The Squad 2023-24

[Sparky]

I think we need a genuine defensive midfielder, but arguably O'Connor can play that role if he is moved from right back.

Yes in hindsight you are right. None of Lewis, Hendry, Connor, Morris or Hughes cover that role. We have merrie but he’s had injuries. Same with Walker. LOC could go there but only when Pike is fit.

 

[drwhoman]

Kane has played 8 times for Senegal and aged 22. Could be interesting.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Kane has played 8 times for Senegal and aged 22. Could be interesting.

Exactly. He'll either be dross or worth £1m. Definitely worth a punt.

 

[O4anotherplayoff]

Couple more overseas youngsters on trial..

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Couple more overseas youngsters on trial..

Our scouting network is now truly international. Hopefully LOC will help to make them feel at home.

 

[frenchrover]

Couple more overseas youngsters on trial..

Its great to see our Irish links still functioning.....hope the lads come good for us

 

[dollar'sbloke]

They appear to play in level four in N Ireland same as us but presumably far lower standard? With no second team struggle to see how this can work

 

[Keith Hill (Bolton)]

It is called the development squad!

 

[dollar'sbloke]

How do you develop bar loaning them out? They'd be better off somewhere with a under 21 team or reserves

 

[Higgy 2]

Takes me back to when we signed Dominic Kelly from Stella Maris in Dublin....if memory serves.
I recall John McMahon saying ge could be top dollar. He got the big build up with an instruction on the pitch before a game.

 

[ADD]

Hockenhull gone on loan to Spennymoor in NLN for a month - probably about his level in all honesty.

 

[O4anotherplayoff]

Jack Bentley, son of Jim, who played for us in pre season and captained our side in the FA Youth Cup, has signed for Bootle.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Couple more overseas youngsters on trial..

Any idea how they got on? No word from the club, so presumably they sent them home again without a deal.

 

[O4anotherplayoff]

No idea, nor about whether we’d be able to sign them before January anyway.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

Yes, they would likely have to wait until January to complete any deal. And if they have offered them a contract in advance, they would not want to publicise it. In fact, the club tried to keep the whole thing under wraps. Nothing on the OS, just that feed from Ireland. In some ways understandable as they wouldn't be the first promising players we had pinched.

 

[Am on mobile]

The problem is we need players who are gonna make an improvement right away and not in a few years as we have little quality now

 

[dollar'sbloke]

The problem is we need players who are gonna make an improvement right away and not in a few years as we have little quality now

No harm in it but it is probably a gesture so any real talent may come our way in the future. Fourth level in the province is probably Bootle or lower. Always intrigued me how Hill in his short agreed tenure signed Jolley who was never one for that season.

 

[ONIGP]

The problem is we need players who are gonna make an improvement right away and not in a few years as we have little quality now

A well balanced club with a mature functioning strategy need both and a couple of points in between. Despite the challenges of development in the lower leagues, we are a very long way from getting it right.

 

[Sparky]

Palio’s has said in recent interviews that we’ll make some January additions. If Norris has had a relapse then we badly need to bring in another target man.
We shouldn’t be so reliant on one player anyway and although good strikers don’t come cheap, if we’re still in a relegation fight come January then mark will have to get his chequebook out

 

[bigmart]

We have 9 league games between now and being able to sign players in the January window so we need to keep picking up points to keep in touching distance of as many teams as we can.

Norris probably will be out several months again but we may well have to go down the route of a young inexperienced target man. Hopefully we can extend the loan for Apter for the rest of the season and do some further wheeling and dealing.