Almost enough players for a game now...

We have 14 players contracted so far - better than we have been at this stage in some years but need to get a few more re-signings over the line.  Probably only 7 first team players currently.  I'm sure Hurst has plenty more lined up....

Keepers:
Max Crocombe

Defenders:
Jaz Goundry
Shaun Pearson
Luke Waterfall
Niall Maher
David Longe-King

Midfielders:
Gavan Holohan
Aaron Braithwaite
Jamie Bramwell

Forwards:
John McAtee
Jordan Maguire-Drew
Dani Orsi
Edwin Essel
Harvey Tomlinson

I would put shaun Pearson in bold as a first team player (albeit probably 4th choice)

We are up to a squad of 15.  Looking good in defence.  A few midfielders needed alongside Holohan and Cesc

Keepers:
Max Crocombe

Defenders:
Michee Efete
Jaz Goundry
Shaun Pearson
Luke Waterfall
Niall Maher
David Longe-King

Midfielders:
Gavan Holohan
Aaron Braithwaite
Jamie Bramwell

Forwards:
John McAtee
Jordan Maguire-Drew
Dani Orsi
Edwin Essel
Harvey Tomlinson

Wouldn’t shock me to see Braithwaite Tomlinson and Bramwell involved with the first team regularly. Bramwell looked really good against Eastleigh. I know Braithwaite and Tomlinson are both held in very high regard also

Think you will be adding harry to the list fairly shortly.
Wonder if essel will go out on loan, theres obviously a promising player there

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Wouldn’t shock me to see Braithwaite Tomlinson and Bramwell involved with the first team regularly. Bramwell looked really good against Eastleigh. I know Braithwaite and Tomlinson are both held in very high regard also

Tomlinson caught the eye last time I went to a reserve game.

Harvey Tomlinson might be small, but he's a pocket rocket.

Where does that leave us now in terms of the senior, our of contract players?

Unless I’ve missed one, that’s Waterfall and Efete signed up, while Fox has moved on. So that means the following are still to officially reach a decision:

Amos
Cropper
Clifton
Scannell
Taylor

It sounds as if there may be some doubt over Clifton, if the FGR rumours are true, but I’d like to think we’d have a decent chance of retaining him. If we can get through the remaining 5 and emerge having only lost Fox, that would give us a really solid base to work from for next season.

In his current situation, you'd have thought Scannell would have been the first to 'snap their hands off'.

BUT all we know is that he, and the others, have been offered a contract. For all we know, that contract could only be for 6 months, to cover his recovery period, but he may want more stability.

We shall find out in the next few weeks

I think the majority of the contracts will be done and dusted now, if not in the final stages of negotiations.

The club will want to keep the drumbeat going for ticket sales and just general interest.  No benefit from announcing all signings and re-signings at once.

Regards Scannell, I'll be absolutely amazed if he doesn't sign a deal.  Unless he wants to completely explore new avenues.   In recent seasons his output has been very low due to injuries.  He didn't play an awful lot in a side that finished 6th in the Conference.  He's now got a lengthy rehab period to contend with that will likely rule him out until the New Year.  Who is going to offer him a deal of any sorts?  

He signs with us he gets correct and proper treatment provided and a wage, reduced terms perhaps.  If he doesn't sign with us he's looking at finding and possibly funding his own rehab and is without any income from the game.

Almost a matchday squad now!

Keepers:
Max Crocombe

Defenders:
Michee Efete
Jaz Goundry
Shaun Pearson
Luke Waterfall
Niall Maher
David Longe-King

Midfielders:
Gavan Holohan
Aaron Braithwaite
Jamie Bramwell
Evan Khouri

Forwards:
John McAtee
Jordan Maguire-Drew
Dani Orsi
Edwin Essel
Harvey Tomlinson

Doesn’t look like it - but you never know - some of these young players could be just ripe to burst through .
UTM

Quoted from LondonMariner43

Almost a matchday squad now!

Keepers:
Max Crocombe

Defenders:
Michee Efete
Jaz Goundry
Shaun Pearson
Luke Waterfall
Niall Maher
David Longe-King

Midfielders:
Gavan Holohan
Aaron Braithwaite
Jamie Bramwell
Evan Khouri

Forwards:
John McAtee
Jordan Maguire-Drew
Dani Orsi
Edwin Essel
Harvey Tomlinson

Haven't you missed Battersby off there?..

Quoted from Northbank Mariner

Haven't you missed Battersby off there?..

Battersby hasn’t signed yet?

Four left to re-sign:
Oliver Battersby
Daniel Amos
Jordan Cropper
Harry Clifton

I'd be surprised if any of that four are leaving us, which takes us to 21 with the 17 contracted.  Maybe then 4-5 more signings before the start of the season, and leaving room for some loans?

Keepers:
Max Crocombe

Defenders:
Michee Efete
Jaz Goundry
Shaun Pearson
Luke Waterfall
Niall Maher
David Longe-King

Midfielders:
Gavan Holohan
Aaron Braithwaite
Jamie Bramwell
Evan Khouri

Forwards:
John McAtee
Ryan Taylor
Jordan Maguire-Drew
Dani Orsi
Edwin Essel
Harvey Tomlinson

Quoted from LondonMariner43

Four left to re-sign:
Oliver Battersby
Daniel Amos
Jordan Cropper
Harry Clifton

I'd be surprised if any of that four are leaving us, which takes us to 21 with the 17 contracted.  Maybe then 4-5 more signings before the start of the season, and leaving room for some loans?

Keepers:
Max Crocombe

Defenders:
Michee Efete
Jaz Goundry
Shaun Pearson
Luke Waterfall
Niall Maher
David Longe-King

Midfielders:
Gavan Holohan
Aaron Braithwaite
Jamie Bramwell
Evan Khouri

Forwards:
John McAtee
Ryan Taylor
Jordan Maguire-Drew
Dani Orsi
Edwin Essel
Harvey Tomlinson

Nice to have some continuity, isn’t it. You’d imagine, given the sizeable increase in revenue next season, that there’s some significant budget set aside for those 4, 5 or maybe 6 players.

Suspect Longe-King will go at some point. Looking at the above we need some experience in the middle and some more width as well. I think another striker/number 10 will come in to. We saw the value of having Abrahams and Mani on the bench and Taylor and McAtee struggled to play 90 minutes frequently. With 7 subs you'd want at least 2 if not 3 attacking options.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

Four left to re-sign:
Oliver Battersby
Daniel Amos
Jordan Cropper
Harry Clifton

I'd be surprised if any of that four are leaving us, which takes us to 21 with the 17 contracted.  Maybe then 4-5 more signings before the start of the season, and leaving room for some loans?

Keepers:
Max Crocombe

Defenders:
Michee Efete
Jaz Goundry
Shaun Pearson
Luke Waterfall
Niall Maher
David Longe-King

Midfielders:
Gavan Holohan
Aaron Braithwaite
Jamie Bramwell
Evan Khouri

Forwards:
John McAtee
Ryan Taylor
Jordan Maguire-Drew
Dani Orsi
Edwin Essel
Harvey Tomlinson

Sean Scannell has yet to re-sign.

Assuming everyone resigns, central midfield and the wide areas seem to be the places we are most in need of.

Also with DLK almost certainly looking to move on another Centre back would be ideal aswell.

We're getting there slowly. I still think we need another 10 players (4 existing & 6 new signings) before we have a full squad. But this is where we're at...

Quoted from GollyGTFC

We're getting there slowly. I still think we need another 10 players (4 existing & 6 new signings) before we have a full squad. But this is where we're at...

That's a more sophisticated presentation than I can manage.  I'd love to see Mani back in the squad - but I guess the fact that he wasn't offered a deal suggests PH has someone he considers better up his sleeve.

Khouri's not a winger and I don't think he'll be utilised there.  

He did a job out there when needed because we had no-one else.  He'll be competing for a slot inside, which leaves an even bigger gap down that left hand side.  Thankfully there's plenty of time yet.

Squad starting to take shape now.  Assuming Cropper and Battersby sign, then maybe another 4 signings?  Another left back, another forward, another CM and an out and out wide player?

Keepers:
Max Crocombe

Defenders:
Michee Efete
Jaz Goundry
Shaun Pearson
Luke Waterfall
Niall Maher
David Longe-King
Danny Amos

Midfielders:
Gavan Holohan
Aaron Braithwaite
Jamie Bramwell
Evan Khouri
Harry Clifton
Stephen Wearne

Forwards:
John McAtee
Ryan Taylor
Jordan Maguire-Drew
Dani Orsi
Edwin Essel
Harvey Tomlinson

I'd say

1x  keeper
1x  left back
1x  centre back (if DLK goes)

1x  centre mid (perhaps a holding mid to replace Fox)
1x  winger (or 2x if Scannell doesn't sign or will be injured long-term)

1x  striker


1x  goalkeeping coach

I'd like to see Cropper, Nolan and Glennon on board. Then one more midfielder and one more striker.

Is anyone else wondering why we offered Scannell a new contract when he's not going to be fit for the start of the season (and potentially not making the squad when fit) and yet Max Wright hasn't made the cut.
Thought Max was a good player even as an impact from the subs bench.

We are still 2 centre mid's, 2 wingers, a keeper, a centre back, a left back and a striker short. Plus a RB if Cropper doesn't re-sign.  8 or 9 more to come.

Quoted from Stew0_0

Is anyone else wondering why we offered Scannell a new contract when he's not going to be fit for the start of the season (and potentially not making the squad when fit) and yet Max Wright hasn't made the cut.
Thought Max was a good player even as an impact from the subs bench.

We are still 2 centre mid's, 2 wingers, a keeper, a centre back, a left back and a striker short. Plus a RB if Cropper doesn't re-sign.  8 or 9 more to come.

We offered Scannell a contract as a sign of good faith whilst he’s injured. He then has the chance to prove himself when fit to earn an extended contract. He’s head and shoulders above league 2 when fit as we saw in the short spell when he was. Just very unlucky with injuries. Max Wright showed glimpses but never nailed a position down in all the time he was here. Not good enough imo and we can get better.

We definitely need two central midfielders. Fox will need replacing but we've also lost Raikhy, Burgess and Coke. Given that Wearne seems to be an attacking midfielder, there's no chance Hurst will only have 3 central midfielders in the squad.

In terms of senior players then, this is how things shape up currently (excluding Longe-King who I don't think will be here).

Goalkeepers
Crocombe

Full Backs
Efete
Cropper
Amos
Glennon

Centre Halves
Waterfall
Maher
Pearson

Midfielders
Clifton
Holohan

Attacking Midfielders / Forwards
McAtee
Maguire-Drew
Scannell
Wearne

Strikers
Taylor
Orsi

I've made the distinction between midfielders and AM's / forwards like that because if we play loosely the same system we did last season (and I expect us to), then those more attacking players would feature as part of a front three rather than what you'd consider to be a traditional midfield role.

On that basis, we're probably about alright at full back with the addition of Glennon, unless there's room for a versatile youngster who can play either side at a push. I think Pearson's role will be more off the pitch than on it, so there's still room for another centre half; I'd be more than happy to see Andy Smith back if he's available.

It's the midfield where we look particularly light right now. With Fox, Raikhy and Coke gone, we've only really got Clifton and Holohan left who can play in that central three. Midfield is always an part of the pitch that we've looked weak in at League Two level, so it's a crucial area to get right, especially when you consider other sides have in that department. Sarcevic at Stockport, Smallwood at Bradford, Moncur at Leyton Orient. I think we need another three players in this department as an absolute minimum.

Likewise, with Scannell likely to be out until Christmas time and no certainty in terms of his fitness thereafter, we've only got McAtee, JMD and Wearne who can play as the creative outlets in a front three. We need another two here too, realistically.

Which brings us to the Striker department. Again, we're still light here currently. I expect we'll see more appearances off the bench from Taylor than starts next season, and without being certain where Orsi fits into things, I'd certainly welcome a number 9 type with a proven goal scoring record in the league. Maybe one more might be just about enough if we're only ever likely to play with one big man up top, but given the inability to sign non-free agents from September, I wouldn't be surprised to see another two.

So, with the addition of a second, senior 'keeper, that likely leaves us somewhere between 7 and 9 new players short of where we need to be, and a squad of 23 to 25 senior players. I think there's still going to be some exciting days and weeks ahead between now and the 30th of July. Bring it on!

You forgot Battersby.

Quoted from ginnywings

You forgot Battersby.

I didn't forget him, like Khouri I just didn't consider him to be amongst our "senior" players right now. I might be wrong on that, but I'd still expect to see another 'keeper through the door with a bit more experience.

Quoted from Poojah

I didn't forget him, like Khouri I just didn't consider him to be amongst our "senior" players right now. I might be wrong on that, but I'd still expect to see another 'keeper through the door with a bit more experience.

Fair do's. Just saw him missing from your list, without really noticing you hadn't listed other young pro's. My bad as the kids say.

I also expect another senior keeper- maybe even a goalkeeping coach who can still don the gloves if needed

Quoted from ginnywings

You forgot Battersby.

And Lounge-King

I'm expecting quality rather than quantity from here on in, maybe only 3 more permanent signings - CM, Wide and Striker, supplemented perhaps by 2 long loans - another CM and CB, and some of the youth to get some opportunities.

Plus a keeper as well...

Squad is looking very strong now  and most in for the start of the pre season . Loans may be a problem as ther clubs will expect them to be playing not bench warming  so will have to be of good standard

And tomorrow ???

Essential viewing now, this forum.

Mr Hurst, make my day !!!

Nothing on Scannell yet - presumably he's out of contract tomorrow.