GTFC Going for it?

Quoted from Bigdog

Are we going for it?

Not really whipping myself up into a frenzy quite yet. We've signed two forwards who have the profiles of typical signings for a mid-table League Two side. Both have got the capability to be a success, but both also could disappoint going on recent history and both could easily be on the downgrade. One not good enough for a side that are promotion favourites, the other nowhere near the quality of the forwards signed for his home town club who are also promotion favourites. And then there's the question of who is going to supply the chances for them. We're nowhere near having that conundrum sorted either. Finding myself keeping my hopes in check and would prefer to be pleasantly surprised rather than brought back down to earth by getting giddy over two signings that teams at the top of League Two wouldn't be inteested in. Age a bit of an issue for me as both are in their thirties, and would have liked us to invest in a forward from the lower leagues or an academy higher up the ladder alongside one or the other.

Long way to go yet.. and I'm really not falling for the "going for it" marketing ploy from GTFC until I see the rest of the signings.. and there should be another half a dozen to come in. And as for Whitehouse being intended to be our star player last year.. he spent most of the time on the bench for a play-off team the season before and then has had a significant injury. I think we need to calm down our expectations about him next season, the lad will need time and not any weight of expectation on his shoulders for him to hopefully come good..

Haven't seen anything to get giddy about... yet..

You seem to forget we already have Vernam and whilst not a goalscorer for me he sits close to a top of the tree for a  league 2 player . You are right to exercise caution and we are a long way off but these 2 signings in my eyes are at least a good starting point and I expect more goals scored.

Whilst I'm pleased with the two pieces of business we've done, I don't really see them as a statement of our intent to go for it.  If anything I think it's about addressing the fact that we A) lacked both a physical presence up top and potent finishers and B) we've got a really young squad.  

Last season our experience in the side was made up McKeown, Collins, Welsh, Woolford and Thomas.  To a lesser extent you could add Davies, Hendrie and Hessenthaler to the mix.  This summer we're without Collins, Welsh, Woolford and Thomas, by far the 4 players with the most Football League games under their belt.  With a glut of younger lads coming through over the last 12 months it's important we add experience.

I'm far from convinced that the budget will be increased, despite Fenty saying it wasn't good enough last year.  In fact the  lack of season ticket sales makes me think it could be reduced!  It wouldn't surprise me if Jolley's plan is to spend the majority of his budget on a quality core of 14-16 senior players and then supplement it with the young professionals like Curran, Pollock et al.   This may be something out of necessity but if it's the plan, I quite like it and would much prefer to see this than a bloated squad of 20 odd average players, some of whom will get very little game time.

McKeown, Russell*, Hendrie, Ring, Ohman, Davies, Clifton, Hessenthaler, Whitehouse, Vernam, Cook, Green, Hanson, Cardwell
Battersby, Pollock, Curran, Buckley, Wright, Rose,

I make that 14 senior pros (including Russell as player/coach) and 6 young lads.  Definitely lacking a centre back and possibly a winger as a minimum.  Six strikers on the books too, wouldn't be surprised to see one move on.

I would say we lack in midfield more than anywhere now. Clifton and Hessenthaler does not look a strong enough pairing to me and we probably need a long wait to see if Whitehouse can do a comeback. Another injury to another midfielder and we are really stretched there. If we don’t reinforce then we know what will happen, teams will just run at us straight through the middle.

Defenders will be reduced to whacking it long for Green or Hanson to chase until they are knackered and Rose or Cardwell or whatever gets a go. Unless maybe the plan is to use Cook in midfield this season?

Vernam would be best with his pace as an out and out winger if he would do more touchline hugging instead of coming inside so often. He does not have the stamina to play in the middle but like Wright he could be a match winner out wide.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Whilst I'm pleased with the two pieces of business we've done, I don't really see them as a statement of our intent to go for it.  If anything I think it's about addressing the fact that we A) lacked both a physical presence up top and potent finishers and B) we've got a really young squad.  

Last season our experience in the side was made up McKeown, Collins, Welsh, Woolford and Thomas.  To a lesser extent you could add Davies, Hendrie and Hessenthaler to the mix.  This summer we're without Collins, Welsh, Woolford and Thomas, by far the 4 players with the most Football League games under their belt.  With a glut of younger lads coming through over the last 12 months it's important we add experience.

I'm far from convinced that the budget will be increased, despite Fenty saying it wasn't good enough last year.  In fact the  lack of season ticket sales makes me think it could be reduced!  It wouldn't surprise me if Jolley's plan is to spend the majority of his budget on a quality core of 14-16 senior players and then supplement it with the young professionals like Curran, Pollock et al.   This may be something out of necessity but if it's the plan, I quite like it and would much prefer to see this than a bloated squad of 20 odd average players, some of whom will get very little game time.

McKeown, Russell*, Hendrie, Ring, Ohman, Davies, Clifton, Hessenthaler, Whitehouse, Vernam, Cook, Green, Hanson, Cardwell
Battersby, Pollock, Curran, Buckley, Wright, Rose,

I make that 14 senior pros (including Russell as player/coach) and 6 young lads.  Definitely lacking a centre back and possibly a winger as a minimum.  Six strikers on the books too, wouldn't be surprised to see one move on.

Right back, left back, two centre halves, two wide men and two central midfielders needed to make up the minimum senior squad of two per position backed up by the young pros. Fans name starting elevens without thinking about injuries, international call ups or loss of form. Shopping list gets shorter if Wright, Pollock or someone else steps up during the summer.. Long way to go before we have a balanced squad assembled before we can even assess where we are against our competitors..

Find it strange that MJ extends Cardwell's contract then signs two more forwards with similar profiles which should immediately relegate him to third choice target man.. unless he has plans to play him out wide as he did (without much effect) last season, or as you say, loans him or Ahkeem out..

Be very surprised if we have two to a position at all this season, especially senior players.  At best and based on nothing other than opinion, we'll have a few utility players coming in but once we're past a core 16 it's down to the kids.  

Cardwell one is odd.  With the two incoming strikers you have to presume he's fallen even further down the pecking order now.  Not convinced he's got what's needed to play out wide, far from his game.  

Makes the decision to give him another year seem even more bizarre.  Can only guess that Jolley thought he would develop a bit more over the last few months and really kick on for next season.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

I would say we lack in midfield more than anywhere now. Clifton and Hessenthaler does not look a strong enough pairing to me and we probably need a long wait to see if Whitehouse can do a comeback. Another injury to another midfielder and we are really stretched there. If we don’t reinforce then we know what will happen, teams will just run at us straight through the middle.

Defenders will be reduced to whacking it long for Green or Hanson to chase until they are knackered and Rose or Cardwell or whatever gets a go. Unless maybe the plan is to use Cook in midfield this season?

Vernam would be best with his pace as an out and out winger if he would do more touchline hugging instead of coming inside so often. He does not have the stamina to play in the middle but like Wright he could be a match winner out wide.

Clifton and Hess lack creativity but to say they aren't a strong pairing is madness, in my opinion. I'd say that with Whitehouse coming back CM is the strongest area of our squad. Each to their own though.

We're  in dire need of attacking width and creativity.

As a more than interested part timer from far away I have to say I have been genuinely excited by the amount of young talent coming through, and being given the chance to do so. It would be wonderful to get back to the mid 1970s / early 1980s and have the endless production line of excellent local talent going full tilt again.

It's alright having half decent strikers do we have a midfield that is creative and dominant enough to be considered going for it.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Be very surprised if we have two to a position at all this season, especially senior players.  At best and based on nothing other than opinion, we'll have a few utility players coming in but once we're past a core 16 it's down to the kids.  

Cardwell one is odd.  With the two incoming strikers you have to presume he's fallen even further down the pecking order now.  Not convinced he's got what's needed to play out wide, far from his game.  

Makes the decision to give him another year seem even more bizarre.  Can only guess that Jolley thought he would develop a bit more over the last few months and really kick on for next season.

I get the feeling maybe Jolley himself, didn't think he would get the backing for the 2 strikers we've managed to sign

Quoted from Son of Cod

Clifton and Hess lack creativity but to say they aren't a strong pairing is madness, in my opinion. I'd say that with Whitehouse coming back CM is the strongest area of our squad. Each to their own though.

We're  in dire need of attacking width and creativity.

You would have to explain that, they lack creativity but they are a strong pairing?