Someone suggested this in another thread and I think that is the most realistic view, if we are still in League One next season. I would start with Bosun Laval from Celtic at loan at Fleetwood, who had a great game against us as holding midfielder and scored a blinding goal. I would be in for Gassan Ahadme as a striker from Cambridge United as replacement on the assumption that Cole does move on. He has come on in leaps and bounds this season. I would also look at Max Dean at MKD, who is yet young and has been knocking them in for fun this season. None of these might cost a bomb and all could be within our budget, especially if some, or all the out of contract players leave. Any other suggestions of good league one players in positions we need? Who have been the impressive defenders?
The following links are league 1 and league 2 out of contract players. I’ve no idea how accurate they are and which players have extension triggers but I would guess we are looking at a few of these. I’m not posting national league out of players because I really hope we’ve learnt our lesson. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/league-one/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/GB3 https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/league-two/endendevertraege/wettbewerb/GB4 Definitely some players I would take in those lists. Let’s hope we make a few right decisions this summer, we certainly need it.
Luke Southwood or Sol Brynn if we can't/don't want to sign Roberts permanently. Brynn is under contract at Boro though so would cost a fee or be a loan. Joe Low from Wycombe is not a bad shout either but again he's under contract. Plenty on that list that are out of contract that I'd take too to be honest
Last summer we signed Cosgrove, Killip, Watters, Dallas, Lofthouse, de Gevigney, O'Keefe, Lopata and Shepherd. Before that we signed Cotter, Russell and Shaw. The first signing I'd be looking to make is head of recruitment.
We already have, he's called Mladen Sormaz Sporting Director, I think he's morphed into Phil Gridlet with his whereabouts
Whatever the board do they need to make sure that the players signed are actually good players and will be able to make a contribution. Making hopeful punts on 'potential' has its limits and we are in the position now after lots of poor recruitment of needing some decent players to stabilise the club on the pitch. If recruitment is poor again (and I include any new coach in that as well) we could be in for a very bad season next year.
Correct, but he won't only be judged on recruitment his remit includes adopting a game model which means he's the one telling the head coach how to play and setup
I'd actually forgot about that as his remit. I wonder if the "Game Model" is what we are seeing right now, or it's not yet designed and it is Collins... Still, whoever's it is, it needs to improve
Where's the money coming from for new signings there's no Anderson or Kitching etc in this season's squad to sell and the board don't appear to be able to fund anything other than the shortfall in running costs.
The incoming fees for the players who left last summer are all being paid in stages we were told. Surely similar money that we received last summer we'll be due again this one?
Adam Davies is out of contract at Sheff U. He's barely played the past few years and at 31 he might just be looking to get back on the pitch. It'd be good to have an older head for young Ravenhill to work with.
Or new owners altogether lol, with a few spare quid, and knowledge of English football, and some proper ambition.
I’d like to see a show reel for Terrance Vancooten (albeit aged 26) whom, when I dared to watch, looked physically impressive as CB away at Stevenage recently. Felt like there was a good player in there…
I know he's not looked great recently (although who has), but I think Josh Earl would definitely have fallen into this category had we not got the deal done in January. I've got high hopes for him.
Post of the week, and it's only Monday. Of that bunch, I'm convinced MDG will prove an asset, and Lopata could have quite possibly been too.
Sol Brynn - Middlesbrough Viljami Sinisalo - Fulham Fin Stevens - Brentford Finley Burns - Man City Joe Low - Wycombe Cheick Diabate- Exeter Tyler Goodrham - Oxford Fred Potts - West Ham Idris El Mizouni - Ipswich Jordan Brown - Orient Oliver Casey - Blackpool Karamoko Dembele - Stade Brest Dion Rankine - Chelsea Shaqai Forde - Watford Dale Taylor - Forest Ruel Sotiriou- Orient