The Bristol Post have gave their opinion on where we need to strengthen.... Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke was adamant that returning to the Football League at the first time of asking was merely a start. He indicated a desire to bring “four or five” new faces in over the summer to turn a Vanarama Conference promotion winning side into a realistic League Two promotion chaser. Will "four or five" additions be enough? Well, Luton Town, who went up as champions last year, added seven players to their squad over the following summer in preparation for life in League Two. They finished eighth – an agonising three points shy of a play off place – but they were helped by the £500,000 they received from Brentford for striker Andre Gray. At the other end of the scale, Cambridge United, who were promoted to League Two via the play offs, were less active in the transfer market, bringing in only four players before the window closed at the end of August. They finished 19th. But will Clarke be given the budget to bring in the players he feels he needs? If reports elsewhere are to be believed, the playing budget was slashed from £1.7million to around £900,000 as a result of relegation last season. It is unlikely Clarke will have the luxury of being allowed to operate on the pre relegation figure, but the manager would hope to be given the additional spending power that a figure somewhere in between would give him. You also have to wonder how much of an impact the impending decision in the High Court tug of war with Sainsbury’s is having on Clarke’s ability to plan ahead? That decision is expected to come within the next fortnight, which would facilitate the finalising of the playing budget, but where does Clarke need to spend it? What areas of the team will these four or five new players be brought in to strengthen? On the whole, Rovers’ defence is already proven at League Two level and 24 clean sheets from 52 games last season suggests that little work needs to be done at the back. Keepers: The goalkeeping situation also appears unresolved. Clarke seems to be undecided when given a choice between Steve Mildenhall and Will Puddy, so, as unlikely as it may seem, might we see the arrival of a new shot-stopper? Full backs: The increasingly likely prospect of Tom Lockyer returning to the centre of defence after spending most of this campaign as an emergency full-back, however, could facilitate the arrival of a right-back to compete with Daniel Leadbitter for a regular starting spot. Centre backs: The signing of another right-footed central defender to complement ‘lefties’ Mark McChrystal and Tom Parkes is another possibility – particularly if Neal Trotman moves on – and would give Clarke the flexibility to deploy the three-at-the-back formation he likes to field from time to time. Centre Mids: The decision of Stuart Sinclair to sign a new contract, meanwhile, probably leaves Clarke needing to add one more central midfield player. It is obvious that moves are being made to sign Chris Lines – yet getting a deal done is not without problems. Port Vale still have him under contract for an additional 12 months and can Rovers stump up the readies to cover his wage over the longer term? Wingers: It is in the wide areas, perhaps, where Clarke has most work to do. Andy Monkhouse (should he stay) and Jake Gosling are his only recognised out and out wingers, so don’t be surprised if two wide players are on the manager’s wish-list. Forwards: There appears to be little of the annual clamour for a new striker this summer and that is perhaps an indication of how well stocked Rovers are in that department. Big things will be expected from Jermaine Easter and Ellis Harrison, while Matty Taylor will have the chance to see if his form outside of the Football League is transferable to life in League Two. Throw Nathan Blissett and young Jamie Lucas (and possibly Angelo Balanta) into the mix as cover and Clarke will probably feel that he has the firepower to get the 65-plus goals required to be in a promotion chase for a second successive season. http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/BRISTO...tory-26636871-detail/story.html#ixzz3cCr6B41F
I see the Aldershot Capt has rejected a new contract offer http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33026274 ex Salisbury player !!! just a thought....
I would say it depends on the out of contact players so IMO if they all sign then all we need is maybe a Striker and a Winger
Sorry guys, but I still feel we need to get an addition to the coaching staff to improve our style of play around the final third. We have all heard the calls for better strikers and we have them, but we are still far too weak in that area.
I really hope that we are pressing on as a club with prospective signings for the coming season and are not releasing any information about who the players are. Most of our rivals in the league this season appear to be strengthening their squads and as far as we know only one of the last eight out of contract has signed. I presume that the five new faces he hopes to bring in are plus the ones he has offered contracts to who haven't decided whether to accept them
A couple of wingers and a keeper. And I'm assuming we'll get Chris Lines....I think the squad looks pretty good already.
If we are looking to go onwards and upwards then I think a Keeper 2 wingers Chris Lines or a mid fielder right back and a 20/25 goal a season striker. If any of the players offered terms decline to stay a replacement in their position. Put in r/b if Tom Lockyer goes back to C/B if he doesn't revert to C/B then a new C/B. I like Trottman but I am worried about his fitness
I'm not worried about the strikers. They'll do fine. A decent winger will be essential. But I'm sure DC's going to get in just what he needs.
Has anybody heard if the 8 players who haven't signed have been offered terms and if there's a deadline as it seems to be very quiet on players signing for next season
All 8 have been offered deals, 1 has signed which is Sinclair. The other 7 has yet made a decision or they have and Rovers just havent announced it, which wouldnt surprise me! James Mcnamara said there is a deadline but he doesnt know what that deadline is. Sinclair signed his deal as it was a no brainer for him that he wants to play in the football league. The others though may be looking for better deals. Like Monkhouse for example, I have read elsewhere that he wants to return up north where his family lives. So he may be looking for a deal up north so holding out for that. Dont know if he wants to move back north is true or not but seems plausable. I imagine Trotman may have been offered a very short term deal to prove himself, so may be trying to get a longer deal elsewhere. If we have offered a 6 month contract and he can get a 2 year deal elsewhere, I wouldnt blame him for leaving. I imagine though that we should hear this week surely!
I like Monkhouse - would be a loss for us if we lose players like that - instrumental on the pitch AND off it. Important players, those types! Personally I think we need to strengthen up front mostly - we struggle to score goals. We also need pacey wingers and a centre back if Trotman leaves.
Goal scoring's less of problem now. I hope most of them choose to sign because they've done well and there's a good spirit in the squad.
We only scored 73, and that was with a 7-0 final game win. Pretty average as a conference side - our defence was great however, second best in the football league so if we keep that, and score more goals, we will be right up there.
We came 6th in the 'goals for' section, above average me thinks http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/conference/2014-2015/attack Also 69 goals was the highest any team in league 2 managed http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-two/2014-2015/attack
We still need a striker IMO with league experience and goals to his name we cant rely on Easter being fit and Taylor is unproven at league level 2 as is Blissett IMO Harrison will be alright though.
But before the 7-0 win we were bang average As seamge said, we don't have proven strikers - except Easter and I think he is on his way out anyway. Doubt our current strikers would score 69 in league two but we will have to wait and see. on that front. Personally I think we will struggle to score goals without the addition of a new striker - we struggled to score goals all season and everyone agreed until very recently when we had a purple patch.
I would prefer to see some ball players brought into the squad. Lylle Della Verde and Adam Dawson would be good start if only on one season loan.
There weren't any really prolific strikers in League Two last season. I think only one or two scraped past twenty goals. I would like to see Dawson back.
