🗓️Pre-Season Friendlies 2024/25

[Woodypie]

I'd say the striker is the least pressing need, despite losing Macauley. I'd like to see how the likes of Scott, Jatta and McGoldrick get on before we rush out and sign another forward. It could be that they actually thrive on not having to play second fiddle to Langstaff in the pecking order. All three are good players in my opinion. Sometimes one star has to move out of the way for others to shine. Of course, if the remaining forwards don't pull up trees we've got money in the bank to address the problem, so there's certainly no need to panic.

Similar to what you've said, we're probably one centre half short now, given recent departures, and I think we need a really big, robust defensive midfielder - similar to Bajrami but ideally even stronger. As much as we want to play good football, in this league you need the option of an enforcer, albeit one who can still pass a ball.

Couldn't disagree more. A striker able to play most games, ... and score a fair few is the essential signing. All our current strikers have massive question marks on their heads.

[hissingdwarf]

I think the salient point is the deadline looming as soon as we start the league. Whilst I agree, it would be good to give Jatta, Scott and to a lesser extent, Didzy a good run up top…3 games in and then we’re cutoff for a good while and we all know the Jan window is a bugger to get what you need.
After losing a player like Palmer for so long last season, I’m hopeful we do address the need’s and the club don’t tempt fate.
Striker who will dominate games and score goals.
Another battling defensive midfielder to add to the squad.
Definitely another centre back, especially if it looks like a back 3…on footy manager you’d probably want two CBs!
And a backup keeper as neither Slocombe or Stone are capable of deputising.
I’d clear Stone off the books. Keep Mrs Slocombe as ‘elder of squad and dressing room’ but have a decent backup who is young enough to go for the shirt…Brooks anyone?

[1955pie]

I would disagree, I think we are very light up front with quite a few questions to be answered. It sounds sensible seeing how what we’ve got get on, but we only have very limited time because after we’ve played 3 league games the transfer window closes. I don’t think 3 games is much of a trial, and if it’s not working or we get a long term injury we have severely limited options.

You are right Elite. Time is short. We are still one short of where we started last season and we know how that turned out. Also we will be starting the season still waiting and hoping on one of last years’ long term injured.
So one more up front, one defensive midfielder and one at RCB and we should be covered.

[PedroTheFisherman66]

I think the salient point is the deadline looming as soon as we start the league. Whilst I agree, it would be good to give Jatta, Scott and to a lesser extent, Didzy a good run up top…3 games in and then we’re cutoff for a good while and we all know the Jan window is a bugger to get what you need.
After losing a player like Palmer for so long last season, I’m hopeful we do address the need’s and the club don’t tempt fate.
Striker who will dominate games and score goals.
Another battling defensive midfielder to add to the squad.
Definitely another centre back, especially if it looks like a back 3…on footy manager you’d probably want two CBs!
And a backup keeper as neither Slocombe or Stone are capable of deputising.
I’d clear Stone off the books. Keep Mrs Slocombe as ‘elder of squad and dressing room’ but have a decent backup who is young enough to go for the shirt…Brooks anyone?

Brooks has gone you know..

[queenslandpie]

Couldn't disagree more. A striker able to play most games, ... and score a fair few is the essential signing. All our current strikers have massive question marks on their heads.

Massive?

I can see your point with Morias and Scott but Jatta scored a few at the end of last season and Didzy will be good for 10+ his age is what it is. We do need another option but in Jatta we may well have the 30+ goals striker every club is crying out for. I think he will be good for 20 minimum.

[marshall55]

Massive?

I can see your point with Morias and Scott but Jatta scored a few at the end of last season and Didzy will be good for 10+ his age is what it is. We do need another option but in Jatta we may well have the 30+ goals striker every club is crying out for. I think he will be good for 20 minimum.

Look at Jatta's history regarding games played and goals scored, good lad but not the answer to our potential problem.

[PedroTheFisherman66]

Look at Jatta's history regarding games played and goals scored, good lad but not the answer to our potential problem.

his goal ratio with us is more than fine !

[OchPie]

Not sure where the goals will come from.

I didn't understand this given we scored twice, but then saw we'd only had two shots on target - was that right?

Not sure I'd be happy with us trying to England our way to promotion.

[matt_magpie]

Look at Jatta's history regarding games played and goals scored, good lad but not the answer to our potential problem.

But from the stats we don’t know what position he played, how many sub appearances and whether he was actually given that many chances.
You could look at Langstaff record when he was 24 ish like Jatta before he came to us, he’d been let go by York and scored 3 in his first season at Gateshead.
That said I think we can certainly say outside looking in we have a few unknowns regarding next season up front.

[durhampie]

But Durham has never heard of them so they must be crap.
Mind you I bet he had never heard of Langstaff.

I have no idea whether any of the new signings are any good or not. And i have certainly not labelled any of them crap as you say. Like i have said, i have never heard of any of them, and i fail to see how many are saying that we have a better defence than last seasons. We wont know that until we begin playing competitive games..