a cruel summer awaits

[robinrover]

The manager if it be Coyle or someone else has a mammoth task this summer should we survive
we have a squad made primarily of league one standard players
harsh but true

The little voice in the sticks:Jason Steele is a average keeper one game he could save 50 balls at once another game he lets limp efforts trickle in
the biggest problem is his lack of command
we need someone who can sort a defence out not meekly point when it goes wrong

The case for defence:well a complete rebuild is in order again
a new right back along with at least 2 centre backs who hopefully won't be yielding a Zimmer frame.

Wingless wonders: our wingers have become very substandard
feeney and Bennett are a standard of the league below and as much as a decent player he has been for us time has caught up with Conway
so step forward Mahoney but we should not stop there we do lack quality and that needs addressing

Wanted a magician in the middle: we have lacked quality in the middle for many years now
maybe someone in the youth team but I personally would shy away from that players like Rankin Costello are not quite ready
more a cameo here and there

Graham the loan ranger:as emnes and Gallagher return back to there clubs and stokes still out of favour even if we plan for a 4-5-1 we will still need another forward.

a lot needed if we stay up
how much can we buy with a pocket full of shirt buttons.

[Despair]

I think that that is what's called as 'venting ones spleen' !

[robinrover]

Maybe so despair but without the investment needed we will be down next season without a fight if we don't go this time around.

[Despair]

It was meant as a sly tongue in cheek as its usually me that's 'going off on one'.
No, fine by me, I can sense your frustration so best to 'get it off your chest' 😏

[AucklandRover]

I've been thinking about the potential French signings Robin mentioned on the other thread, and looking through our squad.
In particular, I'm baffled by the attempt to secure another centre-back. Does this mean we actually can't put a decent pairing together from:
Greer
Hoban
Mulgrew
Ward
Lenihan
Brown
Wharton
Travis
Platt
Magloire...?

All ten have first-team squad numbers and play regularly at centre-back. Is this Ba really a priority?

Incidentally, I see that John O'Sullivan has moved on. He never quite made it, which shows that the step up from Under-23 football is a really big one. I think we have to acknowledge that, despite the fact it seems perverse to us at times that more youngsters haven't been given a chance.
I suppose Adam Henley is another case in point. When I first watched him, I thought he was destined to become a permanent fixture at right-back, but he has often looked shaky under pressure. Even so, it seems odd that youngsters from elsewhere (Byrne, Hendrie, etc) have been drafted in before our OWN young players.
Anyway, if we DON'T get a quality midfielder in, and we DON'T "blood" Tomlinson or Rankin-Costello, surely Mulgrew will be pushed forward!
It's very annoying that there is nowhere among all the marketing guff on the official site where fans can find out the latest state-of-play on injuries. When WILL Guthrie be back, for instance?
Assuming Marshall goes (and the rumours about Cavare suggest this is likely), can we afford to keep playing two wide players?
Even with Lowe sold, we have cover for the defensive midfield role, so we could easily put out a team with more security, such as:
Steele/Raya
Nyambe (TWO CENTRE-BACKS) Williams
Lenihan
Guthrie Mulgrew Conway (or Mahoney)
Gallagher Graham.
(I'm assuming we will lose Emnes too).
I've always liked 4-4-2, with two wingers, but there comes a time...
(Sorry about the rambling, but - like Robin - I find all the uncertainty frustrating.