🗓️Pre-Season Friendlies 2024/25

[OldBanksy]

Why the need for a new striker?
How many players do you want to vie for that one position? Four? With another who can be recalled from loan? How will you keep them happy?
Why all the talk for a Macca replacement? Who would that be?
Has anyone who's touting Dajaune Brown actually seen him play?
If Jatta stays fit all season, would you be confident that he can do the business?
Which rival club has the best firepower? How does it compare?

[nw6pie]

Why the need for a new striker?
How many players do you want to vie for that one position? Four? With another who can be recalled from loan? How will you keep them happy?
Why all the talk for a Macca replacement? Who would that be?
Has anyone who's touting Dajaune Brown actually seen him play?
If Jatta stays fit all season, would you be confident that he can do the business?
Which rival club has the best firepower? How does it compare?

If last season taught us anything, it’s that you need strength in depth to succeed. How many times did we bring on a sub who gave the opposition a different problem or could turn the game for us? I’m struggling to think of any examples.

Three strikers for one place sounds fine, but if Jatta gets injured on Sept. 1 after the transfer window closes, we’ll be in big trouble. Didzy is 37 in February and Scott is both completely unproven at this level and still regaining his sharpness after a serious injury.

If we can get Tsaroulla fit, we could play Jodi Jones as a 10, but we still need another option up front - as SM himself has admitted. Same goes for midfield, where I’d love to see a competitive box-to-box player come in.

[MagpieNate]

I’m still of the belief we need 3 more in (if Stone is staying on as back up).

CB - big question marks over Cundy’s fitness. If he breaks down with the same recurring injury again, we are down to 2 right sided players in Macari and Platt. Platt was touted as being the one in the middle of the 3 when he arrived.

CM - same as above for Palmer. Austin unfortunately I don’t think is up to the standard. That leaves Edwards, Robertson, Crowley and Hinchy for those 3 spots.

ST - a lot of people seem to think we’re ok if we go with the 1 up top but seem to forget that if that’s the case, McGoldrick, Scott and likely Crowley are likely to be played as the no10s so no, we don’t have any squad depth there. This is the one position I’m adamant we need another body in and confident it will happen. Morias going out on loan has surely guaranteed that’s the case. Maybe we did have someone lined up when we agreed the loan but it fell through.

I personally don’t see us going back to the Williams’ 2 no10s set up. At Tranmere I expect to Crowley playing along side Robertson with Edwards deeper keeping Palmers seat warm, with McGoldrick playing up top with Jatta. Wouldn’t be against JJ moving further forward but with Tsaroulla seemingly missing all pre season, I’d be very underwhelmed to see Chicksen on the left wing.

Anyway not long to wait. Tough first game so let’s not go into melt down if we lose at Tranmere. I see us currently probably top half, top 10. Hopefully the budget can be stretched for another attacking option, some cover at the back and (wishful thinking) a ‘statement’ signing in midfield.