aaronoafc

4 hours ago, Sloshed Joe said:

I came here for transfer rumours 

We want Quigley at Chesterfield.

56 minutes ago, deyres42 said:

Making the playoffs can't be the target, only title challenges will do.

Agree completely. I see talk on Twitter and on here about us trying to make the play offs as if scraping in is the aim. What sort of mindset is this? 
 

We will still probably have the biggest budget, maybe 2nd/3rd after FGR and York. We’ve got a serial promotion winning manager who also will be on a whack to deliver promotion. I’d be surprised if Mellon isn’t one of the highest paid managers in our league AND league 2. We have promotion winners dotted about the squad and players who SHOULD be producing much more. 
 

Just Scraping play offs after another summer can’t be the goal. Of course I’d take 7th now if you offered it as we haven’t had a play off finish in forever, but we should be talking about going for automatic, not hoping we can get a couple of extra points than this season. 

I’m also not saying the squad is ready to win the league, it’s not. I’d like to think it will be a dam sight closer in 6-8 weeks after further recruitment. I know We’re not ready to win the league in terms of the squad, but I’d like to think that’s still the aim. 

52 minutes ago, oafc1955 said:

I’m not really sure I’m looking forward to next season….If we don’t start like a house on fire he’s going to get absolutely slaughtered isn’t he?

Yes. A very good start is key for Micky.

Fans will turn quickly if we don’t, especially if the football is still crap after (I assume!!) further recruitment. 

2 hours ago, GlossopLatic said:

Inih Effiong has just posted on his social media that he is leaving Dagenham this summer if we are looking for a target man.....

Would take him all day long. Always a proper handful and has a goal in him. 

Just now, Hemel latic said:

When do they start pre-season training? I would want the majority of my squad together by that point.

 

It's conjecture but I don't think Norwood coming in so late did us any favours at the start of last season. Brennan Dickenson isn't the best advert for days before the season starts signings. 

Was thinking this the other day. Don’t we usually get them in on like the last Thursday/Fri of June for fitness tests then it starts week after? Probably only 3-4 week away at most. 
 

Few rumours of Hartigan coming in. Would be a very good signing. Did great at Barnet on loan from Mansfield

From Pete O Rourke on Twitter (sports journo):

Oldham striker Kurt Willoughby is set to snub interest from a number of National League and Scottish Championship clubs to stay and fight for his place at Oldham

1 hour ago, League one forever said:

Still a long way to go, but with the released list, Ogle signing and possibly getting stones back.  (With Hudson going to Wigan) The team as is stands- 
 

Norman 

 

Ogle

Rags

Hobson 

Kitch

 

Lundy

Conlon 

Hammond.

AN other 

 

Stones 

Nors. 
 

Bench

Garner 

Sutton 

Sheron

Hogan

Ward

 

Looking to leave

Nuttall

Kurt

Shelton

Reid

The back four looks solid to me, with decent cover for centre half, and right back. Still need cover for Kitch. 
 

That midfield does nothing for me, far too lightweight and all 3 likely to go missing. We desperately need two leaders in there who can dictate and bully, plus some pace in wide areas. 
 

Up front, if the 3 strikers leave I’d just get one more. Four strikers is enough. 
 

So I’d look at another 6 signings.

 

LB cover

Two dominate centre mids

Two wide players

One striker (on top of stones, and if others leave) 

 

With a couple hopefully leaving, that will give us a squad of 24/25. 

Good summary of things mate.

I really hope we get Stones, even if it’s a season loan. We would somehow have to work the deal so they can’t recall or it’s up to the player, as there’s no point bringing him in for him to be amazing for 2 months and Wigan call him back. 
 

I think we’ll get a target man in. I’d honestly try and go for Effiong who is a proper nuisance and knows where the net is (whether he’d come up North is another thing). Rumour is we want Quigley from Cfield though as our target man. 
 

On the midfield I’m really hoping Conlon steps up and becomes like a new signing for us. With him being given the captaincy (expected) he’s got to step it up. I wouldn’t mind recruiting a nasty bastard in CM next to him but he HAS to be able to pass as well as being a bit nasty. We don’t just want a tackler. 
 

2 Wingers are an absolute MUST. Our lack of width last season was a disgrace at times. I’d have gone for Sinclair who has just gone York but I’m sure we have our targets. 
 

Agree on LB Cover. 
 

If Hudson does go we can’t start with Norman, he’s bobbins. 
 

I’m almost as intrigued about who we will/can get rid of as I am signings. Really hoping we can shift a few of the lads who won’t even make the bench. 
 

Say we don’t get Stones and Hudson doesn’t go I’d be trying for: 

2 wingers

2 strikers (1 a target man)

1 CM but a marquee level signing (maybe 2).

LB cover 

1 hour ago, League one forever said:

Still a long way to go, but with the released list, Ogle signing and possibly getting stones back.  (With Hudson going to Wigan) The team as is stands- 
 

Norman 

 

Ogle

Rags

Hobson 

Kitch

 

Lundy

Conlon 

Hammond.

AN other 

 

Stones 

Nors. 
 

Bench

Garner 

Sutton 

Sheron

Hogan

Ward

 

Looking to leave

Nuttall

Kurt

Shelton

Reid

The back four looks solid to me, with decent cover for centre half, and right back. Still need cover for Kitch. 
 

That midfield does nothing for me, far too lightweight and all 3 likely to go missing. We desperately need two leaders in there who can dictate and bully, plus some pace in wide areas. 
 

Up front, if the 3 strikers leave I’d just get one more. Four strikers is enough. 
 

So I’d look at another 6 signings.

 

LB cover

Two dominate centre mids

Two wide players

One striker (on top of stones, and if others leave) 

 

With a couple hopefully leaving, that will give us a squad of 24/25. 

Good summary of things mate.

I really hope we get Stones, even if it’s a season loan. We would somehow have to work the deal so they can’t recall or it’s up to the player, as there’s no point bringing him in for him to be amazing for 2 months and Wigan call him back. 
 

I think we’ll get a target man in. I’d honestly try and go for Effiong who is a proper nuisance and knows where the net is (whether he’d come up North is another thing). Rumour is we want Quigley from Cfield though as our target man. 
 

On the midfield I’m really hoping Conlon steps up and becomes like a new signing for us. With him being given the captaincy (expected) he’s got to step it up. I wouldn’t mind recruiting a nasty bastard in CM next to him but he HAS to be able to pass as well as being a bit nasty. We don’t just want a tackler. 
 

2 Wingers are an absolute MUST. Our lack of width last season was a disgrace at times. I’d have gone for Sinclair who has just gone York but I’m sure we have our targets. 
 

Agree on LB Cover. 
 

If Hudson does go we can’t start with Norman, he’s bobbins. 
 

I’m almost as intrigued about who we will/can get rid of as I am signings. Really hoping we can shift a few of the lads who won’t even make the bench. 
 

Say we don’t get Stones and Hudson doesn’t go I’d be trying for: 

2 wingers

2 strikers (1 a target man)

1 CM but a marquee level signing (maybe 2).

LB cover 

29 minutes ago, Handsy said:

Keep seeing tweets about Josh stones  is there anything in these ?  I know it will probably only be a loan if true. Any of the ITK guys  heard anything 

Apparently Luke Rothwell mentioned to a couple of people at the forum we are after Stones but probably be a loan job if we where to get him it would be later in the window. 
 

Seems to have picked up a bit of steam in the last 24 hours though based on a few tweets (which are usually bollocks granted). 

1 minute ago, Dave_Og said:

Who were they?

Clarke and big shorts

Ogle signed, 2 year deal. 
 

Didn’t we bid for him last summer when he was at Scunny?

30 minutes ago, oafcmb said:

 

 Out of contract 

Ah sound, my bad was looking at the 2023 list. 

Jack Hunter under contract next season so we’d have to pay for him. 
 

Can’t say I know much about him

Did Mellon say early on in the forum he’s having a new hip on June 6th? Feel like he said that but I’ll be honest I was half asleep watching it.

Won’t that put him out of action for weeks if not months? 
 

I know he’s not the one playing but he’d be getting the squad fit about 3 weeks later

Is that ex Pepsi CEO chap still on the board? 

20 minutes ago, Monty Burns said:

liverpool and city haven't bought anybody yet if we are doing random comparisons

Liverpool and City don’t get linked with the same players as latics plus their season hasn’t finished yet FWIW

Speaking of Chesterfield, Joe Quigley from there is linked with us now. 

1 hour ago, Monty Burns said:

FWIW chesterfld arent in our division

I know?
 

Just an example of a lower league team getting some business done early, plus we get linked with the same players half the time

13 minutes ago, GKing521 said:

Last started a game in Feb. Woof. 

Yh a couple Tranmere lads I know said he’s awful

2 minutes ago, mick26 said:

Quite a few signings already made in the National League! Don't mind waiting as long as we get the right players in.

Yeah Chesterfield have announced 3 as well already! 
 

For what it’s worth we didn’t announce our first last year until Lundstram on 6th June. 
 

1 hour ago, BradKnowles1 said:

Are we close to signing anybody yet. Keep being told Paul Lewis from Tranmere fans 

Yeah I’m ready for some proper rumours and a few signings now. Chesterfield signed 3 already. I’m nearly as excited about the ones we bin off as well tbh. 

9 minutes ago, Dave_Og said:

There not being a reduced budget is not the same as being able to spend big as a good chunk of it is taken up by players he doesn't want to be here.

While I’m inclined to agree Darren does say players won’t have to leave in order for us to bring people in.

We should be able to shift a few as well, there will be a few teams out there who will take a punt on some of our lot I’m sure. 

No reduced budget. The big spenders will be at it again
 

https://t.co/rgNU3E9CQo

Bit of noise on Hartigan that Mansfield have let go. Was on loan at Barnet this year. 

2 hours ago, League one forever said:

If the money is right- players will sign. It’s after they sign and start talking to the incumbent squad that worries me. 

Yeah, more often than not it comes down to money. Obviously some have different motivations than others but in football it’s usually the case that money talks. 

I’m not sure where I read this, I think it was an Alty fan group last year as I joined to get a bit more info on Lundstram. A couple of apparent ITK lads at Alty said that Lundstram didn’t really want to leave them but we offered £600 a week more so he couldn’t really turn it down. An extra 2.5k a month on anyones wage (except like championship and above level) is fairly life changing money even at our level.