We are used to turning round after 45 minutes but I noticed that it is 45 days ago that we all trooped silently home from the Pirelli with dreams of Wembley and beyond sadly crushed.
In another 45 days time we now know that we will begin the process all over again at Cheltenham, who know exactly what it must have felt like on that first Sunday in May as they went through the same pain just a few hours later.
As has already been stated, the first half of the close season has been underwhelming. No eye catching signings yet, and with Mags and now Calvin exercising their options to walk away the squad has a threadbare look about it, with a distinct lack of star quality. Feels about like we are one down at the break!
But then most of the action last year happened in July, and with so many out of contract players no doubt keeping their options open, it may yet prove to be a sound policy. Keep the faith!
A game of two halves?
posted on 20/6/13
I agree with Otep, the signings we make and the ambition we show will wholely determine our future next season. So far I am completely underwhelmed. We have lost our top two goal scorers and are in the dark as to whether our other striker, Paterson, has indeed beeen offered anything from the club and has agreed/not agreed to stay.
So to start with we need three new strikers (Knowles is a kid). Defensively we are short 3 players and we need at least another two midfielders. That is 8 players minimum I believe GR needs to recruit. So far I've only heard a rumour about Enoch Showumni joining - which in my opinion would be a massive step backwards, espcially as GR is continually quoting 'young and hungry players'.
I do not want to see old and bold players coming in after their last pay day and dragging the club down to nothing more than a L2 thrashers club.
Hope I am proved wrong, but I just cannot see us matching what we did last season, sorry
If GR is determined to play his attacking style of football with young determined players then I will back him all the way. If not I believe we are in for a long hard season.
posted on 20/6/13
I tend to agree with Hilton Brewer. I've heard of around 30 players linked to the club. This close season is a little different to others with clubs having to trim their budgets in line with the fair play rules. Gary and Kev understand the market and have their targets. I expect the main transfer activity to happen at the beginning of July. The squad is somewhat threadbare but i expect that to change. By the way have you guys forgot about Billy Kee ? and from what i've seen Knowles is a not a kid and could turn out to be very special,Adam Reed is a quality signing,ask York City fans !
posted on 20/6/13
Definitely not forgotten Billy Kee terraceman. He is the only recognised striker at the club! Billy is a massive part of Burton Albion, however with Mags and Calv gone and Pato not yet signed, if a Championship or L1 club came in with big offer then I don't know if our Chairman would turn it down! Then where do we stand?
Suppose we just need to grit our teeth and keep everything crossed. The season is still a few weeks away.
posted on 20/6/13
I note BurtonBoy's comments about the number of players certain League 2 clubs have signed. He mentions 35 signings by other clubs.
But if we put that into perspective of the number of players released at the end of last season by League 2 clubs alone that is still a small proportion. According to the Football League website 232 players were either released or were out of contract. Of those 232, 64 were offered new deals by their clubs. That still left 168 players from League 2 alone still available. Yes, I know some of the players have been fixed up since the list was published, but Gary Rowett has stated again that he is looking at players from higher divisions who are keen to get back to that level and have a point to prove. Last season Diamond, McCrory and Weir were exactly that. Both Reed and MacDonald already satisfy that same criteria this summer.
If we multiply the number of players from League 2 to League 1 and the Championship I believe there are still more than 400 players still looking for a club.
Come the next week or so I'm hopeful we'll be pleasantly surprised as more players are announced as coming to the Pirelli.
posted on 20/6/13
One striker we will not be signing is Justin Richards. He has joined Tamworth.
posted on 20/6/13
Phew! i hope Tamworth are good at keeping clean sheets cos Richards aint going to break any scoring records ,in fact he may not score a goal !!!
posted on 21/6/13
Glad to see you guys commenting in the closed season.The lack of recruitment has made me a little concerned as to our ambition for the coming season.At the moment there is a distinct lack of quality and unless Gaz gets his finger out we wll struggle to compete.I wish Justin all the best at Tamworth as you all know i rated him very highly but perhaps we got him to late in his career.
posted on 21/6/13
I had my pre-match meal at the Wetmore Fish Bar today.
posted on 22/6/13
Otep you have got my taste buds going,i have been today to Wetmore fish bar and had mini fish,chips and peas, DELICIOUS !!!
posted on 22/6/13
Yeah i perhaps was a little hard on justin ,he just lost his way at burton in his final season and a half and lost sight of where the goals were ,but he could do it at a lower level.