DCFC1388

Just because we're in League 1 doesnt mean we should automatically give you a chance. Last season was a free hit and the right season to do it, next season we're in a division where we havent been that low for over 30 years, we should be trying to go straight back up imo.

Us looking at Dale Stephens doesn’t mean we’re not looking at full backs, wingers, strikers and goalies etc. we can look at multiple players, as we still have a squad to build.
McDonald may not get back to his previous levels, hence being on trial. Another experienced head in the middle isn’t a bad thing, considering Bird and Thompson are young and won’t know league 1 level.

Does that mean you also want them to stop serving alcohol in the concourses and close the betting kiosks? What better way to show they care about the physical and mental wellbeing of their supporters?  I imagine it would go down really well. Suggest it to Mr Clowes.
The reason I think this should go in the 'pub' forum is because it actually doesn't have that much to do solely with DCFC.  Its a 'football' issue (if its an issue at all), with so many clubs being sponsored by betting clubs and selling beer.  

Depends on the discount ?

I dont really care too much about the sponsorship, its not a deciding factor if i like/buy a kit or not. Whichever sponsor gives the club the most money will do me.
A betting company doesnt make me bet more, a food company doesnt make me eat more & a bank doesnt make me want to move banks

Don’t think we are now, just working to a Business Plan….

To be the one to use, not to become an addict 

Yeah agree on this, Cashin was good. Davies and Chester be first choice for me though. Thompson started brilliantly but had some real struggles in games. Doesn’t really play in the centre either. He’s one to come on and maybe push into the team after a year or two.
Stretton I struggle to being a league footballer to be honest, not too sure what he offers. A lot of the other kids you could tell pretty quickly how good they were. Cybulski as well, hope they can force their way in but if we’re relying on them two for goals then I don’t see a top six finish.

Maybe Hourihane will be the more attacking option in midfield then?...
A midfield of:
                  Stephens  Bird
Barkhuizen  Hourihane  Mendez-Laing
Would be amazing in L1 on paper.

If there's one area we excelled last summer, it was picking up players let go by big clubs for our U23s with potential for 1st team. If we'd been allowed to offer Plange and Malcom proper contracts we'd have brought big money in from those (got some cash for Plange). 
Hopefully, with our U23s bare and senior squad probably needing to not be too bloated at this level, it's something we can do successfully again

Probably an unpopular opinion but I dont think Thompson or Cashin are ready to be starting week in week out in League 1. They are very good young players but I think they should be more backup options rather than first team regulars. Cashin is closer to being ready to start than Thompson.

Good player Stephens, even at 33. Get him in.
Bielik ain’t playing for us this season. The wise decision is to loan him out to a higher division team, so he (hopefully) gets some game time, and increases his value again. And if he falls injured again, better to have a loan fee paid, and his wages covered, than have him sitting on the George Thorne Memorial Couch at c£20k p.w.

We had Bamford on loan for the 2nd half of that season.
Kazim is not staying.
None of the you g GK are ready for L1. Aside from Foulkes, the others have a combined 5 games at U23 level to their name. Foulkes is a good shot stopper, but very short for a keeper.

We currently have 3x CDMs, not sure why people think thats enough? Thompson has had 1 season in the first team & Bielik could be out the door and even if he stays he is unlikely to play a full season. Also, Bielik is the oldest at 24, I have no issue with a more experienced option in there which we're clearly looking for with McDonald on trial. Stephens would be quality in League 1. In general we need 2 players for every position.
I dont see Knight or Hourihane playing regularly in the 2 CDM spots

Was I the only one that thought Knighty looked taller? It was difficult making players out on RamsTV but I thought he showed glimpses of why he was getting MoM for Ireland and should have Prem teams interested. He's starting to look 'all grown up'. Hope we can keep him. 

With 7 subs and being able to make 5, I think we need 3 first team strikers ahead of Stretton & Cybulski. If 1 of our forwards got injured I wouldnt fancy a goal from Cybulsi or Stretton coming off the bench. Can never have too many goalscoring options.

Free agents for positions we could still be looking at, assuming Forsyth renews -

GK - Alex Smithies, Orjan Nyland, Jamal Blackman, Ben Hamer, John Ruddy, Keiren Westwood, Costel Pantilimon, Rob Elliot

RB - Phil Bardsley, Tommy Smith, Andre Wisdom, Carl Jenkinson, Cuco Martina, Danny Simpson, Joe Rafferty, Lee Peltier, Ahmed Elmohamady

CM - Kevin McDonald, Sam Hutchinson, Vurnon Anita, John Mikel Obi, Tom Huddlestone, Bradley Johnson, Tom Carroll, Danny Drinkwater, Korey Smith, Jordon Mutch, Izzy Brown

W - Scott Sinclair, Sheyi Ojo, Josh Murphy, Jose Izquierdo, Jeremie Bela, Aaron Lennon, Sammy Ameobi, Bakary Sako, Gavin Massey, Rajiv Van La Parra

FWD - Oumar Niasse, Connor Wickham, Saido Berahino, Mame Biram Diouf, Nouha Dicko, Shane Long, Adama Diomande, Lewis Grabban, Daniel Sturridge, Andy Carroll, Hal Robson Kanu, Will Grigg, Yaya Sonogo, Sam Winnall, Fraizer Campbell, Luc Castaignos

Yes some may be more realistic than others but after Hourihane who knows. There are still plenty of decent freebies. Alot of ex players or players we have been linked to in the past.

With 7 subs and being able to make 5, I think we need 3 first team strikers ahead of Stretton & Cybulski. If 1 of our forwards got injured I wouldnt fancy a goal from Cybulsi or Stretton coming off the bench. Can never have too many goalscoring options.

I think other than the lads rhat have joined on 1 year deals, Knight is the only proper 1st team player whose deal expires next summer. If he isnt willing to renew then try and cash in this summer imo. Money from him could help bring in 2 or 3 top quality players for League 1

I still think we're a good 8 players short and that's without anyone going really.
I think we need:-
1 keeper
2 right backs
Left back (Should be ok if Forsyth stays)
Midfielder (Not a chance we aren't losing one)
1/2 winger. We've only got NML and Barkhuizen there. Need more options.
2 strikers. We've got Mcgoldrick and hopefully Collins and then one more should be ok. I'm not sure Stretton is quite there yet and I'm absolutely certain Bartosz isn't.
 

Completely agree, would be a deve t back up. For our style of playing out from the back there arent too mamy better academies to be coming from than Citys. Looked very comfortable on the ball

What do we have then? 
GK: Wildsmith / (Foulkes)
RB:
LB: Roberts / (Grewall-Pollard)
CB: Davies / Cashin / Stearman / Chester / (Solomon) 
DM: Bielik / Thompson
CM: Bird / Knight / Hourihane / (Robinson) / (Dixon)
ACM: Sibley / Aghatise
WIDE: Barkhuizen / NML / (Richards)
ST: Stretton / Cybulski / McGoldrick
 
Possibles:
RB: Oduroh
LB: Forsyth
CB: Rooney
DM: McDonald
WIDE: Glover
 
Is that accurate? Trying to keep up isn't easy.

Started LB today

Rosenior confirming we are in talks to keep Fozzy here