Our Outs n Ins start with Doc n ........

Goodwin spent a lot of time throughout the season bemoaning we had one of, if not the smallest squads in the league. And he didn't fill the bench with all the subs he could have the last few matches, which I always think when a manager does so is to send a little message about the lack of resources,seen as you could just fill those slots with youngsters. So he is going to have to bring more in than out or promote more youngsters, otherwise the small squad excuse is Gona wear a bit thin two seasons in a row

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Originally Posted by JUSTaway

Goodwin spent a lot of time throughout the season bemoaning we had one of, if not the smallest squads in the league. And he didn't fill the bench with all the subs he could have the last few matches, which I always think when a manager does so is to send a little message about the lack of resources,seen as you could just fill those slots with youngsters. So he is going to have to bring more in than out or promote more youngsters, otherwise the small squad excuse is Gona wear a bit thin two seasons in a row

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When we were promoted back to the Premiership one or two were surprised when I said we needed 7 or 8 new players as a minimum to be competitive. We all know what then happened, we got 13, even I was surprised. But with some failures in that (Meshak Odada....), injuries to key first team players and terrible January recruitment we ended the season very stretched.

So given that even Goodwin admits we were stretched as a squad how many new players are you guys expecting this time?

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Originally Posted by arab777

The striker situation is grim. Now Ross County have been relegated I think we should be looking at Hale.

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If we teamed him up with Jimmy Pace from Cheltenham Town in a 442 our front 2 would be Hale and Pace 😀

Memories there of the famous Benson and Hedges.

Serious for a minute, a bit unsure about Hale, he definitely knows where the goal is but would imagine he might be getting bigger money elsewhere than what we could offer.

I'd like to see us rely a bit less on loans this season too so that if we manage to finish high in the league again we're keeping a more stable core going into the next summer break. I suppose finances are going to dictate on that given that over 52 weeks a loan player usually works out cheaper.

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Originally Posted by Stoke_Arab

When we were promoted back to the Premiership one or two were surprised when I said we needed 7 or 8 new players as a minimum to be competitive. We all know what then happened, we got 13, even I was surprised. But with some failures in that (Meshak Odada....), injuries to key first team players and terrible January recruitment we ended the season very stretched.

So given that even Goodwin admits we were stretched as a squad how many new players are you guys expecting this time?

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It's huge task, that's how I wouldn't have been too averse to Gallagher or docherty being kept on for a year, just to provide squad cover and a safety net if the transfer window is disastrous. Although in isolation, I'm not totally against those decisions to let them go, but it puts a huge pressure on us to get it right, because it feels like we are recruiting for a first team as well as squad players, with the number of outgoings.

Only 3 stick on starters I'd say are strain, ferry and sjvel. Graham and Sam CL will Def be playing games, and trapinoski and Middleton if he stays will be in and around the first team. Sibbald, maybe recency bias due to form, I don't really want to see him as a regular, just squad back up. Stirton will be challenging for more game time, but he is the extent of our attack right now. Back up keeper should be fine as back up.

Success past couple seasons was built on a good spine - Walton - Holt/Gallagher - docherty - moult-dalby. The Gallagher for denheim swap was a pivotal sliding doors moment potentially for utd a couple seasons ago.

Goodwin seems to have quite a good eye for players, and enjoy that side, but he's had his share of misses too - a nightmare spine of signings to prove a point could be denheim, odada, van de sander. So huge pressure to get more hits than misses this season. Suspect we will raid loan market again this season as you can get top quality we can't otherwise afford, but generally these come late in the transfer window.

I think any provincial club should be nervous when a big squad revamp is required, as you are only one bad window away from trouble. Guess other clubs will be in similar boat.

I like Miller T and think he should get more of a chance - he can play lots of positions as well including wing back and we have Ferry suspended for two league matches now

Rhuraidh Adams is a good keeper and might be close to first team consideration

Kai was good in the championship - a shame if we cannot find a place for him but JG seems to only like him against the old firm !

I like MIller T too, but think this is a bit of a make or break season, didn't set heather alight at Falkirk, has versatility in terms of various positions he can play, but maybe that not helping

I like fotheringham too, but at this level, that lack of pace hurts him, especially out wide. Think if he was to succeed it would be central, maybe threading balls through supporting the striker, seems to be able to sniff out a scrappy goal, but even as a centre forward that lack of pace would tell I think. I think he will end up in championship, but would be delighted to be proved wrong.

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Originally Posted by Stoke_Arab

When we were promoted back to the Premiership one or two were surprised when I said we needed 7 or 8 new players as a minimum to be competitive. We all know what then happened, we got 13, even I was surprised. But with some failures in that (Meshak Odada....), injuries to key first team players and terrible January recruitment we ended the season very stretched.

So given that even Goodwin admits we were stretched as a squad how many new players are you guys expecting this time?

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Well we need at a minimum 2 strikers as Watt and Moult away, possibly 3 if the best in Scotland doesnt come back
Midfield - At least 3 again as Babunski away, Doc away and Sibbald wasnt good enough in there anyway
Wingers - At least 1 unless Luca comes back for another season
Defence - At least 2 for cover and ideally a challenger to Strain at RB and backup fir Broughty Ferry, plus 1 CB at least so thats another 3
GK: Not convinced Richards is a number 1 and Walton Away so at least 1 GK.

So thats 11 and thats a smaller squad than we have now so qute honestly 12-14 not unreasonable.

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Originally Posted by JUSTaway

It's huge task, that's how I wouldn't have been too averse to Gallagher or docherty being kept on for a year, just to provide squad cover and a safety net if the transfer window is disastrous. Although in isolation, I'm not totally against those decisions to let them go, but it puts a huge pressure on us to get it right, because it feels like we are recruiting for a first team as well as squad players, with the number of outgoings.

Only 3 stick on starters I'd say are strain, ferry and sjvel. Graham and Sam CL will Def be playing games, and trapinoski and Middleton if he stays will be in and around the first team. Sibbald, maybe recency bias due to form, I don't really want to see him as a regular, just squad back up. Stirton will be challenging for more game time, but he is the extent of our attack right now. Back up keeper should be fine as back up.

Success past couple seasons was built on a good spine - Walton - Holt/Gallagher - docherty - moult-dalby. The Gallagher for denheim swap was a pivotal sliding doors moment potentially for utd a couple seasons ago.

Goodwin seems to have quite a good eye for players, and enjoy that side, but he's had his share of misses too - a nightmare spine of signings to prove a point could be denheim, odada, van de sander. So huge pressure to get more hits than misses this season. Suspect we will raid loan market again this season as you can get top quality we can't otherwise afford, but generally these come late in the transfer window.

I think any provincial club should be nervous when a big squad revamp is required, as you are only one bad window away from trouble. Guess other clubs will be in similar boat.

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I don't class VDS as a miss, the first couple months of season we picked up plenty pts with him leading line alone, doing a power of work then we started to bring on moult and Dalby later in games

He was also brought off the bench after this period to good effect and caused a lot of chaos which seemed to lead to a few late goals for us

Not as if he's missed lots of good chances either

I like him, hope we keep him as a squad player

Could we be after Ardian Limani to be the experienced centre-half to replace the departing Gallagher? The Moldovan centre-half looks a good player but with Graham and SCH we are going to be fairly young at the back. Remember Donaldson and Durnan, shudder? Webster brought a great game out of Kenneth. Gallagher did the same with Graham and SCH. We need the experience to get the best out of the potential in the young ones imo.

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Originally Posted by Arabs4ever

Could we be after Ardian Limani to be the experienced centre-half to replace the departing Gallagher? The Moldovan centre-half looks a good player but with Graham and SCH we are going to be fairly young at the back. Remember Donaldson and Durnan, shudder? Webster brought a great game out of Kenneth. Gallagher did the same with Graham and SCH. We need the experience to get the best out of the potential in the young ones imo.

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Maybe not: Last contract extension: May 29, 2025