Incoming.

[Gobstopper]

It seems very likely as a young pro footballer going to a US college, but they haven't specifically said. If he's still not able to play they may be assessing him in his first year of course.

Now we hear Tabs, even if he gets ahead of schedule, is likely out for the whole season after an operation - no wonder LB wants another 4 (and needs to settle Williams and Bogle soonest. Williams will be keen to play somewhere - could Bogle be threatening to just draw his wages unless he gets a sweetener to go?)

If Bogle is not going to figure in LB's plans then the club need to come up with a deal with another club even if that means a loan deal with a club who will cover his wages, he probably needs to play football and it does not seem that is likely with Crewe. As for Williams, I'm sure there are a few clubs would take him on a free but may not want to pay a fee for his services which means his options are limited. No doubt if some other club was interested in paying a fee he would have moved on its an awkward situation for the club that needs resolving.

[gazan]

So, Imre Tezgel signs on loan from Stoke. Can't say I was impressed by his performance against us last night. I imagine Hutchinson is also less than impressed after being on the receiving end of a bad foul from the individual. Lots of people have raved about him, pre-loan. Can't see him making headway once Holicek and Lankester are back.
There are supposed to be 2 coming in close proximity. Rankine perhaps?

[gazan]

And now Louis Moult. I welcome this one as he knows how to be in a position to get goals. However, I do think it a bit weird that he scores 3 goals in 3 games during pre-season but then disappears for the two more challenging games but then hey presto, signs. Was he considering another offer? Or were the Alex putting him on the back burner while chasing someone else? Someone at one of the games suggested he would be looking higher up the pyramid but was a mate of LB's and was filling in while we were short up front.
So March is first pick up front but then what?
Having played 4-2-3-1 for most of the pre-season, surely that set up isn't going to be changed now, at least for starting line ups.
The new season is becoming interesting. I suppose August 2nd will give a touch of reality.

[gazan]

What do you think about this. Our best signing this summer, would appear to be, at this very, very early stage, March. We seem to be suddenly recruiting a few more late on in the closed season. LB said very early on that he had a number of targets, many of which he clearly didn't land. Is this a problem? Does it necessarily follow that the earlier you get your signings in, the better?
I realise that the season hasn't started and we'll find out in the fullness of time how good our signings are but would they be as good as earlier targets might have been. Just an exercise in speculation and testing opinion.

[ShropshireAlex]

Who knows - so much depending on what delays the Bogle/Williams situations caused in signings - did they want to sign Moult but felt they couldn't risk it till now? With 2 strikers now added they must surely feel that Bogle will be resolved soon, as he's got no role here even as a backup. (Next step, don't give him a squad number?) On the formation, LB said to McGarry on Wednesday that he as playing a 4-3-3, though I agree it looks like 4-2-3-1 most of the time, Sanders and Thomas in front of the back 4.

Wartman, how do you feel about the squad now - clearly we need a cover CH and perhaps a spare FB still (unless Williams stays), perhaps those are the other 2 of the 4 LB said he wanted? You wanted 8 new bodies, but that looks like the most we might go for now. (Rankine no longer as Tezgel can play wide?)

At least these signings mean some of the younger players should be able to get in a National League loan, if not needed for the bench - e.g. Hodkin.

[Wartman]

[QUOTE=ShropshireAlex;40732289]Who knows - so much depending on what delays the Bogle/Williams situations caused in signings - did they want to sign Moult but felt they couldn't risk it till now? With 2 strikers now added they must surely feel that Bogle will be resolved soon, as he's got no role here even as a backup. (Next step, don't give him a squad number?) On the formation, LB said to McGarry on Wednesday that he as playing a 4-3-3, though I agree it looks like 4-2-3-1 most of the time, Sanders and Thomas in front of the back 4.


The recent business has been encouraging but I think we are still 3 or 4 short especially as hopefully Williams and Bogle will leave just shows you I have always thought Williams was average at best and by the looks of things so does the football world non league at best I’m afraid. I think we are weak in goals as Booth is not good enough and the back up does not look much better, we definitely need a CB and a FB agreed we need another wide attacker so Rankine should still be considered the strikers look good for the level so I think if we can get a supply to the forward players we should not have a problem with goals now the but Lankester has not played at all in the pre season so you have to think he may not be up to speed until October at the earliest creativity in midfield is worrying I don’t rate Holicek I’m afraid far to lightweight and does not look good enough IMO, Tabiner injured again no surprise there so wher is the creativity in midfield we look lacking in pace and ability to see that pass that opens up defences, so I would say a creative midfielder might also be required that’s where I get to my 4 players still needed then all f the kids can go out on season long loans I don’t want to see them anywhere near the first team this season they are not ready.

[ShropshireAlex]

It would be great to get 4, but I suspect even if Bogle and Williams are gone soon 3 is the limit, 2 I hope we can count on .... If no-one's willing to pay a fee for Williams maybe he'll end up signing and we won't add a CH at all - for good or ill. (JKL still not out on loan yet from Bristol City this season - but maybe they'll play him.)

[gazan]

At last, cover for CH. James Golding, from Oxford on loan for the whole season. His last loan was to Southend. He's big and supposed to be another ball playing CH.
What we need is RB cover, now.
This probably seals the departure of another player who is being paid despite not playing.

[lukcour]

Golding sounds like a promising recruit. So far a much improved team, and incredibly LB has come to his senses with tactics which are 100% better than last seasons.

[gazan]

Is anyone likely to actually pay anything for Williams? It seems that if he has to be paid in order to keep the compensation option open, when does that become unfeasible? Does he just become an unregistered player/free agent after the window closes or do we still have some claim on him. If the latter, does this prevent him from playing in this country until a new window? So many ramifications. Does anyone have a clear picture of the process?