abertawe_ram

No one has said it's enough. There are 2 months until the transfer window closes!
Currently, our first team squad contains: 3 GKs, 4 CBs, 2 WBs, 6 CMs, 3SSs, 1CF
Whilst we don't yet have a squad, we certainly do have enough to pull a team together to run around a few fields prior to our first pre-season game, which is still over a week away.

We’ve got a starting team, did you miss the 4 signings we’ve already added and the wide reporting that we will be adding more players? I thought the drama about missing out on players was done

John Oster...we always get our man in the end.

WARNING! This will be a long read.
Summary, for those who don't like to read:
I've assumed Knight and Bielik are sold, with no other first team departures.
We still need to fill the following positions: RCB, RWB, LWB, SS/AM, CF, CF. Suggestions for these roles are...
RCB: Matty Pennington (out of contract, from Shrewsbury)
RWB/LWB: Tom Hamer (Burton)
SS: Andy Moran (loan, from Brighton)
CF: George Hirst (Leicester)
CF: Conor Washington (Rotherham)


I would argue the main reason for our lack of success last season was down to quantity of chances created. We were heavily reliant on crosses from Hourihane and Mendez-Laing and set pieces from Hourihane. Whilst McGoldrick, Sibley, Bird, Knight and Barkhuizen chipped in with a few, we need to be looking at 40-50% more this season.
We have partially improved on that by signing two wing backs who love to get the ball in the box for attackers. Between our full backs last season, we were averaging roughly 2 key pass per game, only slightly better than what Hourihane was achieving by himself. Ward averaged 2.1 per 90 last season, whilst Elder averaged 1.7 in Hull's promotion season. That's almost twice the improvement on what we had last season in the wide areas. This is also before we add depth to these positions - either someone who covers both wing back positions, or with them also covering CB (such as Jaden Brown being a LWB covering CB, or Harding being a CB covering RWB).
Contrary to popular belief, our goal contributions from our midfielders are fine. Bird and Hourihane got a combined 25 in all competitions last season, whereas all of Plymouth's combined got 23 and Ipswich's got 28. With Smith and Thompson (or a new signing) chipping in with a couple as well, we're well set. You could argue we could do with someone else off the bench with more end product. Jensen Weir (Brighton) and Owen Moxon (Carlisle) would be high up my list.
It's no secret that we need more goals from our defenders, but Nelson isn't the answer. Cashin, Forsyth, Nelson and Rooney made a combined 5 goal contributions last season (11789 minutes played).
Plymouth's CBs had 14 contributions (14697 minutes) and Ipswich's also had 14 (13059 minutes). We definitely need to get an aerially dominant CB who is a threat from set pieces to make up some of the difference. Hopefully, Cashin can improve this part of his game too.
We're also desperate for at least 3 additions in the attacking positions. Plymouth got 109 goal contributions from playerss predominantly playing in the front 3 last season (15815 minutes) and Ipswich got 106 (14875 minutes).
Since we only have Collins, Mendez-Laing, Barkhuizen and Sibley left, our remaining forwards got 52 goal contributions from 12394 minutes, although that includes 3 of those players also covering at full back. Remove those games and it's roughly 45 in 10500 minutes.
Whilst Collins and Barkhuizen's contributions per 90 were on the low side, they're perfectly suited for backup roles. Sibley's contribution was also relatively low, but with a consistent run in his best positions, and more creativity in the rest of the team, I would back him to  at least double his output next season if given the same amount of game time (12 goals and 4 assists). He could easily achieve over 20 goal contributions if we get the other additions in the forward area right.
Our two most important signings this summer will be in the attacking area. One CF and one SS/AM capable of getting close to 50 contributions between them. We'll also need a 2nd choice CF, capable of 15  contributions in 1500-2000 minutes (Cosgrove got 14 in 1692 minutes as 3rd choice CF for Plymouth).
The squad size will cater for giving some minutes to promising U21s: such as Moloney (LWB), DRobinson and Hawkins (CM), Davidson (SS) and Brown (CF)
Now back up to the top to see my actual suggestions for each positions needed.

In the northern Ireland manager's chat about him he mentions workrate quite a lot and that he's an ideal forward for leading the press from the front. Sounds like something Warne would appreciate.  Can't help thinking of Shane Long from what I've heard/seen and I'd be very happy if we got him and he had anything like that type of career!! Maybe worth a gamble at 300k 

In the northern Ireland manager's chat about him he mentions workrate quite a lot and that he's an ideal forward for leading the press from the front. Sounds like something Warne would appreciate.  Can't help thinking of Shane Long from what I've heard/seen and I'd be very happy if we got him and he had anything like that type of career!! Maybe worth a gamble at 300k 

I thought same with this guy. Think he can play either side and would give a different option to the new signings perhaps.
In the articles about him leaving, west ham have also let go Odubeko who's a striker I think. Not a great record out on loan but worth a trial look maybe to see if there's something to work with. Could just end up another Hector-Ingram where it doesn't quite happen in the end. JHI at Hastings apparently now wiki says

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/derby-county-could-bolster-promotion-ambitions-with-swoop-for-out-of-favour-luton-town-forward-opinion/
Thought I'd share this, only an opinion piece/suggestion from FLW, Mendes-Gomes who was on loan from Luton at Fleetwood last year possibly available. Scored against us in a game that we've probably all tried to blank from our memories. Not sure where he'd fit if we were going with wingbacks next year but seems a good player 

Player of the division in Vydra and Hendrick who had a storming Euro 16 and made team of the tournament for 21 million.  Then they got 3 million back for a knackered Shackell.  
I think they had our pants down.

I've laughed far too hard at this. Reminds me too much of an iconic Peep Show scene:
 

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/derby-county-could-bolster-promotion-ambitions-with-swoop-for-out-of-favour-luton-town-forward-opinion/
Thought I'd share this, only an opinion piece/suggestion from FLW, Mendes-Gomes who was on loan from Luton at Fleetwood last year possibly available. Scored against us in a game that we've probably all tried to blank from our memories. Not sure where he'd fit if we were going with wingbacks next year but seems a good player 

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/derby-county-could-bolster-promotion-ambitions-with-swoop-for-out-of-favour-luton-town-forward-opinion/
Thought I'd share this, only an opinion piece/suggestion from FLW, Mendes-Gomes who was on loan from Luton at Fleetwood last year possibly available. Scored against us in a game that we've probably all tried to blank from our memories. Not sure where he'd fit if we were going with wingbacks next year but seems a good player 

Knock yourselves out in here so the rest of us dont have to listen to endless drivel
 
many thanks for your consideration
best regards
nottsram77 😊
 

Massive respect to any player that is willing to drop a level to play for a team close to their heart, in my eyes. 
He was great to watch last season and I hope he has a successful year at Notts.
Nothing "embarrassing" in my opinion

Massive respect to any player that is willing to drop a level to play for a team close to their heart, in my eyes. 
He was great to watch last season and I hope he has a successful year at Notts.
Nothing "embarrassing" in my opinion

Massive respect to any player that is willing to drop a level to play for a team close to their heart, in my eyes. 
He was great to watch last season and I hope he has a successful year at Notts.
Nothing "embarrassing" in my opinion

Massive respect to any player that is willing to drop a level to play for a team close to their heart, in my eyes. 
He was great to watch last season and I hope he has a successful year at Notts.
Nothing "embarrassing" in my opinion

Massive respect to any player that is willing to drop a level to play for a team close to their heart, in my eyes. 
He was great to watch last season and I hope he has a successful year at Notts.
Nothing "embarrassing" in my opinion

Massive respect to any player that is willing to drop a level to play for a team close to their heart, in my eyes. 
He was great to watch last season and I hope he has a successful year at Notts.
Nothing "embarrassing" in my opinion

Massive respect to any player that is willing to drop a level to play for a team close to their heart, in my eyes. 
He was great to watch last season and I hope he has a successful year at Notts.
Nothing "embarrassing" in my opinion

Massive respect to any player that is willing to drop a level to play for a team close to their heart, in my eyes. 
He was great to watch last season and I hope he has a successful year at Notts.
Nothing "embarrassing" in my opinion

Massive respect to any player that is willing to drop a level to play for a team close to their heart, in my eyes. 
He was great to watch last season and I hope he has a successful year at Notts.
Nothing "embarrassing" in my opinion

Massive respect to any player that is willing to drop a level to play for a team close to their heart, in my eyes. 
He was great to watch last season and I hope he has a successful year at Notts.
Nothing "embarrassing" in my opinion

Read his comments, you claimed Didzy is a Forest fan, in his own words he’s followed his heart, take your I told you so elsewhere 

Dusan Svento was the winger I believe, it's odd the things that stick in the back of your head somewhere. Around that time as a teenager I used to follow the old BBC 606 forum and that was one of the main transfer stories over that "exciting" summer post-Wembley. Jones, Nugent and Koumas were the other names I remember being touted around a lot