Transfer Rumour Thread 21/22

[stokearab]

Jake Doyle-Hayes, NI under 21 and highly regarded. He may or may not have turned out to be the next Bowman Badger or McInally but we're not going to find out because he signed for Hibs.

We appeared keen on him and TC admitted to that after he signed for Hibs because he said something along the lines of we were not prepared to break our wages structure for him.

Connolly
Reynolds
Butcher
Harkes
Pawlett
Clark
Sporle
Appere

There are 8 players we could happily move forward without, leaving space and wages for quality signings to come in and dovetail with the existing players and youth breaking through. Ok not all of these players could have been moved on in the last 2 years but many could and still could be. We're paying a lot of players x money when we could have fewer players and pay a bit more for much better quality.

So no Jake Doyle Hayes or anyone like him because we have Harkes Butcher and Pawlett on standby in case Mochrie Meekison Hoti Smith and Neilson turn out to be not quite ready.

I hope they are ready and I hope they do rip up this league. But if we get relegated this project or experiment will go down in the history books of our club as a situation many saw coming but were ridiculed for saying so.

[shedka]

It's not that I don't approve of their age, more is this really the best we can get? Really? Two guys at the end of their careers who aren't going to get any better or earn us any money in the future? Having the massive recruitment team that we have, who according to the manager, spend 18 months tracking players, these two are the best they can find? Nah, no chance. Sorry.

Carson at his age is hardly end of career for a keeper, he was excellent for Motherwell when fit, agree about Mulgrew, but more lean of peace of playing with Edwards, Reynolds is still relatively quick despite being nowhere near as rapid as a few years back

[shedka]

Bang on! It started with Reynolds and hasn't stopped since.

Reynolds has been a very good signing

[shedka]

One things for sure imho, this is a job-defining pre-season from Asghar. If we do well (we have done under him so far) then he should be applauded for it and especially by the doubters. If he gets it wrong then he should walk, there is no way he should survive if Courts ends up having to leave or relegation happens.

This to me feels exactly like the McNamara relegation pre-season where we could see going in to it the upcoming season was about to be a disaster..... and it was

No it doesn't, just a lazy comparison because you are buying into the opinion we are going to struggle, we are in a much better situation going into this season than we were that season

[stokearab]

No it doesn't, just a lazy comparison because you are buying into the opinion we are going to struggle, we are in a much better situation going into this season than we were that season

You've used the term drama queen a couple of times recently about fans who are concerned.

You used the term drama queen when Houston lost the dressing room and we started getting some bad results including a 1-5 pasting at home from Falkirk.

You used the term drama queen when it became known that McNamara and Jackson were pub crawling in St Andrews and turning up at training hungover.

You used the term drama queen about posters who were concerned that ST was ruining the good work that had gone before.

You're now using the same term about fans who are genuinely concerned that we might be sleepwalking into a bad place.

I rest my case.

[Chick A Saw]

Jake Doyle-Hayes, NI under 21 and highly regarded. He may or may not have turned out to be the next Bowman Badger or McInally but we're not going to find out because he signed for Hibs.

We appeared keen on him and TC admitted to that after he signed for Hibs because he said something along the lines of we were not prepared to break our wages structure for him.

Connolly
Reynolds
Butcher
Harkes
Pawlett
Clark
Sporle
Appere

There are 8 players we could happily move forward without, leaving space and wages for quality signings to come in and dovetail with the existing players and youth breaking through. Ok not all of these players could have been moved on in the last 2 years but many could and still could be. We're paying a lot of players x money when we could have fewer players and pay a bit more for much better quality.

So no Jake Doyle Hayes or anyone like him because we have Harkes Butcher and Pawlett on standby in case Mochrie Meekison Hoti Smith and Neilson turn out to be not quite ready.

I hope they are ready and I hope they do rip up this league. But if we get relegated this project or experiment will go down in the history books of our club as a situation many saw coming but were ridiculed for saying so.

That list of players there has players that i will continually argue can still do a job for us, although Connolly and Harkes i cannot offer a defence! I think that Reynolds, Clark and Butcher still all have something to give, and am even prepared to see if Pawlett can contribute this season, but there are doubts. Sporle is one of those players that is exciting to watch as you just dont know what is coming next, but this is his season to show consistency, but i really dont know what has happened to Appere and am starting to have fears for his future.

I think it was yourself who mentioned mediocrity earlier, and i for one would accept that for a season or 2 if that means a cup run and 5-8th place in the league as at least it is a base to build on when the youngsters really start to come through!

[stokearab]

Reynolds has been a very good signing

I agree. But I would say he was a good signing at the time, has done a good job for us, but now we need to find better.

He's still decent to be fair, but plays it long and high too often.

[Chick A Saw]

I agree. But I would say he was a good signing at the time, has done a good job for us, but now we need to find better.

He's still decent to be fair, but plays it long and high too often.

That last bit could be a good thing if we had a midfield and attack who could stop the ball coming straight back every time!

[Chick A Saw]

Stoke,
I saw that post before you deleted/edited it and loved that team until i noticed!

[stokearab]

That list of players there has players that i will continually argue can still do a job for us, although Connolly and Harkes i cannot offer a defence! I think that Reynolds, Clark and Butcher still all have something to give, and am even prepared to see if Pawlett can contribute this season, but there are doubts. Sporle is one of those players that is exciting to watch as you just dont know what is coming next, but this is his season to show consistency, but i really dont know what has happened to Appere and am starting to have fears for his future.

I think it was yourself who mentioned mediocrity earlier, and i for one would accept that for a season or 2 if that means a cup run and 5-8th place in the league as at least it is a base to build on when the youngsters really start to come through!

I would happily lose all 8 if it meant I got 4 quality in

Losing the 8 would still leave us with this 11 outfield players before any additions

L Smith Neilson Edwards Mulgrew Robson
......................Fuchs
Freeman Chalmers Hoti Mochrie
.......................Shankland