Starting to look strong and more to come?

[severnside gull]

I'm not sure about looking "strong." I'd say we're getting to the stage now where, instead of behind behind schedule, we're able to put a competitive side on the park. We still don't have a left-back and I think we'll struggle to score goals unless the lack of creativity in midfield is addressed by more than just signing a loanee. Our defence was shocking last season and, with the exception of Tunnicliffe, it'll be the same one lining up on August 8th. We need better players in midfield to protect it in addition to creativity. So, for me, still at least two signings from looking strong.

Navarro to cover in front of the defense

need a creative midfielder (Thornhill?) still though and that left back cover

 

[empire]

firstly its keep your feet on the ground and secondly stop being a miserable prick.

Pre-season is all about hope it's one of the best times of the year. Also the players we have signed are better than average. Fraser was average, dicker is good. Loft was average wright is good. Smith and dickinson are quality as is matt thornhill plus there will be more to come. So cheer up we may not go up but slade is building a team and a club that is what is getting people exited.

oh f*** me,another hard guy,well im honoured you know me well enough to call me a prick,now this board is for opinions,and thats mine,as for being a prick,pm me,im sure if your wanting to meet,you can then call me a prick to my face,and we can perhaps discuss why youve made yourself look 7 years old

 

[Worthai Seagull]

Am i the only person that stil wants kuipers to be our first choice?

Is that for sentimental reasons ? It really is quite possible that Smith is a better goalie ... i cant say because i havnt seen him . If you have and consider Kuipers to be better then fine. Is it because Smith is a Scottish keeper?
What is your reasoning ?

 

[Billy the Fish]

Our defence was shocking last season and, with the exception of Tunnicliffe, it'll be the same one lining up on August 8th. We need better players in midfield to protect it in addition to creativity. So, for me, still at least two signings from looking strong.

I think the defence is fine*, they were just over exposed last season by our shocking midfield. *Apart from LB cover obviously

As for midfield creativity, if Thornhill is as good as his reputation it should at least buy us a bit of time to find a player(s) to fill that gap.

Rome wasn't built in a day, if we end the season 1 or 2 players from a strong squad we'll be in a vary decent position as I'm confident that Mr Bloom will come up with the dosh to get us promoted in time for Falmer

 

[GT49er]

Is Mcleod left footed?

Yes, I believe he has two of them....................

 

[GT49er]

Who at the club can play left back NOW (like tonight)?

Cook.

Lynch and Harding have gone / aren't coming, The lad's young, not the finished article yet by a long way, but could do a decent job. In a good back four, with a good midfield in front of him, he could hold a place down until McNulty is back at keast. Better than Livermore at LB anyway!

 

[CliveWalkerWingWizard]

Cook.

Lynch and Harding have gone / aren't coming, The lad's young, not the finished article yet by a long way, but could do a decent job. In a good back four, with a good midfield in front of him, he could hold a place down until McNulty is back at keast. Better than Livermore at LB anyway!

Deja vu?

 

[DJB1975]

Mark Wright is going to do the biz, on the head Dickinson. GOAL

 

[Billy the Fish]

We know Dicker is decent enough, and Thornhill comes with a good reputation, but I still don't think we've got that leader/ball winner/dominant figure in the middle (Richard Carpenter, Paul Rogers style) to really protect a defence well enough if we want to be near the top. For me, along with the left-back obviously, that's the critical piece in the jigsaw.

I know what you mean, I don't think we've really had a proper box to box midfielder since chippy left and it is a problem.

I don't know what Crofts is like and Dicker isn't that type of player at the moment, but from what Slade was saying last season you get the feeling that he rates Dicker better than just a holding midfielder, maybe he'll step up and fill the gap.

It could go either way for me, there's a good chance we'll see the first few games and still think there's something obviously misssing in the middle, or they could just be organised well enough to get away with it.

 

[severnside gull]

Do we really want someone MK Dons have just released though? Bearing in mind last season they were in the position that we want to be in this season.

Given that Navarro was one of the reasons they got where we want to be, why not? If he is the defensive link I think from seeing him a few times over the last couple of years he would release Dicker to be more adventurous (in the Carpenter mould). I wouldn't be surprised if Ince was looking at Navarro and Wright and thinking DeMatteo made a mistake in letting them go.