Summer 2023 Transfer Rumours

But Taylor has scored goals too maybe Hughes picked him for that reason aswell because the rest of the team didn't really chip in much.

 

Good news to see 3 of our most promising youngsters have signed contracts for next season - be great if at least one of them could make a more substantial breakthrough in the next 12 months

 

Agree @Bigrod . I wasn’t criticising our overall defensive record, but the parts of defending from set pieces and equally attacking them was one of our weak spots last season. I’m realistic to know we can’t have everything (that’s why we are where we are), but we all know you need to compete in the above two areas at this level to stand chance of promotion.

As you say, goal scoring is a priority, but that also can’t just come from attack and midfield. We have to be better from set pieces, including those taking them.

 

Agree. Good for them. Hope at least one of them kicks on.

 

I think if we had a decent set piece taker, some of our defenders might have had half a chance of scoring. If we keep Smallwood on set pieces, then we better start training giraffes.

 

Converting the stupid amount of 0-0 and 1-1 draws into wins is the formula and for that we need to score more goals.
Very rarely last season did we score more than once in a game and that’s simply not good enough.

 

Only Stubbs and cook attacked the ball bravely that’s not good enough

 

Rarely, score more than once in a game?

22 of the 46 games we managed that. Orient managed it only in 20 of 46 games. Defensive stats are what really stand out for the latter

 

The 8 goalless draws and the inability to score the crucial 2nd goal in several home games where we drew 1-1 are a major factor in why we failed to make the auto spots.

 

I don't disagree in essence.

We scored a necessary amount of goals to really challenge for autos but our downfall was to not press higher up the field and take the game to the opposition and in particular defend set pieces. I don't think as a team, we were set up positive enough under Hughes

 

It is absolutely those 8 goalless draws that did it for us more than the inability to score a 2nd in other games imo. Win half of those 8 scoreless draws and we'd have finished in the top 3.

 

Therein lies the problem Simon…….It’s slim tbh.

 

In a nutshell

 

Only the Stockport away result would I consider acceptable. The others were abysmal.

 

What have we got to lose by giving at least one of the three a run out in the pre-season matches or the cup games. It seems a long time since we have given a youngster a chance in the first team.

 

Finn cousin Dawson had a few games , Kian Scales to a lesser extent , are the only couple i can think of most recently.

 

Staunton.

 

May as well post this although it's at best a guess based on another poster asking whether he'd be any good for us. Unlikely to sign I'd reckon but it's a rumour.

 

Still lots of work to do. GK, LB, CM x2, WG, ST needed imo.

Goalkeepers

• Harry Lewis (25)
• Colin Doyle (37)
• Heath Richardson (19)

Right Backs

• Brad Halliday (27)
• Luke Hendrie (28)
• Harvey Rowe (19)

Left Backs

• Liam Ridehalgh (32)

Centre Backs

• Sam Stubbs (24)
• Matty Platt (25)
• Ash Taylor (32)
• Timi Odusina (23)
• Ciaran Kelly (24)
• Finn Cousin-Dawson (20)

Centre Midfielders

• Richie Smallwood (32)
• Alex Gilliead (27)
• Ryan East (24)
• Emmanuel Osadebe (26)

Attacking Midfielders/Wingers

• Jamie Walker (29)
• Harry Chapman (25)
• Clarke Odour (23)
• Bobby Pointon (19)

Strikers

• Andy Cook (32)
• Vadaine Oliver (31)
• Matt Derbyshire (37)
• Jake Young (21)
• Dylan Youmbi (19)

Left the club

• Threlkeld (RB)
• Foulds (LB)
• Bola (LB)
• Crichlow (CB)
• Songo'o (CM)
• Clayton (CM)
• Scales (AM)
• Wood (AM)
• Eisa (WG)
• Nevers (WG)
• Periera (WG)
• Banks (WG)
• Costelleo (FW)

 

I see the T & A are rumour mongering again.