Crusoe

...please limit the loanees. If we have to have any then they should be talented Premier youngsters who will stay for the season. We have a very young squad as it is and we have had a revolving door on the front for too long. I can clearly see the benefit of bringing in the odd one for the season providing they're really good quality, as quality counts and is hard to come by in this division in any other form. But, no more than one or two, PLEASEEEEEEEE.

BFJ - while I don't disagree with the underlying sentiment, unless we have more strength in depth (and bear in mind the costs that involves), I don't think there'll be much of a reduction in loan signings. Other than Bertrand and Kilkenny, and arguably Jarrett, our loan signings have been to cover a lack of strength in depth or cover for key positions. I think loans are a fact of life for clubs with our budget.

Ah, good question, but I'm really not sure. I'd wait to see who gets released and cherry-pick that lot. As for spending cash money on a transfer fee, only for the central midfielder and possibly a winger (as they'd both be first choice) - the rest could be released players (like Hazell last year). I know a few names have been thrown around but I'm torn as to whether to settle for the first that comes to mind and is available, or to wait for exactly the right player.

I don't know. Being to name replacements would mean understanding:

- Who's available.

- Who Sheridan wants.

- How much money their club wants.

- What package the player or their agent wants.

- Whether they'd fit in the culture/dressing room atmosphere here.

- Whether they and their family want to move to Oldham.

- Whether they want to come here.

Short answer: I'd love to see players who would improve our squad, but I've no idea realistically of exactly who could fill those roles.

GK (understudy to Norm)

Left Back

Creative Midfielder

Left Sided Midfielder

Left Winger

Striker

 

Definitely the areas where we're weak in.

As for team for next season, again using what I'd like vs what's realistic:

Would like

Crossley/GK TBD

Eardley

Lomax/DL TBD

Hazell

Gregan/DC TBD

Taylor

MC TBD

Allott

ML TBD

Davies

Hughes

Crossley/GK TBD

Gregan/DC TBD/Black

McDonald/Kalala

Smalley/Liddell

Alessandra/FC TBD

Realistic

Crossley

Eardley

Lomax

Hazell

Gregan

Smalley/Taylor

Allott

MC TBD

Taylor/ML TBD

Davies

Hughes

GK TBD

Black/DC TBD

McDonald/Kalala

Liddell

Alessandra/FC TBD

the same number of words per post, Ross averages 1000+

Quantity and quality, you lucky people

firefox still has to many incompatability issues with a lot of websites

Really? Maybe I've been lucky, it works with everything I use (including Outlook Web Access). I'd also argue that it's the websites not working with Firefox rather than the other way round (too many were built to only work with IE, which until the next version isn't a well-designed or standards-compliant browser), but I know that's no help when you need something to work.

WOW Crusoe have you been socialising with BB80 (Sorry Ross!)

Not that I know of, why, are we saying the same things?

My tuppence-worth on the state of our squad. Assumptions: we're still in this division next season, and none of our better players get snapped up in the summer (possible, but not something I can predict). I'm sure theres plenty to disagree with in here...

Goalkeepers

Crossley will get another year, I reckon, as a goalkeeper/coach. If he left Sheridan would have to find two new goalkeepers and get them settled in (and we've seen that it can take a while to get a settled team). I've not seen Bell play but wouldn't be surprised if he moved on to be replaced with a new sub keeper (or even a new first choice, with Crossley moving to a sub/coach role). On the other hand, Bell and Ollerenshaw could share reserve and youth duties.

Defence

Fine at right back (Eardley, Lomax, Hazell). Weaker at left back (Lomax, Stam I suspect could leave). Black looks good but Sheridan may want more strength in depth so he's not expected to play too many games too young. Definitely need another centre back even if Thompson stays (which I'm not keen on, but he's contracted and kicking him out may be a costly option). We've got six experienced defenders (including Lomax) and Black as an up-and-coming player; I think we need to plan for at least two being injured at any one time (Stam and Gregan, for example). I like Stam but a combination of injury record and the odd dodgy game may see him leave. While I wouldn't want to see Thompson leave just out of spite the jury is still out (not even in the same bloody court room).

Midfield

Move Taylor to his proper position and get somebody in on the other side. Liddell may be a creative force and an experienced head under pressure but I would still rather see someone with pace and trickery on the wing to pressure opposition defences into mistakes (kind of Beckham vs Bentley/Wright-Phillips). If we don't sign any wingers I'd expect it to be Taylor and Smalley (Liddell on the bench).

Allott's been a star man but needs a creative player alongside him and a defensive player for backs-to-the-wall games. I was hoping Kalala could be the latter but he's not shown it consistently enough so far; he's under contract so I'm not sure he'll be leaving, but I think he'll be a squad player. McDonald I like but I'm not sure what it is he does best, so perhaps another squad player. It may be slightly controversial but I'm not convinced that signing Jarrett and/or Livermore is the answer; neither is the creative linchpin nor the defensive rock that I think we need. Both would be high-class squad players. I also think that if Sheridan was serious about Livermore he'd have offered him something already or given enough assurances that Livermore's loan wouldn't have ended. For some reason I'm also not convinced Jarrett is mad keen on signing permanently (something in his interview after signing on loan gave me the impression that he's hoping this spell will put him in the shop window for another Championship club).

Forwards

Davies and Hughes will be first-choice, with Alessandra on the bench (at least until one of the first two gets injured or has a bad run of form). Assuming he signs a new deal (I'd be amazed if he hasn't been offered one) Smalley will be another backup. Wolfenden's under contract but I could see him let go or offered out on loan; I think his time is up and we need a more proven striker, not another fairly-promising-but-not-there-yet youngster.

Signings

What I'd like: new keeper (sub or first-choice); new centre-back/utility defender to replace Stam; new centre-back/utility defender to replace Thompson; utility full-back (utility is important to give us the ability to rotate with Eardley, Lomax and Black for injuries, rests, etc); creative central midfielder; defensive midfielder; two wingers; decent striker. This would mean clearing out Stam, Thompson, Kalala, Wolfenden, probably Kelly and Pearson too.

What I think is realistic: new keeper; new centre-back/utility defender; creative central midfielder; striker. Thompson and Kalala to stay; Stam I really don't know; Wolfenden to leave or being loaned out.

Out of contract:

Crossley

Stam

McDonald

Pearson

Liddell

Kelly

Smalley

Lomax signed a three-year deal so he's staying.

Cheers LL, message sent.

Bumping this - anyone have both the Roger Rap and Boys In Blue?

What do you think is wrong with Firefox? Don't work for them and not blind to their faults, but it's a lot more customisable than Opera.

What bb80 said. Technically good, not good enough to score goals. The next Carlos Roca.

Let me get this straight: an injured player from a struggling Scottish team may have decided to sign elsewhere? One that our own club has mentioned nothing about signing? You know, maybe we'll miss out and maybe he's a very good player but I'll not be crying myself to sleep tonight or screaming for Hardy's head on a pole.

But to spend all of that money on a non-league striker is a huge gamble, and for every Wayne Andrews there's a Steve Whitehall.

The risk we face is that the top level of non-league players are often expensive (reputedly in many cases on a par with League Two wages) and the very best prospects are often subject to interest from several clubs. To find the real bargains you have to look lower still, but you need the scouting network and you need to believe that those players can make the step up.

Wasn't it Michel Vonk, not Christian?

Wegerle was born in South Africa, although he moved to the US. According to Wikipedia (so take with a pinch of salt) John Kerr at Portsmouth was the first American, but it looks like Wegerle was at Chelsea earlier.

I can't even think who'd come close to Gunnar. Kowenicki I don't remember (too young), Orlygsson wasn't the best we've ever had (although I thought he was alright).

Killen? Nope. Hodgson? Not here long enough. Pedersen? Ditto. Clyde W? Good, but not here long enough to be great.

Aha! One just sprung to mind:

Pogs! He'd be up there close to Halle for me. Quality keeper on his day.

Halle, definitely, but even I'd hesitate at top 100. He was a solid utility player for us, not a matchwinner or trophy winner (although I'd question why Wegerle and Latapy are in that top 100!).

How do you know he wasn't?

Of course you could be right and we've not spotted him, but it occasionally irritates me when there's an assumption that just because someone's not turned out on trial or been the subject of a failed bid that we've ignored them completely.

Firefox or Opera.

Both are faster and generally more secure than Internet Explorer (although no browser is completely secure).

I prefer Firefox as it has a vast range of add-ons (for example, I use one add-on that blocks all adverts from all websites once you've configured it, one that checks my email for me, one that blocks unwanted scripts, one that uses my email account as an extra drive, and many more). I have heard that the latest Opera is slightly faster, but Firefox is due a new version later this year that may be faster still. Both are a lot more user-friendly and customisable than Internet Explorer.

Safari had some very poor reviews when it was released for Windows (it's been an Apple product for a long time) but I don't know if it's improved since then. Apple have also come in for a lot of criticism for bundling it with iTunes as if you have to have it.

Yes, I'd tend to agree that Wolfy's not done enough to be a viable long-term solution. When lads younger than him are preferred up front it's not a stretch to see the writing on the wall. I'd hang on to him for the remaining year of his contract (strength in depth and all that), farm him out on loan and see if he comes good elsewhere.

Personally, I think it would be foolish to cash in. He's young, decent at the level we play (and hopefully above too), I doubt is on extortionate wages, doesn't have a bad injury or disciplinary record, and could well get better with time. We may not be flushed with cash but I don't see that cashing in is necessary (at least until summer 2009 when he has a year left on his contract, and that's assuming he doesn't sign an extension).

Lomax and Black look like good prospects at full-back, but if there's one thing this season is likely to show us it's that strength in depth can make the difference between play-offs and mid-table finishes. For whatever reason you care to name (some kind of bizarre intransigence on Shez's part, lack of quality players, extortionate demands from available players, I've no idea) we don't have a great record of snapping up quality replacements in a hurry, so I'd be loathe to start selling the decent players we do have.

...if he leaves us high n dry after all the club has done for him then in my opinion it would be good riddance...

Eh? I'd be disappointed to see him go, but we've hardly done badly from him - 80 games and a reasonable fee. Not sure why that would count as a massive betrayal.

Maybe I'm the only one, but I never thought Beharall was that bad. Not great, sure, but we've had many worse defenders in recent memory.