| Worried? 08:35 - Jul 4 with 14142 views | EssexBlueITFC |
Anyone worried about the lack of signings? Many championship clubs making moves for players where we seem to be quiet compared to others.
Trust in Ashton and McKenna to get it right but we do seem to be slow considering pre season is now underway and Ashton was very keen back end of last season to do early business.
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| Worried? on 11:07 - Jul 4 with 2764 views | EssexBlueITFC |
| Worried? on 10:39 - Jul 4 by itfcjoe |
Remember, this is what McKenna said at the weekend:
“We want plenty of depth. It's about adding different qualities.
“We feel that we can still improve the squad and that's what we're trying to do. We're looking at a few different positions across the pitch."
So for talk of squad being ready to compete, he doesn't see it that way |
Yes that is a good point.
May be they are sorting more outgoings first before going all out with incomings?
I am still hoping for another CM on top of Taylor also.. | | | |
| Worried? on 11:09 - Jul 4 with 2742 views | LankHenners |
| Worried? on 11:04 - Jul 4 by TRUE_BLUE123 |
I have no doubt that this squad has player in it that can be good championship players and I also have no doubt that with some quality additions we can compete.
However, I fail to take two cup games against a Burnley squad that was also rotated as a marker that we can flirt with the top 6. The Rotherham game is more telling even if Barlaser and Ogbene were benched for that game. I currently have us at a 16th-12th sort of team. Which is decent but still plenty of work to do with this squad to take another step up. |
I don't think the Rotherham game is much of a yardstick either tbh - at that point in their season the last thing they wanted was a cup game thrown in and once we gained control in the 2nd half they as good as gave up. |  |
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| Worried? on 11:20 - Jul 4 with 2702 views | itfcjoe |
| Worried? on 11:04 - Jul 4 by lizzibee |
I'm sure there is loads going on behind the scenes. IMO they would not have allowed Gas to go on loan if they weren't confident of a striker coming in soon. I'm sure an annocement is imminent. |
I can't imagine Gas going was even worried about - we know he's not good enough for the Champ so it was just something else to sort
No way would we have worried about needing to replace him because he simply would never have been under consideration |  |
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| Worried? on 11:27 - Jul 4 with 2656 views | textbackup |
| Worried? on 11:04 - Jul 4 by lizzibee |
I'm sure there is loads going on behind the scenes. IMO they would not have allowed Gas to go on loan if they weren't confident of a striker coming in soon. I'm sure an annocement is imminent. |
I’m 99.99999% sure that we’d have shipped him out regardless. |  |
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| Worried? on 11:30 - Jul 4 with 2637 views | Ryorry |
No.
Usual panic by some on here which might have been appropriate for the MEdiocre/MEdieval years, but plainly isn't for the proven, highly switched-on new owners & CEO. |  |
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| Worried? on 11:40 - Jul 4 with 2584 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Worried? on 11:30 - Jul 4 by Ryorry |
No.
Usual panic by some on here which might have been appropriate for the MEdiocre/MEdieval years, but plainly isn't for the proven, highly switched-on new owners & CEO. |
A couple days ago we loaned out a striker who we only signed last Sumner.
Ripped up a contract of a player signed a couple seasons ago
Look likely to rip up a contract of another signing from couple summers ago
Have a rather large squad which needs reducing
And we currently have 1 striker
The last time we waited for a striker. We ended up with the one we've now binned off for a season to Cambridge.
Absolutely we have signed some great players. But let's not get carried away like every signing has been prolific and that Ashton etc don't get things wrong. |  |
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| Worried? on 11:40 - Jul 4 with 2592 views | SE1blue |
Not worried at all.
Yes, we need some tweaking or upgrading in a couple of places but this current squad and management are lightyears better than the one that got relegated out of the Championship.
My bigger fear right now is ‘expectation’. McKenna and the team, like in League One, are going to take time to adjust, learn and then evolve again once they get a feel of what it’s like. The club have said theyre still looking at bringing faces in, I trust that process but this is going to be an ongoing process not just a pre-season one. Just hope folks stay patient with that. |  |
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| Worried? on 11:47 - Jul 4 with 2545 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Worried? on 11:40 - Jul 4 by FrimleyBlue |
A couple days ago we loaned out a striker who we only signed last Sumner.
Ripped up a contract of a player signed a couple seasons ago
Look likely to rip up a contract of another signing from couple summers ago
Have a rather large squad which needs reducing
And we currently have 1 striker
The last time we waited for a striker. We ended up with the one we've now binned off for a season to Cambridge.
Absolutely we have signed some great players. But let's not get carried away like every signing has been prolific and that Ashton etc don't get things wrong. |
None of those had a role this season, so it's good that we're making space in the squad for new arrivals. They'll happen. |  |
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| Worried? on 11:58 - Jul 4 with 2482 views | jayessess |
I'm not worried, but Ashton and McKenna are definitely giving off "transfer business is heavier going than hoped for" vibes. |  |
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| Worried? on 12:11 - Jul 4 with 2439 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Worried? on 11:58 - Jul 4 by jayessess |
I'm not worried, but Ashton and McKenna are definitely giving off "transfer business is heavier going than hoped for" vibes. |
A couple of our 'big' targets (assume Simms is one of them) are proving/have proven to be more expensive than we've anticipated from a couple of snippets I heard.
I think the reality is that it's extremely difficult to get decent business for good players done early. It's a balancing act between not being left short/wanting to integrate players early and being willing to wait for your big targets on the right deals at the right price. [Post edited 4 Jul 2023 12:12]
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| Worried? on 12:18 - Jul 4 with 2405 views | BigCommon |
Getting McKenna on a new deal and getting long term target, Jack Taylor through the door are two big pluses, so far, for me.
Much bigger chunks of cash involved at this level. Unlikely were going to pick the right players up, overnight, for a few hundred K.. I'm ok with slow and steady. It's not as if we need 10-12 players..
Feel better once we get a striker through the door...
The general silence around the club atm, tells me they are all working their nuts off...
Do not disturb, so to speak. |  | | |
| Worried? on 12:25 - Jul 4 with 2357 views | Pippin1970 |
It's a complete different ball game going up to Championship. We are an unknown quantity. Players will need lots of convincing to come here and they will . We up against lots of ex premiership sides plus established Championship clubs. Even if we buy players on transfer deadline day be fine. | | | |
| Worried? on 12:33 - Jul 4 with 2309 views | Kieran_Knows |
| Worried? on 11:40 - Jul 4 by FrimleyBlue |
A couple days ago we loaned out a striker who we only signed last Sumner.
Ripped up a contract of a player signed a couple seasons ago
Look likely to rip up a contract of another signing from couple summers ago
Have a rather large squad which needs reducing
And we currently have 1 striker
The last time we waited for a striker. We ended up with the one we've now binned off for a season to Cambridge.
Absolutely we have signed some great players. But let's not get carried away like every signing has been prolific and that Ashton etc don't get things wrong. |
Calm down dear. |  |
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| Worried? on 12:40 - Jul 4 with 2285 views | jayessess |
| Worried? on 12:25 - Jul 4 by Pippin1970 |
It's a complete different ball game going up to Championship. We are an unknown quantity. Players will need lots of convincing to come here and they will . We up against lots of ex premiership sides plus established Championship clubs. Even if we buy players on transfer deadline day be fine. |
Hmm... not sure "it's fine to wait until deadline day" is the conclusion I'd draw from our last 2 summers. | |
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| Worried? on 12:47 - Jul 4 with 2272 views | Churchman |
| Worried? on 11:40 - Jul 4 by FrimleyBlue |
A couple days ago we loaned out a striker who we only signed last Sumner.
Ripped up a contract of a player signed a couple seasons ago
Look likely to rip up a contract of another signing from couple summers ago
Have a rather large squad which needs reducing
And we currently have 1 striker
The last time we waited for a striker. We ended up with the one we've now binned off for a season to Cambridge.
Absolutely we have signed some great players. But let's not get carried away like every signing has been prolific and that Ashton etc don't get things wrong. |
Not every new recruit works out in any walk of life, let alone football.
Yes, there is work to be done, but we will be ok. Have faith. |  | | |
| Worried? on 13:15 - Jul 4 with 2212 views | pointofblue |
My concern is we're putting all our eggs in one basket which will end up with us making panic signings in late August. We chased Taylor (presumably) and Hirst for much of the summer last year, got neither, and instead signed a crock and someone who was not up to standard, as presumably our other targets had already been snapped up. It didn't cost us in 22/23, other than possibly the championship. It's far more likely to in 23/24. | |
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| Worried? on 13:34 - Jul 4 with 2126 views | BlueBoots |
| Worried? on 12:25 - Jul 4 by Pippin1970 |
It's a complete different ball game going up to Championship. We are an unknown quantity. Players will need lots of convincing to come here and they will . We up against lots of ex premiership sides plus established Championship clubs. Even if we buy players on transfer deadline day be fine. |
Really don't think we have anything to fear in the Championship; just 8 points between the team in 5th and the highest placed team who lost more games than they won (Norwich in 13th), which I think we are way too organised on and off the pitch now to allow to happen.
I would be more worried if we started making wholesale changes and ripping up the squad from last season which could potentially damage the morale and momentum; the players have earned the right to have a crack at the Championship based on last season. |  |
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| Worried? on 13:36 - Jul 4 with 2120 views | jayessess |
| Worried? on 12:11 - Jul 4 by tractorboy1978 |
A couple of our 'big' targets (assume Simms is one of them) are proving/have proven to be more expensive than we've anticipated from a couple of snippets I heard.
I think the reality is that it's extremely difficult to get decent business for good players done early. It's a balancing act between not being left short/wanting to integrate players early and being willing to wait for your big targets on the right deals at the right price. [Post edited 4 Jul 2023 12:12]
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I'd say one issue with targeting players that have already excelled in our division (like Simms) is that inevitably there are a dozen clubs of similar stature to us who know that the player would improve their squad. Competition is time consuming. | |
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| Worried? on 13:46 - Jul 4 with 2082 views | J2BLUE |
I think we will get Hirst.
He returned to training yesterday with Leicester. They had 21 players for training and he was one of only two strikers.
The Leicester Mercury don't seem overly convinced he's part of the long term plans judging by this paragraph:
The training group was further strengthened by the inclusion of a handful of young players. Defender Lewis Brunt, who spent a lot of time with the first team last season, was alongside the seniors on Monday, as was striker George Hirst, who is just back from a spell on loan with League One runners-up Ipswich.
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/seven-things-spo
Once they get Daka and Iheanacho back, hopefully Hirst can go. Even if those two are leaving, they could still be used for training in the meantime and Leicester seem to be getting their business done.
Haven't been able to find a picture of Hirst to see a squad number.
And yes, I do have too much time on my hands... [Post edited 4 Jul 2023 13:48]
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| Worried? on 13:51 - Jul 4 with 2047 views | wischip |
I can't help but think of that scene in Braveheart, the battle scene where the enemy are charging and Mel Gibson is shouting "Hold.......Hold.......Hold......Now!". Hold your nerve people. It's all in the timing. Now where's me blue paint ? |  | | |
| Worried? on 15:25 - Jul 4 with 1930 views | textbackup |
| Worried? on 13:46 - Jul 4 by J2BLUE |
I think we will get Hirst.
He returned to training yesterday with Leicester. They had 21 players for training and he was one of only two strikers.
The Leicester Mercury don't seem overly convinced he's part of the long term plans judging by this paragraph:
The training group was further strengthened by the inclusion of a handful of young players. Defender Lewis Brunt, who spent a lot of time with the first team last season, was alongside the seniors on Monday, as was striker George Hirst, who is just back from a spell on loan with League One runners-up Ipswich.
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/seven-things-spo
Once they get Daka and Iheanacho back, hopefully Hirst can go. Even if those two are leaving, they could still be used for training in the meantime and Leicester seem to be getting their business done.
Haven't been able to find a picture of Hirst to see a squad number.
And yes, I do have too much time on my hands... [Post edited 4 Jul 2023 13:48]
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I like Hirst, but could/should we be aiming higher? Just wonder if he’d make the step up, basing that on his Blackburn loan. | |
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| Worried? on 15:34 - Jul 4 with 1893 views | Herbivore |
| Worried? on 15:25 - Jul 4 by textbackup |
I like Hirst, but could/should we be aiming higher? Just wonder if he’d make the step up, basing that on his Blackburn loan. |
He never really got a run of games there to be fair and it's not like he was competing for a starting slot against no marks at Blackburn, he was up against Brereton-Diaz, who is class and will end up in the Prem, and Gallagher who is likewise an accomplished Championship striker with some Prem games under his belt as well. He didn't look amazing his first few games with us, but once he'd got some match sharpness and was used to how we played he looked quality. |  |
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| If Hirst is our 1st choice.... on 15:41 - Jul 4 with 1867 views | Bloots |
| Worried? on 15:25 - Jul 4 by textbackup |
I like Hirst, but could/should we be aiming higher? Just wonder if he’d make the step up, basing that on his Blackburn loan. |
...centre forward at the end of the window, I'd be concerned.
We need better if we are seriously thinking about challenging for the play offs next season.
The same can be said for a couple of other positions, but the CF situation has to be our biggest concern with a month until the season starts.
Panic.
Blame.
Disgrace, etc. |  |
| "The sooner he comes back the better, this place has been a disaster without him" - TWTD User (July 2025) |
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| Worried? on 15:45 - Jul 4 with 1839 views | BiGDonnie |
| Worried? on 15:25 - Jul 4 by textbackup |
I like Hirst, but could/should we be aiming higher? Just wonder if he’d make the step up, basing that on his Blackburn loan. |
Hirst is an absolute must for me. He was brilliant and was getting better and better. |  |
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| Worried? on 15:55 - Jul 4 with 1795 views | Herbivore |
| Worried? on 15:45 - Jul 4 by BiGDonnie |
Hirst is an absolute must for me. He was brilliant and was getting better and better. |
I also thought he was excellent and don't really understand some of the reservations about him. Once he got up to speed he was excellent for us and really showed up in some of those tough away games late in the season. He looked very much a player capable of stepping up a level in those last couple of months with us. | |
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