STFC Transfer Rumours

[Riddick]

Less than 5 new signings to challenge the 1st team starting slots would be poor IMO, possibly even more.

I would expect maybe maybe 5 first team starters to be signed, with 5-6 more to challenge.

First team gaps we have in my eyes are GK, LWB, CB, CM and probably a Striker honestly (not convinced with the Austin/RHM/Wakeling combo)

[Ƭ̵̬̊: The Artist Formerly Known as CWIG]

It really is more a case of quality over quantity. But the longer we go without anything decent looking the more fans will get restless.

[DV]

I’ve said time and time again
We need a new spine. The rest for me is good enough.

As I keep saying having a competent manager will help. We can blame the players all we want (some justified) but Lindsey was out of his depth and Morris was complete garbage.
A lot should improve just be having a season under their belt.

[DMC]

I’ve said time and time again
We need a new spine. The rest for me is good enough.

As I keep saying having a competent manager will help. We can blame the players all we want (some justified) but Lindsey was out of his depth and Morris was complete garbage.
A lot should improve just be having a season under their belt.

Spot on DV . A proper CM and a old school defender or 2 plus a few other starters.

I think the front 3 if fit will scorer goals. I think when you look at their goal return to games last year they did that and lets be honest that was with only one real player supplying them.

GM in midfield will be an asset if we can get a player in the Anthony Grant mould to allow him to play further forward.

[Audrey]

A lot has been said about our petite midfielders. One name linked is Kinsella ex Walsall. He’s very much a ‘get stuck in’ midfielder who’s limited going forward. Sounds the right sort - but he’s tiny. Should physical size come into it?

We really do need to be scoring more from set pieces - corners in particular. So a big, powerful fucker in at CB.

I do hope we get Minturn involved on a regular basis.

[DV]

Spot on DV . A proper CM and a old school defender or 2 plus a few other starters.

I think the front 3 if fit will scorer goals. I think when you look at their goal return to games last year they did that and lets be honest that was with only one real player supplying them.

GM in midfield will be an asset if we can get a player in the Anthony Grant mould to allow him to play further forward.

For me: I’d be happy with

GK: x2
CB: 6ft+ the more agricultural type. Ideally close (either side tbh) to 30 with at least 100+ games under his belt.
LWB: only if Flynn is going to play 352. Prefer a left footer. If Devine can stay fit and play like he did in his one game - he’s practically a new signing here!
CM: Antony Grant/Jonathan Douglas type. Same as the CB really. Less technical more physical. Close to 6ft, 30 & 100+ games.
ST: Big Lump target man.

…that based on Flynn going 352.
If he wants to go 442 we’ll need at least 3 wingers (but probably not another ST or LWB) If he wants to go 433 we need some wide forwards. I rate our striking options Austin/Wakeling/RHM but think they are all at their best centrally and we lose a bit of them by pushing two of them out wide in 433. One of our downfalls last year.

Sure, more (decent) players and more competition for places is always welcome but as a minimum I’d be happy with 6 new players. Excluding any first team outgoings that would need replacing.

[UTR]

Spot on DV . A proper CM and a old school defender or 2 plus a few other starters.

I think the front 3 if fit will scorer goals. I think when you look at their goal return to games last year they did that and lets be honest that was with only one real player supplying them.

GM in midfield will be an asset if we can get a player in the Anthony Grant mould to allow him to play further forward.

Am I alone in not rating our current front 3 as a unit? Austin will no doubt score goals and RHM/Wakeling will get an acceptable number if played straight down the middle but watching Wakeling and RHM out wide was painful last season and if we want to go a front 3 route then I’d like some proper wingers or Shade to show why we signed him.

[RobertT]

Am I alone in not rating our current front 3 as a unit? Austin will no doubt score goals and RHM/Wakeling will get an acceptable number if played straight down the middle but watching Wakeling and RHM out wide was painful last season and if we want to go a front 3 route then I’d like some proper wingers or Shade to show why we signed him.

I think you can make a front two work from the three - but you need the delivery players wide brought in for that (either wingers or wing backs, depending on preferred formation).  If you want a front three, then two of them miss out and you need some wide forwards.

[DV]

Am I alone in not rating our current front 3 as a unit? Austin will no doubt score goals and RHM/Wakeling will get an acceptable number if played straight down the middle but watching Wakeling and RHM out wide was painful last season and if we want to go a front 3 route then I’d like some proper wingers or Shade to show why we signed him.

If we are playing 2 up front. Then I’m not sure you’d find a better depth chart than Austin, Wakeling & RHM.

If we are going 3 up then you’d only be making the best use of one of those three (you’d assume Austin) and you’d need proper wide forwards either side - like McKirdy & Barry under Garner.

[Riddick]

Am I alone in not rating our current front 3 as a unit? Austin will no doubt score goals and RHM/Wakeling will get an acceptable number if played straight down the middle but watching Wakeling and RHM out wide was painful last season and if we want to go a front 3 route then I’d like some proper wingers or Shade to show why we signed him.

You are not alone. Not sure i rate them as a unit or to be able to get the right 2 out of.

RHM i like a lot, depends on injuries this season.
Wakeling started last season great up top, but not sure he is strong enough honestly, still young though. I have Wakeling as a prospect not a dependable player now.
Austin is a goalscorer but i have concerns over his fitness and ability to play regularly this season, it would be the same for most strikers of his age.

So yeah on paper you look at it and think we need 1, but i think more likely you need 2 honestly.

[Riddick]

I think you can make a front two work from the three - but you need the delivery players wide brought in for that (either wingers or wing backs, depending on preferred formation).  If you want a front three, then two of them miss out and you need some wide forwards.

A lot of people suggested last season they all needed a physical 'target' man next to them last year. You dont agree? I worry about the lack of threat in behind with a target man and austin (subject to the target man of course, a Simpson type can do both).

[RobertT]

Depends how we play - if we have wide delivery, then no, a target man is not needed.  If we want to play direct, then yes, we do not have a hold-up player down the middle.  If we want to play like we did in the Garner season, we need two wide attacking players, like DV suggested.

The full set is not in the squad to make any of those work, just yet.  What we recruit depends on how we want to play and what options we want to change it.

[RobertT]

I also concur we lack a spine - GK, CD, CM.  The foundations are poor.  It may only be five players, but those are the trickiest five to recruit at times - we've failed miserably in those positions, many a time.

[DV]

If we are planning on going 352 and whipping balls into the ball then i think we could get by without a target man.

In an ideal world I’d still like us to sign one - to give us that option but don’t think it’s vital and would be down my list of priorities.

[Jimmy Quinn]

Not all of us I would rather wait and see! All joking aside if we can't discuss / have an opinion there is no forum.