2024/25 Ins & Outs Discussion

[witchfindergeneral]

1 minute ago, wellfan said:

It's a shame for Paton. He works hard for the team when he plays and there is a definitely a place in the squad for players like him, but he's never an attacking creative midfielder in a million years.

With Nicholson and Callachan made of chocolate, and Slattery and Paton out til the November at the earliest, are we now solely relying on 16-year-old Wells to be our creative spark in the advanced midfield role? I've said it before and I'll say it again, not properly replacing Spittal is going to hurt us. 

IS there not still 4 weeks left before the transfer window closes? No point getting yer knickers in a twist this early

[mfc]

It seems like we haven't been able to catch a break on the injury front for ages,we badly need some midfield reinforcements and quick.

[Wellfan91]

Is Sparrow not an attacking mid? Albeit he's injured as well 🤣

[wellfan]

1 hour ago, witchfindergeneral said:

IS there not still 4 weeks left before the transfer window closes? No point getting yer knickers in a twist this early

This is such a tired statement. Competitive action began weeks ago and we knew Spittal was away months ago. We should not be waiting to the last possible minute to sign players in key positions and we should be treating League Cup games with the utmost respect. Domestic cups are our only real chances of success each season and starting the league campaign strong is important. 

[StAndrew7]

5 minutes ago, Wellfan91 said:

Is Sparrow not an attacking mid? Albeit he's injured as well 🤣

I think he's as "midfieldery" as a midfielder can be. Probably not found his true position yet, as I imagine he's played all over the place in the different teams he's been with.

[wellfan]

3 minutes ago, StAndrew7 said:

I think he's as "midfieldery" as a midfielder can be. Probably not found his true position yet, as I imagine he's played all over the place in the different teams he's been with.

Yeh, he’s predominantly played as a ‘central’ midfielder, but I’d like to think that we’ll be able to help him find his most effective position over the next 2 years. 

[steelboy]

We need two midfielders minimum.  I'd expect we will hear more on Nicholson and Callachan at the Q&A on Monday. 

Craig Napier had a perfect view of the foul on Paton and chose not to give a penalty. Scottish refs are a joke. 

Wells is actually older than Miller so there's no point holding him back on the basis of age. He should get a run out at some point against Thistle. 

[Big Stall]

All this signifys to me is we are simply a body down in midfield. Anyone thinking paton is the answer to making our midfield tick or linking midfield & attack has been out in the Scottish sun too long. If we cant find another player who can as a minimum provide what paton can do then we are in bother.

[Kmcalpin]

1 hour ago, wellfan said:

Competitive action began weeks ago and we knew Spittal was away months ago. We should not be waiting to the last possible minute to sign players in key positions and we should be treating League Cup games with the utmost respect. Domestic cups are our only real chances of success each season and starting the league campaign strong is important. 

Absolutely. We knew that Spittal would be leaving, probably 6 months ago. His is is a key position. Now you could say that Nicholson was signed as his replacement. With his injury record though its putting a lot of eggs in one basket. Sk did say that he was looking to sign another 2/3 players; presumably one being the yet to be confirmed striker with the unpronouncable name. I assumed that a No 10 would be another target.  It is leaving it late though to fill a key position.     

[witchfindergeneral]

2 hours ago, wellfan said:

This is such a tired statement. Competitive action began weeks ago and we knew Spittal was away months ago. We should not be waiting to the last possible minute to sign players in key positions and we should be treating League Cup games with the utmost respect. Domestic cups are our only real chances of success each season and starting the league campaign strong is important. 

I agree with that, we should  have signed his replacement weeks ago but it's not always that simple. SK may be waiting for the English loan market to open up. He may have a signing in the works. Sparrow and Nicholson might be his solution (I hope not). He might be sitting on his arse doing nothing and now he's forced to act.

There's still no point getting wound up over it this early. He's managed to bring in plenty of players elsewhere. Imagine at this point we had a no 10, but our only strikers were Ebiye and Ferrie. SK is doing fine with getting in players so far and I'm sure he's more than aware we need a 10.

[wellfan]

1 hour ago, witchfindergeneral said:

I agree with that, we should  have signed his replacement weeks ago but it's not always that simple. SK may be waiting for the English loan market to open up. He may have a signing in the works. Sparrow and Nicholson might be his solution (I hope not). He might be sitting on his arse doing nothing and now he's forced to act.

There's still no point getting wound up over it this early. He's managed to bring in plenty of players elsewhere. Imagine at this point we had a no 10, but our only strikers were Ebiye and Ferrie. SK is doing fine with getting in players so far and I'm sure he's more than aware we need a 10.

Whichever way you look at it, it's not good enough, and it should be simple. Putting Bair's goals aside in the second half of the season, Spittal was our most important player across the season, and he shouldn't be replaced with a loanee or a Nicholson or a Sparrow. Given Kettlewell knew Spittal was going a long time ago, and knowing that he was key to making Ketllewell's system work, a replacement should've been a top priority a long time ago. Instead, he's fudged a now injured Paton into the role, hoped that Nicholson would remain injury free, and now we're very short in that department, and likely relying on a loanee or dropping a striker/attacker into that role. He'll be judged on this once/if his system fails. 

[weeyin]

The Spittal that we signed is not the same Spittal the moved to Hearts. He only became that good through the efforts of the coaching staff.

If we follow the same model, one of the new signings could end up being as good, but won't be starting off that way.

[wellfan]

According to Kettlewell, Stama's deal is subject to a medical, which should be happening soon. 

[Stuwell2]

I’ve no doubt that we have spoken to a few players but have been knocked back due to wage constraints or other reasons. 

[texanwellfan]

1 hour ago, wellfan said:

According to Kettlewell, Stama's deal is subject to a medical, which should be happening soon. 

Let’s get that done and dusted before something gets in the way. 
 

medical is to make sure he has a niggling injury before we do sign him. 

[texanwellfan]

1 hour ago, weeyin said:

The Spittal that we signed is not the same Spittal the moved to Hearts. He only became that good through the efforts of the coaching staff.

If we follow the same model, one of the new signings could end up being as good, but won't be starting off that way.

Might be the opportunity for Wells to shine and be the next Turnbull/Campbell/Miller

[Mad Dog]

1 hour ago, wellfan said:

Instead, he's fudged a now injured Paton into the role, hoped that Nicholson would remain injury free, and now we're very short in that department, and likely relying on a loanee or dropping a striker/attacker into that role. He'll be judged on this once/if his system fails. 

Really? By who? You and a few others maybe. The rest of us non-pantwetters will wait and see once all of the transfers are in / out and the new squad has had a few months to settle in.

[Spiderpig]

1 hour ago, Mad Dog said:

Really? By who? You and a few others maybe. The rest of us non-pantwetters will wait and see once all of the transfers are in / out and the new squad has had a few months to settle in.

You do realise that sensible posts like that have no place on this forum 🙂

[wellfan]

1 hour ago, Mad Dog said:

Really? By who? You and a few others maybe. The rest of us non-pantwetters will wait and see once all of the transfers are in / out and the new squad has had a few months to settle in.

All this ‘knickers in a twist’ and ‘pant wetters’ chat is a right laugh, isn’t it?! Very constructive engagement. 

[Ya Bezzer!]

Paton always gives you 100% and that's rare.

I think that's a blow cos I'd have him in the team over a lot of the other options. 

[MJC]

19 hours ago, wellfan said:

All this ‘knickers in a twist’ and ‘pant wetters’ chat is a right laugh, isn’t it?! Very constructive engagement. 

That and ‘trolling’.

You know people have no argument or constructive contribution to make to a discussion once they start accusing someone telling it like it is or how they don’t want to hear it of being a troll or knicker twisting/wetting.

Concerns about the squad are perfectly valid right now. We have a crucial Cup game tomorrow and the league season begins a week today yet we have lost our two best players from last season, one of which we knew six months ago would be leaving, and failed to replace either. Once again we are riddled with injuries leaving our already shallow pool of players decimated even more.

If that makes me a troll or a knicker wetter for thinking and saying that in some peoples eyes then there’s nothing I can do about that, but I prefer to see it as saying things as I see them as opposed to nodding my head like a donkey and and warbling on like a parrot. 

[stv]

1 hour ago, MJC said:

That and ‘trolling’.

You know people have no argument or constructive contribution to make to a discussion once they start accusing someone telling it like it is or how they don’t want to hear it of being a troll or knicker twisting/wetting.

Concerns about the squad are perfectly valid right now. We have a crucial Cup game tomorrow and the league season begins a week today yet we have lost our two best players from last season, one of which we knew six months ago would be leaving, and failed to replace either. Once again we are riddled with injuries leaving our already shallow pool of players decimated even more.

If that makes me a troll or a knicker wetter for thinking and saying that in some peoples eyes then there’s nothing I can do about that, but I prefer to see it as saying things as I see them as opposed to nodding my head like a donkey and and warbling on like a parrot. 

New season , full of promise , a clean slate , new signings and raring to go.   I just wish some folk would change the depressing, doom mongering, pant wetting , trolling patter ( delete where appropriate ) from previous seasons and at least try n get out of the right side of the bed in the morning.

Think happy thoughts , at lest until September.

[thewelllfan]

Not to cause panic but if we're wanting to have a go for Europe this season we need another 5/6 players.

I'd be bringing in 2 strikers and playing a 352 so we at least pose more of a threat since we don't have wingers.

Still need a LWB as much as I'd like to see Wilson the premiership will eat him alive he's looked leggy after 60 mins against lower league opposition.

Still need a holding midfielder.

We also need a creative midfielder to replace Spittal with all the injuries we've got in that area of the pitch.

IF I'm was being extremely optimistic I'd like another CB preferably with a bit of pace about them but we do have 6 options in that area so don't think it's overly likely.

[Kmcalpin]

4 minutes ago, thewelllfan said:

Not to cause panic but if we're wanting to have a go for Europe this season we need another 5/6 players.

I'd be bringing in 2 strikers and playing a 352 so we at least pose more of a threat since we don't have wingers.

Still need a LWB as much as I'd like to see Wilson the premiership will eat him alive he's looked leggy after 60 mins against lower league opposition.

Still need a holding midfielder.

We also need a creative midfielder to replace Spittal with all the injuries we've got in that area of the pitch.

IF I'm was being extremely optimistic I'd like another CB preferably with a bit of pace about them but we do have 6 options in that area so don't think it's overly likely.

Not sure about all of that. We absolutely need another striker, but not 2, albeit one is supposedly coming soon from the Antipodes.  Another creative midfielder is also a must. I would also like to have brought in another defensive/holding midfielder, as demonstrated by Clyde's goal last Saturday, but that won't happen now. 

I share your concern about Wilson, but we have yet to see Seddon in action. Numbers wise we're fine in central defence.

 

[StAndrew7]

13 minutes ago, thewelllfan said:

Not to cause panic but if we're wanting to have a go for Europe this season we need another 5/6 players.

I'd be bringing in 2 strikers and playing a 352 so we at least pose more of a threat since we don't have wingers.

Still need a LWB as much as I'd like to see Wilson the premiership will eat him alive he's looked leggy after 60 mins against lower league opposition.

Still need a holding midfielder.

We also need a creative midfielder to replace Spittal with all the injuries we've got in that area of the pitch.

IF I'm was being extremely optimistic I'd like another CB preferably with a bit of pace about them but we do have 6 options in that area so don't think it's overly likely.

So you're think we should make, in total, 15 or so signings and an additional six to add to a squad of 21 already? And have five or six trikers on the books?

Are you the reincarnation of John Boyle from the late 1990s?