• Nigel Adkins has been given the Tranmere job on a permanent basis signing until the end of the 25/26 season. Continue the discussion here.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher & Steve McNulty

Boz

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GTF isn't a player I know much about tbh, so it's good that he can fill the creative midfield role. Given he's only with us until the end of this year, I'd be wary of building our side around him at this point.

I still think we'd be better off with a specialist right-back.
 
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Alan King, Barry Dyson
Gumbs probably will be loaned out, agree with RLC think Holness will be the one to make way if McNulty does sign.
If all three of these moves happen, that leaves us with Sutton, Riley, Hogan, Ihiekwe and McNulty. As Sutton and Ihiekwe can also fill in at right-back, that's not excessive once the bookings start to tot up and players get injured. But I think GB's rationale is to improve the quality wherever he can - GTF, then McNulty. He's been patient, but he moves whenever good players become available, which isn't that often at this time of year. I expect to see at least two new faces in the January transfer window, with a couple moving on. I don't think that Adam Hammill rumour is necessarily wide of the mark. He's local, without a club and will have seen what GTF has done. We need a winger to fill in for Dawson and he could come in on the same basis as GTF.

BTW, Steve McNulty of Luton has not played for us before. It was Jimmy McNulty who joined on loan two years ago. Steve is a local lad who knows this league well and has been played in four promotion-winning sides. He also has an eye for goal as this clip shows.
 
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frenchrover

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aldo
And today......McNulty joins on loan with view to a permanent move. Decent signing at this level.
 
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And today......McNulty joins on loan with view to a permanent move. Decent signing at this level.
I agree. How many homesick Scousers have we signed in recent years? From John Aldridge .... to Ryan Lowe .... to Adam Dawson and Steve McNulty!

GB's transfer strategy is sound. He buys quality when it comes available and is affordable. This means experienced pros including some older ones with a good track record plus a few younger lads with potential (and who will do the running!) The balance of experience to potential is about 3 to 1, which is OK for this season where he had to build a squad from scratch and we want quick results.
 

Sparky

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I'm still not convinced we need McNulty but he sounds like a quality addition. I just hope all our wage bill isn't being spent on players we possibly were not in desperate need of, whereas I still believe we need another out and out striker on the books.
 
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We'll need a bigger dressing room now. Good signing but I feel a bit sorry for Hogan and Riley who were outstanding on Saturday. Still, added experience always welcome.

Wonder if GTF will play in the FA Cup on Saturday...?
 

Ian

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I don't think these are unnecessary signings at all. We should always be trying to improve the squad. These are quality signings at this level.
 

Boz

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If GB recruits another four central defenders, we could field a full starting xi of them :)

An interesting signing, given that we already have a number of competent central defenders on the books. Might it result in playing 3 at the back, with Hill/Ridehalgh and Maynard as wing-backs?
 
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I don't think these are unnecessary signings at all. We should always be trying to improve the squad. These are quality signings at this level.

Completeley agree Ian. I think the recent signings are a real statement that our aim is to win the league this season. After years of zero ambition I am pleased we have a board that actually wants to go places.

Quality players and in two of the most crucial positions on the pitch - centre forward and centre half.
 
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Apparently Hogan requires a minor operation, which explains the timing of the McNulty signing.
 
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Luton is my local team and I know a few of their fans. One I know well was shocked to hear the news. He said he's a very reliable centre-back and the fan's favourite. It's clearly a family issue, so I think we are very lucky to get him.
 

Sparky

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Thanks for the links Ian.

His nickname of Sumo seems to fit - he's massive!!!
 

Higgy

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He is a big lad, but first and foremost he is a footballer with a good brain. Good engines and good athletes are great, but if they can't trap a bag of cement or read the game their athleticism won't make up for it.

Prefer quality so happy with the signing and think the GTF signing is inspired - he looked really clever when playing with Blackpool at the top level.

BTW - didn't we have a really big guy (centre half) on trial in a recent pre-season? Didn't see him although recall feedback that he could play a bit?? Is it the same guy....McNulty???

Boz, Maynard not a bad option for right back, but can't see him as a wing back somehow...although given the plethora of centre backs and paucity of right backs it might be Hobson's choice if we go three at the back...see how it goes.

Things looking up, but wish we had got at least something from the two home games:)
 
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BTW - didn't we have a really big guy (centre half) on trial in a recent pre-season? Didn't see him although recall feedback that he could play a bit?? Is it the same guy....McNulty???
Can't have been Steve McNulty as he would have been under contract to Luton and therefore doing pre-season training. I think this family problem must have happened during the last few weeks or he'd have moved during the summer transfer window.
 

Boz

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Higgy, the main difficulty with the others who been used at right-back this season is not their defending, but that either they struggle to get past the half-way line or don't make best use of the ball when reaching the opponents half. Seeing how Maynard set up the second goal at Forest Green made me think he might do a fair job as wing-back. I don't think Mekki/Dawson have the defensive ability to play that role.
 

Gray

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Completeley agree Ian. I think the recent signings are a real statement that our aim is to win the league this season. After years of zero ambition I am pleased we have a board that actually wants to go places.

Even if that 'place' is back where we started!

Seriously though, both seem decent signings at this level. It's clear we're going for experience but quick results and a return to the league are clearly a priority.
 

drwhoman

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I agree regarding the return to Div Two. If you hang around in the National League you get stuck - how long have all the other local teams been out (?) and you also start getting used to playing some overachieving minor sides. This is not in the Palios game plan with the new training facilities etc!
 
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