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[Royal_jimmy]

We are now linked with Victor Adeboyejo and Jay Fulton.

Jay Fulton I'll take but defo not the guy who was at Barnsley last season. He's awful and wouldn't want any players from there right now.

[Stranded]

We need a squad that can finish 21st. No more, most of the triallists would give us a chance in doing that.

Do think we can aim a bit higher than this

Sure, there are holes in the squad (holes that are being actively worked on) but take the front five of yesterday of Joao, Meite, Ejaria, Ince and Azeez, there’s enough there

With proper coaching, Moore, Dann, Holmes and McIntyre are plenty enough as CB’s (although Jeanvier looked promising). Yiadom as RB too and an experienced Champ goalie (forgetting the inane criticism). No reason why we couldn’t push on with the addition of a LB (or two) and a couple more midfielders (one in the mould of Hutchinson preferably)

In so many recent seasons we’ve filled our squad with soft attacking lightweight midfielders and the balance of the team has been all wrong. Re-signing Hoilett and Ince is perhaps an indication we will play with a bit more of variety and balance in the XI and hopefully play more on the front foot as opposed to the insipid dross we’ve been so used to in recent seasons. Think the balance of the side is key, plenty of limited sides who outperform our “talented” sides season on season!

Whilst I don't disagree, my post was purely - 21st is the baseline, the bare minimim target - we of course will and should be aiming higher but the first (and arguably only realistic) target is staying in the division so that next summer the club can recruit under normal circumstances in the Championship.

[Sutekh]

Manager's choice to test them like that. Didn’t think it was a great idea personally.

And given our almost total lack of midfield, Ward, Davenport and Fornah could be it next season. Except two of them were pretty rubbish


It's only 45 minutes, but there was absolutely nothing to recommend most of the trialists from that.

Hutchinson excluded first half.

Early days, the club need to get the players fit and need to see them playing and given the state of the squad there are a lot of triallists at the moment. Would imagine it’ll be a similar showing v Maidenhead but the Brighton game on Saturday will be more coherent and organised esp. as Blackpool is just 2 weeks after that.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

We need a squad that can finish 21st. No more, most of the triallists would give us a chance in doing that.

Do think we can aim a bit higher than this

Sure, there are holes in the squad (holes that are being actively worked on) but take the front five of yesterday of Joao, Meite, Ejaria, Ince and Azeez, there’s enough there

With proper coaching, Moore, Dann, Holmes and McIntyre are plenty enough as CB’s (although Jeanvier looked promising). Yiadom as RB too and an experienced Champ goalie (forgetting the inane criticism). No reason why we couldn’t push on with the addition of a LB (or two) and a couple more midfielders (one in the mould of Hutchinson preferably)

In so many recent seasons we’ve filled our squad with soft attacking lightweight midfielders and the balance of the team has been all wrong. Re-signing Hoilett and Ince is perhaps an indication we will play with a bit more of variety and balance in the XI and hopefully play more on the front foot as opposed to the insipid dross we’ve been so used to in recent seasons. Think the balance of the side is key, plenty of limited sides who outperform our “talented” sides season on season!

Whilst I don't disagree, my post was purely - 21st is the baseline, the bare minimim target - we of course will and should be aiming higher but the first (and arguably only realistic) target is staying in the division so that next summer the club can recruit under normal circumstances in the Championship.

Yeah just based on the players on trial and those we are linked with, we are looking at players who are definitely capable of surviving this season at least. As mentioned, there is still quality in the squad currently, it's just supplementing that quality with players that improve our weaknesses and fit a system. That's why I quite like the Lumley signing, because it seems as if he improves a major weakness in the side from last season. If we can continue to do that with our squad i.e. sign a couple of defenders who make us more solid (maybe one with a bit of pace) and a midfield that can protect the defence better, we should be in good shape.

[paultheroyal]

We are now linked with Victor Adeboyejo and Jay Fulton.

Jay Fulton I'll take but defo not the guy who was at Barnsley last season. He's awful and wouldn't want any players from there right now.

Awful? Have you seen him play? Not a dig, just wondering where your view is coming from.

[Snowflake Royal]

We need a squad that can finish 21st. No more, most of the triallists would give us a chance in doing that.

Do think we can aim a bit higher than this

Sure, there are holes in the squad (holes that are being actively worked on) but take the front five of yesterday of Joao, Meite, Ejaria, Ince and Azeez, there’s enough there

With proper coaching, Moore, Dann, Holmes and McIntyre are plenty enough as CB’s (although Jeanvier looked promising). Yiadom as RB too and an experienced Champ goalie (forgetting the inane criticism). No reason why we couldn’t push on with the addition of a LB (or two) and a couple more midfielders (one in the mould of Hutchinson preferably)

In so many recent seasons we’ve filled our squad with soft attacking lightweight midfielders and the balance of the team has been all wrong. Re-signing Hoilett and Ince is perhaps an indication we will play with a bit more of variety and balance in the XI and hopefully play more on the front foot as opposed to the insipid dross we’ve been so used to in recent seasons. Think the balance of the side is key, plenty of limited sides who outperform our “talented” sides season on season!

Good post.

Yeah, I also think entering the season with the attitude 21st is good enough is one doomed to failure.

[Notts Royal]

We are now linked with Victor Adeboyejo and Jay Fulton.

Jay Fulton I'll take but defo not the guy who was at Barnsley last season. He's awful and wouldn't want any players from there right now.

Awful? Have you seen him play? Not a dig, just wondering where your view is coming from.

Andy Yiadom came from a Barnsley side who were relegated the season before too

[Stranded]

Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill looks set to be out injured for 4 or 5 weeks, so imagine that could well be the end of our interest in him. Would be surprised if we look to sign an injured player but who knows...

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill looks set to be out injured for 4 or 5 weeks, so imagine that could well be the end of our interest in him. Would be surprised if we look to sign an injured player but who knows...

It might give a good excuse to sign another LB as well as him so that we have 2 for the season really. Obviously signing an injured player isn't great but he looks ok and has been on our radar for some time so it would make sense to pick him up as well as someone else and that covers that position for the season then.

[Stranded]

Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill looks set to be out injured for 4 or 5 weeks, so imagine that could well be the end of our interest in him. Would be surprised if we look to sign an injured player but who knows...

It might give a good excuse to sign another LB as well as him so that we have 2 for the season really. Obviously signing an injured player isn't great but he looks ok and has been on our radar for some time so it would make sense to pick him up as well as someone else and that covers that position for the season then.

We'd have to be fairly confident that he will recover fully etc and that it is not an injury with a high chance of recurring. One of the key attributes we need this year is availability, so for him to have been training with us for a couple of weeks and then being out for 5 doesn't bode well. It may just be bad luck but we can't afford to take too many risks on fitness this season.

[Snowflake Royal]

Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill looks set to be out injured for 4 or 5 weeks, so imagine that could well be the end of our interest in him. Would be surprised if we look to sign an injured player but who knows...

It might give a good excuse to sign another LB as well as him so that we have 2 for the season really. Obviously signing an injured player isn't great but he looks ok and has been on our radar for some time so it would make sense to pick him up as well as someone else and that covers that position for the season then.

We'd have to be fairly confident that he will recover fully etc and that it is not an injury with a high chance of recurring. One of the key attributes we need this year is availability, so for him to have been training with us for a couple of weeks and then being out for 5 doesn't bode well. It may just be bad luck but we can't afford to take too many risks on fitness this season.

Yep. Not a great sign we're still picking up injuries in training.

[Hound]

Well he’ll still be available in 5 weeks or so

Obvs need to turn our attention elsewhere but wouldn’t say that will end our interest

Annoying though

[YorkshireRoyal99]

It might give a good excuse to sign another LB as well as him so that we have 2 for the season really. Obviously signing an injured player isn't great but he looks ok and has been on our radar for some time so it would make sense to pick him up as well as someone else and that covers that position for the season then.

We'd have to be fairly confident that he will recover fully etc and that it is not an injury with a high chance of recurring. One of the key attributes we need this year is availability, so for him to have been training with us for a couple of weeks and then being out for 5 doesn't bode well. It may just be bad luck but we can't afford to take too many risks on fitness this season.

Yep. Not a great sign we're still picking up injuries in training.

Yeah agree (to both) to an extent but I don't think you can look too much into it with just one player. If we start picking up half a dozen injuries of similar issues i.e. muscle strains, then there might be something there.

[Snowflake Royal]

If we get half a dozen we may as well take a year off.

[Stranded]

It might give a good excuse to sign another LB as well as him so that we have 2 for the season really. Obviously signing an injured player isn't great but he looks ok and has been on our radar for some time so it would make sense to pick him up as well as someone else and that covers that position for the season then.

We'd have to be fairly confident that he will recover fully etc and that it is not an injury with a high chance of recurring. One of the key attributes we need this year is availability, so for him to have been training with us for a couple of weeks and then being out for 5 doesn't bode well. It may just be bad luck but we can't afford to take too many risks on fitness this season.

Yep. Not a great sign we're still picking up injuries in training.

Every club, every where will pick up injuries in training. 1 is no problem (2 if you include Dann, who I just assume is injured anyway) if we suddenly lose 5 or 6 then you have to question things.

[Snowflake Royal]

We'd have to be fairly confident that he will recover fully etc and that it is not an injury with a high chance of recurring. One of the key attributes we need this year is availability, so for him to have been training with us for a couple of weeks and then being out for 5 doesn't bode well. It may just be bad luck but we can't afford to take too many risks on fitness this season.

Yep. Not a great sign we're still picking up injuries in training.

Every club, every where will pick up injuries in training. 1 is no problem (2 if you include Dann, who I just assume is injured anyway) if we suddenly lose 5 or 6 then you have to question things.

The issue is we know we had an extensive problem. So three weeks into pre-season to have 1/2/3 (BOO, Dann, Luongo - presumably) already out is a bad sign. And if we get up to 5/6 before the season even starts, we're gone.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Yep. Not a great sign we're still picking up injuries in training.

Every club, every where will pick up injuries in training. 1 is no problem (2 if you include Dann, who I just assume is injured anyway) if we suddenly lose 5 or 6 then you have to question things.

The issue is we know we had an extensive problem. So three weeks into pre-season to have 1/2/3 (BOO, Dann, Luongo - presumably) already out is a bad sign. And if we get up to 5/6 before the season even starts, we're gone.

How many players have we got training with the club though currently? Either officially or on trial?

Just best to work off as a percentage, yes having players out isn't great but even if we go into the season with just 20 "senior" players, I'd still expect us to have a couple of injuries really.

[Stranded]

Yep. Not a great sign we're still picking up injuries in training.

Every club, every where will pick up injuries in training. 1 is no problem (2 if you include Dann, who I just assume is injured anyway) if we suddenly lose 5 or 6 then you have to question things.

The issue is we know we had an extensive problem. So three weeks into pre-season to have 1/2/3 (BOO, Dann, Luongo - presumably) already out is a bad sign. And if we get up to 5/6 before the season even starts, we're gone.

That strikes me as looking for an issue. We seem to have lost 2 out of 26/27 (we have no idea of Luongo travelled, is with the club, or persuing other opportunities) who were there for what would have been the most intense training of the entire year. Double sessions, lots of running etc - the odd injury is to be expected.

[royalp-we]

Not a clue what’s happened with Luongo. Widely reported as on trial and it’s all gone very quiet.

It’s a big year for him with the World Cup round the corner.

[Sutekh]

Dann, BOO and Moore are the three known injuries at the moment. Another left back really has to be an urgent priority this week as time is being lost with regard to team set ups etc.

Should never have got shot of Obita.