I would have serious concerns about our prospects this season if we do not see at least a few more new faces before the start of the season and I’d be amazed if the management team cannot see the need for this. That is not a slight on our first choice 11, more a comment on the lack of depth in the squad. I hope we don’t leave things until January as indicated above - the season will be more than half over by then and deals are often difficult to do in January anyway. RL says that we have recruited more new players than many other clubs but that’s not necessarily relevant - perhaps they didn’t have as many leavers at the end of the season as we did.
16 players left at the end of last season (10 released, 5 loans ended and Sawyer retired). Even with the number of players that we had, we were down to the bare bones towards the end of the season. Yes, it was an exceptional season, with extra players needed to cover for COVID absences and to deal with the compressed season. So far, those 16 have been replaced with just 6 new senior players (7 if Galloway signs).
George Cooper won’t be ready for the start of the season and it seems Bolton is doubtful. Apparently there were only 16 senior pros at Saltash last night and there are another 5 friendlies to play before the league season begins.
Obviously 18 players are needed for each match day squad and we need substitutes who are potential game changers, not just making up the numbers. It’s right that our young players be given an opportunity but they need to be used sparingly, not playing twice a week and ideally just one or two starting at a time.
Galloway and Wilson both have a history of injuries. Can we be confident that they can play 40-50 games this season?
The likes of Randell, Law, Pursall and Tomlinson (who we were told may go out on loan) have very little experience of L1 football between them.
Surely a team that plays 2 up front needs at least 4 forwards, ideally 5 if possible (perhaps 1 that can play in a wide position or just behind the main striker as well rather than just an out and out forward). I’m a fan of Jephcott but he went a long time without a goal at the end of last season.
I would also like to see an attacking midfielder who can chip in with some goals to help out the forwards otherwise I’m not convinced we will score enough. We lacked goals from midfield last season and this so far hasn’t been addressed. We may not be able to rely on so many goals from Edwards this coming season.
I hope I’m wrong but the squad looks paper thin at the moment to me. If we go with what we‘ve got I think we may be desperately looking around for loans at the end of August. I guess we will have a better idea of the strength of the squad after the forthcoming friendlies against better opposition.