Tekel Towers » Who else are we trying to move on?

Tek · 25/6/2015 11:42 pm

Do you reckon?

I think out of the 4 Goalies left post-Rado (McCallum,Szromnik,Zwick and McGovern) we must try and move on a further 2 of them and bring in 1 experienced one,leaving us with 3 in total (a No.1,1 back-up sub on the bench and 1 reular Dev Squad keeper,wee Ryan Booth as back-up).I reckon we'll attempt to move on McGovern and Szromnik either on loan or for good.

Looking at defence i reckon Euan Spark also may be surplus to requirements.He's been in and around the first team squad for 18 months to 2 years now and hasn't came close to making an impression.Harsh?Maybe.Still only 18.But he's the only defender i can think of who could be deemed 'not close to getting a game'.

Midfield wise i can't see us moving on anyone.Maybe Justin Johnson sent on loan for experience for a spell.

Forwards i think we may and try and move on Anier and Bilate.Bilate has a decent touch and pace but simply can't stay fit.He also had recurring hamstring injuries in Rotterdam.I think a deal may be done to terminate his contract.Anier may get another chance but if he's offering nothing in pre-season games i reckon we'll attempt to put him on loan somewhere and hope the club he moves to covers some of his wages.

I think Moore and Murray may also be put out on loan.

All conjecture on my part but if we are talking players who won't be playing week in week out these are the only one's i can think off.

So that's 8 in total,but reckon about 5 or 6 of them will be sent out on loan tbh.

TheShed · 26/6/2015 12:12 am

I'd be looking at Dow, Erskine, Bilate, Anier and Szromnik to move on, don't think any of them are good enough to start regularly, Anier may yet come good tho.

Jordan Moore needs a chance, it's this year or not at all, harsh as that sounds. No point in sending Murray on loan, if we're going to do that there was no point in signing him, in football terms he's not a young laddie anymore. There will be some loanees from the young lads tho.

I'd be looking at a line up of

McCallum
McGowan
Dillon
Morris
Dixon
Rankin
Souttar
Telfer
Spittal
Ciftci
Muirhead

With
Zwick
Paton
Johnson
Coote
Connolly
Spark
Murray
Souttar
Fraser
Smith
Moore

Making up the rest of the squad if no one came in. Clearly 2 or 3 first team picks would need to be brought straight in with a GK the priority.

huntedbyafreak · 26/6/2015 12:17 am

Hopefully Paton

Tek · 26/6/2015 12:25 am

huntedbyafreak wrote:
Hopefully Paton

Like clockwork.

Tek · 26/6/2015 12:38 am

TheShed wrote:
I'd be looking at Dow, Erskine, Bilate, Anier and Szromnik to move on, don't think any of them are good enough to start regularly, Anier may yet come good tho.

Jordan Moore needs a chance, it's this year or not at all, harsh as that sounds. No point in sending Murray on loan, if we're going to do that there was no point in signing him, in football terms he's not a young laddie anymore. There will be some loanees from the young lads tho.

I'd be looking at a line up of

McCallum
McGowan
Dillon
Morris
Dixon
Rankin
Souttar
Telfer
Spittal
Ciftci
Muirhead

With
Zwick
Paton
Johnson
Coote
Connolly
Spark
Murray
Souttar
Fraser
Smith
Moore

Making up the rest of the squad if no one came in. Clearly 2 or 3 first team picks would need to be brought straight in with a GK the priority.

Agree with most of that mate but Erskine??He was our 2nd top scorer last season and won FED POTY.He's certainly worth having as a squad player i would have thought.

Dow i was never a massive fan of but i actually thought it was quite evident that we missed him after his injury in March.Had zero forward runners in the last 15 games (bar the last game of the season when everyone wanted the ball).I think Dow though not a World beater by any means is a decent player to have in and around the 1st team squad.THIS coming season he has to stay consistently fit though.He should be aiming to play 35+games and i would hope he was aiming at getting double figures in goals for the first time.

I will concede however both Erskine and (particulary) Dow have their best games coming off the bench.Both seriously need to further work on their cardio and starting games at a fast tempo.

Moore,i agree it is this season or break for him at Utd.I have never wanted a player to make it at the club so badly,ever.And if it's purely down to 'desire' he will.He also needs some luck.

David_Blunkett · 26/6/2015 12:53 am

In response to fans tweeting about lack of activity in and out, Joe Rice has twice stated that we have 45 signed pros on the books, obviously that's far too many.

But the problem is we need to shift a few of these out and they won't just walk away.

As it stands we're kicking off with squad that were absolutely fucking shite from 2nd Feb - 24th May turning in some horrific performances.

Fojut is replaced by an untested young lad at centre half who hasn't played a top level game in his puff, our main attacking threat looks like he's away to get a big ban.

Telfer, Connolly, Spittal, Muirhead and Coote are about a season away from being 1st choice players at least, some of them might not make it.

We have no ball winning, pass playing CM to accompany Souttar, who as yet has to commit to the contract offer.

I think we and the club really need to re-evaluate where we see ourselves in the grand scheme of Scottish football if this is how we are to go about things.

I'll give Durnan a starting jersey, I'll ignore Ciftci's impending ban and try and pick a team.

........................New guy

McGowan.....Morris......Durnan............Dixon

..........Souttar.................New Guy.............

Dow.................New Guy.............New Guy.....

.......................Ciftci....

You can swap Dow for Erskine, but that's about it really, unless we sign some decent first team ready players we're going int the season with 4 not ready fillers at least.

Last edited by David_Blunket (26/6/2015 2:04 am)

Tek · 26/6/2015 1:02 am

David_Blunket wrote:
In response to fans tweeting about lack of activity in and out, Joe Rice has twice stated that we have 45 signed pros on the books, obvioisly that's far too many.

But the problem is we need to shift a few of these out and they won't just walk away.

As it stands we're kicking off with squad that were absolutely fucking shite from 2nd Feb - 24th May turning in some horrific performances.

Fojut is replaced by an untested young lad at centre half who hasn't played a top level game in his puff, our main attacking threat looks like he's away to get a big ban.

Telfer, Connolly, Spittal, Muirhead and Coote are about a season away from being 1st choice players at least, some of them might not make it.

We have no ball winning, pass playing CM to accompany Souttar, who as yet has to commit to the contract offer.

I think we and the club really need to re-evaluate where we see ourselves in the grand scheme of Scottish football if this is how we are to go about things.

I'll give Durnan a starting jersey, I'll ignore Ciftci's impending ban and try and pick a team.

........................New guy

McGowan.....Morris......Durnan............Dixon

..........Souttar.................New Guy.............

Dow.................New Guy.............New Guy.....

.......................Ciftci....

You can swap Dow for Erskine, but that's about it really, unless we sign some decent first team ready players we're going int the season with 4 not ready fillers at least.

Thank christ i'm not alone in being more than a bit concerned at our current starting XI (and back-up options).

I normally wouldn't be overly concerned in June but all the noises coming out of Tannadice would suggest that more players will exit before any come in and that we're not even sure we need a Keeper yet etc etc ...fucking depressing.

45 pros btw ....how many are kids?I'd say about 20 of that figure.We have 25 players you could class as being first team 'ready' and that's being kind.About 5 or 6 of those i would suggest are not of the standard of player we expect at Utd..

Helluva lot of spin getting dished out at Tannadice at the mo imo.EVERY team in the top flight have a Development team numbering anywhere from 18-30 players.

Starting to worry our fans are becoming apathetic and accepting of mediocrity tbh.

Where's the ambition?Does anyone think we have a chance of hell at the moment of even challenging Aberdeen let alone Celtic over the course of a season?

David_Blunkett · 26/6/2015 1:23 am

I'm usually the most optimistic of fans, but this lack of activity is really starting to piss me off.

Let's be kind and assume Jackie knows who he wants, if we have to wait on those going out, we'll end up with 3rd and 4th choice options.

A lot was made of the fact we did a lot of business in January, fine, that was before we sold 2 players for 2m, made a cup final, a home 1/4 final in the cup with tv money and a cup replay, all above and beyond what we would have budgeted for.

Tek · 26/6/2015 1:58 am

David_Blunket wrote:
I'm usually the most optimistic of fans, but this lack of activity is really starting to piss me off.

Let's be kind and assume Jackie knows who he wants, if we have to wait on those going out, we'll end up with 3rd and 4th choice options.

A lot was made of the fact we did a lot of business in January, fine, that was before we sold 2 players for 2m, made a cup final, a home 1/4 final in the cup with tv money and a cup replay, all above and beyond what we would have budgeted for.

Sick of hearing that line tae Davie tbh 'We done a lot of our business in January'.

In (4) - Anier,McGowan,Dixon,Muirhead

Out (5) - Wilson,Watson,Armstrong,GMS,Townsend,

1 more out the door than in (and 2 of them for a fee amounting to 2 million quid).

But we apparently blown most of our budget for NEXT season in that window!!

I can't be alone in thinking WTF??

David_Blunkett · 26/6/2015 2:08 am

I guess the playing budget is what it as, but transfer fees in and out don't come into play re wages.

Shite state of affairs, fuck all up front apart from a relatively untested bairn in Muirhead once Shifty is banned, and as good as he is, Souttar can't play all 5 midfield postions and in goal.

Tek · 26/6/2015 2:09 am

David_Blunket wrote:
I guess the playing budget is what it as, but transfer fees in and out don't come into play re wages.

No they don't.

We all know where transfer fees go,sadly.

David_Blunkett · 26/6/2015 2:13 am

Tek · 26/6/2015 2:27 am

TheShed · 26/6/2015 6:24 am

Tek, IMO Telfer, Spittal, Connolly, Ciftci, Smith & Fraser are all better options to start than Erskine In the '3'. You say yourself Erskine and Dow are better off the bench, these are the type of players that should be moved on to replace with players we can rely on to start.
I'd rather have young boys who are almost ready and can still improve filling bench spots.

I say Cittci in there as for me Muirhead is a 1st pick up top to lead the line, he's ready but needs real competition.

Erskine won that poty based on a 5/6 game spell early season, after that he wasn't very good bar very small flashes and towards the end of the season had performances which were worse than his debut!

Totally forgot about Durnan signing, add him into the mix.

Think our 1st 11 is actually nearly there, but we're very light on experience beyond that. GK in, a decent striker in and 2 or 3 of those moved out I've said above and I'd be ok with it. Keeping key players fit will be hugely important tho.

Pretty sure, despite what's being said at Tannadice the squad will change a fair bit before August, also pretty sure that it won't be Erskine or Dow going out, that's just what I'd do.

blackandtangerine · 26/6/2015 6:48 am

My problem is I don't really trust the manager in bringing in players, yes some have been good but some have been rank rotten.

lifesanocean · 26/6/2015 10:13 am

I'm still sticking with:

_____________________________McCallum/New Keeper

McGowan____________Morris_____________________Durnan_________________Dixon

________________________________Souttar

_____________Telfer_________________________________Rankin/Fraser

____Connolly/Erskine______________Muirhead______________Dow

I'd bin the Polish keeper and one from Joe McGovern/Zwick. I'd also bin Anier and Bilate if he's not playing regularly come the end of the transfer window. Agree about Euan Spark, he looks good at u20's level but doesn't appear to be challenging for a 1st team place (I'd give him another 6 months tops). Scott Smith and Jordan Moore should get another 6 months but may well be in the same boat come January. I'd sell Ciftci now as well I'm afraid.

No way would I bin Dow, as has been said earlier we REALLY missed him after his injury. Other Premiership clubs bar Celtic would be falling over themselves to sign him. We don't know what we've got with that one.

If one out of Paton or Rankin was to go I'd not be too downcast although Rankin showed improved form at the tail end of last season with Souttar in the team and Paton has his uses, particularly in away games. If you could get the sort of performance and work rate from Paton like he put in in the 1-1 game v ICT when we were down to 10 men at Tannadice then he'd be first name on the team sheet.

Justin Johnson will surely come into 1st team consideration this season, he''ll get people up off their feet.

Blair Spittal needs to become more than just a useful utility player though or he runs the risk of turning into another David Roberston.

I'd sign another number 10/winger type, another central midfielder (an all-rounder like Gomis/Buaben/Scott Roberston) or in fact just sign Buaben. and a goalie. If the budget would allow, I'd also sign a young left back as back-up/competition for Dixon.

Tangerine_Ultra · 26/6/2015 11:22 am

I really fail to understand why people think Dow is such an important player for us? He's average at best.

Beharder · 26/6/2015 11:27 am

I would agree with you there TU. Dow is the sort of player defenders like to play against, make it a bit physical and you dont see Dow in the game.
Bilate (injury Permitting) is a much better bet moving forward

Tangerine_Ultra · 26/6/2015 11:30 am

Beharder wrote:
I would agree with you there TU. Dow is the sort of player defenders like to play against, make it a bit physical and you dont see Dow in the game.
Bilate (injury Permitting) is a much better bet moving forward

My thoughts exactly. I have never honestly came away from a game thinking Dow was outstanding.

Affshore · 26/6/2015 11:38 am

I've got the serious fear looking at people teams on here and mad

Tangerine_Ultra · 26/6/2015 11:47 am

Affshore wrote:
I've got the serious fear looking at people teams on here and mad

Totally agree mate.

Out of curiosity bud what would be your starting 11?

Hamiltonarab · 26/6/2015 1:19 pm

Think overall morale along with attitude and application played a major part in the second half of last season. That lies at Jackies door to rectify.

Definitely need experiance and commanding GK and something experianced up front.

Bilate looked not bad and probably would have been good with a run, but his injuries with hamstrings is cronic. I fear it is something he will not really sort out for the rest of his career sadly.

Morphman · 26/6/2015 2:04 pm

I really hope McCallum makes it at the club and would be happy to see him start the season in goal. He is commanding and should at the very least be given the opportunity to start for us.

I think we lack serious pace up front, even Dow coming back, who is full of energy, isn't really the fastest player in the Premiership. Justin Johnson has looked decent in Development games so maybe he is the answer.

IMO we need to get away from playing 4231 no matter the opposition. One of the most entertaining games I went to last season was when we played 3-4-3 vs Hibs in the cup. One of the few times last season we actually looked a serious threat every time we went forward.

4231 has had its moments but time to spring a surprise or two next season.

soul71 · 26/6/2015 2:46 pm

McCallums highly rated at club like,maybe a solid/settled defence will only benifit him,think pre-season might determine.
smith&fraser will get a lot more time on pitch&aw,i think smith's a fine player btw,hopefully he shows it,think they'll be more activity come next wednesday&pre-season tour(holland).
think dicker,mcgowan will be big players for us next season&rankin who was back to his best tail end o last season,telfer,connolly&spittal will only benifit fae last season&aw.
a few wee tweaks here&there&futures bright!
got into shite yesterday for being positive on 'arab-angry' probably should o took notice of the name o the page !st but hey ho a

Affshore · 26/6/2015 3:02 pm

Tangerine_Ultra wrote:
Affshore wrote:
I've got the serious fear looking at people teams on here and mad
Totally agree mate.

Out of curiosity bud what would be your starting 11?

Good question mate...

New keeper

McGowan, Morris, New experienced CB, Dixon

Souttar Paton

New Winger, New playmaker, Erskine

New proven striker

Nae room for guys like Spittal, Rankin, Dow, in starting midfield line up. Would like to see more of Telfer and connolly needs to bulk up for the scottish game, the wee man comparison to iniesta and messi is fair enough but they dont play ICT and St J every other week do they !!!

Left oot ciftci cos he'll either be sold, in jail or banned for a while. Muirhead might do a job but alot to ask of a young lad being a sole striker with no real service unless we sign people. Bilate will be injured and Anier, SHUDDER !!!!

This is based is Jackies stubborn formation, which never, ever changes....

Like I say, im freaking fae brechin about this coming season, hope im wrong, really really hope im wrong...

Last edited by Affshore (26/6/2015 3:04 pm)