Current squad

[Lesonthewest]

Start of pre-season here, & still early granted, but me being old school I still believe any decent side is built on the spine of goalkeeper, centre half & centre forward. As it stands in my opinion we lack all three, goalkeeping position is worrying for me & has been for the last 2/3 years. Will  Sullivan challenge for a spot, his experience may just be what we need, but if not, we need to bring someone in.

 Would be great to sign a centre half who is half mobile & stays fit for 30 or 40 games, & hopefully form some kind of partnership that lasts more than a few games!

 Same applies to centre forward, Chris Brown will offer us a lot in League 1, but will not give us a full season. Can we fill these positions on our budget?
If we can, & it's a big if, with the other players in the squad, we may surprise a few. Interesting few weeks ahead.
 

[Chris Black come back]

I agree 100% with this Les. We really lack solidity at the back (which as far as CB concerned Saunders appears to be trying to remedy with the Stevenage pair) and especially in goal. Very suspect at the moment. Centre mid at the moment appears to be Stock (off to Burnley shortly) and Keegan (not signed deal and very limited, especially when it comes to playing football). Up front we have Chris Brown who since he left us the first time round in 2004 has scored 22 goals in 8 seasons and 36 year old Robbie Blake. Our spine at present appears to have serious osteoporosis.

[RobTheRover]

I'm hoping we can sort out a deal for Baxendale. 

[roverstillidie91]

We just have to learn that we lived way beyond our means and was always likely to come to an end as we just couldn't get the gates unfortunately to compete

and with the fact we was paying high wages out to players such as Stock, Copps, Woods etc

everyone has to understand this was always going to happen and we just have to be patient and rebuild the team. Even if it means having a season with a few youth team players in it

cos i can't see the players who have signed pro deals going out at this moment in time

[Dutch Uncle]

everyone has to understand this was always going to happen and we just have to be patient and rebuild the team. Even if it means having a season with a few youth team players in it

cos i can't see the players who have signed pro deals going out at this moment in time

I am slowly beginning to wonder if this might not be a disaster if the top earners end up staying, bringing on a crop of youth who seem better than for many years (best since Rankine, Brevett etc?). If we can just about take the financial hit for one season, have a bit more luck with injuries (especially M.Woods, Martis and Brown) and be say mid-table .........

But then Saunders has already said the youth players (presumably excepting Husband) will be loaned out

[dknward2]

If we dont get rid of any or not enough top earners then i can see most of the youth staying to cover the bench as we only have 21 pro contracted players and three of them are keepers

[Wade Falana]

I'm hoping we can sort out a deal for Baxendale. 

I've heard he's training with another L1 club today Rob.

[jonnydog]

I'm confident we'll bring in a few more players before the season commences.

Lets just hope we have the injury problems eliminated now!

[RobTheRover]

I'm hoping we can sort out a deal for Baxendale. 

I've heard he's training with another L1 club today Rob.

Gutted if thats true, mate.  I cant imagine he was on high wages and he looked the real deal what I saw of him.  I guess Dean's comments about "too many footballers, not enough battlers" might be a consideration, but you cant just have a team of enforcers.  Under Penney, we had the right balance down the spine of battler/skill- Brighty/Foster, Ravenhill/Greeny, Leo/Blundell - and I think we havent realy had that sort of balance since.  SOD was more about what we do when we had possession, which is why we relied on Wellens/the back four to stop opposition attacks so much.  This carried over into last season with no one in midfield who seemingly knew how to tackle properly.  Seems to me Deano is going back to basics again, and that might  not be such a bad thing.

[Wade Falana]

Same here, looked a real prospect. Looks like another team in our league is going to get a decent player.

[The Red Baron]

I'm hoping we can sort out a deal for Baxendale. 

I've heard he's training with another L1 club today Rob.

Gutted if thats true, mate.  I cant imagine he was on high wages and he looked the real deal what I saw of him.  I guess Dean's comments about "too many footballers, not enough battlers" might be a consideration, but you cant just have a team of enforcers.  Under Penney, we had the right balance down the spine of battler/skill- Brighty/Foster, Ravenhill/Greeny, Leo/Blundell - and I think we havent realy had that sort of balance since.  SOD was more about what we do when we had possession, which is why we relied on Wellens/the back four to stop opposition attacks so much.  This carried over into last season with no one in midfield who seemingly knew how to tackle properly.  Seems to me Deano is going back to basics again, and that might  not be such a bad thing.

If we're so short of money that we can't offer Baxendale a contract then it makes me wonder whether we'll be able to put out a competitive team next season.

[PaulRover08]

I'm hoping we can sort out a deal for Baxendale. 

I've heard he's training with another L1 club today Rob.

Gutted if thats true, mate.  I cant imagine he was on high wages and he looked the real deal what I saw of him.  I guess Dean's comments about "too many footballers, not enough battlers" might be a consideration, but you cant just have a team of enforcers.  Under Penney, we had the right balance down the spine of battler/skill- Brighty/Foster, Ravenhill/Greeny, Leo/Blundell - and I think we havent realy had that sort of balance since.  SOD was more about what we do when we had possession, which is why we relied on Wellens/the back four to stop opposition attacks so much.  This carried over into last season with no one in midfield who seemingly knew how to tackle properly.  Seems to me Deano is going back to basics again, and that might  not be such a bad thing.

If we're so short of money that we can't offer Baxendale a contract then it makes me wonder whether we'll be able to put out a competitive team next season.

I think not offering Baxendale a contract must be because Saunders didn't fancy him. Theres no way we can afford Cotterill/Blake and not the likes of an unproven Baxendale.