A Skeleton Squad.

Iron Bru Forums Blast Furnace A Skeleton Squad.

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  • #210289
    lesgeolesgeo
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    Registered On: December 25, 2013
    Topics: 101

    Please ignore my avatar photo – but I am not really up to playing.

    We have done the same as we have so often in the past – left everything to the last minute. This sends a message out to other teams, available players and makes us vulnerable. Our squad have been given insufficient time to blend together.
    We have missed out on the players we could/should have been interested in (as has been our custom for a number of years.)
    There will undoubtedly be a rush to bring in the best of the vestiges who have failed to register on anyone else’s radar.
    I am just waiting for the League One youngsters piling in to pad out the squad.
    May the 31st?- Pah!

    #210292
    razorironrazoriron
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    Registered On: July 25, 2015
    Topics: 12

    After the mass exodus of players released in May you looked at the squad left and would have said you needed 7 or 8 rock solid Div 1 or 2 types to even be competative and try and get us to midtable status.We are a million miles away from that with just 3 signed. I doubt very much we would even be competitive in the conference right now. The squad is horrifically ill equipped.The only saving grace seems to be reasonably assembled defence.

    #210293
    Iron-aweIron-awe
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    Registered On: June 21, 2017
    Topics: 11

    Aye your right les we really are down to the bare bones with this skeleton squad, hope nobody let’s a dog loose on the training ground, could be a proper crunch fest. 💀🐕

    #210296
    BigLeftToeBigLeftToe
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    Registered On: June 6, 2017
    Topics: 6

    It really is a bit of a shit show. A few injuries to what’s left of senior players and we’ll be down to fielding the youth team already (and look what happened with having a plethora of injuries at the start of last season!).

    Looking at the current free agents still available, there really isn’t much to choose from. Putting a competitive squad together is already very unlikely, the bargain basket is all that’s left!

    #210297
    cassidystashcassidystash
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    Registered On: January 4, 2014
    Topics: 108

    Less than 4 weeks until the first league game. Some players now without income for 5 weeks. Desperate times for us and them, wage expectations coming down and our need for players remains. The players we still need MUST be signed this week to give them and the team half a chance of being ready.

    #210308
    FerriteFerrite
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    Registered On: December 23, 2013
    Topics: 102

    Squad ready by the end of May – another great example of over-promising.

    So what do we have?

    GK – Watson
    RB – Millen
    RB – Rowe
    LB – O’Malley
    CB – Onarise
    CB – Taft
    CB – Davis
    RW – Green
    LW – Hippolyte
    CM – Hallam
    CM – Beestin
    CM – Kenyon
    CF – Loft
    CF – Jarvis
    CF – Dunnwald-Turan

    Plus a smattering of players so young they look like they’ve not yet started shaving.

    I make that a squad of 15 established pros. 11 players, plus 4 subs.

    #210311
    cokeovenkidcokeovenkid
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    Registered On: January 13, 2014
    Topics: 1

    You could almost get to think someone’s running the club as a hobby !!

    7 users thanked author for this post.
    #210313
    lesgeolesgeo
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    Registered On: December 25, 2013
    Topics: 101

    The forward line is a disaster. As previously mentioned – we MUST have a Paul Hayes-style player.
    Another backup forward.
    One GK.(Come back Mark – all is forgiven?)
    We are banking on Hallam staying fit in CM.
    Phew! And all that is assuming both triallists fit the bill.

    #210316
    alcazaralcazar
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    Registered On: December 24, 2013
    Topics: 50

    We have got exactly what I expected from these owners.

    And when are we going to start calling the May 31st statement what it was?
    Either misdirection, or a lie?

    Personally, there have been so many broken promises now, I’d check if this guy told me today was Tuesday.😠

    2 users thanked author for this post.
    #210320
    KennySpennymoorKenny Spennymoor
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    Registered On: September 30, 2017
    Topics: 7

    Under the embargo rules we are allowed to ‘squad up’ to a maximum of 23 players of ‘a professional standard’, which means they have played at least one first team game. How many of the kids actually made it onto the pitch last season, Jessop, Pugh, any others=?? .Plenty or room in the squad, if there is any desire from those in charge to fill the gaps. If Bunn and Thompson sign are we looking at last-minute loans to bring the numbers up??

    #210322
    lesgeolesgeo
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    Registered On: December 25, 2013
    Topics: 101

    That’s my guess.
    I really want to be wrong.
    No chance whatsoever of a Yates or a Toney!

    1 user thanked author for this post.
    #210325
    BigLeftToeBigLeftToe
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    Registered On: June 6, 2017
    Topics: 6

    Scary times ahead looking at the current squad list above. Think you need to add Jessop, Pugh and Collins (did he play in the tin pot trophy??) to that list. That’s 18 “pros”, leaving room for 5 signings. If the trialists Bunn and the LB sign that’s only 3 spots left!

    In my opinion we’d then still require a decent GK, CM, winger and two strikers to be in with any chance of being competitive.

    #210327
    FerriteFerrite
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    Registered On: December 23, 2013
    Topics: 102

    (did he play in the tin pot trophy??)

    Interestingly, those games don’t count which, given the way the EFL likes to bang on about the cup giving youth players a better chance, is quite an admission of failure on their part!

    #210328
    IronaweIronawe
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    Registered On: December 31, 2013
    Topics: 42

    Skeleton’s usually come with backbones/Spine. Our team has neither

    3 users thanked author for this post.
    #210330
    Lord KitchenerLord Kitchener
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    Registered On: December 24, 2013
    Topics: 36

    It’s going to come down to relying on two clubs being worse than us. That is highly unlikely as others in L2 seem more ambitious.

    C U Next Tuesday Peter…

    1 user thanked author for this post.
    #210333
    methmeth
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    Registered On: December 28, 2013
    Topics: 11

    Got to feel for Cox.

    Inherited a very poor squad last season. Got a skeleton squad this season.. O wonder how much longer he’ll stick around for.

    #210337
    AwaywegoAwaywego
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    Registered On: June 20, 2017
    Topics: 166

    For as long as swanny keeps paying him, not likely to be head hunted.

    1 user thanked author for this post.
    #210338
    cassidystashcassidystash
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    Registered On: January 4, 2014
    Topics: 108

    I’m looking for something to be optimistic about, UTI 99 has failed to provide as requested. All I’ve come up with is that the signings appear to be players that Cox wants and we’ve shifted Spence who he clearly didn’t want. Unbelievable that we had a player worth a transfer fee.

    #210342
    vadervader
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    Registered On: October 21, 2017
    Topics: 6

    I think we may have difficulty fielding eleven players let alone a full bench of subs.
    Let’s just hope Ernie has something up his sleeve, but he’s leaving it late.

    It wouldn’t suprise me to see Cox walk.

    #210345
    WonderGoalsWonderGoals
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    Registered On: December 27, 2013
    Topics: 91

    Smudger to be fair to him said he was the main instigator last season in all the crap that went on and he is usually spot on.

    One faux par with Slocombe being already signed but we offered him a contract so he wasn’t far off.

    Definitely need a replacement now though..along with a few wingers, LB, GK and a striker or two.

    Doesn’t the season start in 2 weeks time ?

    #210368
    PaulSanfran49
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    Registered On: December 23, 2013
    Topics: 71

    Last season we had one player unregistered ! All season, and that lad deserved far better treatment than that.

    Just another reason I no longer have a season ticket.

    1 user thanked author for this post.
    #210377
    SharpShooter24Sharp_Shooter24
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    Registered On: April 24, 2014
    Topics: 84

    3 weeks until we kick off the new season and the same mistakes from the previous pre-seasons are happening again

    If a miracle happens and we go out and add the 5 or 6 players we need, will we then hear how the poor league position/ rubbish start to the season is down to the lads not having a full pre-season together etc… and Covid (obviously)

    And if we don’t add the players we need… well we are in big trouble and that will no doubt be because of Covid and a lack of support through season ticket sales 😡

    Just absolute madness at SUFC these past few years

    3 users thanked author for this post.
    #210384
    vadervader
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    Registered On: October 21, 2017
    Topics: 6

    It seems Mr Whartons bag of wurthers did have an appeal to some players.

    #210402
    DarrynStampGoalMachineDarrynStampGoalMachine
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    Registered On: May 21, 2018
    Topics: 8

    Dead wood is the big concern for me. A squad of 23 and a few kids is great it’s a good number and we don’t need to be carrying 30 plus like we were last year.

    But Turan, Jarvis and Hippolyte take that to 20. I don’t want to call Hallam dead wood as he can definitely contribute if fit but if he manages 5-10 games again this season that’s essentially what he is which puts us on 19 plus kids which is more concerning.

    Every single one of the 23 have to be in a position to contribute strongly.

    #210407
    FerriteFerrite
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    Registered On: December 23, 2013
    Topics: 102

    A squad of 23 and a few kids is great it’s a good number and we don’t need to be carrying 30 plus like we were last year.

    23 is quite a long way away at the moment, given we have about 15 at present!

    #210926
    NorthumbironNorthumbiron
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    Registered On: January 3, 2014
    Topics: 66

    Well we’re starting to put some flesh on the bare bones.

    In fact I’m starting to lose track of who’s signed.

    Anyone in the know want to post up breakdown of what the squad looks like as things stand?

    #210929
    KennySpennymoorKenny Spennymoor
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    Registered On: September 30, 2017
    Topics: 7

    This looks up to date to ne.

    #210933
    mkironMK Iron
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    Registered On: December 23, 2013
    Topics: 46

    Not in the know NI but the OWS states we have 25 in the first team squad.

    Watson
    Collins

    O’Malley
    Baker
    Millen
    Thompson

    Taft
    Rowe
    Onariase
    Davis

    Hippolyte
    Hallam
    Beeston
    Kenyon
    Pugh
    Shrimpton
    Wilson
    Gallimore

    Loft
    Turan
    Jessop
    Bunn
    O’Neil
    Jarvis
    Green

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    #210936
    mistertonmickmistertonmick
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    Registered On: December 23, 2013
    Topics: 107

    I think he said he wants three more.

    #210938
    cassidystashcassidystash
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    Registered On: January 4, 2014
    Topics: 108

    We also need to get 6 or so out on loan. With no U23s some of the youngsters will struggle to get game time and at least one of the more senior players is unlikely to get anywhere near match day.

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