Tekel Towers » Players we should be looking at for next season?

Tek · 21/12/2019 11:53 pm

Any suggestions Lads?

I like the look of George Oakley at Accies. He hasn't been a prolific scorer so far in his career, but has always played with struggling teams who don't create much. I think there's a decent player there who could score more frequently in a better team. Noel Hunt wasn't prolific until he came to Utd. neither was Jon Daly or Nadir Ciftci for that matter.

Tek · 22/12/2019 12:16 am

There's also a lad at Queens Park who is apparently ripping the league up.

Salim Kouidor Aissa.

The lad has came from Junior Football I believe. But many a fine player has came from the Junior's (Dougie Arnott, Willie Pettigrew, even our own Louis Appere).

Worth keeping an eye on.

kingdomarab · 22/12/2019 2:38 am

We are at a point where we need to look at players good enough to play in the top flight next year rather than players to push us over the line to the title this year.

As for the players you’ve highlighted Tek, Oakley has played significantly better than I expected in the top flight, and Craig Telfer of the Terrace Podcast rates Aissa highly. One to keep an eye on perhaps.

lifesanocean · 22/12/2019 7:47 am

A natural left winger would fill a hole. That's top priority imho. Jake Mulreaney hasn't been featuring for Hearts for a while including under their new manager although he played against us in the League Cup. A loan perhaps?

Last edited by lifesanocean (22/12/2019 7:50 am)

JerryDungle · 22/12/2019 9:09 am

I’d be happy with the bulk of our squad for the Premiership, probably only 3 or 4 areas that we could do with upgrading our first choice in. Need a centre half with better distribution, a playmaker in the middle of the park to partner Butcher, a left winger to give us better balance and maybe another striker.

Jack Hendry or Danny Wilson for CB - Hendry’s completely frozen out at Celtic, no idea what Wilson’s situation in America is, but was Neilson’s captain at Hearts.

Greg Docherty at Centre mid - Quality player who’s just been told he can leave Rangers, still only 23 so should still have the hunger to come here and earn himself a bigger move elsewhere and prover Gerrard wrong.

Sam Nicholson at LM - Don’t know what his contract situation is in the MLS, but listened to an interview he did recently, he seems to be enjoying himself over there and didn’t sound like he was in a hurry to come back over here. But we have tried for him in the past so who knows.

Safranko at CF - Wants to come back, would be another good option up front, and has a lot of the attributes to replace Appere should the rumours about teams sniffing around him be true.

Could also do with a backup RB, maybe also a LB depending on how Neilson views Sporle come the summer. We’ve got scouts watching Kieron Bowie at Raith every week along with a host of other teams. Should also be keeping tabs on Nisbet at Dunfermline for when Shankland inevitably moves on.

kdyteejay · 22/12/2019 4:10 pm

lifesanocean wrote:
A natural left winger would fill a hole. That's top priority imho. Jake Mulreaney hasn't been featuring for Hearts for a while including under their new manager although he played against us in the League Cup. A loan perhaps?

I thought James Forrest’s brother played really well for Ayr yesterday.

kdyteejay · 22/12/2019 4:18 pm

JerryDungle wrote:
I’d be happy with the bulk of our squad for the Premiership, probably only 3 or 4 areas that we could do with upgrading our first choice in. Need a centre half with better distribution, a playmaker in the middle of the park to partner Butcher, a left winger to give us better balance and maybe another striker.

Jack Hendry or Danny Wilson for CB - Hendry’s completely frozen out at Celtic, no idea what Wilson’s situation in America is, but was Neilson’s captain at Hearts.

Greg Docherty at Centre mid - Quality player who’s just been told he can leave Rangers, still only 23 so should still have the hunger to come here and earn himself a bigger move elsewhere and prover Gerrard wrong.

Sam Nicholson at LM - Don’t know what his contract situation is in the MLS, but listened to an interview he did recently, he seems to be enjoying himself over there and didn’t sound like he was in a hurry to come back over here. But we have tried for him in the past so who knows.

Safranko at CF - Wants to come back, would be another good option up front, and has a lot of the attributes to replace Appere should the rumours about teams sniffing around him be true.

Could also do with a backup RB, maybe also a LB depending on how Neilson views Sporle come the summer. We’ve got scouts watching Kieron Bowie at Raith every week along with a host of other teams. Should also be keeping tabs on Nisbet at Dunfermline for when Shankland inevitably moves on.

I like. Santa, make this happen.

JerryDungle · 26/12/2019 2:37 pm

https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/tangerines-linked-with-ex-dundee-midfielder-stephen-mcginn/

Apparently we’re after Stephen McGinn, 31-year old, formerly of the Fun, wasn’t much use for them, isn’t much use for St. Mirren, can’t understand the thinking on this one tbh.

26/12/2019 2:54 pm

JerryDungle wrote:
https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/tangerines-linked-with-ex-dundee-midfielder-stephen-mcginn/

Apparently we’re after Stephen McGinn, 31-year old, formerly of the Fun, wasn’t much use for them, isn’t much use for St. Mirren, can’t understand the thinking on this one tbh.

Agree, what would the point be in signing someone who can't hold down a place at Smirren

Beardy23 · 26/12/2019 3:06 pm

An experienced leader type to back up Butcher?

Tek · 26/12/2019 3:49 pm

JerryDungle wrote:
https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/tangerines-linked-with-ex-dundee-midfielder-stephen-mcginn/

Apparently we’re after Stephen McGinn, 31-year old, formerly of the Fun, wasn’t much use for them, isn’t much use for St. Mirren, can’t understand the thinking on this one tbh.

Better not be anything in this.

We need to be looking at players who can improve us in the Premiership, to the extent that we are pushing for Top 6.

As it is i'm not sure he'd even get in our Championship side.

SlatefordArab · 26/12/2019 3:51 pm

Aye, McGinn would be a bit of a strange signing. If true, hopefully only seen as a back up squad player.

Tek · 19/2/2020 3:08 am

lifesanocean wrote:
A natural left winger would fill a hole. That's top priority imho. Jake Mulreaney hasn't been featuring for Hearts for a while including under their new manager although he played against us in the League Cup. A loan perhaps?

Meant to say at the time = BANG ON

We haven't had a genuine left sided winger since GMS.

He's played for Celtic, Aberdeen and New York F.C. subsequently.

Tek · 19/2/2020 3:12 am

Marios Ogkmpoe from Accies has impressed me this last 18 months or so.

Scoring goals for a team that lives on the seat of their pants.

kdyteejay · 19/2/2020 10:19 am

Tek wrote:
Marios Ogkmpoe from Accies has impressed me this last 18 months or so.

Scoring goals for a team that lives on the seat of their pants.

Yeah the guy looks a right handful.

LarsErikKjell · 19/2/2020 11:47 am

Current squad for next season:

GK: Benji, Deniz
CB: Connolly, Reynolds
RB: Smith
LB: Robson
CM: Butcher, Harkes, Powers, King
RM: McMullan, Chalmers
LM: Sporle
10's: Clark, Pawlett, Glass
ST: Shankland, Appere

Youths who have been involved in a match-day squad this season (loans likely for most of them)

Ross Graham (CB)
Nathan Cooney (RB/CB)
Lewis Neilson (CB/CM)
Jake Davidson (CB/CM)
Mochrie and Meekison (no.10's)

Certainly plenty of gaps needing filled there.

My personal opinion is that unless some of youngsters develop massively over the next few months into Premiership players (unlikely) then we are looking at:

2x CB's - Connolly and Reynolds will be OK in the Prem occasionally but need at least 1 maybe 2 CB's who will be first choice

2x back-up full backs - happy enough with Smith and Robson but would want 1 more who can push them on a bit and cover if required. Freeman may be a possibility? Sporle there too I guess.

Midfield - we are heavy in midfield at the moment. I'd like to see them replace King with a player similar to Harkes but better!

Wingers - 2 required, minimum.

Strikers - All depends on Shankland leaving. But we need to have at least 3 out and out strikers at the club to last the entire season. So we could be looking at 1 or 2 more needed.

So in total thats at least 6 or 7 new players needed by my calculations. I dont think its unreasonable to expect this. I'm expecting a good summer!

Last edited by LarsErikKjell (19/2/2020 11:53 am)

Tek · 09/3/2020 2:29 am

Tek wrote:
Marios Ogkmpoe from Accies has impressed me this last 18 months or so.

Scoring goals for a team that lives on the seat of their pants.

Another winner for Accies on Saturday against Killie.

Could be a useful squad man.

JerryDungle · 09/3/2020 10:10 pm

Honestly think we’ll need 7/8 players for the Starting XI this summer. Of the current squad I’d only be comfortable Benji, Liam Smith, Connolly/Reynolds, Butcher and Shankland going into the season as first choices. That leaves us needing:

CB
LB
CM
Two new wingers and possibly a 10
Striker, two if Shankland goes.

Boys Like Clark, Robson, Harkes and Appere might be useful to rotate in, but aren’t ready to be first choices in the Premiership.

Big rebuild required if we want to make an impact next season.

BMT · 09/3/2020 11:00 pm

Honestly can't see us signing 7 or 8 first team regulars in the close season.
When Robbie took Hearts up did he build the team or did he inherit it ?
A commanding centre half , creative midfielder and another proven striker would be the minimum we will need to add.
It would be good to have a good strong spine to the team as I think we are light on players with experience of playing in the Top league.

Last edited by BMT (09/3/2020 11:05 pm)

JerryDungle · 09/3/2020 11:45 pm

BMT wrote:
Honestly can't see us signing 7 or 8 first team regulars in the close season.
When Robbie took Hearts up did he build the team or did he inherit it ?
A commanding centre half , creative midfielder and another proven striker would be the minimum we will need to add.
It would be good to have a good strong spine to the team as I think we are light on players with experience of playing in the Top league.

I’d argue that the area we’re weakest in is the attacking players behind Shankland.

Pawlett, McMullan and Bingham were pathetic on Saturday and not for the first time. None are close to being good enough for the Premiership.

bowers · 10/3/2020 6:32 am

BMT wrote:
Honestly can't see us signing 7 or 8 first team regulars in the close season.
When Robbie took Hearts up did he build the team or did he inherit it ?
A commanding centre half , creative midfielder and another proven striker would be the minimum we will need to add.
It would be good to have a good strong spine to the team as I think we are light on players with experience of playing in the Top league.

If that is what we go by we will be rock bottom and go right back down.

The squad is weak as fuck many of the players are nowhere near good enough to play in the top flight as squad players never mind start.

SuperMario · 10/3/2020 10:06 am

I like the boy brophy for killie could be wrong think he might be out contract in summer

PatReilly · 10/3/2020 4:42 pm

Boys from the last three games who have impressed me:

Dom Thomas on loan at East End from Killie, contract up at end of season.
Aaron Drinan at Ayr on loan from Ipswich, contract up at the end of the season.
Reece Cole at Thistle on loan from Brentford, contract up at the end of the season.

Basing these suggestions on seeing them at other points in their careers too, as well as the recent matches (where Cole lost the ball to allow Dillon Powers to net, right enough!)

All more direct players than many we appear to have presently, doubtful they'd cause the bank to be burst in pursing any of them.

SuperMario wrote:
I like the boy brophy for killie could be wrong think he might be out contract in summer

Super, I think he's under contract for another season at Killie.

Beharder · 10/3/2020 5:15 pm

JerryDungle wrote:
BMT wrote:
Honestly can't see us signing 7 or 8 first team regulars in the close season.
When Robbie took Hearts up did he build the team or did he inherit it ?
A commanding centre half , creative midfielder and another proven striker would be the minimum we will need to add.
It would be good to have a good strong spine to the team as I think we are light on players with experience of playing in the Top league.

I’d argue that the area we’re weakest in is the attacking players behind Shankland.

Pawlett, 2McMullan and Bingham were pathetic on Saturday and not for the first time. None are close to being good enough for the Premiership.

Would agree with that JD pathetic is the word to use for the performance of Bingham Pawlett & Mcmullan. Absolutely fucking pathetic. That area needs a complete overhaul

JerryDungle · 11/3/2020 1:53 pm

Will go against the conventional wisdom but I genuinely believe that this poor run of form that we’re on just now - provided it doesn’t really go tits up, which I don’t believe it will - is actually a very, very good thing for us in the long run, it exposes the players here that aren’t good enough to cut it in the Premier League.

Had we continued our purple patch on to the end of the season, it would trick people into thinking that certain players in the squad are good enough for the level above, leading to complacency in the transfer market this summer.

Instead a number of players have shown that they can’t be trusted to perform consistently, and will either be shown the door in the summer or have their role reduced to that of a bit part player for next season.

Robbie’s no daft, neither’s Tony Asghar, they’ll be seeing the same things that we all are just now, and it gives them a lot more clarity as to what needs done in the summer than if we were winning all the time.