The Squad for 2017/18

[Boz]

Good news. While his contract has expired Chester want a fee. What is that about? Age related?

Yes. He's under 24 at the point of signing and Chester had offered him a new deal.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I think Buxton is a very good right back in a back four, although we do need some pace in the centre of defence. Regarding the wingers, the injuries to Tollitt and Dunn were more down to bad luck than anything else. We played our best football last season when those two were out wide in a 442.

 

[Boz]

At the back, while Buxton isn't fast, I can't recall any game where he was totally torn apart by an opponent. A little surpised about MMs remarks about natural width and not wanting to play with wing-backs. The wing-back system was the best option we had while Lee Vaughan was available, after the injuries to our wide players. Unsure that I would class Dunn as an out and out winger, Tollit is probably the closest we have to that, assuming Dawson remains off the radar, and Ben's unlikely to be fit to start the season. It makes sense to recruit another winger if that's the way Micky's thinking.

 

[Ian]

I think Buxton is a very good right back in a back four, although we do need some pace in the centre of defence.

Agree with this.

 

[drwhoman]

Thanks for the info about Alabi Boz. Interestingly, he started at Stoke so he may well have played with Waring before. If so, this could be to our advantage. A Toshack and Keegan situation maybe or is that wishful thinking? I have not seen much of either of them.

 

[Ian]

Andy Mangan interview -> https://audioboom.com/posts/6094609-andy-mangan-previews-the-2017-18-season

 

[bigmart]

Looks like Cook is here to stay as we turned down a bid from Wrexham and two bids from Notts county for him

 

[Sparky]

Obviously pleased about Cook staying. Hope he is first choice next season and given decent service, he is guaranteed to score goals at this level.

The intereview with Mangan is interesting who describes last season as his worse as a professional. He started training early and sounds like he has got the bit between his teeth. How Micky keeps them all happy will be interesting. Yes the club comes first but footballers want to play and I can only see perhaps Waring being satisfied with a bench role, never mind not even in the match squad.

Just need to ship out Dawson now.

 

[Ian]

Looks like Cook is here to stay as we turned down a bid from Wrexham and two bids from Notts county for him

He said the other day he was going nowhere and looks to be firmly in MM plans.

Mangan was pretty awful last season. I hope he has a better season although I can't see him being used unless we have injuries and suspensions.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I can't believe the audacity of Wrexham making a bid for Cook........

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Thanks for the link, Ian. Quite an insight into pre-season and Andy's mindset. Both sound positive. However, with only 5 on the bench and playing 4-4-2, it will be difficult to keep all six strikers involved on match days.

 

[drwhoman]

So who is funding Wrexham? They seem to be signing a lot of players or trying to!

 

[Boz]

Don't know re Wrexham. They had a big clearout of players, so have resources to bring others in but not aware of any major investment and it would be tough for them to match Cook's deal with us.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I don't think Wrexham have new investment. It is more the case that Mills wasted a decent budget on poor players last season and now they are building a reasonably strong squad again. Two seasons ago they were not far behind us and you would expect them to compete for the play-offs next season.

However, I still find their attempt to sign Cook strange.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Wrexham's attempt to sign Cook was probably just PR. It costs nothing to make an unsuccessful bid for a player.

 

[Sparky]

Dawson played last night in salfords 8-0 friendly win (against the dog and duck I think!), so hopefully we'll hear if he is moving on.

 

[Cowshed Kid]

Winger Elliot Rokka signs up.
From what MM says he's likely to be back up rather than pushing for a starting place.

 

[Ian]

Who?

 

[Sparky]

Former Ratcliffe Borough player. Got Evo Stick league young player of the season award last season. 16 goals.

Only a one year deal and won't be on much so see how he does. Potentially sounds like another Tollit and not many SWA had heard of him before he came. Suspect Dunn and Ben will be first choice wingers but back up needed as we know. Plus we have Kirby if fit

 

[Boz]

I hadn't heard of him either, but was on Man Utd's books as a schoolboy. Worth a try.