since lost 4 players, that's arguably 9 players he'd have liked to have signed... we've signed 3. I'm still buzzing for the new-season but, I must admit, I more deflated than I ever felt possible following our win against Grimsby. That's not to say I feel deflated, just that I feel less... inflated?!?... than I did immediately following promotion. It's so frustrating as another 4 good signings or so in our weakest positions and I'd be absolutely convinced we'd be looking at a play-off spot - maybe even automatic! And 4 signings isn't being greedy either given that we're at -1 on ins/outs as it stands! That would only put us on +3 and given we're now back in the Football League (increased revenue) and have 7 places on the bench each game now, I don't feel that that's unrealistic! Especially given the fact we did have a small squad last year - it's not like we're looking to go from a big squad to an even bigger one! Very frustrating. I maybe wrong but I'm assuming DC accepted he'd be losing 3 out of the 4 players he did lose as I can't see any of us really see him signing 9 new players? Even if he did they can't all play at once and so we're then back to the PB times of quantity over quality? I agree with KWgas ideally I'd like to see us sign, along with the RW, a goalie & striker (I recall DC saying he hoped to sign the latter?) but McLoughlin picked up an injury and so I guess he's giving Mildnhall & Puddy a chance so apart from a goalie we're really only the striker short and there's still plenty of time before thewindow closes..
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 15:40:38 GMT
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