I continue to think, much as I have sinece last season, that we lack three key ingredients:
An organiser at the back - someone who can sit in the middle of the three, but be just as capable in a four who has games under their belt. Ideally some height on them and a player who has maybe got promotion from this division before but, to keep it realistic, isn't really up to League One. The sort of player you upgrade when you get there, but is vital to make that happen.
A physical presence in midfield, an athlete type. Doesn't have to be as experienced as the CB, but certainly not someone who is raw. A player who knows when to just sit in or when feathers need ruffling and even our own players need a bit of a kick.
A different type of forward - probably a Simpson type.
Nobody should be leaving, we cannot cover as it is and we will see suspensions this season from yellow cards. Longer term maybe a loan for Minturn and Shade could do with replacing with someone else who can play football.
Given what we were told on budget, experience and how many left, my expectation was we'd have the room to do the above without the need to see others depart.
What we have is enough to fight to be around the Play Offs from the little I have seen. That final flourish gets us into the discussion for top three with a fair wind.
I think we all, and Flynn included would agree with this, but honestly i don't expect it to happen. I believe he lost out on people to fill almost all the slots you have identified and we have made alternate arrangements.
In a cash strapped squad for example you have to accept that we have 6 CB's on the book now (UGM, FBT, Clayton, Brewitt, Ward and Minturn) i don't see how we can afford a 7th. Though i think it right to question if Ward is up to the task after just a couple of games. I would have preferred experience there.
A physical midfield player would have been nice, but again i don't see the gap now. I would suggest we are a body light here, but its the attacking side we are missing. There is nobody to compete with Kemp, if you accept Cain/Kinsella as decent back up for Khan/McEachran. Again the real question here is was Kinsella the right signing? He has experience and fights for the ball, so kind of, but not of the physicality many wanted.
We have 4 bodies for the striking positions. It sounds like Flynn has changed his tune on needing another body here, but wait and see. Young looks like he has something certainly.
I think the ultimate truth is at this level, that given we want to 'play football' and pass/press the ball quickly, if you have a player with that technique and ability, and they are over 6 foot and physical, then they are playing in a higher league! Your choice sadly is physical and shit, or technically good and weak.
