(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

2 hours ago, Greg_BWFC said:

Think most of us on here are realistic.

We do need a lot of new players better than we have.

Recruitment needs to be spot on (almost impossible), but we have to trust the team in charge of this have clear plans.

If we can get a decent core of players, we'll be competitive.

21st will do, bloody tough league this.

I'm definitely in the 21st will do camp. Iles and a couple of people on the Team Talk podcast not long after promotion were suggesting we should be aiming higher, top half even, but I'd be more than happy to build slowly.

2 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

I'm definitely in the 21st will do camp. Iles and a couple of people on the Team Talk podcast not long after promotion were suggesting we should be aiming higher, top half even, but I'd be more than happy to build slowly.

Oh don't get me wrong. I hope we aren't all sweating come the last 2 or 3 games. But if offered 21st now, I'd take it.

We'll only be able to make a better "guess" once we've got everyone in the management want.

If we just stood still, we're a lower mid-table club off the pitch. So that should be the target on the pitch this season.

If we finished 21st, fine, but I'd be the first to admit I'd be a tad disappointed.

6 minutes ago, Greg_BWFC said:

Oh don't get me wrong. I hope we aren't all sweating come the last 2 or 3 games. But if offered 21st now, I'd take it.

We'll only be able to make a better "guess" once we've got everyone in the management want.

No let's not be needing another Wilbraham day please!

We knew the challenge anyway, but seeing the fixture list really does bring home the fact that almost every week it'll be a battle. We're a club that has got used to winning games more often than not, so it'll be a culture shock for some

17 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

No let's not be needing another Wilbraham day please!

We knew the challenge anyway, but seeing the fixture list really does bring home the fact that almost every week it'll be a battle. We're a club that has got used to winning games more often than not, so it'll be a culture shock for some

I wonder how much our tactics change this season

I think if you look at the squad as it stands today, keeping us in the division would be an achievement for SS's coaching and Fergal's recruitment. We've sent back most of our best players and the next worst team in the division finished 20+ points ahead of us last year.

I'm not saying we can't hope for more, but it's a big job with not much margin for error.

13 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I wonder how much our tactics change this season

Well after us moaning about other teams doing it to us for the last few years, we may become world champion time wasters!

19 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I wonder how much our tactics change this season

Hope @Zog1 has got his analysis and data all fired over to the coaching team.

39 minutes ago, Marc505 said:

No let's not be needing another Wilbraham day please!

We knew the challenge anyway, but seeing the fixture list really does bring home the fact that almost every week it'll be a battle. We're a club that has got used to winning games more often than not, so it'll be a culture shock for some

I don't really watch a load of other football, but I started to catch a few championship games this last couple of years.

It's a massive step up.

Given we've been out for what, 7 years, it might be a bigger step than the prem.

No doubt we'll get a few hidings along the way, but as long as we're competitive that'll do.

58 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Hope @Zog1 has got his analysis and data all fired over to the coaching team.

Was i wrong?

Listening to SS and FH from their interviews today it seems forwards and wingers are the next few through the door. From that i take it SS will be once again going with two wingers once more. FH also hinted that we will explore the continental market where we will get better value. Hence the appointment of his chief scout from his time at Bruge.

Watson it seems was bought with one eye for the future and we would have signed him whatever league we started this August. Interesting few weeks coming up

7 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Hence the appointment of his chief scout from his time at Bruge.

*Liege, but yes. Imagine that will pay dividends from January onwards and longer-term as opposed to this window.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by jmjhb

Just now, jmjhb said:

*Liege, but yes. Imagine that will pay dividends from January onwards and longer-term.

Got my sprouts mixed up with my onions......Think we will see results instantly he will have many connections and players already in mind

Just now, masi 51 said:

Got my sprouts mixed up with my onions......Think we will see results instantly he will have many connections and players already in mind

Perhaps, you may recall Fergal or SS saying they had two lists dependent on division - this would have pre-dated this mon's appointment. You'd imagine it'll be primarily UK/Ireland-based (like Watson and Davies) with the occasional player from abroad that Jimmy Dickinson has recommended. Still over two months before the end of the window so plenty of time.

8 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

Perhaps, you may recall Fergal or SS saying they had two lists dependent on division - this would have pre-dated this mon's appointment. You'd imagine it'll be primarily UK/Ireland-based (like Watson and Davies) with the occasional player from abroad that Jimmy Dickinson has recommended. Still over two months before the end of the window so plenty of time.

I would usually agree, but i have a feeling Fergal would have kept him in the loop these last few months knowing he would have him working for him again. Watson and Davies would still be here even if we had stayed down

2 hours ago, Ros Coe said:

The fact we released the likes of GJ, Demps and Tutu, suggests Fergal & SS are confident of signing suitable upgrades 🤞

I have every confidence they will assemble a squad that is capable of competing/surviving next season.. and hopeful of a steady progression similar to the Rioch & Todd days..

Do we know they were "released"? They came to the end of their contracts, they can sign for someone else who may be offering more money and/or a longer contract. I'm struggling to think of the last time a player's contract ran out, the season ended and then they signed another deal. They tend to leave when their contract finishes if we've not already managed to sell them or got them on a longer deal. The players still here wouldn't be if their contract had ended, and GJ, Demps and Tutu would be as much a part of the squad as anyone else if they had another year left.

3 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Do we know they were "released"? They came to the end of their contracts, they can sign for someone else who may be offering more money and/or a longer contract. I'm struggling to think of the last time a player's contract ran out, the season ended and then they signed another deal. They tend to leave when their contract finishes if we've not already managed to sell them or got them on a longer deal. The players still here wouldn't be if their contract had ended, and GJ, Demps and Tutu would be as much a part of the squad as anyone else if they had another year left.

Looks like all three got released as Harkin said it was awful telling them straight after the final because the retained lists needed to be put out.

Said they would make some tough calls but they have done it for the good of the club.

2 hours ago, Marc505 said:

I'm definitely in the 21st will do camp. Iles and a couple of people on the Team Talk podcast not long after promotion were suggesting we should be aiming higher, top half even, but I'd be more than happy to build slowly.

It hadn't really occurred to me before but its great that only 3 go down. Out of 24.

Prem is 3 out of 20, L1 is 4 out of 24.

We need to finish above Lincoln, Cardiff and 1 other, hopefully there will be a basket case club.

Watching the interviews with Fergal & Schuey today, Fergal fills me with confidence that he’s a man in control & has a plan. The fact that he’d been talking to David Watson since January also confirms this. If we sign Stephenson then our first 3 signings are direct replacements for the outgoing 3, probably not a coincidence.

I also like how very little is leaking out into social media, looking forward to seeing which forward/wingers are incoming next.

Just now, Johnnyrotten said:

It hadn't really occurred to me before but its great that only 3 go down. Out of 24.

Prem is 3 out of 20, L1 is 4 out of 24.

We need to finish above Lincoln, Cardiff and 1 other, hopefully there will be a basket case club.

..and Southampton start on -4 😜

12 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Looks like all three got released as Harkin said it was awful telling them straight after the final because the retained lists needed to be put out.

Said they would make some tough calls but they have done it for the good of the club.

But if you're a player and your contract is ending and you haven't signed another, you aren't staying. Like I say I can't remember a contract and seasson ending then the club saying that player was staying, happy to be corrected but they all seem to leave.

I don't think the players are surprised, end of contract, find another club, happens all the time. If they were valued enough to stay they would have signed a deal well before now eg Sheehan, Conway.

8 minutes ago, Ros Coe said:

..and Southampton start on -4 😜

If its increased to -24 it might give us a chance of staying above them 😀

Listened to the interview with SS and Fergal am I right that when he mentioned players he stated we had 1 striker in Dalby ? No mention of McAtee very interesting.