Slash 4,335 Report post Posted June 2, 2014 TC said that we could be looking for about up to eight new players , the way thing are going that looks like another cut in the size of the squad this season . McGowan , Van Zanten , Brady , Scullion and DJ DJ already released. McGregor , Mclean , Dillo linked to moves away . McGinn still under contract but also linked with a move away Newton , Campbell , Magennis loans fnished . Hope we will not be heading in to the new season with a threadbare squad. . My sources are telling me the club has a Fan-tastic new incentive that will resolve cuts to the squad size. From what they are telling me it's just being finalised and will be exclusively revealed when the new away shirt is released later this month. If you remember there was a Season Ticket incentive a few years back that provided a free kids away top for every Season Ticket purchased. Well with the launch of the new groovy Yellow and Black away shirt the club in conjunction with the corporate shirt sponsorship "JD King of the Trainers" will provide a free pair of trainers for every season ticket holder who also buys an away shirt. Once the shirts have been purchased and the trainers dispatched the club will then hold an open trial. It's a win-win for the club and JD Sports - they are going to have to do something to shift this new away top........ 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linwood buddie 3,217 Report post Posted June 2, 2014 My sources are telling me the club has a Fan-tastic new incentive that will resolve cuts to the squad size. From what they are telling me it's just being finalised and will be exclusively revealed when the new away shirt is released later this month. If you remember there was a Season Ticket incentive a few years back that provided a free kids away top for every Season Ticket purchased. Well with the launch of the new groovy Yellow and Black away shirt the club in conjunction with the corporate shirt sponsorship "JD King of the Trainers" will provide a free pair of trainers for every season ticket holder who also buys an away shirt. Once the shirts have been purchased and the trainers dispatched the club will then hold an open trial. It's a win-win for the club and JD Sports - they are going to have to do something to shift this new away top...... Yes just like the Two guys that won the Living The Dream package at the POY night , a cunning plan to make the squad numbers up. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slash 4,335 Report post Posted June 2, 2014 Yes just like the Two guys that won the Living The Dream package at the POY night , a cunning plan to make the squad numbers up. Ha ha. I've just seen the awards on the OS http://www.saintmirren.net/pages/?p=33304 Do you know if any former players were inducted into the Hall of Fame - I'm sure PozBaird will be keen to know. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linwood buddie 3,217 Report post Posted June 2, 2014 Ha ha. I've just seen the awards on the OS http://www.saintmirren.net/pages/?p=33304 Do you know if any former players were inducted into the Hall of Fame - I'm sure PozBaird will be keen to know. Don't know mate I didn't attend the dance just read it on the site. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TopCat 7,414 Report post Posted June 2, 2014 Kello Naismith-Cheesy-Williams-Kelly Goodwin-Hughes Teale-McGinn-Wylde Thompson That's just the players who've got a deal for next season. There's a solid back bone there, our young defenders are one year wiser and I really like the look of Mark Williams. I think he could complete a back 4 solely comprised of products of our own youth system next season. The point is, don't panic. We need signings but there's other teams around us who are in a worse position than us. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ds10 513 Report post Posted June 3, 2014 Article about Kenny McLean here. Doesn't give much indication of where he'll be next season though. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/spfl/kenny-will-take-time-to-decide-where-his-future-lies-165841n.24376905 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ds10 513 Report post Posted June 9, 2014 Gary Harkins is trying to secure his release from St Mirren “Knowing [Harkins] well though, he is more the sort of player who plays for a manager and also the fans rather than being all about money.” Not sure we saw a lot of that last year..... 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bud the Baker 8,968 Report post Posted June 9, 2014 Interested to read the following quote from the Oldham article.......... Whether his work-rate levels fit in with Johnson’s remodelled squad remains to be seen. Hopefully if there are other clubs at that level interested we won't have to sweeten the deal. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dakota7 195 Report post Posted June 9, 2014 Fingers crossed he stays down south. His attitude and work rate is appalling. We need players to be giving there all for the club and to give 100% effort if we are to improve. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Julian Banjos 2,066 Report post Posted July 4, 2014 The squad is beginning to take shape: GK Kello Ridgers K. Hughes Defence Naismith Kelly McAusland Plummer Williams (Trialist - Mevla) Midfield Goodwin McGinn McLean Wylde Teale Yaqub D. Hughes Brown Attack Thompson Marwood Reilly (Trialist - Caldwell) If a couple out of the youngsters can do as Naismith and Kelly did last season then TC might not be too far away with the squad he wants. Will be interesting to see if we bring in another midfielder. Stevenson would have been the marquee signing I suppose, but maybe that money ended up being used to keep Kenny. I wouldn't be too unhappy with that squad if the 2 trialists turn out okay. A bit light but there will be a cut from losing the Edinburgh away supports. Also, we have to persist in giving the academy players a chance. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJ McG 4,267 Report post Posted July 4, 2014 The squad is beginning to take shape: GK Kello Ridgers K. Hughes Defence Naismith Kelly McAusland Plummer Williams (Trialist - Mevla) Midfield Goodwin McGinn McLean Wylde Teale Yaqub D. Hughes Brown Attack Thompson Marwood Reilly (Trialist - Caldwell) If a couple out of the youngsters can do as Naismith and Kelly did last season then TC might not be too far away with the squad he wants. Will be interesting to see if we bring in another midfielder. Stevenson would have been the marquee signing I suppose, but maybe that money ended up being used to keep Kenny. I wouldn't be too unhappy with that squad if the 2 trialists turn out okay. A bit light but there will be a cut from losing the Edinburgh away supports. Also, we have to persist in giving the academy players a chance. We still need about 5 signings, the squad isn't good enough yet. We have released 11 players and brought in 2 outfield players and 1 goal keeper, lots of work to be done yet in the transfer market. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Julian Banjos 2,066 Report post Posted July 4, 2014 We still need about 5 signings, the squad isn't good enough yet. We have released 11 players and brought in 2 outfield players and 1 goal keeper, lots of work to be done yet in the transfer market. Don't forget that Williams and Brown have been brought into the first team squad. Yaqub and Reilly are also ready to be involved again after lengthy injuries. Would be very surprised if there are 5 more signings before the start of the season. Most of the Scottish-based players worth signing have picked up new contracts with new clubs after their old deals expired last month. We will not sign anyone for money so are into trialist / loanee territory now. I reckon a maximum of 3 more signings before August with cash left over for another couple in January. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 523 Report post Posted July 4, 2014 Kieran Hughes is away, so just the two keepers. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TopCat 7,414 Report post Posted July 4, 2014 Kieran Hughes is away, so just the two keepers. We've signed a kid keeper from Watford. Daniel Willis I think his name is. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJ McG 4,267 Report post Posted July 4, 2014 Don't forget that Williams and Brown have been brought into the first team squad. Yaqub and Reilly are also ready to be involved again after lengthy injuries. Would be very surprised if there are 5 more signings before the start of the season. Most of the Scottish-based players worth signing have picked up new contracts with new clubs after their old deals expired last month. We will not sign anyone for money so are into trialist / loanee territory now. I reckon a maximum of 3 more signings before August with cash left over for another couple in January. Reilly is isn't good enough and I would be surprised if he could even cut it in the championship. There must be budget for atleast 3 players. If there isn't atleast another 3 brought in I will be surprised and very disappointed. Are you happy with 1 loan signing and a goalkeeper and 1 outfield player? If that's all we are getting then we are being conned by the board. Let's hope there is more signings to come. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stevie88 939 Report post Posted July 4, 2014 Reilly is isn't good enough and I would be surprised if he could even cut it in the championship. There must be budget for atleast 3 players. If there isn't atleast another 3 brought in I will be surprised and very disappointed. Are you happy with 1 loan signing and a goalkeeper and 1 outfield player? If that's all we are getting then we are being conned by the board. Let's hope there is more signings to come. Couldn't agree more with your point about Reilly. A few folk on here thinking that he's an option-he's a complete last resort and even then I would hope we would have enough depth and wouldn't need to rely on players like that. He wasn't good enough last season so with a lack of game time and injuries there's no way he'll be any better this season. We need at least another 3 signings minimum although we could definitely be doing with more... We've got like 13 senior outfield players at the moment and that's including Reilly FFS! 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
saints0 172 Report post Posted July 5, 2014 Promoting players to the first team squad is a great idea in theory but if they dont have the talent to be seriously challenging for a starting place then its just a numbers game, aimed at papering over the cracks .Reilly's name comes up every close season and its pretty sad to be honest,managers and fans alike have never fancied him and as much as we would love him to morph into a first team regular its not going to happen .Add youth and fringe players to 1st team squad by all means but do it for the right reasons and not to get the body count up 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Julian Banjos 2,066 Report post Posted July 5, 2014 (edited) Are you happy with 1 loan signing and a goalkeeper and 1 outfield player? If that's all we are getting then we are being conned by the board. Let's hope there is more signings to come.I would like at least another 3 signings, but we have to be realistic and say we might not get that. Have a look at our transfers over the past few seasons. Very few players come in after July 1st. The majority of squads are fairly settled as pre-season training begins. We have missed out on Stevenson, possibly Craig and no doubt others who have opted to go elsewhere. The players available for us to get in at this stage are a. still at their club but unwanted b. on the dole c. loanees. The quality is not going to be high, and we might have to hope we get lucky with an unproven Isma-type unknown. That might mean that TC keeps hold of his money until January. Wouldn't surprise me if we get the usual "quite happy with the squad but still looking" statement in the next week or so. Edited July 5, 2014 by Julian Banjos 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 21,117 Report post Posted July 5, 2014 A lot of talk about central defence and strikers, but are folk happy with the right back situation? We need cover/competition for Naismith, no? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
windae cleaner 4,145 Report post Posted July 5, 2014 A lot of talk about central defence and strikers, but are folk happy with the right back situation? We need cover/competition for Naismith, no? Only position we are well covered for is Goalkeeper Very light 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JJ McG 4,267 Report post Posted July 5, 2014 I would like at least another 3 signings, but we have to be realistic and say we might not get that. Have a look at our transfers over the past few seasons. Very few players come in after July 1st. The majority of squads are fairly settled as pre-season training begins. We have missed out on Stevenson, possibly Craig and no doubt others who have opted to go elsewhere. The players available for us to get in at this stage are a. still at their club but unwanted b. on the dole c. loanees. The quality is not going to be high, and we might have to hope we get lucky with an unproven Isma-type unknown. That might mean that TC keeps hold of his money until January. Wouldn't surprise me if we get the usual "quite happy with the squad but still looking" statement in the next week or so. There's being quite happy with the squad and there is taking the piss and if the club are quite happy to start the season with our current squad they are taking the piss. Was there not an interview with Tommy Craig after he got the job saying he wanted 8 quality players in? If this is all we are getting we are getting its piss poor. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sonny 9,292 Report post Posted July 5, 2014 We may have a first 11 Drew but little cover all over the squad. The young guys may surprise us and do very well like Naismith & Kelly or disappoint like so many have done before. We certainly need more cover for all areas bar goalkeeper as windae cleaner says. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 21,117 Report post Posted July 5, 2014 Only position we are well covered for is Goalkeeper Very light Definitely. Ideally, we need cover at right back (or a 'utility' defender at the very least); another central defender who would be as good as guaranteed to start when available; a right sided midfielder; and another striker. That would be four additions. By all accounts, we have a defender and a striker on trial, so that potentially covers these positions, but the right side concerns me, and we are also pretty light on the left as things stand. McLean can play on the left (and has had a few decent games there), as can McGinn, but neither should be deployed there as a matter of course. Wylde is our only natural left-sided midfielder/forward player, and this isn't adequate unless one of the young lads can feature in this position. Still work to be done. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 21,117 Report post Posted July 5, 2014 We may have a first 11 Drew but little cover all over the squad. The young guys may surprise us and do very well like Naismith & Kelly or disappoint like so many have done before. We certainly need more cover for all areas bar goalkeeper as windae cleaner says. Aye, anything fewer than four further additions would be very disappointing. I'm not concerned as to whether they be full contracts or loan deals, but we need to beef up the current squad. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
windae cleaner 4,145 Report post Posted July 5, 2014 There's being quite happy with the squad and there is taking the piss and if the club are quite happy to start the season with our current squad they are taking the piss. Was there not an interview with Tommy Craig after he got the job saying he wanted 8 quality players in? If this is all we are getting we are getting its piss poor. I think TC like the rest of us expected McLean and McGinn to move on meaning the money we would have made put back into the squad I'm afraid we won't see a great deal coming in 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
