not many more needed?

Quoted from aussiej

When looking to see if we have a team to compete for promotion we have a guideline from the past...

McKeown.            
                                            
Tait.
Nsiala.
Gowling.
Roberstson.

Arnold.
Clay.
Disley.
Nolan.

Bogle.
Amond.

Subs.
Pitman.
Hoban.
East.
Pearson.
Marshall.

That needs to be the standard this time around....
The question is:
Are we anyway near that yet?

This, I think, highlights the challenge we have next season. Of those players listed above, the following were already here at the start of the 15/16 season (or had been on loan at the end of the previous season and signed permanently that summer):

McKeown
Pearson
Nsiala
Gowling
Robertson
Arnold
Clay
Disley
Pittman

That’s a damn good basis on which to build a National League team. On top of it we then added:

Tait
Nolan
Amond
Bogle
Townsend (12 game loan)

So we already had a pretty good head start, and you’d have to say those five signings were pretty stellar (even if you can argue that Bogle played his best football for us the following season in League Two). Even then, we were only just good enough to get over the line, and I’d argue that we only made the play-offs courtesy of Townsend’s cameo during which we took 22 points from 27.

We haven’t the luxury of that kind of spine to begin with this time around, and so we need to somehow replicate that same kind of recruitment quality, but probably in double the numbers. That’s a very tall order, and I’m not sure it’s realistic to expect that in one or two transfer windows.

There’s an argument that Hurst should’ve got more out of that crop of players and we should have won promotion more comfortably than we did, but regardless I don’t see us assembling a squad close to that good in time for the coming season.

It may be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t think we’ll go up next season. There’s a hell of a lot to be optimistic about right now, but sometimes maintaining that optimism requires a dose of realism at the same time. We are where we are and it will take time to change that, but it’s important to note that where we are will not be the fault of anyone still at the club when the season gets underway.

If we are in a league where only the champions are certain to be promoted, that is what we must aim for, obviously. For once, we have everything going for us.

We have an experienced manager who has the full support of the board, with a proper budget, who knows the club inside out. We have a large fan base who are desperate to back the team; we have a board who want to make a success of it and have the funds and know-how to make it happen.

We will have a fantastic pitch to play fast exciting attacking football, and we have a head start over most of our rivals both in terms of finance and being able to plan ahead well before their season finished.

We must make it pay. Of course, if we don't win the league because someone else has assembled a better team then fair enough, but we should be aiming for the title 100 %.

On the signings front, I would expect we are saving the best till last and most sought after players taking their time to decide but it is very important we get two or three signings that really would signal our intent. I will be really disappointed if those signings aren't made when everything seems to be in our favour.

I may have let my imagination run away but I'm expecting a couple of statement signings, maybe a striker and midfield/winger. Think we also need a left back
Am I right in thinking it's only 5 subs in the conference, in which case we didn't have a goalie on the bench last time. Think Shaun was the emergency cover and a loanee if Macca gets injured

Think there will be a left back, another full back if Hendrie doesnt re-sign, another centre midfield, 2 wingers and a striker.
6 more signings at least.

We need a 20+ goal scorer . Absolute top priority.

I think the biggest break on us next season will be the impact of the ‘dead wood’ (for want of a better term) on the budget.

Quoted from aussiej

When looking to see if we have a team to compete for promotion we have a guideline from the past...

McKeown.            
                                            
Tait.
Nsiala.
Gowling.
Roberstson.

Arnold.
Clay.
Disley.
Nolan.

Bogle.
Amond.

Subs.
Pitman.
Hoban.
East.
Pearson.
Marshall.

That needs to be the standard this time around....
The question is:
Are we anyway near that yet?

Don’t know, but don’t think so. However time to fix it yet.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

We need a 20+ goal scorer . Absolute top priority.

I think the biggest break on us next season will be the impact of the ‘dead wood’ (for want of a better term) on the budget.

Yep, that and three more in as a minimum, including another wide player. Then it depends on what happens with Williams Scannell and Hendrie

So the cunning save money ploy this year is Shaun Pearson as sub keeper, eh ??

Double the impact as player or sub without losing the 5th outfield player option !!

It's actually not that stupid an idea with only 5 subs allowed !

I think we need 8 more.
        rb               lb
        rw cm cm   lw
              fw fw