DCFC1388

Think Washington will come in, sounds close to being done. Warne wanted 5 in before Pre-season which I've read starts on Thursday. The most interesting thing at the moment is weather Max Bird stays or not. Hull and Coventry want him apparently.

Pretty certain that IF warne wants him and he signs then warne has a clear role for him in the TEAM , im happy to get behind warne and any player he brings and go on the adventure that is next season 🤷🏻‍♂️

I'd actually feel sorry for this bloke if he comes here.
Can never understand why players get written off before they've even kicked a ball with us. 
Hopefully the lad don't read too much on Twitter.
We've had signings before that have been exciting but ended up being massively underwhelming. (Butterfield, Johnson) off the top of my head.
Then equally we have had signings that have not been exciting and have gone on to be really good players for us. 
Like any signing we should just judge him when he's played for us.

When this link first came about I wasn't too impressed due to only 43 goals in 224 league games since first stepping up from L1 in 2016. Thinking about it some more, I think he would be a decent 2nd choice CF. In League 1, he has averaged a goal contribution every 169 minutes. Even with his record in the Championship being 1 contribution every 341 minutes (still good enough as 3rd choice), his record over the past 10 years is still 1 every 205 minutes.
I'd be very content with Washington as our 2nd choice CF. I'd back him to get 12-15 contributions in less than 2000 minutes of football, which is what I'd expect from a 2nd choice.

I’m hoping in the time since Warne’s interview was recorded further conversations have been had and negotiations concluded meaning it’ll be a couple more in this week. I like the idea that the bulk of the squad will be together as early as possible in preseason to give them the best chance to gel as a unit. No idea who though. 

I also think we’ll see Bielik’s move away confirmed early in the week.
 

My assumption is based on the players we have, the llayers available in the market, the comments made by the players themselves, and Warne wanting a back 3. It'll be 3421.
Plymouth mostly played 3421 and deviatedfor a few games here and there due to player availability. Ipswich played half of their games with 4231 and the other half with 3421.
We won't be playing 3412 (as per Sheff Weds), as that means we need to sign 3 top CFs and an exceptional AM/SS, as well as offloading Mendez-Laing and Barkhuizen who'll no longer fit in. Similar for 352, except instead doff 1 AM/SS it'll be a CM who we need to sign.
Warne had used a lot of different formations in his time at Rotherham, starting with 442 in 2016 and changing every season until he ended up woth 352.
16/17 - 442 / 4411
17/18 - 442 / 433
18/19 - 433
19/20 - 433 / 442
20/21 - pretty much every formation. Mostly 352 
21/22 - 352
22/23 - 352

If Thompson and Rooney are still in the Matchday squad when the transfer window closes then we haven’t strengthened enough.

We need at least 7 more players not including outgoings (excluding Bielik).
I can see us being pretty flexible on a 3421, 343, 352, 3142, 3412. Warne does like 2 upfront though so possibly the 352/3412.
 
 

Ward started 27 at RB/RWB (half of those in a back 4) and 12 at RW. Your formation put him at CM. Smith did a steady job at RB but has zero end product. He's fine cover in a back 4, but should never be used instead of a player whose primary position is RB 😅

The way I see it is if we play 2 up top we’re gonna have one grafter making space and panicking defences with pressing and hard work, and 1 pure goal scorer. 
 
If the grafters (Collins and Washington) can each chip in with 10 goals whilst supporting better goal scorers to 15+ goals then that’s fine? 

I reckon it will be unveiled Fri 7th July, the day before the Matlock game

If Plymouth choose not to buy him permanently, Finn Azaz on loan from Aston Villa. Could have Championship offers but a very good young player.

In a 352 formation, we probably need four strikers. If Washington isn't a first choice player I think he's not the worse signing.
I doubt he will score 15 goals in a season.
He's not a direct replacement for mcgoldrick.
He's not going to be a game changer.
He has previous league one experience.
He's an extra striker.
He's not better than alfie may for example.
Hia style of play is known by Warne, and therefore probably fits what Warne wants to do with the team.
Hes not an inspirational signing.
He's a player that I doubt it's a hard fought battle to sign.

I'm looking at it another way, competition for Collins , not to play together? Both of them work there socks off up front,  and if for example we sign clarke_harris,May or Smith , both these players could be a good foil to play alongside jc/cw. Say jc/cw play 23 games each from the start and score 10 goals maybe a more proven goalscorer gets a minimum of 20 goals,  we wouldn't be losing many matches 

A lot of people keep saying collins had a bad season, but then say we need more people chipping in with 10+ goals. Didn’t he do just that? 

Couldn't agree more with this.
I said when we signed Collins that his seasons scoring goals at this level was when he played in a front 2. 
It became apparent quite early on that he isn't a target man and really can't play up top on his own.
You cannot question his work rate at all. Infact, I felt at times last season that he needed to be more selfish and get in the box more. But he tended to drift to deep to try and get involved. I can't really remember him ever missing a sitter or us creating a load of chances for him in a game.
If Warne plays 352 next season. I really do think Collins could thrive. I wouldn't write him off at all just yet.

Yes, and you never know, Collins could emerge as a success this year. It’s often about confidence and if he starts well, he could go on a scoring streak. 
🤞👀🧚‍♀️

Some of their contributions were minimal. I’ve raised this point many time before, regardless of his frustrating lack of finishing Dobbin had a direct hand in us collecting points last season. He scored 3 and assisted 4 in the league during his first season of men’s football. He had raw pace and the ability to panic defences. Whilst he definitely could have done more given the chances he wasted, there’s plenty of reason to believe a 20 year old with those raw talents could improve. 
We might find better loan options, or at least more consistently effective ones, but he wasn’t the disaster some people like to paint him as. 

I think dobbin will be so much better this season. He’s got that natural ability to glide past players. I think after a month or 2 of reflecting on his finishing, working on it in pre season, he will be a real player in league 1 this year 

Very happy with the way things are shaping up so far , right type of players comming in for the positions that need filling , square pegs for square holes so far with what we need being identified and addressed 🤷🏻‍♂️

The straight forward answer is.  Trust Warne.
While the loss of McGoldrick may leave a big hole to fill.  Warne will have identified the players he believes will score the goals that will be needed to get us promoted. He'll know how he wants the team to perform and the type of players he needs to achieve it.
 

We could do with at least 3 more defenders, ideally with 1 covering 1 or 2 positions. Either a wingback who can play both sides or a centre back who can play wing back abit like Roberts last year. Some possible options who are free agents...
Maxime Colin (RB/LB) - 31
Ryan Nyambe (RB/CB) - 25
Wes Harding (RB/CB/LB) - 26
Tyler Blackett (LB/CB) - 29
Fankaty Dabo (RB/LB) - 27
Sam Byram (RB/LB) - 29
Harding would be perfect as he can play anywhere across the back 4 or 5.

Ok so my mates at work who are Charlton STH said he would be a great signing 
They said when they had him the other striker or strikers scored loads because CW  literally works his socks off and creates lots of space for others ...not prolific but they suggested a great foil for a proper goalscorer and said when he left the same strikers who had been scoring loads went on barren runs and they put it down to Washington leaving 
Just passing on what they said 

Controversial, but I’m going to trust the manager who’s got a track record of getting out of this division.  No idea if we’re after Conor Washington but, if we are, it’s for a reason. If Paul Warne thinks he can play a part, I’ll give him all the time he needs to prove himself. Or at least until half time of the opening game against Wigan!

All football debts have to be settled to exit admin. Not sure if that means paid up or an agreed payment plan, but it’s money we weren’t getting either way.