The Squad 2023-24

[O4anotherplayoff]

I said a few weeks ago that December’s fixtures looked like a great opportunity to get points on the board, including Harrogate, whose home record is amongst the poorest in the division, and County, who are no great shakes away. That said, I didn’t see us getting quite as many points as we did, or playing as fluently as we did, and I agree we should be confident playing anyone at the moment.

Re the squad generally, I’ve always thought that, man for man, it’s better than the one that finished 12th last season. I’m not yet convinced it‘s playoff material though, but I expect we’ll gear up this month to have a good crack at that.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

I would add another factor to the recent run, namely a relatively gentle run of fixtures.

That’s not to diminish in any way the other factors you’ve mentioned, nor the impressiveness of the turnaround Adkins has overseen. But, just as the squad was never relegation material in my book, tougher tests lie ahead and I think we need to strengthen two or three areas before we can be considered the real deal.

I’m certainly not ruling us out, even of a promotion push, just not getting too carried away. Yet..

I agree about most of your points but at the time the eight fixtures were played, half were against sides in the top half - Mansfield, Notts County, Gillingham and Harrogate. Frankly, I don’t think there are any outstanding sides in our league. Any of them, including Stockport and Wrexham, can be beaten - and have been recently.

On current form, we would have a chance against any side. Not that I think we will win every game, just that we could win any game and will win most remaining ones.

 

[Higgy 2]

Debatable about the quality of sides lately, but for sure we wouldn't have done as well as we have if we'd have had these same fixtures earlier in the year. Credit to Nigel.
If the answer to Apter's departure is another left footed winger playing on the right, we may have an option to explore in house. Conor Wood was/is a winger/full back. He's looked decent at LB and no slouch going forward. Be interesting to see how he'd fare playing in front of LOC with an option to cut in on his left peg.
Interms of supplementing our forward options, i note Lewis Koumas can play wide) and Gatzel scored for Liverpool U21s against Feyenoord recently. Further Neil Danns lad (striker) scored a couple in a recent U21 game for them as well. Granted no Luke Norris replacements there, but it would broaden the options with some potential quality. It's a long run in now.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Debatable about the quality of sides lately, but for sure we wouldn't have done as well as we have if we'd have had these same fixtures earlier in the year. Credit to Nigel.
If the answer to Apter's departure is another left footed winger playing on the right, we may have an option to explore in house. Conor Wood was/is a winger/full back. He's looked decent at LB and no slouch going forward. Be interesting to see how he'd fare playing in front of LOC with an option to cut in on his left peg.
Interms of supplementing our forward options, i note Lewis Koumas can play wide) and Gatzel scored for Liverpool U21s against Feyenoord recently. Further Neil Danns lad (striker) scored a couple in a recent U21 game for them as well. Granted no Luke Norris replacements there, but it would broaden the options with some potential quality. It's a long run in now.

Interesting thoughts, Higgy, but what about trying James Norris as a replacement when Wood returns? He is really a wing back, so must have some pace.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

We will surely just use Hawkes and Morris wide in the coming weeks ?

Hawkes has looked sharp coming off the bench in recent matches, must be desperate to regain his place, and is one of the most prolific attacking midfielders in the division.

 

[Ian]

This would be a great chance for Hawkes but I think he has to be more consistent. We need an outlet, and Apter was a great one. We have to keep up the intensity. I wonder how the game would have panned out on Mon without Apter? He was instrumental in a lot of the goals and I don't see anyone in the current squad making such an impression. Hopefully MP will do all he can to bring him back as I just don't think we will be as effective without him. I hope it does not effect squad morale either.

 

[Sparky]

As Ian suggests you wonder what the result would have been on Monday without apter - he was involved in 3 of the 4 goals.

It is interesting tranmere haven’t tweeted the usual goodbye to a loan player and thanks for your contributions etc. May mean nothing but surprising given what he did for us..

 

[Higgy 2]

Interesting thoughts, Higgy, but what about trying James Norris as a replacement when Wood returns? He is really a wing back, so must have some pace.

No probs with that BBC - good call. I offered Woods as he as believe he was deemed a genuine winger previously. Either way its a left field idea for trying to replicate Apter's penchant, and the fashion for cutting in on the left foot.
Hawkes is the obvious choice, and if he's less inclined to cut in, as he does from the other wing, I would hope that it would be compensated by him getting to the by-line and getting the crosses in - especially for Norris if he'sback in there.

I'm sure Nigel will work on a few things on the training ground.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

As Ian suggests you wonder what the result would have been on Monday without apter - he was involved in 3 of the 4 goals.

It is interesting tranmere haven’t tweeted the usual goodbye to a loan player and thanks for your contributions etc. May mean nothing but surprising given what he did for us..

Yes, I hadn’t picked that up. Blackpool have welcomed him back but no message at all from TRFC, which is really strange. I think the club must think there is a good chance he’ll come back on some basis before the end of the month.

However, it doesn’t mean he definitely
will! I Hope Nigel is also working on a Plan B.

 

[O4anotherplayoff]

The club thanked him when he was substituted on Monday. Danns subsequently reiterated that we’d like to have him back and I assume Adkins, if asked about it tomorrow, will say much the same thing unless there are any developments in the next 24 hours. Beyond that, there’s simply nothing to report just yet, and certainly nothing to warrant a more official announcement. Although I see that hasn’t stopped Kyle Revino digging more holes for his credibility today!

 

[Sparky]

League two clubs starting to splash the cash including Colchester signing Conor Wilkinson who is decent but also bringing the Cowley brothers in to take charge.

Whatever happens it’s good we’ve got a healthy gap now from the relegation zone as teams below us will invest to try and stay up

 

[Boz]

Belehouan, whose deal expires at the end of the month interesting Grimsby. I haven't seen enough of him to form a strong opinion, but if he goes, another central defender will be needed. I don't think Walker is capable of providing sufficient cover there and with Turnbull's disciplinary record and Davies' susceptibility to injury, one central defensive cover player unlikely to be enough.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Not so long ago we had central defenders coming out of our ears but no decent attackers. Now we are strong up front but I totally agree with Boz that we are an injury and a suspension away from a crisis. I can’t see any solution apart from signing at least one experienced defender.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

It sounds like there won't be major changes in January, which is good to hear. It certainly does not sound like the club have given up all of hope of retaining Apter either.

The interviews Adkins does with Radio Merseyside are so much more enlightening than the club ones, where he is asked the dullest questions imaginable.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

I agree, RLC, it’s a good interview. For all his qualities, Micky Mellon sent me to sleep.

I also agree that we should not disturb the squad too much. Has anyone else noticed how few loanees we have compared with the past? Just young Norris and possibly Leake. A decent defender coming to the end of his contract and told it won’t be renewed would be an ideal loanee. If it works out, we would sign him. We’ve done similar deals before.

 

[Sparky]

Blackpool manager Neil Critchley speaks on Rob Apter:

"He’s training so we’ll assess him and see where we are. We’ve got a chance to speak to him and see him, and we’ll make a decision on what we think is best for him next.”

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Blackpool boss Neil Critchley maps out Rob Apter plan following successful loan spell with Tranmere Rovers

Rob Apter has returned to Blackpool following a successful loan spell with Tranmere Rovers in League Two.

www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk

 

[Am on mobile]

We have to be patient and wait and see he can't play in there next 2 games being cup tied even there own fans are saying they don't use wingers oh well we have to move on for now

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Why oh why do we have so many injuries? Am I imagining it? I know we have a big squad, but nearly everyone has been injured and/or suspended. Just when Nigel thinks he has a settled side, someone pulls a muscle or breaks a toe. Have we simply signed a bunch of crocks on the cheap that nobody else wants?

 

[bigmart]

Why oh why do we have so many injuries? Am I imagining it? I know we have a big squad, but nearly everyone has been injured and/or suspended. Just when Nigel thinks he has a settled side, someone pulls a muscle or breaks a toe. Have we simply signed a bunch of crocks on the cheap that nobody else wants?

I think there are a number of reasons for the injuries, we have signed some injury prone players. The 2 injuries yesterday were down to a player having his foot stamped on and the poor nature of the pitch.