Squad-from Transfermarkt

Crikey….thought Dallas was out of contract. He’s struggled to get game time for Morecambe who’ve just dropped out of the league. Another inspired signing who won’t be easy to shift out.

 

Dallas didn't work out, but actually I think he's exactly the sort of low-risk punt we should be looking at (in addition to more established players at this level). Absolutely prolific in the National League, won't have cost very much. Not every signing will work out, but I can very much see the rationale behind this one. Far more than Oli Shaw, for example.

 

Never had a chance. Out of Archey's list. I'd keep Lofthouse, Shepherd and Lopata.

 

Lewis wasn’t even on the bench on Saturday was he? Given we now play 4-3-3 I’m surprised he’s not been given a chance; I’m assuming Conor really doesn’t rate him?

 

Considering Conor said "The more the game went on they were always going to sit in. We didn’t have enough dribblers on the pitch against a low block. Barry tried and tried and tried but we were missing Fabs and Humps, who can take people on." And Lewis is a winger it says to me that Conor thinks he's worse than putting literally nobody on the bench

 

Not sure why we haven't tied Rodrigues down to a 3 year deal yet. Would make total sense from this board. The same scenario as Max Watters.

Neil Farrugia till 2027 is a pearler too from what he displayed so far!

Pinching a living!

 

Let's be honest, if you were Neil Farrugia earning a few hundred quid a week in the Irish league and one of the biggest clubs outside the top 2 divisions in England made you an offer, you wouldn't turn it down either. He'd have been absolutely mental not to sign for us. And seeing as the guy has a degree in economics, I'm assuming he's no plank.

 

He's been here 15 months.

 

Look at the state of that. And most will still be here next season. Frightening for a League 1 side to have such an appalling squad.

 

Or it’s already been decided he’s not staying

 

Oulare , Iseka ,Cosgrove, Tedic, Dallas ,Shaw ,Watters,Rodrigues i think it’s fair to say signing good strikers is not our forte over the last few years although honourable shout outs to Cole,McAtee and Norwood

 

We’ve never replaced Norwood. Proper old school striker proficient in the dark arts and could also finish. Could do with another like him this summer.

 

I've always liked the look of Rob Street when he's played against us. Big, strong, quick, and always a handful. If we were to stick with a high press for next season he'd be the sort of number 9 I'd want. He's started scoring this season too whilst on loan at Donny. Double figures in half a season.

 

Yeah it makes sense to go for a proven experienced striker than another foreign punt ( and yes i meant to say punt )

 

The problem is, they cost money, probably the sort of money we don't have. There's also no guarantee they'll work out either, and then they're stuck on the wage bill for 2 years. Norwood's replacement was Cosgrove. I'd imagine he's one of the top earners at the club. Unless we go down the route of someone right at the end of their career, I'd much more like us to aim for someone in their early 20s that's had a decent year or two at this level. It just seems much less of a risk.

 

missed out Aiden Marsh as well-not sure when he's up

 

Why would Cosgrove be one of the highest earners? When we signed him he had managed 2 goals in his last 20 games and had managed just 11 league 1 goals in 2 seasons. His only outlying seasons were pre COVID in Scotland where he did quite well at Aberdeen. Other than that he has an awful record in English football

 

Well a few seasons ago then, or it seems like that long lol.

 

Signed as a number 9, on deadline day, with the intention of being our first choice striker. I'm only assuming he'd be somewhere in the region of the likes of Phillips, Connell, DKD etc as one of our top earners.

 

I'm not sure why Nwakali's contract "scares" you. He's a very talented footballer. I accept that recent performances have not quite lived up to the early promise, such as when his outstanding display away at Cambridge won him so many plaudits. That was a game in which he made a massive contribution and was heavily involved throughout. His passing accuracy was around 93%, if my memory serves me rightly. He clearly has the ability to play in the upper reaches of the Championship. My main criticism of him is lack of dynamism. I would like to see him moving forward quickly with the ball at his feet and getting into positions where his passing ability would enable him to create goalscoring chances.