🗓️Pre-Season Friendlies 2024/25

[matt_magpie]

We all know what’s coming, don’t we?

Making allowances for the dyed in the wool club apologists, who will rabidly defend the club’s actions no matter what and would happily watch paint dry so long as it was black and white (you know who you are) I get the feeling the majority of the club’s fan base is not particularly impressed with the summer’s events.

We have flogged our main asset and failed to replace him. Crowds will come expecting a promotion push and, at present, our squad does not appear good enough. If we’re not right up there from the beginning, the atmosphere will turn toxic and Maynard will be out the door.

There is enough time to boost the squad but I have precious little confidence in the recruitment team to achieve the right outcome. I give it until October before the crowd turns. Mid-table mediocrity awaits.

Go on then I will be one of the apologists. There is a flip side to the argument we are not up to full numbers yet. The club could easily be up to them by now but there will be a constant wave a players come available once other clubs bring in players.

So that’s the conundrum do you wait till way into August and hope you may bring in a couple of very good signings with the minus being you might not get them and still end up with squad fillers? TBF It shouldn’t effect Augusts results missing a couple and it’s also not hard integrating a couple in later.

[KCNotts]

Let's break the signings down a bit. These are my thoughts:

Platt - should be solid, Bradford fans were very sorry to see him go. Decent signing.
Bedeau - people tell me he's a good player, seems to have done well at Morecambe. Solid enough.
Bass - should hopefully be a good signing.
Tsaroulla - not really convinced, seems to be a squad filler. Was hoping for better out wide.
Gordon - ex Mansfield, not that inspired, again was hoping for better.
McDonald - very strange signing. Squad filler, uninspiring.
Edwards - unknown quantity. Might be okay, might be another Liam Walker.
Hinchy - underwhelming...smells a bit like desperation after missing out on main targets?

I guess I was hoping for a little more. Not sure we have replaced what we have lost and there doesn't seem to be much here to excite or suggest we are ambitious to get out of the league. There is still time to get a few more in, but they will take time to learn the systems so they won't make an immediate impact.

[matt_magpie]

Let's break the signings down a bit. These are my thoughts:

Platt - should be solid, Bradford fans were very sorry to see him go. Decent signing.
Bedeau - people tell me he's a good player, seems to have done well at Morecambe. Solid enough.
Bass - should hopefully be a good signing.
Tsaroulla - not really convinced, seems to be a squad filler. Was hoping for better out wide.
Gordon - ex Mansfield, not that inspired, again was hoping for better.
McDonald - very strange signing. Squad filler, uninspiring.
Edwards - unknown quantity. Might be okay, might be another Liam Walker.
Hinchy - underwhelming...smells a bit like desperation after missing out on main targets?

I guess I was hoping for a little more. Not sure we have replaced what we have lost and there doesn't seem to be much here to excite or suggest we are ambitious to get out of the league. There is still time to get a few more in, but they will take time to learn the systems so they won't make an immediate impact.

I don’t think anyone gets overly excited with defenders. Bass was very well rated last season as was Bedeau, the response from Harrogate fans to McDonald was he was possibly their best defender so if he’s a back up it might be sensible, you missed Cundy who if is injury free should be way above this standard. Agree with the others bar Edwards, get a feeling he’s either going to be amazing or as you say, another Liam Walker. I’m just hoping we’re going to sniff out a couple of experienced players that have found themselves surplus to requirements at top end L1 or even possible struggling champ ones.