If the season started tomorrow ...

[robglosta]

We're due a loan, too.  If that can be someone on an equal quality as Thorne, there is absolutely no reason we can't push top two all the way.  If we can also sign/loan a good backup for Martin, I am quietly confident. 

[Old Spalding Ram]

So............ The consensus is, bottom by September, five new signings required, not a decent central defensive partnership at the club, Thorne and Martin won't play more than a few games all season, Hughes and Dawkins are knackered, Carson and Grant look a bit dodgy, we need to send a few out on loan............and life's looking grand on the planet Zog!

Have a look at the 23 man squad named for the friendly at Northampton................then find me a better one in this League!
 

[Leicester Ram]

I think we will need a full pre-season to even get close to speed, in fact I wouldn't at all be surprised if we started really slow. I hope I'm wrong but I can see a lot of bedding in issues.

66/1 to be bottom at the start of September looks a good bet. 

Been thinking I might take a sweep stake for how many times DCFC staff mention 'the squad gelling'

[Ramchop]

I would say I am not anywhere near as confident as last year, with all the changes. I do think we will start slow, but as other posters have mentioned, we still have last years team, and have upgraded the squad players. I have less concern about injuries as previously though

[plymouthram]

The squad as it is looks very strong. As things stand right now, we're dependent on Thorne remaining fit. Worryingly dependent, given his injury record.

I do not understand why we are so focused on landing Shackell. All the evidence from last season shows that our defence is fine when afforded adequate protection from midfield and that our team falls apart without a specialist defensive midfielder. So let's take a look at those two positions;

Centre backs - We've only lost Whitbred, who was injured most of the time anyway, and replaced him with Reading's captain. So many are underestimating the signing of Pearce in my opinion. This is a player who, I'll remind you, has as much premiership experience as your waifu Shackell and is 6 years younger. Albentosa should also be chomping at the bit to win a first team place, and I expect/hope for huge improvement on his form from last season.

Defensive Midfield - We let Eustace go on a free and lost Mascarell as his loan expired. So far we have replaced them with Chris Baird. I haven't really seen Baird play enough to comment, but I think it's important to acknowledge that he is not a specialist DM. He is a utility player who can cover the position.

 

So what do I want to see from our remaining transfer activity?

- Knock Shackell on the head. We don't need him and with the price already at 3 million and rising Burnley are having our pants down.

- Get a specialist defensive midfielder.

- Possibly bring in another winger. This is dependent on where Clement sees Dawkins and Weimann playing. If he's happy to regard Dawkins as a winger and Weimann to cover that position as relief then we're ok.

[plymouthram]

We are a potentially fragile squad. Is Martin really recovered, likewise Thorne. Do we have an obvious first choice back four - NO .Weimann may be brilliant, he may not. Is Hughes still tired after the short break he has had. Dawkins has had no break. Can Baird do the CDM position? Is Carson a confident keeper, likewise Grant after last year's run in?

Doom and Gloom comments, I feel we have the strongest squad in the championship. Avoid major injuries and we will romp it. I said to my mates this time last year that Norwich had the strongest squad, they had a few injuries Nov/Dec time got their players back flew up the table and won the playoffs. The only reason Bournemouth and Watford got Automatics over the canaries, is that they both had hardly any major players missing for any long periods throughout the season. The key is keeping all our better players fit. Even if we have one or two out for a few weeks we do have enough better players this time. Just think how many goals that Bent and Ince got in the time they were on loan last season, now we have them from the start, plus Martin, Weimann and Russell to score as well. Our back line could be better, but I feel scoring at the other end is going to be the key to success this time.   C.O.Y.R 

[DesertRam]

Happy with all the players that have come in, at the moment we are top 4 in my opinion, for Automatic we still

NEED Shackell or similar. If we don't let Russell and Hendrick leave, which I can't see happening, then all is ok

I think Baird/Christie will be fine at RB with Ssewankambo making appearances later in the season. If Thorne

gets injured again we may need someone else apart from Baird.

If we could swap Sammon for Kenwyn Jones and A n other for Shotton I would be ecstatic but you can't have everything.

We will definitely score more than we did last season, and hopefully conceding 15/20 less.

[Rampage]

Doom and Gloom comments, I feel we have the strongest squad in the championship. Avoid major injuries and we will romp it. I said to my mates this time last year that Norwich had the strongest squad, they had a few injuries Nov/Dec time got their players back flew up the table and won the playoffs. The only reason Bournemouth and Watford got Automatics over the canaries, is that they both had hardly any major players missing for any long periods throughout the season. The key is keeping all our better players fit. Even if we have one or two out for a few weeks we do have enough better players this time. Just think how many goals that Bent and Ince got in the time they were on loan last season, now we have them from the start, plus Martin, Weimann and Russell to score as well. Our back line could be better, but I feel scoring at the other end is going to be the key to success this time.   C.O.Y.R 

I was really saying that we will be fine if no injuries and everyone plays to their ability but a potentially fragile squad is one in which previously injured players may yet prove to be unfit. We will probably start the season with half the team being new players. It is unrealistic to expect them to hit the ground running.Some players may  get off to a flier, some may not. We do not have a settled defence that can keep goals out. Potentially fragile means that it may prove to be fragile. it does not mean that it is fragile. On paper, we look brilliant in attack, very promising in midfield and potentially poor in defence due to lack of games played together and a lack of confidence and understanding..I think that we will be there or thereabouts after ten games and gradually become better. Paul Clement is not trying to reinstate Steve Maclaren's team and style. He is building a new team with a new style and new players. It will take time in my opinion. i think that we will finish as Champions despite an iffy start.

[ram1964]

Personally believe we are missing three quality signings to be a great championship team certainly require a Cb.would like keogh ,Christie ,Sammon gone and cover for Martin and Thorne for the coming season.A QUALITY CB is needed NOW and worth pushing the boat out to get some one in ,even if it means selling a few fringe players to balance the books.

present squad see us finishing top 6 ,but a lot will depend upon PC and coaching staff ability which at present is an unknown,

[CheltenhamRam]

Interesting post. Given the amount of change (players, manager, system etc.) I think we'd likely be ropey at first. I think the friendlies maybe suggest there is a lot of work to do in the coming weeks.

[Van der MoodHoover]

Interesting post. Given the amount of change (players, manager, system etc.) I think we'd likely be ropey at first. I think the friendlies maybe suggest there is a lot of work to do in the coming weeks.

PC's article in the DET (link in other thread) says we are behind where he would expect us to be.

Doesn't say in what aspect - fitness, understanding, etc...

All points to a slow start if we are behind already and have to integrate further new signings.

[eddie]

Get 'em here's guys. Get 'em while they're sharp....

 

[TheTinMan]

Staggered to see some doom and gloom comments I thought signings and more critically the fees involved so far are a clear indicator from the board that this season is boom or bust, fail this time and we could become a selling club and sink into mid-table mediocrity. Still unsure about the defence but I like the experience Baird will bring to the youngsters, could be a big unsung hero comewhat May (literally). Very disappointed to see Rawson loaned out again he seems to be better than most we have at defending at such a tender age. Ince, Weimann, Bent with a returning, fresh Chris Martin signals major problems for most championship defences they are all lower premier league standard at worst and I doubt anyone could name a stronger set of attacking talent in the league. We are an unknown quantity with regards the management team but seriously strengthened from last season where other contenders are weakening and if I was a neutral (never back your own team, never bet against) and fancied a flutter I'd struggle to find a safer bet to be thereabouts come May with Tom Ince a hell of a shout for player of season. This is just on paper of course, in theory with the level of spending and the original talent we should have no excuses.

Hull have serious quality at this level and a proven manager but quality is mainly at the back (plus Thud) and they are bound to lose a few. Losing Tom Ince regardless of price is a terrible bit of business to a promotion rival. I quite fancy Wolves to kick on despite losing Sako, QPR have done a Norwich from start of last season (decent squad, wrong manager) Burnley and Boro are seriously weakened but could be thereabouts still, Brentford and Ipswich might just be flash in the pans. That said Bournemouth were a real suprise package and momentum is everything in this league as they showed 

[Scott129]

As it stands, I think we're top 6. Bringing in Shackell or another really good CB would put us into the top 2.

I have plenty of faith in the coaching team though.

[EnigmaRam]

As it stands top 10. With a new CB and a defensive minded RB top 2. I can't see being able to play Ince and Christie together. There will always be a gaping hole behind them

[plymouthram]

As it stands top 10. With a new CB and a defensive minded RB top 2. I can't see being able to play Ince and Christie together. There will always be a gaping hole behind them

If we have let Albertosa go off on loan, me thinks that there could be another centre half coming in.