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TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 3214 Location: North Texas, USA

March 2020 Update (COVID-19 May change things, we’ll see)

Signed:

Bow (ma) (thru May 2022)

MacDonald (thru May 2021), Mendy (thru May 2021)

Coulson (ma) (thru May 2022), Hendry (thru May 2021), Spencer (thru May 2021), Tait (thru May 2022)

Bowie (thru May 2022, but agreement to transfer to Fulham Summer 2020), Smith (thru May 2021), Vaughan (thru May 2021)

Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1079 Location: kirkcaldy

Many thanks,Tx. I was wondering,but had no idea.
Unfortunately that doesn't mean that clubs with money won't try to take advantage of our financial position and put in low bids for the likes of Regan Hendry and Dylan Tait. That would be the case especially if the end result of ''the season'' is that The Rovers are not
promoted. I've a gut feeling we will go up and various straws in the
air suggest that's the way things are about to go, but no certainty
of that.
One name is missing from your list that I expected to be read on it
is Lewis Vaughan. When Bene signed on for another season did Lewis
not sign on for another two seasons? I could be wrong
Shocked

TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 3214 Location: North Texas, USA

scotty · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8973 Location: Almost Dysart.

Ok, so now we know we are going up but not when it'll start, never the less just for S&G's it's time for some fairly harmless speculation Very Happy

We had 27-28 players this season, I'd expect similar will be required for 2020-21. So who will we want / need for our return to the Championship?

We have Bow as a 3rd keeper but obviously need more.
I'd re-sign Thomson and look to bring in another keeper, if Ross Co release Geordie then I'd bring him in. Need at least 3 on the books, in fact given our previous record maybe 4 Crying or Very sad

Defence: (8 or 9 required)
We only have MacDonald and Mendy.
I'd be looking to re-sign Bene, McKay and probably Watson. Sign Steven Anderson. Pick up a new right back and probably a LB cover for Macca. I think at his age the Championship would be a bridge too far for Davo. Miller started the season well but dropped off, I'd be dubious about keeping him.

Midfield: (9 required)
Coulson Tait, Hendry are already onboard. Re-sign Matthews, Armstrong and Spencer also perhaps Dingwall? I'd probably keep Ando or maybe sign another winger to replace Victoria. All in all not a lot of work required in this dep't

Forwards: (Need at least 5 if not 6)
Vaughan and Smith are already here, I think McLean and 2 others required but who? Allan, Bowie and Baird all to be replaced, If Baird stayed until Jan I'd be happy with him being one of the 3 required.

GK? He's a complete fud but Mark McCallum looks a decent keeper, thoughts?
RB ?
LB ?
Centre halves? none required if Bene, Anderson and McKay sign.
Midfield? Re-sign Rosco, Brad, Dan and Tony. Winger. loan player?
Forward? Sign Steven McLean and 2 others Dale Carrick maybe one?

Thoughts?
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Competitive goals: Easton 5, Vaughan 5, Smith 4, Hamilton 2, Dick 1, Gullan 1, Masson 1, Mitchell 1, Mullin 1, Stanton 1, Watson 1, OG's 1,

TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 3214 Location: North Texas, USA

We have Bow as a 3rd keeper but obviously need more.
I'd re-sign Thomson and look to bring in another keeper, if Ross Co release Geordie then I'd bring him in. Need at least 3 on the books, in fact given our previous record maybe 4 Crying or Very sad

Thomson is a decent start, but I wouldn’t mind a proven Championship level goalie. I can live with Thomson and Bow IF we have a solid backup for Thomson...the fourth goalie can wait till closer to the season starting.

Defence: (8 or 9 required)
We only have MacDonald and Mendy.
I'd be looking to re-sign Bene, McKay and probably Watson. Sign Steven Anderson. Pick up a new right back and probably a LB cover for Macca. I think at his age the Championship would be a bridge too far for Davo. Miller started the season well but dropped off, I'd be dubious about keeping him.

We want Watson, McKay, MacDonald, Bene and SAndo from our current roster. Davo I’d love as a reserve utility player, if he’s willing to do it. Perhaps coaching? I think JMcG will stay with favoring 4 back, but then we have McKay/SAndo/Bene for two spots. MacDonald stays and needs covering, Miller should stay, probably as the backup. So that’s 9 when we add a backup for MacDonald and a starting RB...although Watson developed well and MIGHT be able to fill that role. McKay is useful as an emergency RB, and Bene at LB in the same straits. Mendy...Mendy...Mendy...well, if he has developed enough, where do we put him? I suspect he gets shipped to a League One side to develop.

Midfield: (9 required)
Coulson Tait, Hendry are already onboard. Re-sign Matthews, Armstrong and Spencer also perhaps Dingwall? I'd probably keep Ando or maybe sign another winger to replace Victoria. All in all not a lot of work required in this dep't

Yea, pretty solid so far, but...not a fan of Dingwall, despite his flashes. GAndo, I don’t know he’s a Championship level player. That’s 6, and we add a couple of winger types and perhaps a solid Defensive Mid?

Forwards: (Need at least 5 if not 6)
Vaughan and Smith are already here, I think McLean and 2 others required but who? Allan, Bowie and Baird all to be replaced, If Baird stayed until Jan I'd be happy with him being one of the 3 required.

McLean would be an excellent signing, expecting only some play, not weekly starting. Vaughan, we need to have an understudy on board because...well, just because. Smith has signs, but injury issues. So our other signings need to be hard, reliable players. Three, rather then two, simply because of Vaughan’s fragility.

GK? He's a complete fud but Mark McCallum looks a decent keeper, thoughts?

Allows twice the average goals as Munro...prefer Ross back.

Forwards, need to look about a bit.

Biggles · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 2157

scotty · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8973 Location: Almost Dysart.

Yup, that one slipped by me.
_________________
Competitive goals: Easton 5, Vaughan 5, Smith 4, Hamilton 2, Dick 1, Gullan 1, Masson 1, Mitchell 1, Mullin 1, Stanton 1, Watson 1, OG's 1,

TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 3214 Location: North Texas, USA

Question: Is Davo ready/willing/able to be a reserve player on a Championship team, or does he feel he would be better on a League One/Two team? More pressingly, does he have a job/career lined up outside football?

badpress139 · Joined: 19 May 2015 Posts: 2396 Location: Glenrothes

TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 3214 Location: North Texas, USA

Biggles · Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 2157

I can't for the life of me remember where this rumour came from, but I heard that Davo was heading to Kelty.

red zebra · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:41 pm Post subject:

Neil M · Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 2479 Location: Aberdeen

A player/coach/ scout role for Davo would be ideal. That way, if he couldn't be played, for whatever reason, it would be "win,win" for the club. He would earn his keep when not playing - unlike this past season.

In a way we have an advantage over some of our potential rivals this year, in that it is still April and we know we will be playing in the Championship. In previous years, we have been disadvantaged by not knowing that during the play-offs. We are well placed now to start looking for new players and start talking with them, before more competion comes in. Both Falkirk and Partick are looking at League 1 football next season, but if there is a re-structuring of the leagues, both may play in the Championship, like ourselves.

Armagh Rover · Joined: 25 Jul 2008 Posts: 5596 Location: Nottinghamshire

Whatever happens with league reconstruction and whenever football can start again , We have to be ready with a squad of players who will keep us in the Championship and for more than just one season
Over to you Mr McGlynn its all in your hands now

Castle · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 4776

Unfortunately I think we'll have to leave it to the last possible moment before we can start assembling a squad for the next season. It's looking increasing unlikely that football will not begin again this side of autumn. The club have obligations to pay the wages of players under contract and of the staff who are employed behind the scene. No guarantee that the government backed furlough scheme will be extended indefinitely in its current form and I'm sure it wouldn't cover new employees taken on after the restrictions had kicked in.
If I have read the previous posts correctly then we have nine players who are under contract beyond the end of May. I'm struggling to see how we can sign anyone else when they might not be doing anything other than training through June, July and possibly August.
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Fantalk~Often wrong but never in doubt