Squad Shape

So at the moment the squad looks a little like this

Goalkeepers
23. Luke McCormick
21. James Bittner

Defence
4. Carl McHugh
6.Peter Hartley
5. Curtis Nelson
19. Aaron Bentley
16. Ben Purrington
2. Kelvin Mellor
3. Gary Sawyer

Midfield
7. Lee Cox
22. Callum Hall
11. Gregg Wylde
10. Graham Carey
? Josh Simpson

Strikers
18. Deane Smalley
17. Ryan Brunt
9. Reuben Reid
24. Louis Rooney
15. Tyler Harvey
14. Jake Jervis

For me The only obvious area that still needs strengthening before the window closes is the Midfield. More central options needed and poss someone natural on the right side of midfield. Also a cover at right back in defence too.

I can see one or two leaving before the window as i cant see Del Bhey wanting to carry 6 strikers.

What's Smalleys injury status? Is he gonna be fit to start pre-season?

What's Smalleys injury status? Is he gonna be fit to start pre-season?

Czarcasm wrote:

What's Smalleys injury status? Is he gonna be fit to start pre-season?

There has been no updates on him since he got the injury but im guessing he will be at pre season tomorrow if only to do light training as he wont be 100% at all regardless.

Squad numbers for next season have been released (captain wamkspasm mode) they are now included in the list above.

look how far we've come #stripesareback #fap

No number 1 ?

You say 6 strikers Angry, but one's on his first pro contract, another is still young and learning, another is out injured and shite, so it only really leaves us with three - although I do accept that Jervis and Brunt seem fairly similar players on paper, Reid also at a push. Don't forget Reubs is potentially out for the start of the season also!

SwimWithTheTide wrote:

You say 6 strikers Angry, but one's on his first pro contract, another is still young and learning, another is out injured and shite, so it only really leaves us with three - although I do accept that Jervis and Brunt seem fairly similar players on paper, Reid also at a push. Don't forget Reubs is potentially out for the start of the season also!

Are you suggesting we dont play youth :O dont let ejh hear you say that  

Regardless of the nitty gritty there are 6 in the squad at present and when they are all fit 1 or 2 of them will be moved on as Del Bhey will not be able to keep 5 strikers happy with the number of game time they will want even if Rooney not expecting to play at all. Smalley would be the one i would pay up now and finish off strengthening the midfield and find cover for right back.

i havent looked yet but has the fact Cox has been given number 7:affraid: next season ended the farms obession with Norris coming back?

I thing this way give you a better way how the squad stands and could line up.




1            -
2            Kelvin Mellor
3            Gary Sawyer 
4            Carl McHugh 
5            Curtis Nelson 
6            Peter Hartley 
7            Lee Cox
8            -
9            Reuben Reid
10           Graham Carey
11           Gregg Wylde
12           Green Army
13           - 
14           Jake Jervis 
15           Tyler Harvey 
16           Ben Purrington
17           Ryan Brunt 
18           Deane Smalley
19           Aaron Bentley
20           -
21           James Bittner 
22           Callum Hall  
23           Luke McCormick
24           Louis Rooney

Tgwu wrote:

I thing this way give you a better way how the squad stands and could line up.




1            -
2            Kelvin Mellor
3            Gary Sawyer 
4            Carl McHugh 
5            Curtis Nelson 
6            Peter Hartley 
7            Lee Cox
8            -
9            Reuben Reid
10           Graham Carey
11           Gregg Wylde
12           Green Army
13           - 
14           Jake Jervis 
15           Tyler Harvey 
16           Ben Purrington
17           Ryan Brunt 
18           Deane Smalley
19           Aaron Bentley
20           -
21           James Bittner 
22           Callum Hall  
23           Luke McCormick
24           Louis Rooney

how is it better you just cut and pasted it from the website plus squad dont really mean anything like they used to back in the day so because a central midfielder has 7 doesnt mean he is playing on the wing.

Interesting that Adams has kept number 8 available....has he got someone in mind ?

My wife understands it better and I said could be the way the team line up.
I nearly said when I posted it, bowing to Angry supreme knowledge but I like it this way

zyph wrote:

Interesting that Adams has kept number 8 available....has he got someone in mind ?

obviously means Norris is coming back or Walton

Czarcasm wrote:

What's Smalleys injury status? Is he gonna be fit to start pre-season?

Seems he was at preseason today and took part judging by the photos on the website [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Who is #25 in photo 5?

Chemical Ali wrote:

Who is #25 in photo 5?

Ryan Lane a player from the youth team who was given an extended year in the academy in the summer due to a knee injury he had last year.

Number 8 on way

Quote DM

He said: "We are hopeful of doing one more this week. That would take us up to five signings.

"It's something we need, just to strengthen the core of the squad.

"We have got a good core of the squad just now, and we have got a number of younger players in there as well."

Asked by Herald Sport whether his next recruit would be a central midfielder, Adams replied: "It probably would, yes."

That is the area of the squad which currently appears to need the most strengthening between now and the season-opening trip to AFC Wimbledon.

Angry wrote:

Chemical Ali wrote:

Who is #25 in photo 5?

Ryan Lane a player from the youth team who was given an extended year in the academy in the summer due to a knee injury he had last year.

Thanks its now on the official site.

Will Josh Simpson be #8? (see new signing thread)

Chemical Ali wrote:

Angry wrote:

Chemical Ali wrote:

Who is #25 in photo 5?

Ryan Lane a player from the youth team who was given an extended year in the academy in the summer due to a knee injury he had last year.

Thanks its now on the official site.

Will Josh Simpson be #8? (see new signing thread)

if he wants it he can be

Cant edit my post to include Josh Simpson into the midfield section but i hope he is one of a couple more central midfielders to sign up.

Angry wrote:

Cant edit my post to include Josh Simpson into the midfield section but i hope he is one of a couple more central midfielders to sign up.

Done

Chemical Ali wrote:

Angry wrote:

Cant edit my post to include Josh Simpson into the midfield section but i hope he is one of a couple more central midfielders to sign up.

Done

thankyou

The arrival of Simpson and the addition of Ryan Lane gives us a 21 player squad at present. If we assume that 22 is the optimum squad size then we can't expect many more arrivals unless others leave.

Who might the 22nd man be? My money is on Norris but that rumour has been knocking around for a while now and the deal isn't done yet... I wonder why not?

Either way the luxury of having an almost complete squad of players as pre-season starts augurs well.

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

The arrival of Simpson and the addition of Ryan Lane gives us a 21 player squad at present. If we assume that 22 is the optimum squad size then we can't expect many more arrivals unless others leave.

Who might the 22nd man be? My money is on Norris but that rumour has been knocking around for a while now and the deal isn't done yet... I wonder why not?

Either way the luxury of having an almost complete squad of players as pre-season starts augurs well.

ryan is training with the first team as part of his rehab after a lengthy knee injury he is still part of the yts.

I think 2 central midfielders and someone who can play right back to allow Mellor to play as a winger is the only needed aareas to strengthen and i think the squad will be set. Having said that I still believe del bhey will move one or two on to make room for additional players to come in.

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

The arrival of Simpson and the addition of Ryan Lane gives us a 21 player squad at present. If we assume that 22 is the optimum squad size then we can't expect many more arrivals unless others leave.

Who might the 22nd man be? My money is on Norris but that rumour has been knocking around for a while now and the deal isn't done yet... I wonder why not?

Either way the luxury of having an almost complete squad of players as pre-season starts augurs well.

I hope we dont sign Norris, he wont be the Norris of old so i would look to someone younger, with Simpson joining and possibly injury prone i think we need young legs in midfield to be on the safe side, someone who can play forty odd games a season.