TOPIC: Squad for 2016/17 Thread

Thread for how next season's squad is shaping up.

As of 11th May 2016 - Will be updated when additions are made...

GK - Gillespie.
RB - Miller*, McQueen*.
LB - Grainger, Brough.
CB - Atkinson, Ellis, Raynes.
CM - Joyce, Kennedy.
ST - Ibehre, Wyke.

So that's 10 confirmed, with 2 offered (*).

Can't see many defenders coming in, maybe be another CB, couple of CM's needed, and at least 3 wide players. At least 2 Strikers, oh and another GK. That's 9, with probably a couple of utility types needed for numbers.

Thoughts?

Miller & Grainger can play centre back, no need for another really.

Needs a shed load of creativity.
Barring McQueen and maybe Wyke, whole load of journeymen (which are needed by the way, but will not form a promotion push).

TheLazyLewisGuy wrote:
What if from 7 defenders, 2 get injured, 1 suspended and there's no more short term loans - As an example?

Really depends on the formation Curle wants to play, 442 and what you're suggesting isn't far wrong. 352 (or even 361) puts a different perspective on it.

TheLazyLewisGuy wrote:
I'd say centre back is the position we most need to strengthen.

CarlisleWhite wrote:
A bit like John Joe O'toole, Ricky Holmes, James Collins, Marc Richards, Ryan Cresswell, Nicky Adams, Alfie Potter, Danny Rose, Luke Prosser, Zander Diamond. this lot walked the league last year and have all had a decent amount of clubs each.

The point i'm trying to make is it doesnt matter whether they are 'Journeymen', if you get the right players they will become a winning side.

Gillespie and Brough aren't journeymen, Miller never played a game until his 4th club and only had 3 since, Only Atkinson's 2nd club.

With there being no short term loans, its really important we sign an extra centre back, should always be one back up for every player in the first team,

We need at least one additional centre back because the ones we have aren't very good.....

Turnbull wrote:
Yet they are the best we have had for 4-5 years.

TheLazyLewisGuy wrote:
Better than Murphy?

They probably are better than most of the centre backs we have had in the last 4-5 years but that might explain why we've endured several relegation battles during that period.

Turnbull wrote:
Possibly, I'm maybe being a bit harsh on O'Hanlon. Ayr United are on bbc Alba tonight if anyone wants to see if Murphy still has anything.

The 3 centre backs we have are all pretty decent to be fair. And Miller can do a very good job there if needed too, with McQueen looking like a very good right back, so not leaving us weakened in that area if he's needed.

Centre back is the last position we need to worry about at this moment in time.

CCU wrote:
With clubs not announcing theyre having bigger squads to negate the effects of this and in our case it looking as if were planning to operate with a squad 4 bodies smaller than this year it makes me wonder if clubs havnt found a way to get around this

And if not were taking a big risk as it certainally doesnt look as if we.ll have many from the youth squad whod be ready to step up into the first team squad

So if you got a rash of long term injuries your only option will be to loan premier league kids whos clubs will then have you by the short and curlys over the percentage of the wages they.ll want you to pay.

NORTHERNSOUL wrote:
You will only be able to do the half-season or full-season loans during the transfer windows, and even then I think the maximum you can have is four.

I suspect there may be a fair few players on short-term/non-contract deals at clubs next season. That, or they're just going to have to start accepting smaller wage packets.

This no emergency loan window will run until a side like Accrington end up with 13-14 players due to injuries, the league give them special dispensation then all hell breaks loose.

awful idea.

TheLazyLewisGuy wrote:
It's UEFA wide, so the FA/FL can't do anything. They've managed to hold it off for 3yrs roughly...

TheLazyLewisGuy wrote:
LG - poorly worded by me, but I was saying the players listed as journeymen are needed and will form the basis of a solid side (as this year) but no way good enough for promotion without an injection of creativity and goals

what the squad is crying out for and has been for quite some time is pace and creativity.

We are so one-paced it is unreal.

thefoot wrote: I couldn't disagree more... if we keep the same defence we will be mid-table again... look at how many goals we let in... there is a clue there that the defence aren't up to a promotion push. Time and again the two centre backs have been caught ball watching and a striker has had a free header from about 6 yards out... time and again they coughed up goals with unforced errors... they have no pace and can't pass a football. Yes they both have a great attitude and give 100%, which is why they seem immune to criticism.... but they aren't good enough if we want to go up. We let in 62 goals in 46 games... that is our problem area... Accrington let in the most goals in the top 6 teams with 48 goals. Defence is still our problem area and has been for many seasons. If we want to be near the top KC needs to be ruthless and make changes, even if that means players that are popular with the fans are no longer in the team.

Agreed. The 7 seasons prior to this we conceded 490 goals - An average of 70 a season. It's come down slightly at 62, but we need to be aiming below 50...

Raynes and Ellis are too similar to play together if we've any designs on promotion. Atkinson is by far our best CB, should start with one beside him if we don't recruit better.

Be interesting to see our average goals conceded per game was split by 1st/2nd half of the season, or even by month. It's my perception that we tightened up as the season went on (while also becoming less potent ourselves).

CheadleBlue wrote:
Aug to Dec - 37 conceded in 22 games
Jan to May - 25 conceded in 24 games

So we did tighten up as the season went on...

Hmm, so do we need a new defence or not? Seems if we play like we did in the 2nd half of the season we'll meet the target of <50, but our points per game also reduced in that period.

Maybe Curle abandoned the passing style of play because those two weren't up to it. Are we conflicted between how Curle wants to play and what the players are capable of?

Whilst we tightened up, we also lost our ability to notch...

Aug to Dec - 42 scored in 22 games
Jan to May - 25 scored in 24 games

League games only I'll add!

CheadleBlue wrote: My view on it is that we tightened up because we switched to a much more defensive set up, due mainly to the deficiencies in defence that were evident in the first half of the season. We played a much more defensive midfield as we KC clearly spotted the need for additional cover for the centre backs.... Joyce was virtually an extra centre half at times. You will conceed fewer goals if your centre backs launch it into orbit everytime it comes near them... that doesn't mean they are good enough though. I'd like to see at least one more centre back come in and I'd like us to start with either Raynes or Ellis and Atkinson. One who is going to attack everything in the air and one with more pace and ability to cover behind and bring the ball out of defence..

That's along similar lines to how I'd like us to play too, Northumbrian. Trouble is, I don't see that type of player in the game at the moment, especially at our level.

During the mostly awful post match stuff at the end of West Ham's game the other day they showed a goal that Bobby Moore scored for them where he brought it forward from half way, wasn't challenged so kept going before lashing it in from the edge of the box. You just don't see that anymore from a centre half. Anyway, I digress.

I think it's imperative we get a ball playing centre-half if that's the way KC wants to play. If he sticks with the pair we have now and signs up Andy Cook we all know what's coming and I dare say there will be a few giving the games a miss.

Wukkie wrote:
I very much doubt that we'll be signing Cook now that Ibehre is staying. I think he'll be looking for a little nippy pacey striker who can get in behind. Probably a younger version of Asamoah.

Wukkie wrote:
But everyone complains at playing out from the back..cant win really

Not everyone,some us quite enjoy it. It's mostly people who aren't used to watching that type of style who start screaming to 'Get rid'. They need dragged into the 21st century.

the reason folk shout "get rid" is the ball players we have arent capable of bringing it out safely- if there were a better player, this might work and would certainly be more entertaining. i think the reason they do this is to draw the opposition out of position and create space for our pacy midfield and forwards......mmm.
Surely among the 8 players curle wants he can find room for one that actually likes having the ball at his feet- like Dicker??? interesting how our dip in form also coincides with his departure- maybe not all down to defensive strategy?

Wouldnt say we conceeded any goals through playing out from the back, maybe the wrong pass once or twice but i find it good to watch.

trevortrevorswinburne wrote:
Funny how our dip in form came when we changed to long ball tactics as well.

Wukkie wrote:
Have you read Curles interveiw about Raynes from yesterday i think he thinks hes found his ball playing centre half lol

I couldn't believe what I was reading NS. He's kidding himself if he thinks he has.

As of 24th May 2016 - Will be updated when additions are made...

GK - Gillespie.
RB - Miller*, McQueen*.
LB - Grainger, Brough.
CB - Atkinson, Ellis, Raynes.
CM - Joyce, Kennedy, McKee.
RW - Adams.
ST - Ibehre, Wyke.

So that's 12 confirmed, with 2 offered (*).

Doesn't Adams tend to play more wide?

MerseysideBlue wrote:
Played Left wing for Northampton last year

I can't believe it,an actual LW although he can play on the right too!

KC's blindspot has been fixed.

Now to get Ryan Donaldson in unless we'll have to launch a bid for Robben or Ribery.

Wukkie wrote:
Donaldson and Adams on each wing would be brilliant.

Just asked a Northampton fan, says he played Right Wing mainly...

As of 27th May 2016 - Will be updated when additions are made...

GK - Gillespie.
RB - Miller*, McQueen*.
LB - Grainger, Brough.
CB - Atkinson, Ellis, Raynes.
CM - Joyce, Kennedy, McKee, Penn.
RW - Adams.
ST - Ibehre, Wyke.

So that's 13 confirmed, with 2 offered (*).

CCU wrote:
With regard to *RB I reckon KC can't decide between the two. He's given them both an average offer in the hope that one of them will bite. Whoever blinks first will be our RB next season. If neither blinks..a new RB will be required. They probably have one in mind.

As of 6th June 2016 - Will be updated when additions are made...

GK - Gillespie.
RB - Miller*, McQueen*.
LB - Grainger, Brough.
CB - Atkinson, Ellis, Raynes.
CM - Joyce, Kennedy, McKee, Penn.
RW - Adams, Lambe.
ST - Ibehre, Wyke.

So that's 14 confirmed, with 2 offered (*).

Lambe predominantly a RW?

CCU wrote:
Think he does play RW, but he is left footed(so I'm told) so you'd assume he can play LW as well.

Likewise Adams, right footed but he's played a lot LW. Think he played LW against us at Sixfields last season if i remember rightly.

Can't believe we actually have 2 wingers. Can us scoring a few this year

As of 6th June 2016 - Will be updated when additions are made...

GK - Gillespie.
RB - Miller*, McQueen*.
LB - Grainger, Brough.
CB - Atkinson, Ellis, Raynes.
CM - Joyce, Kennedy, McKee, Penn.
WING - Adams, Lambe, Devitt.
ST - Ibehre, Wyke.

So that's 15 confirmed, with 2 offered (*).

Wingers under 1 Category now!

Lots of creativity in that squad now. Adams and Devitt can also play in that "number 10" role if need be. Looking good so far. A couple of pacey strikers and a centre back as well as Miller and McQueen signing, we'll be looking very strong.

Seeing highlights of Lambe and Devitt, it looks quite clear to me that we're going to be playing 4-3-2-1 this year. Football has changed, Lambe and Devitt are 'wide men', but if you look at the positions they pop up in, they're going to roam around a lot infield.

That, and the fact that in all of the interviews with Dykes and Curle suggesting that they have a very clear system that they want to play, I can't see anything different. Focal point of a striker, 2 'wide men' behind him who are free to roam, and then 3 midfielders in the middle.

All positive stuff at the moment.