It may be me, but can anyone surmise which players we've got are first teamers, back ups, and where they see them playing?

I've heard Hewitt plays nearly everywhere haha

I think we’ll see Hanson and Green up front with one of cook or Vernam in behind and Hess or whitehouse(when 100%) playing a deeper central midfield role and then Ogbu will be used out wide IMO

Hewitt would of been signed as a CM I think

I can see Ogbu either out wide or behind a front two of Green and Hanson as well. Will be interesting to see how we line up in the up coming friendlies. Especially if we still bring in a couple more over the next week or so. We still need cover at LB and on the LW.

It will be interesting as well as now we have Hanson, Green, Ogbu, Vernam, Cardwell, Cook and Rose as forward players 2 or three of these are not even going to get in the squad let alone the first team.

I think we will go 4-3-3 (will suit Hendrie and Ring more) I think the penny may have dropped over the 3-5-2, or more often last year 5-3-2... I think Hewitt will be a squad player, still expecting another 3 signings... CB and two midfielders, providing no one else leaves.. :)

Would love to see us sign this yeovil CB to go alongside Ohman

Quoted from Malta_Mariner_90

I can see Ogbu either out wide or behind a front two of Green and Hanson as well. Will be interesting to see how we line up in the up coming friendlies. Especially if we still bring in a couple more over the next week or so. We still need cover at LB and on the LW.

It will be interesting as well as now we have Hanson, Green, Ogbu, Vernam, Cardwell, Cook and Rose as forward players 2 or three of these are not even going to get in the squad let alone the first team.

Cardwell will almost certainly be loaned out I would think. Probably Rose too.

Quoted from MarshMariner

I think we will go 4-3-3 (will suit Hendrie and Ring more) I think the penny may have dropped over the 3-5-2, or more often last year 5-3-2... I think Hewitt will be a squad player, still expecting another 3 signings...CB and two midfielders providing no one else leaves.. :)

I would add at least a left back to that list, unless you're expecting Ring to not get injured and be in the form of his life every game of the season.. and maybe an out and out winger type with one more CM instead of two after the Hewitt signing.. one or two out on loan and a bit of budget in the bank for January in case of injuries..

Would like to see this at this point and also hoping Sowumni signs....


                                      Macca

                  Davis         Sowumni          Ohman

Hendrie                                                                Ring
                      Whitehouse     Hessenthaler

                               Ogbu (free role)

                        Hanson              Green


On paper that looks a decent league 2 team and with a couple more decent signings could make things look even better.

It appears from interviews that long conversations have taken place well prior to June for the new signings.
I still wonder if Embleton could leap ouf of the blue as I don't think his contract has been re-signed unless I have missed it.
Could hopefully be a powerful midfield and forward lines set up tbis season!

If Carlsberg did Michael Jolley's wish list ????

Quoted from acko338

If Carlsberg did Michael Jolley's wish list ????

He'd be managing in the Premiership

So far there doesn’t seem to be an obvious pattern to these signings, they all seem to be players who could be used in different formations. Not much sign of the manager having a settled system as yet. I’m hoping he does decide on one and doesn’t start chopping and changing and tinkering like an L2 Ranieri.  Hewitt looks as if he could be the back up midfielder, a lot will depend on how Clifton has developed. We seem to have an abundance of forwards, let’s just hope one or two of them can be regular scorers.

Things are looking up though, Jolly appears to be getting at least some of the players he wants and not just the leavings of the bigger budget boys. We should be able to judge his management a lot better this time around.

I think 433 was a decent "core formation" for us last season and with the players that have come in, could be a good one next season.  It can adapt to 35/53-2 during a game but also gives us a bit more attacking intent.

Let's hope we have no serious issues with key personnel at the beginning of the season as it appears that Elliot Whitehouse was a key part of MJ's plans last season. Personally think we need a better left back than what Ring showed last season - let's hope he comes back stronger, another centre back and a creative midfielder, then I believe we have a decent squad with a little bit of slack.

One thing about the 4 signings so far is they are all over 6ft tall

So we should be a threat if we can get some decent corners and crosses in.

I feel more optimistic than a couple of weeks ago. The signings so far look decent. We had to strengthen up front as it was simply not good enough last season. Hopefully we have injected some pace and a bit of physicality (which i think you need at this level). At least we have options up front and a couple of guys with some kind of scoring record.

Could certainly do with adding some creativity and some defensive cover.

What with a potential takeover as well that would create a buzz around the place...a decent start to the campaign and who knows? Looking to take a step forward from the last couple of seasons.

4-3-1-2 would be an interesting option instead of 4-3-3

my expectations are that i will be disappointed once again....not allowing myself to think anything other until i have seen them kick a ball in anger.

My expectation is that we’ll find out between August and May. I have no idea how we’ll do, and whether our new players are better than players other clubs are signing.

No set expectations yet, want to see how squad pads out first.

I’m very happy with how things are panning out (early signings & maybe a new owner etc) I’m hoping for a playoff place this season, Michael Jolley knows the set up now with having a full season behind him, he can only improve now, he seems to be addressing our past weaknesses too 👍

I am excited knowing we have a potentially exciting and dynamic attack, it could be anyone of:
Hanson Green
        Ogbu


Wright. Hanson  Vernam


Ogbu. Green  Vernam

etc etc

Matched with what is looking like a tidy midfield:

Hessenthaler Whitehouse Hewitt

Hess Whitehouse

Clifton Whitehouse

etc etc

Lastly, what is looking like it will be similar to last term:

Mckeown
Hendrie. Sowunmi? Ohman Davis RIng

Macca
Hendrie Davis Ohman Ring

Macca
Hendrie Sowunmi Ohman Ring


Overall this excites any football fan, there are some questionable areas, such as 'is the midfield creative enough?', 'is Ring a good LB defensively?', 'we haven't actually signed Sowunmi yet!'; but this is a good start. Yes, they might not gel together, think Fulham last season, but if there is one thing we know for certain - Jolley is damn good at motivating and being a people person (ignore whatever fracas happened between him and Wes).


UTM!


I have also put £10 on us to win the league, and £10 on us to go up.

I'm sure green we deployed in a wing position in a 433 for Lincoln, and I think we may see something similar with Ogbu on the other wing and Hanson in the middle. As our central midfielders are generally ones that can cover a lot of ground, the front 3 can interchange quite a bit. With our signings to date, I think this is how it will be, with Vernam, Wright, rose and Cardwell all capable of fitting into that front 3, and 4 central midfielders. I think we may see one more central midfielder and a couple of versatile defenders.

I always have hope more than expectation, but defensively we weren't terrible last season, but attackingly we were. It looks like this has been addressed so I do expect a better points tally.

We're missing one vital ingredient, LUCK.

There can't be many teams that get serious injuries to star players (Hearn twice, Whitehouse) preseason and have to miss the whole season.

We must be due a huge slice of it to even itself out.

Here's hoping

People seem to assuming we have got the lad from Yeovile. Is it confirmed?

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Let's hope we have no serious issues with key personnel at the beginning of the season as it appears that Elliot Whitehouse was a key part of MJ's plans last season. Personally think we need a better left back than what Ring showed last season - let's hope he comes back stronger, another centre back and a creative midfielder, then I believe we have a decent squad with a little bit of slack.

I am reserving judgement on Ring. He had no pre-season and came in having to hit the ground running after the seson finished in Sweden.
Ohman had to do the same, but maybe it was easier to adapt to a centre back role in the 4th division. Ring's tackle rate wasn't too bad if you look at the stats, but he made some poor/non decisions going forward. (Was that judgement?)
We do still need another left back for cover at least

I'm going to get my season ticket next week, I was doubtful, but I like what I have seen so far with the signings. More to come lets hope

Anyone know how Whitehouse is doing.

Quoted from friskneymariner

Anyone know how Whitehouse is doing.

Looks to be training well with the rest of the squad going on the picture gallery......

https://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/2019/june/gallery--pre-season-training---day-1/

Quoted from Nutsy

I am excited knowing we have a potentially exciting and dynamic attack, it could be anyone of:
Hanson Green
        Ogbu


Wright. Hanson  Vernam


Ogbu. Green  Vernam

etc etc

Matched with what is looking like a tidy midfield:

Hessenthaler Whitehouse Hewitt

Hess Whitehouse

Clifton Whitehouse

etc etc

Lastly, what is looking like it will be similar to last term:

Mckeown
Hendrie. Sowunmi? Ohman Davis RIng

Macca
Hendrie Davis Ohman Ring

Macca
Hendrie Sowunmi Ohman Ring


Overall this excites any football fan, there are some questionable areas, such as 'is the midfield creative enough?', 'is Ring a good LB defensively?', 'we haven't actually signed Sowunmi yet!'; but this is a good start. Yes, they might not gel together, think Fulham last season, but if there is one thing we know for certain - Jolley is damn good at motivating and being a people person (ignore whatever fracas happened between him and Wes).


UTM!


I have also put £10 on us to win the league, and £10 on us to go up.

£10 for us to win the league? Blimey. You like living up to your name don’t you!!

Quoted from Posh Harry

£10 for us to win the league? Blimey. You like living up to your name don’t you!!

I can dream haha

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

4-3-1-2 would be an interesting option instead of 4-3-3

Sounds great, the 'free role' behind the two. All you really get is no width and they end up doubling up on your full backs and get in behind.