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Simpo

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Posts posted by Simpo

  1. To me, it's looking like a 4-4-2 Diamond, maybe something like this:

               (SIGNING)
    
    MCLAUG. GERRARD  CLARKE  HUNT
       |       (SIGNING)      |
       |   BANKS       GREEN  |
       V       GARDNER        V 
          HOLLOWAY    DAVIES

    And a 3-5-2, like this

             (SIGNING)
    
       GERRARD CLARKE STOTT
    MCLAUG.                HUNT
      |GARDNER (SIGN.) GREEN |  
      V                      V                      
         HOLLOWAY  DAVIES

    could be our main systems this season. We've certainly got the wing backs for this kind of shape. Obviously hoping Ripley signs and we get this Liam Kelly style of player we seem to be looking for. Maybe the occasional 1 striker set-up if required. 

            (SIGNING)
    
    WILSON GERRARD CLARKE HUNT
            (SIGNING)           
        GARDNER    GREEN   
    MCLAUG.           OBADEYI           
             HOLLOWAY 

    Whoever you like in for Gardner against Oxford, Fane perhaps. Green's deficiencies could be masked in a three. If not, again Fane would probably step in. A lot of fans like Fane, and I do sometimes, but it's easy to confuse the player he is, with the player we want him to be. And there's a wide gap between the two right now. Watch this space. I think they'll give Holloway and Davies every chance to strike up a partnership, Duffus being an impact sub at first, see if he can force his way into the first team. I don't see Osei getting much of a look in barring injuries, especially with Obadeyi able to play up front and getting some goals against non leaguers. Could we convince a National League club to take him on loan and give him regular games?

     

    Now, I like Dummigan, but he needs to prove himself again, and hopefully he does, because he was terrific in that first loan spell, and could let McLaughlin concentrate on attacking. Indeed, those two could torment some left hand sides in this division, if they're on top form. With a resurgent Dummigan I could even see McLaughlin played in behind the front two in the diamond, that really could cause some havoc.

     

    If we sign Ripley, we know how good he is, mid table at least, no danger. The more I mull it over, the more I see what Shez is seeing about a lynchpin kind of midfielder, not only someone who can break up play, but the man who starts off attacks for us. Gets the ball, plays the right pass, off we go. Imagine Liam Kelly at his pomp in this year's side for example. It's gonna be an important signing. That could get us up a few more places in the table. So a lot depends on what business we still have left to do.

     

    The big question mark, the thing that would tip us over into being a top side in what's looking like a competitive division this season. Goals. Can Gardner be the consistent attacking force he wasn't at Chesterfield? Can Banks continue to be the decent midfielder he turned into under Sheridan? It's a few years since Craig Davies was scoring at a fair knock in the Championship, but he's not really had regular football since then. There's no reason he can't turn it on again, unless age (31 now, not exactly ancient) has had that much of a detrimental effect on him. If he can't bag for us, can Duffus, a great unknown? Surely were gonna score plenty more than last season, whatever happens. But enough to see us playing important games at the right end of the table in April and May? That's the big question mark.

     

    Ended up being a bit of a squad analysis there, but I got carried away. Tried to temper excitement a little, but still find reasons to be optimistic.

  2. 5 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

    Think you can sign under embargo, just not increase the number of registered players.

    You definitely can't transfer from another club under an embargo, has to be free agents or loans.

     

    Also, on the topic of a possible fee being a surprise, don't forget, say, £50,000 is the same as £1000 a week in wages over a season. Depends how you want to spend the money you have.

     

    One more thought, maybe the board have drawn up estimated increased away figures from the fixture list, with the Iikes of Wigan and Blackburn and adjusted the budget accordingly.

  3. Adults: £7, Concessions: £4, Accompanied U16’s: FREE

     

    The first friendly is usually one of the worst games of football you're likely to see. But I'm going, because it's cheap, a lovely place to watch football in the sun, and to see how our orange and navy looks in action.

  4. (as first team coach)

     

    Excellent stuff.

     

    With a high retention of players from last season, signing an ex top goalscorer, and bringing in an entire backroom staff with past Latics associations, it's starting to feel like we're gaining an identity again. And I can't think this is accidental on Shez's part, so well done to him.

     

    It's notable that Wellens did commentary on quite a few of our games at the back end of last season, as this was being lined up. So he will be familiar with the squad.

     

    More positivity, where will it end...

  5. 1 hour ago, deyres42 said:

    We have done, often.

     

    It hasn't made much difference.

    I think so. It's the combination of having a squad that finished the season well kept mostly intact, with a manager we know and trust (trust with football matters, not necessarily staying at the club matters!)

     

    Last time this was the case was 2014/15 under Lee Johnson, and we started really well. In and around the playoffs til the Ched Evans nonsense.

     

    Doesn't guarantee success, but it helps.

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