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TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 3203 Location: North Texas, USA

Raith Rovers 2021-2022 Signings and Pre-Contracts:

8 February 2021

Keepers:
Bow (ma-thru May 2022), J MacDonald (thru May 2022)

Backs:
Bene (thru May 2022), Lang (pre-contract, will be May 2023), K MacDonald (thru May 2022), Tumilty (thru May 2022)

Mids/Wide:
Arnott (ma) (thru May 2022), Coulson (ma) (thru May 2022), Matthews (thru June 2024), Tait (thru May 2024)

Forwards:
Mahady (ma) (thru May 2022)

scotty · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8968 Location: Almost Dysart.

Tom Lang looks a good signing in that he can play either centre half roles or can fill in at RB, in this respect he is very similar to Keiran MacDonald who can do the same but predominantly on the LHS. Signing Lang means we have more cover for RB and so if another CB is signed I reckon it'll be odds on that he's left sided...either that or we'll sign another LB to give Macca competition / release him to play centre half.
Tumilty, Macca, Lang & Bene are already signed up as will surely be McKay, somehow getting Musonda back again would be ideal and I'd reckon that'd still leave 1 possibly 2 more defensive slots to fill which would see 7 or 8 defenders to fill 4 roles (or 5 if like the line-up deployed at Greenock).
We have :
Tumilty - RB
McKay - CB/RB
Lang CB/RB
Bene CB/RB
(hopefully)Musonda CB/LB/RB
MacDonald - LB/CB
???? CB/LB or LB

There are 4 (5 inc FM) guys that can play RB but only 2 that can play LB and at that one of them is Frankie, it really shows what a key member of the squad he is.
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Competitive goals: Vaughan 5, Smith 4, Easton 3, 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: 3203 Location: North Texas, USA

Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1077 Location: kirkcaldy

Are you, Tx, suggesting that the Board are not managing the Club as best they can ,in very precarious times?
I strongly disagree.
Indeed, what is remarkable is that there have been long-term extensions for Dylan and Rossco, very good ''assets'' but a very positive statement by The Board in these times.
Noises have been made that other players have been approached to extend their contracts too, but it takes two to tango and some may be holding off to see what their options (if any ) are.
Tom Lang has also been signed on a pre-contract.
We should all have faith in this management team, John Sim and the rest of the Board to be working flat -out in the interests of The Rovers.

scotty · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8968 Location: Almost Dysart.

I don't think Tex is suggesting that at all Frank although the use of the word "scary' when talking about the lack of signings in next seasons squad is (at least in February) a bit premature to say the least.

I'd guess given that Rossco is already onboard all the players that Rovers want to keep are all being talked to regards new deals, but as you say it takes 2 to tango some maybe aren't keen to join in the dance just yet. Can only imagine if this is indeed the case then this is frustrating and infuriating in equal measures for not only John and Smudger but the board.
I'd guess that at the least Hendry, Musonda, Duku, Armstrong, Vaughan, McKay and Spencer have all (but not exclusively) been offered new deals but are yet to commit one way or another. I feel out of that lot I'd be more confident on LV, McKay, Brad and maybe Armstrong returning.
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Competitive goals: Vaughan 5, Smith 4, Easton 3, 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: 3203 Location: North Texas, USA

Correct Scotty...It’s “scary” to see we have one young lad as a signed forward going forward...it’s not a complaint, just an observation that we may see massive turnover.

StarksBarmy · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 3844

Have any of our players signed pre contracts elsewhere as there are still one or two murmurings? Be nice to hear our manager confirm one way or the other.

I don’t see the point in committing ourselves to signing up too many players for next season, certainly not in the current climate. If we remain in this division then we will be competing against the usual suspects for playing staff and I like to think we would be an attractive option for many reasons to either stay or join...

Yes, there are three or four guys I would be keen to see sign extensions before their contracts run out but that’s about it, little room for sentiment in football if you want to progress...

Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1077 Location: kirkcaldy

Ok, Tx, thanks to you and your interpreter , Scotty, for the clarification. Maybe it was a case of being separated by a common language😂
I have got to say that it was the word ''shocking'', as well as ''scary'', which threw me.
I suspect that many teams in the Championship (and League One) are in a similar, or less favourable, position. We supporters will just have to be patient and trust ''the Club''. Yes, SB, on the question of pre-contracts elsewhere , there has been speculation. It's good to hear of guys coming in, like Tom Lang, but not so pleasant knowing that a player will be off elsewhere.

CoachBombay · Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 435

The player at the top of my list would be Regan. It would be crap if he moved on but can definitely see why the likes of St. Mirren, Motherwell, Killie type clubs would be interested. It would be poor if he went to another club in the championships it’s not much, of any, of a step up and you hope our board would be able to compete financially.

Vaughan I’m not sure on. Obviously a very talented player but he is on high £ presumably and has spent the last few seasons with long spells on the sidelines. He also made it clear that he wanted “a move to a bigger club” on that lower league ramblings podcast. I felt it was poor given how much time, medical bills etc has been expended. I get he was injured playing for Raith though, just didn’t sit right shouting for a move when Raith had done 100% by him but I guess that’s football.

Love to see McKay and Duku stay too but wonder what’s going on with Duku, no starts in the past few games despite scoring fairly freely in the league so far.
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RIP RONNIE

scotty · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8968 Location: Almost Dysart.

If I had my choice and we were only getting to keep one of Hendry, Musonda or Duku then I'd plump for Frankie.

Duku is a goal scorer but despite his goals he's still had his detractors amongst the Raith fans and at 27 he's not the pick of the bunch.
Hendry on his game is awesome even unplayable at times, but more recently it's noticeable that he can be marked out of it (see Lots & Hearts at Home) also of late (even in December) he has been been off his game a bit and you have to question if his head's been turned. I'd love him to stay but is he still committed to the club? Of course he would be missed but with Spencer, Tate and Matthews still at the club maybe not so much as another key player.
Speaking of key players, Frankie is some thing of a rare commodity currently at football clubs, a good centre half. Other than the Dunfermline game where he had a bit of a stinker he's not really put a foot wrong that I can recall. For those reason I think he'd be hardest to replace, decent centre halves don't grow on trees.
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Competitive goals: Vaughan 5, Smith 4, Easton 3, 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: 3203 Location: North Texas, USA

My choices to keep/add for next year’s base:

JMac and Bow

McKay, Bene, Lang, Musonda, KMac, Tumilty and one of Mendy and Davo (prefer Mendy) if we don’t sign another defenseman in their place.

Tait, Spencer, Matthews, Arnott, Coulson and Armstrong. Prefer to keep Hendry but would be happy to sign and trade.

Mahady, Smith, Ugwu or Duku (prefer Ugwu, if he can stay healthy) and perhaps Vaughan (waiting to see).

Neil M · Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 2477 Location: Aberdeen

Am I right in saying that tomorrow is the last possible day for the loan activity that JMcG hinted at? The Alloa game eclipses that a bit, but I guess they have until midnight tomorrow. If he does bring someone in, I guess it might be Monday before anything would be announced officially.

TxRover · Joined: 02 Jun 2018 Posts: 3203 Location: North Texas, USA

Neil M · Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 2477 Location: Aberdeen

Looks like it never came off - whatever JMcG had in mind. I guess we would have heard something by now, if it had.

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

Thats Thomson and McKay signed up , the witch is away though good luck to him great player in hus day for the club

The rest I am sure will happen in good time , I'd love to have Hendry and Frankie here next year
Vaughan is going to be a tough decision for the club to make, is he a risk they can afford to take though.