The Squad for 2017/18

[bring back the cowshed!]

A great shame about Lee. Surely we offered better terms and a similar length deal, so I am sure the journey was the main problem, but I thought he could get an EFL gig. For Kiddie it's a marquee signing.

If Micky plans to play both Tollitt and Dunn, I agree we can manage without a decent wing back.

 

[Sparky]

Disappointed about Vaughan. Yes closer to his home but you have to question his ambition as a professional footballer.

 

[Ian]

I don't think we should be too disappointed. He was OK, but not one of our better players.

 

[frenchrover]

And now Louis Almond leaves for York, which frees up some budget monies in saved wages.

 

[Boz]

Louis Almond gone to York.

 

[Boz]

One thing Micky needs to look at when bringing players in, is an injection of pace. We've lost Ihiekwe, Vaughan and Stephenson, who had that asset, yet it doesn't seem to be a feature of the new recruits. Dunn looked particularly ponderous last season, though that may be down to fitness issues.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Losing Vaughan is a major blow as it severely restricts our tactical options. We can't play with wing backs now, as none of our other right backs have the pace and mobility for that role. In turn, playing with a back four could leave McNulty more exposed in certain matches. We definitely need another defender now.

Further forward, there is no lack of pace in the team. Dunn is quick, Norwood is very quick and Tollitt is like lightning. Norburn will probably be more mobile than Maynard as well.

 

[bigmart]

almond no loss and waste of a wage and a fee to sign him, Vaughan average right back but good wing back, somebody on another site reckons he was only offered 1 year deal on same wages instead of 2 years due to the injury & ended up taking up the offer from kiddy for 2 years.

In a flat back 4 buxton or Sutton can play right back and with 3 centre halves maybe duggan will get a go in that role, though we may yet make a signing

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I know Vaughan was living at The Riverhill for at least part of last season, so a move closer to home must have been attractive to him.

 

[drwhoman]

If Vaughan was also traveling from home before he joined us then he and his family have probably decided that enough it enough. Players at this level do not earn enough to keep moving house. I am sure MM will have a replacement in mind.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Matt Jones has tweeted that Vaughan was only offered a three month deal on less money. If that is true, Mellon clearly did not want to keep him.

 

[Boz]

Losing Vaughan is a major blow as it severely restricts our tactical options. We can't play with wing backs now, as none of our other right backs have the pace and mobility for that role. In turn, playing with a back four could leave McNulty more exposed in certain matches. We definitely need another defender now.

Further forward, there is no lack of pace in the team. Dunn is quick, Norwood is very quick and Tollitt is like lightning. Norburn will probably be more mobile than Maynard as well.

It might be worth experimenting with Duggan at wing-back in one or two of the pre-seasons to see if that would work. He's about the same speed as Ridehalgh but unsure about mobility. Could protect McNulty by packing the midfield or even consider selecting someone else where the risk is high.

On right-backs, see Sam Magri has left Dover for Ebbsfleet, who are accumulating a decent squad.

Tollit was fast before his injury and it's hoped that he hasn't lost any of that pace. Dunn didn't show much evidence of that pace last season and Norwood is energetic, but can't recall many occasions when defenders were left trailing in his wake. However, I'd agree it's the defensive area where pace is most lacking.

Have just seen the remark about the deal Vaughan was offered. It seems fairly derisory for someone who'd made the NL team of the season. While there must be a doubt about whether he'd still been as fast after the leg break, am surprised Micky had such a low opinion of him.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Dunn didn't show much evidence of that pace last season and Norwood is energetic, but can't recall many occasions when defenders were left trailing in his wake.

Dunn looked quick in the games I saw, other than Wembley. In the last two seasons Norwood has scored goals where he has run from the half way line and left the opposition defence in his wake (Chester at home, Woking away). He is fast.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Brentford have offered luke pilling a contract apparently. It would be very annoying to lose him so soon.

 

[Boz]

Brentford have offered luke pilling a contract apparently. It would be very annoying to lose him so soon.

Feared something like this, it's been dragging on a bit, even allowing for theToulon tournament. If Luke does go, presume we'll need another keeper to sit on the bench, Wharton only just signed a pro deal.

 

[Ian]

Bench warming at Brentford or bench warming at Tranmere? Tough choices to make.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Brentford have offered luke pilling a contract apparently. It would be very annoying to lose him so soon.

Can't see him staying now. Gut wrenching for everyone on the academy staff, Micky and his team, not to mention the owners. Why bother spending so much effort and money to provide talent for other clubs? We gave Stockton and Kirby excessively long deals, now all the youngsters get just 12 months. Can they not offer an optional extra year?

 

[Cowshed Kid]

If Pilling is going to leave then surely for his development it must be for first team football.
I doubt Toulon has made him into a first choice Championship keeper.
But as Ian asks, probably more cred splinter picking for Bees than us. How things have changed in four or so years for both clubs.
So far as Vaughan is concerned, I'm pretty much the same as with Stockton...if he wants to stay great, if not so what.
Don't think we should get paranoid about pace, or lack of it, defensively.
As RLC says, attack wise we should be ok and leaking the odd goal at the back through being skinned should be manageable.
For too long we've been virtually static in the opposition half. We now have players who can move (with or without the ball) at pace.
Much prefer pace up front than at the back.
Pleased for Almond going to York.
He's a decent player who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I hope he doesn't think he's lost 12 months of his career with us.

 

[drwhoman]

Will we get any money given that we have developed him? Or is that only if he has an ongoing contract. For example. I believe Liverpool have to pay Chelsea around 3m for Solanke although I think he was out of contract? The issue is decided by a tribunal of some sort?

 

[Boz]

Can't see him staying now. Gut wrenching for everyone on the academy staff, Micky and his team, not to mention the owners. Why bother spending so much effort and money to provide talent for other clubs? We gave Stockton and Kirby excessively long deals, now all the youngsters get just 12 months. Can they not offer an optional extra year?

We gave Eddie Clarke an 18 month deal and doubt in the current climate that we'd go beyond two years. Stockton and Kirby's deals were at the time of the Butler 'grow your own players' strategy. In recent years, youth development has been peripheral at Rovers, the view being that our prospects of escaping this league is better served by bringing players in, an approach which is generally approved by those posting on here.

With specific reference to Pilling, as Cowshed Kid suggests, his career would be best progressed by moving to a club where he's in contention for a regular start. Atm, that's not Rovers and unlikely to be Brentford, who've already got a couple of keepers on their books. Luke is apparently a Rovers fan, so perhaps a chance that he will surprise us. If he moves to an English club, we should be eligible for some compensation, probably a small sum with add ons and a proportion of any future transfer fee.