Signings so far

McGowan looked comfortably better than Kilgallon in his three appearances last season. If Kilgallon does start the campaign ahead of him, it's just a matter of time in my opinion - Kilgallon is bang average, and it was a (very brief) breath of fresh air to have someone with actual defensive quality while we were otherwise leaking goals for fun.

We need to go for a no-nonsense CB pairing, and if O'Connor isn't awful, he should partner McGowan IMO.

 

I think we'll be playing 3 central defenders personally. And from what I saw at guiseley, O'Connor looks like the no nonsense centre half we've been missing.

 

I'm a fan of Kilgallon's to be honest. I think things would have been far worse last season were it not for him. As you say though, not sure whether that was just a decent player in amongst a set of bad ones.

I didn't see enough of McGowan to think that he would be one of our starting centre backs to be honest. He was a breath of fresh air in the games I did see him in before his injury but I'll wait and see what he can do on a consistent basis. Just another thing to look out for come the start of the season!

 

He reminds me of Wetherall. Has class, has ability, was clearly a good player, but is sliding down the leagues.

Killa and NKP were completely ineffective, and it's not all NKP's fault - they'd have been lovely to play against for any credible striker.

 

I can see that comparison. Certainly seemed like an organiser like Wetherall was. I do look forward to seeing him getting a good number of games under his belt.

Agreed on last season's pairing. I think there was a complete lack of trust across the whole back four really but I still think Kilgallon has something to offer. NKP on the other hand has quite the slide from his first season.

As @bantam2708 says though, it wouldn't surprise me if we went with a back three of McGowan, O'Connor & Kilgallon.

 

As @bantam2708 says though, it wouldn't surprise me if we went with a back three of McGowan, O'Connor & Kilgallon.[/QUOTE]

I'd go 3-4-3 with those 3 at the back then: Riley, Akpan, Wright, Wood in the 4, with Seedorf, Wyke and Robinson up top.

 

Team starting to take shape with the arrival of Miller and Payne, 2 strikers still needed I recon with CWs imminent departure and a decent back up keeper and we wont be far off. A proven winger would be nice also but not sure that'll happen.

 

Not sure we will play out and out wingers now given the signings?

Think we may play the "England" tactic. With wing backs (Robinson, Riley, Chicksen etc) Then use Seedorf Payne and Mccarten in the Alli, Lingard Sterling type role. With Jones Patrick as cover. Now I am not saying we are as good but I think thats something similar how we will line up

 

The lads with little experience don't look as exposed now. I was worried they would be expected to hit the ground running but a couple of signings means they can earn their way in rather than thrown in like last season. I would still like an experienced centre forward like Eoin Doyle to either complement Wyke or replace him if he goes.

 

Don't think anybody can knock the signings so far. Decent players done nice and early.

If we'd have got a proper manager and there wasn't all the bollocks rumour mongering going on around the club then we'd probably have been entering the season quite positively.

 

I'm happy with the signings. On paper, i think this is the best squad we've had in years. Biggest question mark for me is Collins and his assistants. If we had put this squad together with McCall in charge I'd feel far more positive.

 

Nor did anybody. I think McGowan put a reet tackle in, was it a night game? Slider and took the man well out. That one tackle installed him as "better than anything we have" in the eyes of some yet we saw him for how long? Same as with Callum Guy and I honestly struggle to remember a worse midfielder ever at VP, I cringed as he hoofed it all over the stadium, but he "liked tackle" too so bingo, fans favourite!

 

Absolute bloody rubbish Guy was the bright spot of the last two months

 

Charlton away. Was up on my feet to applaud that tackle but in the first 25 minutes of the game, got a reet run around

 

Absolute gash, Guy had energy and liked to lunge into tackles but that was it, his football skills were almost none existant.

 

Rubbish Guy is a bloody good young player which is why he has just been given a three year contract with a championship club

 

Akpan and Payne are far superior footballers, I'm glad we didn't go back in for him. He struggled with simple 5 yard passes, terrible technical footballer. No chance he'll make it at Derby long term.

 

We will return to that I think he will

 

Feel free to come back to it.

 

G

Guy was a whole hearted player but had very little ability that was clear to see