Pre season friendlies 25/26

[Sparky]

He helps out with the coaching of the keepers he's not a professional keeper

Yep Danny Lloyd is his name. Think he’s close to Murphy’s age!

 

[Ian]

So we are no further forward really apart from having a more competent manager. Defence and midfield sorted, still pathetically weak up front. Hopefully we’ll see more comings and goings this week.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

So we are no further forward really apart from having a more competent manager. Defence and midfield sorted, still pathetically weak up front. Hopefully we’ll see more comings and goings this week.

I think that will be the case until the off the field issues are settled.

 

[Sparky]

So we are no further forward really apart from having a more competent manager. Defence and midfield sorted, still pathetically weak up front. Hopefully we’ll see more comings and goings this week.

I think the last two signings, Blacker and Harris, show the financial restraints we have when it comes to improving our attacking options. That coupled with not being able to sell the likes of Davison or Saunders means we don’t have enough funds for the quality we need. Also (and this isn’t a criticism), we’ve given out a lot of two year deals to existing players and others like Whitaker and Brough and the piggy bank is only so big.

I’m not expecting any major incomings or outgoings this week and we’ll start the season with pretty much the same attack as last season barring Whitaker and the two young loanees I mentioned above.

Let’s hope we start the season strong defensively as we have six league games in August and the first few on paper are not easy

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

The decision to offer long contracts to Davison and Saunders, both presumably on decent money, has really hindered us and Crosby unfortunately.

In terms of the overall budget we probably do have the resources to bring in a decent striker, assuming the scouting is good enough, but not if we are already committed to substantial wages for those two.

 

[bigmart]

The decision to offer long contracts to Davison and Saunders, both presumably on decent money, has really hindered us and Crosby unfortunately.

In terms of the overall budget we probably do have the resources to bring in a decent striker, assuming the scouting is good enough, but not if we are already committed to substantial wages for those two.

Also add in the fact that Finley is on decent wages and misses the first 11 games of the season doesn't help

 

[Keith Hill (Bolton)]

I think the last two signings, Blacker and Harris, show the financial restraints we have when it comes to improving our attacking options. That coupled with not being able to sell the likes of Davison or Saunders means we don’t have enough funds for the quality we need. Also (and this isn’t a criticism), we’ve given out a lot of two year deals to existing players and others like Whitaker and Brough and the piggy bank is only so big.

I’m not expecting any major incomings or outgoings this week and we’ll start the season with pretty much the same attack as last season barring Whitaker and the two young loanees I mentioned above.

Let’s hope we start the season strong defensively as we have six league games in August and the first few on paper are not easy

I was at the game yesterday and our strike force of Patrick, Whittaker and Davison, were very poor individually and collectively.
Each of them were comp!early non existent going forward and indeed struggled. I would add that two of them looked completely not up to League two standard.
If Dennis isn't fit, please play Patrick up front or Connor.
That was the biggest issue against Wigan. Our striking options are again poor and still haven't replaced Norris.
I have already said that the incoming for a quality forward is over. And if there was one coming in the squad number for one has been taken up. I know there are plenty of numbers but if there was one incoming, either number 9 or 10 would have been reserved.
I was not impressed with our football, passing etc. It should have been a much wider scoreline.
Another long season ahead.

 

[Keith Hill (Bolton)]

Also add in the fact that Finley is on decent wages and misses the first 11 games of the season doesn't help

Should have been sacked and shown the door, even paying his contract out.
Finlay is not a Tranmere Rovers player.
Anyone other than a player would have been dismissed.

 

[Boz]

I was at the game yesterday and our strike force of Patrick, Whittaker and Davison, were very poor individually and collectively.
Each of them were comp!early non existent going forward and indeed struggled. I would add that two of them looked completely not up to League two standard.
If Dennis isn't fit, please play Patrick up front or Connor.
That was the biggest issue against Wigan. Our striking options are again poor and still haven't replaced Norris.
I have already said that the incoming for a quality forward is over. And if there was one coming in the squad number for one has been taken up. I know there are plenty of numbers but if there was one incoming, either number 9 or 10 would have been reserved.
I was not impressed with our football, passing etc. It should have been a much wider scoreline.
Another long season ahead.

Very odd that Whittaker was deployed as a forward by AC, when we have genuine forward players not getting a start and he's primarily an attacking midfielder.

 

[Keith Hill (Bolton)]

Very odd that Whittaker was deployed as a forward by AC, when we have genuine forward players not getting a start and he's primarily an attacking midfielder.

To be honest, Whittaker looked lost and not used to playing in that formation or role.
Shortly after we changed to a 4-4-2, which I feel would have suited him better. You have to remember that the two sitting central midfielders are probably first choice and both looked solid. And Kenney did get forward as much as was possible in the later stages. Yesterday's attacking options were very poor. Wigan were comfortable for the majority of the game.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

Very odd that Whittaker was deployed as a forward by AC, when we have genuine forward players not getting a start and he's primarily an attacking midfielder.

He was not used as a forward. Patrick and Whitaker played behind Davison as number tens.

 

[Boz]

He was not used as a forward. Patrick and Whitaker played behind Davison as number tens.

Playing two no tens is a bit unusual. Don’t know enough about Whitaker, but unsure positionally that’s a good fit for Patrick. When he’d got Jennings and Solomon who could fill that role, bit of a strange call by Crosby, unless he’d used and been been impressed by Whitaker in that role during some of the bcd pre-season games.

 

[Sparky]

Playing two no tens is a bit unusual. Don’t know enough about Whitaker, but unsure positionally that’s a good fit for Patrick. When he’d got Jennings and Solomon who could fill that role, bit of a strange call by Crosby, unless he’d used and been been impressed by Whitaker in that role during some of the bcd pre-season games.

I think AC played two number tens behind Dennis towards the end of last season? But Patrick still played wing back and ended up top scorer. Whitaker could do a job as a number 10 but on the evidence of the Wigan game didn’t impress and given his inexperience it could take a while, despite his spell at Notts County