thewelllfan

Docherty isn't terrible but Dundee shipped 60+ goals in both of the last 2 seasons.

It's got appointing Tony Docherty all over it. Won't go foreign again as we did and they left after 12 games. Will be a UK based manager most likely.

Clubs made a quick profit and stayed in the league can't really complain. The real issue with him going is we have quite a big squad left behind and all the players get a clean slate under a new manager.

Yeah hadn't included Ross or Wells in that number but if you do it's 20 + the 3 I think will get offered deals that's 23. Not leaving much room to bring in players initially. Can actually see Luca Ross getting used as a Wing Back in this formation and Wells might get minutes in the 2 positions behind the striker in the current formation. As I've said earlier on this I'd be trying to shift Koutrombis, SOD, Nicholson, Stuperavic and obviously we'll sell Miller for a decent fee. We need to add pace and power to our squad in all areas to play at the intensity the manager wants. This summer we probably need to look at adding 7/8 Players for me: 2 CBs, a LWB, 2 CMs , 2 Forwards

I think he's a good player but he's too injury prone for us to sign permanently

I suspect Seddon, Paton and Casey have been offered deals of the ones OOC. My issue is if those 3 sign on that's 21 under contract if you include Mcghee. Currently leaving Andrews, Kaleta, Armstrong , Balcombe, Taveres, Watt, Plange, Dickson, Mair, Vale - Returning to parent clubs. Only 1 I'd want back is Andrews. Callahan, Seddon, Casey, Davor, Ebieye, Thompson, Paton, Blaney Of OOC I'd only keep Seddon.

I can see us renewing Watt, Paton and Casey tbh but that wouldn't leave much much room to bring players in even with a few moving on.

Of our 10 loanees only maybe 5 have been in any way useful. Taveres, Dickson, Plange - been completely pointless signings Vale - Was good last season but been injured majority of the season Mair and Balcombe - served a purpose as Ox and then Mair got injured. Watt, Armstrong, Andrews, Kaleta - all had a couple of decent performances but not been consistent.

The only youngsters who seem close are Luca Ross and Dylan Wells we've got a boy who's consistently getting in the Scotland U17s so he's probably decent as well.

Squad under contract for next season :- Goalkeepers- Ox, Ward Centre-Backs- Gordon, Balmer, SOD RWB - Sparrow, Johnny K LWB- Wilson Cm - Miller, Slattery, Halliday, Nicholson Attackers - Maswanhise, Stam, Stuperavic, Robinson 16 now under contract. 2/3 need moved on to make space for new players who can have more of a contribution next season. I suspect we'll also renew Paton, Watt and Casey. Which would make it 19. (18 once Miller is sold.)

With us basically needing a point from 4 games to avoid the relegation play-off I'd go with: Ox Koutrombis Gordon Casey Thompson Miller Halliday Sparrow Slattery Watt Armstrong That's probably the most balanced team we can put out if Maswanhise is fit I'd have him on the right over Sparrow.

Moult as much as I loved him the first time around is very injury prone. Is he better than what we have probably but if he can't stay fit he's of no real use. The only former player from Dundee Utd I'd want back is Campbell but even at that not sure he looks the same player he was when he left us only 26 mind you so wouldn't be against it.

I'll be optimistic and go for a 2-1 win Watt and Maswanhise with the goals.

To give Daws his due during his time here he's been decent at finding Sts - Bair, Biereth, Van Veen and I think Stam if you keep him fit could join those names. However this season his recruitment in that area's been poor.

I don't think Watt is great but he's the only Striker we have that can keep hold off the ball and link the play. He needs to do more in front of goal I agree but his link up play is Important to the system working. Armstrong isn't awful but in general prefer Watt starts and he comes off bench. Plange was woeful v St Mirren and not done much else. Dickson who knows he's barley played but going back to City so not overly arsed. Ebieye's first touch and passing remind me of Mugabi so I don.t think he's the answer and Stams injured. So for me Watts the best of the remaining 5.

On all the League reconstruction talk in here personally I want to see it expanded to 14 teams with a 6/8 split and basically adopt the Greek Model. 26 games pre split play all teams H&A Split into top 6 and bottom 8 all play H &A again. 36 games FOR T6 40 for Bottom 8 T3 European places guaranteed + Cup Winner/4th Then add a European Play off between 5/6/7/8 for final European Place. If Cup winner is outisde T8 4/5/6/7 contest P/O Bottom 2 Relegated Championship Winner and play off between 2nd and 5th come up That keeps your 4 Old Firms for TV deal. Gives teams in bottom half something to play and gets rid of the get out of Jail free card for 2nd bottom. To me that would be the most interesting and would hopefully improve youth development as their would be less fear of relegation. Model is also not perfect so open to ideas on how to improve it further.

I agree with both points you've made. However Watt for me is the best St out of what we have available and is OOC so playing to put himself in the shop window. That team you've qouted is just a team of players mainly under contract. As I've said elsewhere the team I'd pick is: Oxborough Casey Gordon Seddon Sparrow Miller Paton Thompson Slattery Watt Maswanhise

If we're picking a team of players under contract you'd surley go: Ox SOD Gordon Balmer Koutrombis Sparrow Miller Slattery Wilson Watt Maswanhise Watt's only 1 that's not under contract but he's OOC at end of season and trying to play himself into the shop window and Stam isn't fit

It gives him a bit more freedom to get on the ball with that midfield i mentioned there all very much interchangable within games and should help us get more of the ball. It does lack a bit of pysichality tho

In terms of Thompson I wouldn't mind dropping him and pushing Seddon to Lwb i just don't trust any of our other Cbs and Wilson has been poor since November. Watt for me is the only St we have that keeps hold off the ball long enough to relieve pressure and we need Maswanhise to stretch teams. Was thinking Armstrong more off the bench and the fact I think he's still under contract with Carlisle beyond this season and we certainly shouldn't be looking at him permanently.

Might be in the minority but if we have the above mentioned players back the team I'd pick until we are safe is : Oxborough Casey Gordon Seddon Sparrow Miller Paton Thompson Slattery Watt Maswanhise Watt, Paton, Seddon. Thompson, Casey all playing for contracts with the others all contracted for next season should at least mean we have a motivated team to the end of the season. If Stam comes back throw him in for Watt aswell. If we are safe with games to go get any youth players he thinks are decent into the team and have a look at them.

If I was to guess our results right now I'd go St J (H) - D Dundee (A) - D Hearts (A) - L Killie (H) - W Ross C (A) - L

Should we not get 3 home games as we've only had 16 home games so far this season? Also regarding relegation talk we need to win probably 2 out of 5 to come 7/8th and win 1 to avoid the play off. If anyone in the bottom 6 wins 5/5 of their games I'd be surprised,

As much as I would like to rip up the majority of the squad as well I feel we need some level of stability. I wouldn't mind Wilson being loaned out as i feel he's stagnated in his development. Balmer, Paton and Robinson I wouldn't be against moving on either but I feel trying to bring in 15/16 players in 1 window would be a big ask and those 3 are fine as squad players. But theoretically all those moving on leaves you with a squad of 6 players.

As i Said previously only player OOC i'd look to retain is Paton. Of the loanees if we can get Andrews back for another season I wouldn't be against it rest can all go. Of the contracted players I'd be looking to shift Nicholson, SOD, Stuperavic and Koutrombis and Miller will be sold. Base of Squad by positon would then look like GK- Ox Cbs- Gordon, Balmer Wbs- Sparrow, Wilson Cms- Slattery, Paton Fwds- Stam, Maswanhise, Robinson That gives Wimmer a decent base of a squad and plenty of space to bring in his own players in each position.