TOPIC: Squad for 2016/17 Thread

Looks more like 4 - 2 - 3 -1 to me, especially with Curle's liking for dogged central midfielders, but agree with your comments.
Having 2 wingers in a middle three leaves it too open for Curle's mo.
Most importantly, it looks like there is actually a plan, which is novel over the last few years.

A 4-4-2 from what we've got so far.

Gillespie
Miller Raynes Ellis Grainger
Adams Penn Kennedy Devitt
Wyke Jabo

Subs Keeper, Atkinson, Brough, Joyce, McQueen, McKee, Lambe,

So we'll need a keeper, another centre half, left back and two strikers giving us a squad of around 22.

From the players we have...

All of these line ups look strong, on paper and going with what we've heard about the new guys anyway, so initial impressions promise better than what we had last season, so all very encouraging so far with the added bonus of more signings to come. If these coming signings are of the quality of those we've signed so far and are genuine first team contenders rather than just squad players to make up the numbers, whoopee-do, even better

Still the same defence that let a shed load of goals in last season.... we are going to have to score a hell of a lot of goals even to make the play offs. The new signings are excellent but still haven't addressed the key issue in the team... the leaky, error prone, defence.

I think the added width will help the defence out as there will be 2 willing to track back either side rather that grainger/miller being left 1v1 constantly.

I really like how the squad is taking shape

Devitt, Adams and Lambe - brought in to add the width and creativity missing last season
Penn - coming in with plenty of experience, probably not on a huge salary but expect him to have a big influence in the dressing room with more experienced players such as Raynes, Grainger, Joyce and Kennedy
McKee - not sure what to make of him but the scouting has been so good i'll remain optimistic
When you consider the players who were released we've got good upgrades, with experience and proven ability at this level.

Next steps:
Experienced keeper
Miller/McQueen to sign their contracts
Striker

There is a good experienced spine to the squad now with some real leaders
grainger, Raynes, Joyce, Kennedy, Penn, Ibehre.
Am growing in confidence for next season.

The good thing about McQueen and Grainger is they can operate as wingers as well if we get an injury. McQueen can obviously cover left back as well, Atkinson right back.

With no emergency loans next season, It's important we have players like this in our squad who can switch positions if/when we get injuries or suspensions.

Ok, pick a starting 11 based on what we have so far (assuming TMiller and McQueen stay).

As of 17th June 2016

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

So that's 16 confirmed, with 2 offered (*).

As of 22nd June 2016

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

So that's 17 confirmed, with 2 offered (*).

Whether Miller and McQueen turn up for training tomorrow or not will give us a good idea of their intentions.

crunchblue wrote:
The way i.m reading it is that theyve both verbally agreed and said i.ll sign when i turn up on the 23rd as no action from us in their positions and no signs of either of them being linked with anyone else.

But then again i could be completely wrong and theve just both signed for Real Madrid.

As of 27th June 2016:

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

OFFER - McQueen.

So that's 18 confirmed, with 1 offered.

A centre back has to be the priority now. It's the weakest area of the team and would cost us promotion if left as it is imo.

Atkinson is good but he's weak in the air, Raynes is a beast in the air but can be like bambi on ice. Ellis is poor all round.

I'd like a real top centre back for this level to play alongside Atkinson and have Raynes as back up or for if we come up against an absolute hoof it team.

crunchblue wrote:
Our best centre half's for years. god we've had some awful players.

Ellis fell over twice in his debut and seems to be still getting stick for it. Good player IMO and with what we have currently, should start.

Must have been hard for Ellis to grasp the playing out from the back half way through a season. The rest of them had a full pre season to get used to it.

Hopefully we wont be defending as much as previous seasons and keeping the ball better than gifting it back to opposition

I think we have some solid defenders at this level and given the hopefully improved quality further up the field I reckon we will be fine at the back

obviously if someone out there better and available all well and good

I'd love Ellis to prove me wrong.

TheLazyLewisGuy wrote:
We were still struggling to play it out come April!

CCU wrote:
Look at Plymouth last season when they were working as an effective unit the Centre backs looked like world beaters but when the rest of the team werent doing what they were supposed to be they looked very average.

I think in a team when the opposition will be kept pretty busy dealing with what our midfield/wide players will be throwing at them Ellis and Raynes will step up to the mark next season.

And i like them both as men they come over very well lads who accept theyre league two two footballers [ not wannabe Lionel Messis with chips on their shoulders ] who just want to get on with their jobs and enjoy doing it