Agreed there's room for more - this is a very young squad for the most part. The point is that youngsters like Kpakio, Lawlor, King, Zak Davies, Ashford and both Colwills are all a year older. That's not to mention Bagan, Tanner and even Salech are all still only 23. Mafico and Nyakuwha are pushing from further back in the pecking order - that has got to be a good thing as long as handled with good management by BBM.
The squad is so light in terms of tough battlers. The ones to dig us out of the mire both physically and verbally when things are getting tough. At this point I don't see us as relegation candidates but may revise my opinion come October/November, as I did last season. Still clinging to the hope that we may bring in 3 or 4 characters to lift the mood. Not holding my breath though.
My concern is B B-M's contacts are likely to produce loan youngsters, not old heads. As Colin said, we should have hung on to Ralls. You are right that we need one or two old heads in there, as much for the verbal as the physical.
Unless BBM is a tactical magician with the ability to inspire players to play above themselves I have a bad feeling about the coming season. Without a sergeant major type on the field there is no player to drive others forward. I hope I'm wrong but when things aren't going well I see a lot of arm waving, shaking of heads and attempts to be not held responsible for whatever has happened.
Whilst letting Ralls go seems to have created a "responsibiliy gap", I think it was also a lot to do with avoiding another "Ramsey scenario" - there in body but unavailable on the pitch. For all Ralls' history with the club, tying up allocated player wage funding on somebody with a catologue of injuries would have been considered and subsequently rejected. In the absence of a new imported "leader" on the pitch, I expect BBM will look to Wintle and Chambers for that role. If we do get someone of that ilk, it'll be an out of contract ready made article, because we sure as hell won't pay any sort of decent money to buy one.
While they are the senior players, I'm not sure Wintle and/or Chambers are the types to lead by word or even example. They have not shown those attributes while with us. Maybe they can step up to the mark with no Ralls or Ramsey lurking but I have my doubts.
TBF I think Wintle HAS shown that in the past. That season when we inexplicably loaned him to Blackpool but then brought him back into the team in the January, he was one of the few players who really stepped up and led by example for the rest of the season. Hopefully having gone through a similar experience again now won't have clouded his thoughts on the club and he'll relish the faith BBM will probably be placing in him.
Not sure how much of a leader Robertson or Turnbull are but it might be quite a talented if rudderless midfield. Besides Wintle, King has been looking promising in that role. Robertson, Turnbull and young Colwill as players in there as ball players. In some ways I'm quite enthused, in others, rather nervous. With no incomings, it will take one or two to step up. A great opportunity for someone if they grab it by the scruff of the neck. Leadership might be the make or break for our season.
He has a chance to make a name for himself. Its in his hands. We definitely need a couple to step up. Alnwick, Chambers and Wintle need to become the spine of the team. If it's more youngsters in there, we'll be rudderless. Colwill snr still trying to sort himself out, let alone anyone else. Hopefully, Ribinson and Salech can become bossy, demanding strikers.
