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Post by davep on Jul 15, 2022 11:41:53 GMT
Well we’ve already got a side that isn’t a million miles away from our starting XI from last season. Only Bouzanis, Ajiboye and possibly Olaofe drop off from our best team. Only the keeper and Ben Goodliffe specifically playing a bit of catch up in terms of minutes. Anything we add that is better is a bonus, at the very least we’ll be adding some depth from here. Spot on. We already have a starting XI that would be totally acceptable in last season (taking into account the players that have left and have already signed). We don't have any position that we're struggling to fill already and enough subs. I don't think that it's true that 'we don't have any position that we're struggling to fill'. According to the website we're trying to bring in more bar staff.
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Post by paz on Jul 15, 2022 14:10:35 GMT
While it's hard to address who will replace who with it coming down to their form this season and who shines. On paper, we have basically replaced Ajiboye and Bennet up front with very competent replacements, and have replaced Deano with a young keeper with good league experience. And all these signings will be hungry and will want to make a mark given their scenarios coming into the club. So providing all are fit and on the button we are in ok shape. Tanto being injured for a while last year and with him then going, he is someone you feel we need to replace and hopefully, we will, but I still think we can't rule out seeing Wilson step up, he has talent. I also think Smith is going to really be a good player for us and he might be a star this year. Hopefully this comment does not age badly
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Post by davep on Jul 15, 2022 14:20:38 GMT
If Matt continues to opt for 4-4-2 next season, with 2 x wingers and 2 x central midfield players, you would expect the two in centre of midfield, if everyone is fit and available, to be Easty + Ali or Harry. Is there any other club at our level that might have the luxury of being able to leave a fully fit and firing Harry or Ali on the bench?
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Post by Del on Jul 15, 2022 16:16:47 GMT
While it's hard to address who will replace who with it coming down to their form this season and who shines. On paper, we have basically replaced Ajiboye and Bennet up front with very competent replacements, and have replaced Deano with a young keeper with good league experience. And all these signings will be hungry and will want to make a mark given their scenarios coming into the club. So providing all are fit and on the button we are in ok shape. Tanto being injured for a while last year and with him then going, he is someone you feel we need to replace and hopefully, we will, but I still think we can't rule out seeing Wilson step up, he has talent. I also think Smith is going to really be a good player for us and he might be a star this year. Hopefully this comment does not age badly He was our best midfield player last year and what i've seen of Adam Lovatt he is not far behind !
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Post by Andy K on Jul 15, 2022 18:15:27 GMT
The number of options we have a centre mid is nuts. In addition to the 4 mentioned, both Milsom and Barden can play there. The latter did for the first half on Tuesday as captain and did a decent job too. But then that's one less than last season and at Swindon in March, only one of those was fit and available (Lovatt) so Omar had to do another out of position cameo (which like he did against Newport in December). So even with the riches of talent we have, we know that we could very quickly be down to bare bones later in the season!
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Post by davep on Jul 15, 2022 18:47:27 GMT
I read an interesting interview today with Neil Harris the Gillingham manager. He believes that 7 or 8 EFL League Two clubs are paying so much for players that they are both in breach of the financial fair play rules and in danger of going bust before the end of the season. Wonder if we might see another Bury or Macclesfield this season?
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Post by paz on Jul 16, 2022 18:02:25 GMT
While it's hard to address who will replace who with it coming down to their form this season and who shines. On paper, we have basically replaced Ajiboye and Bennet up front with very competent replacements, and have replaced Deano with a young keeper with good league experience. And all these signings will be hungry and will want to make a mark given their scenarios coming into the club. So providing all are fit and on the button we are in ok shape. Tanto being injured for a while last year and with him then going, he is someone you feel we need to replace and hopefully, we will, but I still think we can't rule out seeing Wilson step up, he has talent. I also think Smith is going to really be a good player for us and he might be a star this year. Hopefully this comment does not age badly He was our best midfield player last year and what i've seen of Adam Lovatt he is not far behind ! Yeah, early days for Adam but when he came in last year he did not look out of place at all, considering the big jump in opposition, it would be great if he turned out to be a gem!
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Post by davep on Jul 17, 2022 6:57:05 GMT
Looking at our three new signings, Matt and Tope are both young and have no experience yet at this level. Not clear yet whether Matt sees them both as players for now, or players for the future (a bit like Kylian and Adam when first signed). If the latter, we may see them going out on loan initially. Luke on the other hand is experienced at this level having played for both Colchester and Newport in recent times. Colchester let Luke go on a free transfer last Summer after narrowly escaping relegation to the National League - and he spent last season playing in Malta.
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Post by toothman on Jul 17, 2022 8:16:43 GMT
Matt did say at the end of his post match interview that he was going to add a goalkeeper and another forward and “then he’s done” . that suggests that House, Tope and Ridley will go out on loan with possibly Kouassi also. I think Kouassi and House have both been impressive in PS. It may be that some of the loans wont happen until close to the window closing (? End of August).
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Post by davep on Jul 17, 2022 9:43:01 GMT
Matt did say at the end of his post match interview that he was going to add a goalkeeper and another forward and “then he’s done” . that suggests that House, Tope and Ridley will go out on loan with possibly Kouassi also. I think Kouassi and House have both been impressive in PS. It may be that some of the loans wont happen until close to the window closing (? End of August). In general terms, I do like the look of the squad that Matt is putting together (on what I imagine is a relatively shoe-string budget). It looks better balanced than last season, has more depth and more and more younger players are being brought in/brought through. I also think that the majority of the departing players have been replaced by what look to be at least equivalent replacements - if not better. That said, I do think that the last two signings could be potentially very significant in determining what sort of season we have in EFL League 2 - which looks like it will be a fair bit stronger overall than it was last season. It is not yet clear whether Jack has been brought in with a view to being our first choice keeper or back up - if the latter, it will be interesting to see who is brought in as first choice to replace the departed Dean. We also seem to have a number of young and developing keepers coming through. The one void from last season I'm not sure has been adequately replaced yet is Tanto. I see Kwame as more of a replacement for Richie - and competing for a starting spot with Omar. If Tope is intended to be Tanto's replacement, that seems a lot to ask of a young player who seems to have been doing very well - but at a much lower level than EFL League 2. That said, Matt seems very impressed with what he has seen of him so far. If Tope is seen as more of a player for the future, I do think that the signing of the final striker could be the key signing of the Summer. As I have said previously - I don't think that it is beyond the bounds of possibility that the final striker that Matt brings in could be Tanto on loan again - as it is anticipated that he is unlikely to break into the Millwall starting line-up this season (although he did play last Tuesday against Dartford) with Afobe, Bradshaw and Bennett all expected to be ahead of him in the competition to be starting strikers - and Millwall understood to still be looking to add to their forward options before the start of the season.
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Post by toothman on Jul 17, 2022 11:58:51 GMT
I read an interesting interview today with Neil Harris the Gillingham manager. He believes that 7 or 8 EFL League Two clubs are paying so much for players that they are both in breach of the financial fair play rules and in danger of going bust before the end of the season. Wonder if we might see another Bury or Macclesfield this season? I tried searching for this but couldn’t find it easily- where did you read it?
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Post by localboy86 on Jul 17, 2022 12:27:11 GMT
So a couple more signings to come in by the sound of things, a couple of members of the squad might head out on loan for experience. Are we likely to add Ogudenga too as he wasn’t listed as a Trialist in yesterdays game against Charlton.
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Post by paz on Jul 17, 2022 13:21:42 GMT
Matt is also looking to get a motivated squad, players that are likely going to be hungry. I am pleased for Fadahunsi, looks over the moon and looks like he has a great opportunity to step up and no doubt will be up for it. Likewise with Ridley. To me it looks like Matt is sticking to what has worked. Hungry hard-working players who will work hard for themselves and the club.
Of course, there is always a risk if the players cant step up, but he has so far been a good judge as I am sure have the people around him.
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Post by brisfitboy2 on Jul 18, 2022 11:31:32 GMT
Just been reading NewsatDen and it looks like Gary Rowett wants to keep tanto as he just needs a little extra work before he’s in the main squad, so it doesn’t look like tanto will be back. Let’s hope I’m wrong.
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Post by davep on Jul 18, 2022 15:15:38 GMT
Just been reading NewsatDen and it looks like Gary Rowett wants to keep tanto as he just needs a little extra work before he’s in the main squad, so it doesn’t look like tanto will be back. Let’s hope I’m wrong. I've just read the same article brisfitboy. Must admit that I read it as saying that although Rowett has been impressed with Tanto during preseason, he hasn't yet decided whether he is ready to make a substantial contribution to Millwall's first team this season or not.
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