Signings - how ready are you for the season 2017-18?

[Roger Stone]

It shouldn't be too difficult but think we'll do better this season than last. Flynny has kept most of the squad that finished last season like a train. Plus strengthened in 1 or 2 other positions, other than up front where we are thin compared to others.

Day
O'Brien Demetriou Bennett/Turley
Pipe/Bobb Labadie Tozer Dolan Butler/Willmott
Rigg
Nouble/Williams/Jackson/Reynolds

Plus a couple of loans from Cardiff / Swansea like last season - of Healy, Sheehan and Samuel quality.

 

[Conker]

Everything is on paper at this point but we must have the best defence? It was already brilliant last season with Bennett, Pearce, White and Benning now we have added the likes of Diamond and Murfin.

 

[Chris FGR]

We seem to be spending more time trying to fend off the vultures, Pinnock already gone, Notts seemingly refusing to give up on Noble and Doidge attracting interest as well. We're really in the shit if either Nobes or Doidgey go.

Although we've got about 22 players contracted, as Greenacres says in reality it's more like 16, as some aren't likely to play for us again, (Sinclair, Murphy and maybe Robert) out injured long term (Racine) or youngsters likely to go out on loan (Moran and Mehew). Out of the rest, only 6 have any real football league experience.

Lots of time to go though, plus hopefully the majority of our squad that were a top quality side in the National League will make the step up smoothly. Not much of a gap.

 

[Conker]

Big gap.

 

[Kenneth E End]

GK Marek Stech
GK James Shea?
RB Jack Stacey
MF Alan McCormack
MF Additional Midfielder
MF Andrew Shinnie
CF James Collins
CF Elliot Lee?

That should do it.

IMO this is going to be our strongest squad for over 10 years.

Updated.

Very very good summer of recruitment.

 

[hellogregory]

Everything is on paper at this point but we must have the best defence? It was already brilliant last season with Bennett, Pearce, White and Benning now we have added the likes of Diamond and Murfin.

What? We obviously have the best defence

 

[Chris FGR]

What? We obviously have the best defence

Don't know about the rest, but you've definitely got one brilliant defender, Mark Ellis is already an FGR legend. Wish we could have him back.

 

[hellogregory]

I was joking our defence was one of the worst last season and is probably weaker now.

Ellis has been poor for us, but I'm hoping he can find the form that got him promoted out of this league with Shrewsbury.

 

[Son of Cod]

We're probably only going to make 2/3 more signings I think. As things stand:

Mckeown
Mills Collins Clarke _______
Dembele Osborne McAllister Kelly
Jones
________
Subs: Davies, Berrett, Rose, Boyce, Vernon, Clements, Bolarinwa

Reserves: Asante, Clifton, Summerfield, A Rose

We need a LB so I assume he'll be first choice when he comes. Slade also wants a striker, as Asante is injured so it's a choice between him and Vernon. Think we'll also sign a utility defender and young keeper. Hope to get rid of Summerfield and Berrett.

I'm certain that the midfield I've put won't play; we've got 11 midfielders to fit into 4/5 spots!

Yeah, I can't see Dembele being first choice. Would be awesome if he some sort of wonderkid but I'm not holding my breath on that one. Did you leave Yussuf out for a reason, or is he still with us? Worryingly, Summerfield actually did alright when Slade came in, so I reckon he'll be safe. I will personally drive Berrett anywhere that all have him. Really hoping Asante can get fit and ready quickly. Other than Jones, Osborne and Mills he's the only player in our squad that vaguely excites me.

 

[PaulHaddock]

Yeah, I can't see Dembele being first choice. Would be awesome if he some sort of wonderkid but I'm not holding my breath on that one. Did you leave Yussuf out for a reason, or is he still with us? Worryingly, Summerfield actually did alright when Slade came in, so I reckon he'll be safe. I will personally drive Berrett anywhere that all have him. Really hoping Asante can get fit and ready quickly. Other than Jones, Osborne and Mills he's the only player in our squad that vaguely excites me.

Normally agree with what you say but a couple of things: I did forget about Yussuff, though I'd still be surprised to see him in Slade's plans. Also, Summerfield was away on loan when Slade arrived! Berrett also showed some improvement under Slade (had a shocker vs Plymouth), plus the fact he has the No7 shirt suggests he'll be involved a bit next season.

I mostly agree about the exciting players, though I'd include a fit Sean McAllister in there because despite him only playing two full games (first and last game), he was very good in both! Dunno about Dembele; supposedly, there was interest from higher up.

 

[Son of Cod]

Oh wait...was I getting Summerfield and Berrett mixed up then? I dislike them both quite a lot, but the one that did a bit better a little bit less. Yeah, no way to call it with regards to Dembele. I'm basing it 100% on the fact that this Nike Academy is a bit gimmicky. And fair enough regarding McAllister, I wasn't at either of those games.

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

We were never in for Matt Green. Lol.

Bit melodramatic in regards to us too. We'll be fine.

In that we won't go down?
I just about agree, there's worse than us, but, lower mid table is what I can see at vale.
The Alex will be above us in crowds and position.
I've never seen a more negative pre season at vale, popes goals will keep us up.
Nothing more.

 

[Casey]

We have midfielders all over the place. About twelve of them.

Only one confirmed striker in Matt Harrold who spent nearly the whole if last season injured. If this Verheyd rumour is true we will have two big lads up front so I would hope we would go for a poacher style striker next( I hear James Collins is cheap).

We good in goal but our defence is supremely capable of gifting anyone a goal. It's odd as both Connelly and McNerney are decent centre halves and Yorwerth is ok as a back up (except when he wants to fight Hylton).

If we get a good centre half and a good striker we will be ok but I think every team could say that.

Casey

 

[OneDecentLester]

Everything is on paper at this point but we must have the best defence? It was already brilliant last season with Bennett, Pearce, White and Benning now we have added the likes of Diamond and Murfin.

I'd counter that with the following:
Scott Wiseman, Ian Evatt, Sam Hird and Jerome Binnom-Williams...

IMO I think our defence is where we look strongest on paper atm! I don't think that Defence would look out of place in a top half league 1 side..

 

[OneDecentLester]

Anyway, an update of our signings so far, aswell as potential in comings...

Signed:
- Bradley Barry (RWB) - Swindon Town
- Joe Anyon (GK) - Scunthorpe Utd
- Scott Wiseman (RB/CB) - Scunthorpe Utd
- Gozie Ugwu (ST) - Woking FC
- Jordan Sinnott (CM) - Halifax Town
- Delial Brewster (ST) - Everton FC
- Jerome Binnom-Williams(LB)- Peterbrough
- Chris O'Grady (ST) - Brighton

Linked with:
- Louis Reed (CM) - Sheff Utd (On loan)
- Jose Semedo (CM) - Sheff Wed
- David Brooks (CAM) - Sheff Utd (On loan)

I think we've been very shrewd with our business so far this summer. We released a lot of dead wood at the end of last season (12 players), with many of them being top earners at the club such as Ebanks-Blake, Dan Jones, Angel Martinez etc...

The players we've kept from last season and those brought in so far all fit the Caldwell mould and the style of play he favours which is a positive on a scouting network note. Caldwell told Radio Sheffield yesterday that were prioritising 3/4 more players, all of them being midfielders as he's happy with our striking options and our defence. We're currently linked with Wednesday legend Jose Semedo who would be the perfect signing for us, as we've needed a player of this mould since Sam Morsy left! That'd be a serious coup at league 2 level if we pull that one off!!

If we manage to pull the Semedo signing off then I imagine come first game of the season we line up similarly to this:

(3-5-2)
(GK) Lee / Anyon
(Centre Backs) Wiseman - Evatt(c) - Hird
(Wing Backs) Barry - Binnom Williams
(Centre Midfield) Semedo - Sinnott
(Attacking Midfield) Rowley
(Strikers) O'Grady - Dennis

 

[Kenneth E End]

Very solid - I'd say strong enough for the play offs.

 

[Conker]

I'd counter that with the following:
Scott Wiseman, Ian Evatt, Sam Hird and Jerome Binnom-Williams...

IMO I think our defence is where we look strongest on paper atm! I don't think that Defence would look out of place in a top half league 1 side..

Any strength in depth?

 

[spireite]

Any strength in depth?

We're not going to get injured, we're grand!

But we if do we have Harry Maguires younger brother for CB cover, and last years wing backs (Paul McGinn and Dion Donohue) who we've replaced in the lineup.

When you look at last years team, there's no wonder we went down faster than a cheap hooker, terrible. We're looking stronger this season, pending a couple of midfielders. I really hope there's something in this Jose Semedo rumour

 

[OneDecentLester]

Any strength in depth?

We've got depth all over the park apart from midfield, but that's to be expected as we're not finished our business yet and Caldwells targeting 3/4 more players, and they're all midfielders!

Caldwell did mention in his interview yesterday that there has been some interest in some of our players, but he wants to keep them all. I'd imagine that interest would be in players such as Kristian Dennis, Joe Rowley and also heard Oldham were interested in Tommy Lee, but I'd remain confident in keeping them

 

[WH_Stag]

GK:
Conrad logan, Bobby Olejnik

CB:
Bennett, Diamond, Pearce, Murfin, Taft

RB/LB
White, Hunt, Benning

MD:
Byrom, Mellis, Atkinson, Anderson, Thomas, Potter, MacDonald, Hamilton
Digby

ST:
Rose, Spencer, Angol, Sterling-James

Were after one more midfielder and one more striker. Squad of 25 if we get those two.


-------------Rose Angol

Anderson Byrom Atkinson MacDonald

Benning Murfin Diamond White

---------------Olejnik

not bad and way better than what we had last year.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Two more signings made this week which add more depth to our side.

GK - Ben Garratt, Dave Richards
Defenders - George Ray, Zoumana Bakayogo, Perry Ng, Michael Raynes, Eddie Nolan, Ross Woodcock
Midfielders - James Jones, George Cooper, Ryan Wintle, Callum Ainley, Oliver Finney, Tommy Lowery, Brad Walker, Harry Pickering, Josh Lundstram
Forwards - Chris Dagnall, Jordan Bowery, Chris Porter, Charlie Kirk, Daniel Udoh, Owen Dale, Lewis Reilly

One of the bigger squads in the league but quite a few of these lads will be used mainly for the U23s. I'd like an old head to guide our players in midfield like Danny Hollands was but I'm unsure if we'll go down that route now we've invested a modest fee and decent wages for Brad Walker. I can see one more permanent signing coming in which would be a centre half of some experience with the rest to be loan signings (namely a LB as cover for Bakayogo and a winger to add some width to our relatively narrow side). We may even see if we can get Callum Cooke back from Middlesbrough although that seems unlikely. Lot of height in our 5 signings as well which will hopefully curtail our misfortune from set pieces too.

 

[shoddycollins]

We're supposedly close to bringing in a second loanee keeper as cover for our first loanee keeper, so we'll more than likely go into the season with no goalkeepers on the books. God help us, someone tell Jimmy Glass he might be needed.

 

[hellogregory]

Hopefully one or both will be good.

We desperately need another forward more than anything imo.

Losing 30+ goals a season in Ibehre and Wyke doesn't seem to have set alarm bells ringing and there seems no urgency to reinforce that area which worries me. That should have been number 1 priority over the summer. As much as I like Hallam Hope as a player, he doesn't look like a natural goal scorer. I don't see us scoring many goals at all.

I'm finding it very hard to foresee us having anything but a season of struggle ahead.

 

[Vanni]

So you reckon Carlisle will struggle next season HG? Must really be looking grim then if someone as optimistic as yourself is saying so.

Shoddy, do us all a massive favour and start another HG forfeit thread asap please.

 

[valefan16]

Squad numbers released and number 2,3,4,7 and 10 are vacant which gives me hope that we've still a good five or six first XI signings to add to us.

No squad number for Kjell Knops who misses the season with injury.

As it stands:

GK: Rob Lainton
RB: Adam Yates expected to sign new deal
CB: Nathan Smith
CB: Anthony Kay
LB: Graham Kelly
RW: Christian Montano
CM: Danny Pugh
CM: Anthony De Freitas
LW: Billy Reeves
CF: Tom Pope
CF: Tyrone Barnett

Need RB, CB, LB, Winger (likely be Green) Attacking CM and one more ST.

 

[Habbinalan]

We seem to have enough numbers to put out different sides in each half at St Neots on saturday, even without Josh Coulson (still working back from his ankle injury) and newly arrived Ade Linford Azeez.

Vess provides a reasonably balanced review here http://www.thefootballab.co.uk/2017/cambridge-united-season-preview-cautious-derry/

 

[shoddycollins]

So you reckon Carlisle will struggle next season HG? Must really be looking grim then if someone as optimistic as yourself is saying so.

Shoddy, do us all a massive favour and start another HG forfeit thread asap please.

Unless we pull something spectacular out our arses in the next few weeks I think a HG forfeit thread would be premature. I don't much like his tone sometimes but he makes reasonable points, we almost went down not but two years ago and we aren't far ahead of that now.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

Still three short, which seems impossible given our squad size. If either Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro, Nicholls or Akinola step up then maybe only two. I like JLAA and think he could be the foil for Akinde.

We need a right back. Gutting that Pearson suffered with injuries so had to be released as he was as good as any at this level. Also need a ball winning centre midfielder.

Happy to get in a solid number two keeper as Stephens history would indicate that he'll miss at least a quarter of the season.

We're a real unknown. Ignore Nugent and we would have been around the play-offs. If our January signings train on, and we fill those needs, we are a live shout for promotion.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Not a new signing as such but it seriously feels like it! Our long term number 1 Tommy Lee back warming up for us in our pre season game at Buxton tonight!

Been out injured for a full season and we haven't half missed him! Top keeper!

 

[Posh Harry]

View attachment 6707

Not a new signing as such but it seriously feels like it! Our long term number 1 Tommy Lee back warming up for us in our pre season game at Buxton tonight!

Been out injured for a full season and we haven't half missed him! Top keeper!

Think Chesterfield are going to struggle with a 3 foot tall goalkeeper this season