Are you...........

Marginally optimistic - this is based on the the key challenge re the coaches we have and can they blend all these players into a team format that works. Shame is I think the signings this week would help create more chances for Charlie than last season but odds stacked he will not be with us - so potentially the most important signing is yet to come. If we can get a quality replacement might go from marginal to cautiously optimistic but so much depends on the coaches and whether they have the ability to make their mark

 

Do we get points for guessing which poster voted What?

 

Honestly, I've got no idea.

On the positive side...
- As far as recruitment goes then it does look like we've strengthened from this time last year, it's hard to say for certain if we've upgraded the first XI but there's certainly more strength in depth throughout the spine of the team.
- Major investment in the pitch
- A young, hungry coaching team who seem to have gone down with the players (and judging by how pissed off Doyle was when he got canned, he didn't see us as a complete basket case which is a good sign.)

On the negative side...
- We seem to have some sort of aversion to experienced full backs. Looking at the squad numbers, recruitment is done and dusted barring a No 7 (and maybe a No 9) but perhaps even more so than last year we look precariously light of options for LB and RB.
- The "independent" part of recruitment committee has been lost. The idea is that managers/coaches come and go but the recruitment committee is constant so there's continuity in the recruitment strategy. It's only a matter of time before Collins, Abbott and Drury leave and when they do, we're back in the situation we were in when Parky left and took everybody and everything with him.
- Edin has lost the trust of the fans and the farcical process of finding the replacement for Grayson means that Collins is going to have no more than a very brief honeymoon period. If we don't start well then things will turn toxic very quickly and we'll be in for a rough ride.

 

Looking at the squad I’m optimistic. I think we have the makings of a decent looking team, but some of that optimism is based on “paper” as I’ve not seen half of the signings play.

Couple that with my apprehension about the coaching/management setup, I am cautiously optimistic.

 

It's a big ask for them lads in their first season without doubt.

 

Marginally optimistic.

We’ve signed a helluva lot of players and they may need time to gel, aside from a having a rookie manager. But somehow I feel we’re in a better position with the team overall than last year.

 

I’d take a talented coaching team over young and hungry one with unknown qualities any day. Youth is wasted on the young and being hungry is sh!t.

 

I always get excited when we sign new players. Not sure we should be too excited by many of our recruitments. It feels like a scatter gun approach where we are trying to sign someone who we will make a profit from. The key is the goal scorer. Find a 20 goal forward and we could have a decent season without promotion but at the moment we don’t look like we have any goals in us. As for the coaching, we are all going in blind. Let’s hope Collins is the next big thing. Will he be our special one or our forgotten one? The only thing we know is that if it goes bad he will be the fallguy one.

Despite the huge number of signings, it’s been a depressing period within the club from the end of the season until now. Really hope Collins deserves his appointment and our Emporer let’s him show us all why he is our chosen one. This is n’t the way to do it but I really hope it works.

 

TBF, there were a fair few on here pleased with our recruits last summer too. I remember the hype towards McCartan and his 11 goals in half a season. Some rated Reeves highly and thought he was a good signing for this level. And who can forget the praise lavished on both Taylor and Thompson (best player at Southend blah blah).

The fact is, until this squad have played a dozen games, we won’t see the best of the players and especially in the most suitable formation

 

I don't really have a problem with the coaches, I think having a new approach and methods of training/tactics/ideas is a very good thing and works along with the model that the club are trying to install.

As for player recruitment and loans - very surprised at the quality coming in. I think 2 or 3 will leave before the window and players like Patrick, Devine may leave on loan which is good for them to get game time. If Wyke leaves we need to replace with similar quality and if we get Scannel then that is another very positive signing.

Not stupid enough to predict promotion or even top 6 but I do believe we'll be in the top 10 and progressing as a squad for the following season.

 

We’re on our way, league 2 we’re on our way

 

So.. That's you and Fordy.. Who is the third doom monger.?

 

We'll be needing four if we're to have an Apocalypse.