Annual squad thread

[Carlton_Pie]

GK - Slocombe
GK - Brooks
GK -

RB - Adebayo-Rowling
RB - Brindley
LB - Chicksen
LB - Taylor

CB - Cameron
CB - Rawlinson
CB - Baldwin
CB - Bajrami

CM - Palmer
CM - O’Brien
CM - Vincent
CM - Francis
CM -

AM - Rodrigues
AM - Roberts
AM - Namane
AM - Austin

ST - Langstaff
ST - Scott
ST - Mitchell
ST - Munakandafa
ST -

As the squad stands, I reckon Austin plays in midfield

[MagpieNate]

As the squad stands, I reckon Austin plays in midfield

Quite possibly. Honestly didn’t expect so many incomings this summer. Still wouldn’t be surprised to see Mitchell and Roberts leave the club, Munakandafa likely on loan as well. The new lads at the back suggest (to me anyway) that 3 at the back is going to be the preferred formation and if we strick to that, Roberts is kind of surplus to requirements. Not terrible in a 3 man midfield but a different player out on the right.

[TSANHO]

Not meaning to be negative having seen the signing of 4 new players this week but until CM is strengthened (literally) then we will still struggle in big games. Our striking / attacking options are numerous now, how will all they fit in? Is this just going to be a case of we’re going to score one more than you?!

Is Austin going to play CM? If so, that’s hardly a physical improvement….unless we’re going to use palmer and Austin as two number 8’s and Bajrami as a sitting midfielder?

No idea how we’ll incorporate all of our attackers unless Mitchell and one of Roberts/Rodrigues are on their way.

[Mapperleypie]

I think we may see Bajrami playing some matches in midfield.

[optipez]

We've signed players on the way up so they should be hungry. It's unusual for all your signings to come up trumps but you never know. Of last season's crop only Palmer and Cameron excelled along with Pattinson and Richardson as loan players so hoping for a better hit rate this season and for Vincent, Nemane, Taylor and Mitchell to do better this season as Rodriguess, Chicksen and Sam both improved in their second seasons.

[laddo]

I don't view that as negative they are genuine questions and a concern I too share. I call it balance.

If we sign a strong central midfield bull I may double up and bet big on Top 7 and Top 3. As you and others have previously highlighted it's imperative and IMO likely to our success or otherwise.

Still plenty of time for incomings and outgoings (which we can now actually afford to do).

The good news is the very premature complaints about lack of transfer activity has well and truly been squashed before we even hit July. The random outburst and demand to build from the back , all good teams know that, also now looks misplaced with two centre halves signed.

The #radar sure has been working overtime. One more pretty please

[MagpieNate]

If we’re playing a 3 man midfield there is certainly space in the squad for battling midfielder. Jimbob ain’t that man and not too sure he has the legs for it anymore.

[matt_magpie]

The business so far has been excellent in terms of speed and quality. Either Cal or Ruben will go and I would love to see the owners bring in some proper cash for them and prove their model is working. For 2 rookies these guys have been hugely impressive. They have brought stability, we have a summer as we did last without a massive turnover of squad. I really hope we get it together this season and things go our way. I like how the manager talks, I don’t think he’s a shrinking violet and his No2 sounds like he’s got something about him. It feels like anything but top 3 will be very disappointing this season,

[MAD_MAGPIE]

With the two signings today the club really have shown a good level of due-diligence, planning, preparation and professionalism by getting business done early. There is still a week to go before typical contracts end.

The common theme with all the signings so far is that they are young and hungry and looking to progress up the leagues and that is very refreshing.

Of course we have to give them time and patience as they have come from the National League North, but they are the cream of that level. Austin, Scott and Langstaff were all in the NLN Team of year. Langstaff was NLN Player of the season.

Some may be like Roberts and hit the ground running, others may be like Rodrigues and Chicksen and be a bit of a slow burner. What they do have though is time on their side due to their age as the average age of thus far is 24.1

Sam Austin 25
Geraldo Bajrami 22
Cedwyn Scott 23
Aden Baldwin 25
Macaulay Langstaff 25
Tobi Adebayo-Rowling 25

What is also interesting is that we've made two lots of double signings from the same club. Two from Gateshead and two from Kidderminster. I'm struggling to recall if we have signed two players from the same club at the same time before. This means that they essentially have a "buddy" who they have played with recently and will already have that connection both on and off the field.

We are also bringing in captains and leaders. One of the key fundamentals that was in the Munto team was the signing of captains and leaders. Every team that wins the title needs them.

[bule1]

Not meaning to be negative having seen the signing of 4 new players this week but until CM is strengthened (literally) then we will still struggle in big games. Our striking / attacking options are numerous now, how will all they fit in? Is this just going to be a case of we’re going to score one more than you?!

Is Austin going to play CM? If so, that’s hardly a physical improvement….unless we’re going to use palmer and Austin as two number 8’s and Bajrami as a sitting midfielder?

No idea how we’ll incorporate all of our attackers unless Mitchell and one of Roberts/Rodrigues are on their way.

Understand your concerns but closed season is not over yet. Also strengthening can be both a physical and mental issue, maybe we have at least in part addressed some of that.