Rumours - summer signings

[Jedi u-Knighted]

I just think people are a little impatient (myself included) to see new faces arriving as we all want the best possible team on the park.!!

Hopefully things will start taking shape next week when the manager is back from holiday.. 🍻

[stokearab]

Like many others I was critical of our signing policy in the past. Many like me posted that we needed tried and tested players - ie players who had played at SPL/Championship level and knew what was required. As opposed to taking punts on players who were a player once and would end up sitting in the Apex living out of a suitcase.

So far, Rays first 3 signings fit the bill - Keatings Scobbie and King know what it's like to go to Dumbarton or Ayr on a freezing day or sheeting rain. Let's see if he follows this pattern with his next signings.

One thing we badly need is a creative midfielder who can influence a game because recently we had no-one remotely close to being able to do that. Ideally Scottish, but if we can't get one in Scotland on our budget Thomson needs to up the budget and get one from elsewhere.

[Daly9]

I think it depends on the player. If he's been injury free and watched several times while playing last season then he could be an immediate signing. If he's borderline it's understandable that he might be invited to show off his paces before signing. So it's horses for courses.

What concerns me a little is why wasn't Ray down south more often or at other Championship games when we were idle. Maybe he was, I've no idea, but if I was the coach I'd want to see the target myself playing in competitive matches before offering a trial or signing him.

Obviously it depends on the player which is why we've signed 3 without need for trial.

The trialists obviously haven't played in Scotland before so it's prudent to assess them otherwise we'll likely end up with another Nicholls, Kuhl or Taggart.

Why are you concerned about something you've just admitted to having no idea about? Of course he'll have been at games.

[stokearab]

Obviously it depends on the player which is why we've signed 3 without need for trial.

The trialists obviously haven't played in Scotland before so it's prudent to assess them otherwise we'll likely end up with another Nicholls, Kuhl or Taggart.

Why are you concerned about something you've just admitted to having no idea about? Of course he'll have been at games.

I was just going on what was reported from Taylors interview Darren spent near two months watching games in England prior to last seasons end. Mentioned looking for attacking players with that 'brute strength'

Which could be interpreted as Ray not being there. Which if it was true would concern me. I said I didn't know mate. Do you know which games Ray went to then?

[Daly9]

I was just going on what was reported from Taylors interview Darren spent near two months watching games in England prior to last seasons end. Mentioned looking for attacking players with that 'brute strength'

Which could be interpreted as Ray not being there. Which if it was true would concern me. I said I didn't know mate. Do you know which games Ray went to then?

I'm not his PA. Can remember him saying on Arabzone he'd been down to England watching players though.

You have to remember that we played Irn Bru cup games on international weekends and then our season was extended by play offs so obviously he couldn't go to as many as Taylor.

[stokearab]

I'm not his PA. Can remember him saying on Arabzone he'd been down to England watching players though.

You have to remember that we played Irn Bru cup games on international weekends and then our season was extended by play offs so obviously he couldn't go to as many as Taylor.

Yeah fair comment, it's only speculation, and not intended to be negative. Lets hope between them they can bring in some quality.

[Arabdownsouth]

Yeah fair comment, it's only speculation, and not intended to be negative. Lets hope between them they can bring in some quality.

Let's hope so Stoke. It does sound like we should hopefully have a better equipped and more balanced squad than last season. Based on that I do expect us to finish above Falkirk this time around as they will likely have mostly the same team. We really ought to be better than last year given we have had time to acclimatise and lessons must have been learned. We most definitely are going to have more attacking options this time too plus hopefully a more settled defence. I'm predicting a title winning party next May with no need for a helicopter Sunday 😂

[Otm_Shank]

This serious?

You expect the manager to sign players because his employee went to watch him a couple of times? Taylor's job is to do the donkey work and give his recommendations to the manager. McKinnon quite rightly wants to see the players for himself, see how they fit in with rest of players, assess wether they'll settle in Dundee etc.

Baffles me how any United fan could share your attitude in the above post after McNamara handed out 2 and 3 year deals to duds like sweeties. Had we brought in the likes of Anier, Bodul, Bilate, Oyenuga etc on trial we might have avoided countless underwhelming performances and expensive pay offs.

Catch 22 for the club with some on here. If Ray was signing folk purely on recommendation he'd be slaughtered, bring them in for trials and gets slaughtered. Pretty ridiculous

[Arabdownsouth]

Catch 22 for the club with some on here. If Ray was signing folk purely on recommendation he'd be slaughtered, bring them in for trials and gets slaughtered. Pretty ridiculous

Spot on! Some folk seriously need to get a grip

[Arabdownsouth]

The same folk who scream " sign someone please" will also immediately start writing off said signings before they even kick a ball, you couldn't make it up 🙄