Is anyone starting to get nervous

[caytonmiller]

First pre season tonight Vs park gate and we are imo 5 players short.
MH wants to play with wingback which implies using 3 CB.
ATM We have
2 keepers.
2 fullbacks
2 cb (1 injured)
2 wingers (both only played a handful of league games)
4 CM.
5 strikers. (4 have forgotten how to score)
Which makes 18 players
Plus a handful of 18 year olds or younger.

ATM we don't have a team to play 3 cb and wingbacks so what will hamshaw do?

Our best cm who pulls the strings is our only LF midfielder.
We have 3 senior defenders. So wouldn't be surprised if one of those picks up a injury this pre season.
It's looking desperate boys n girls.

[Beaufighter]

I think it?s pretty clear now that the old ?only sign players better than what we have? option is gone, unless you apply it as anyone is better than an empty shirt. We will imo most likely end up with a rush of out of contract players that otherwise face unemployment in order to field a team come August. A bit like the mid 90?s all over again.

[pipppy]

I wonder if there will be a few ?trialists? on display tonight?

[Brin]

Cayton, Speaking to someone very important at the club the other night, he said the issue is, 'We need a cash injection it's as simple as that'.

Boy is he not wrong and now we hear from the forum minutes that TS is open to investment. Why has he held off any offer of a cash injection all these years? There has been offers.

[RU66]

MH he's in the Warney mould. Needs to man up more than that. How can we play with wing-backs when we're struggling to sign more of what we need in other areas of the side. Rafferty James are full backs nothing else. Get the heart of the side sorted 1st at centre back holding midfielder big forward.

[caytonmiller]

Cayton, Speaking to someone very important at the club the other night, he said the issue is, 'We need a cash injection it's as simple as that'.

Boy is he not wrong and now we hear from the forum minutes that TS is open to investment. Why has he held off any offer of a cash injection all these years? There has been offers.

Yeah mate Know who you were talking too.
I'm also a bit concerned about TS statement regarding cash investment though can't help thinking we're in a SIM position to wednesday. No salabl assets, no stadium also we have no training ground.

[caytonmiller]

MH he's in the Warney mould. Needs to man up more than that. How can we play with wing-backs when we're struggling to sign more of what we need in other areas of the side. Rafferty James are full backs nothing else. Get the heart of the side sorted 1st at centre back holding midfielder big forward.

Don't be surprised if one of the two Rafferty/James are used as one of the back 3. (Possibly both with Jules)

[RU66]

Don't be surprised if one of the two Rafferty/James are used as one of the back 3. (Possibly both with Jules)

No chance especially James he's not the strongest of players.

[sawmiller]

need to retain L1 status until inward investment arrives - which can be a protracted process

[uttis]

Pipppy there?s allegedly 2 trialists tonight quite what MH will learn against Parkgate I don?t know maybe Parkgate will have a few decent players we can sign!

[caytonmiller]

Pipppy there?s allegedly 2 trialists tonight quite what MH will learn against Parkgate I don?t know maybe Parkgate will have a few decent players we can sign!

Parkgate are short on players so if it's not a confident 6.0 victory question will be asked

[Stovicmiller]

Not nervous just not bothered.got my season ticket on direct debit so I can cancel.

[Pocket rocket]

I’m predicting play offs for us.

[DerekMiller]

I'm actually quietly confident. I'm probably going crazy in my old age but I have a good feeling about this season. I don't think we'll get promoted, and nor would I want us to rush back to the Championship, but I think we'll have a consistent season where we finish mid table/top half.

We've had a couple of seasons throwing money around (big money by RUFC standards but loose change in the Championship) and seeing that spent on players who have a well known name, but who are within our price range for a reason. We've seen a lot of hot air and bluster from previous management and seen the end product fall woefully short. We've seen players spend half the season injured or indifferent. It's been a mess.

I quite like how MH is quietly getting the job done. No drama, no car salesman bullshine. He's seemingly focused on building a real team ethos, getting the players fit and well coached, working hard on the basics. Hopefully Rob Scott and co will be out looking for the gems he was unable to unearth back in the Warne days (the likes of Ajayi, Crookes, Ogbene, Rathbone, Johansson etc), because he didn't suddenly become bad at his job when Warne left. I just think he was told to look for a different type of player to suit the different managers' requirements at the time. It would also be nice to see some focus on our youth, it's all very well sending them on loan to non league and then saying they're not ready because they didn't stand out. They will only really develop fully while getting minutes at our level within the structure.

We need a season or two of laying some foundations, it might not be as exciting as recent boom and bust seasons, but it could be essential for the future of the club.

Like I said, I'm probably going crazy, but I'd take that over being constantly pessimistic

[RU66]

Not nervous more expectations not set high but glass half full. McGuckin Hatton give me hope.