Shrimpsvoices

I’m bringing back the old thread that’s served me well the last few seasons, decided to start afresh to clean it up a bit. If you want to see how far we’ve come, here’s the link to the old squad updates thread: http://www.shrimpsvoices.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=23668&hilit=Current+squad&sid=094235a6acf030bd438c508ac60cba70

7 players under contract now. There’s another one who’s signed, I know that for sure, possibly Charlie Brown.

Player name / Main position / Other positions / Age / Height / strong foot

A. Smith / GK / 30 / 6’3” / right

M. Melbourne / LB / CB / 24 / 5’11” / left

F. Rawson / CB / 26 / 6’4” / right
J. Bedeau / CB / LB / 23 / 6’0” / left

D. Love / RB / LB,DM,RW / 28 / 5’10” / right

J. Taylor / CM / AM,DM,RW,RB / 24 / 5’10” / right

A. Mayor / LW / RW,LB / 19 / 5’11” / left


Adam Mayor is contracted for two more years, ending in summer of 2025. The rest are all on one-year deals.

Remember this being really informative in previous seasons, glad to have it back. Hope the list is a bit longer by the end of the week.

Can now add Charlie Brown and Chris Stokes to the above list .........

So we currently have 9 players under contract for the coming season

Still need at least another 13 at least

Two new signings!

Player name / Main position / Other positions / Age / Height / strong foot

C. Stokes / LB / CB / 32 / 6’1” / left
C. Brown / ST / 23 / 5’9” / left

Both on one-year deals.

13!

Player name / Main position / Other positions / Age / Height / strong foot

A. Smith / GK / 30 / 6’3” / right
S. Moore / GK / 28 / 6’4” / right

M. Melbourne / LB / CB / 24 / 5’11” / left
C. Stokes / LB / CB / 32 / 6’1” / left

J. Bedeau / CB / LB / 23 / 6’0” / left
F. Rawson / CB / 26 / 6’4” / right

D. Love / RB / LB,DM,RW / 28 / 5’10” / right
J. Senior / RB / LB / 24 / 5’11” / right

Y. Songo’o / DM / CB / 31 / 5’11” / right
J. Taylor / CM / AM,DM,RW,RB / 24 / 5’10” / right

A. Mayor / LW / RW,LB / 19 / 5’11” / left

C. Smith / AM / RW,LW,ST / 27 / 5’9” / right

C. Brown / ST / 23 / 5’9” / left

RapidShrimp wrote:13!

Player name / Main position / Other positions / Age / Height / strong foot

A. Smith / GK / 30 / 6’3” / right
S. Moore / GK / 28 / 6’4” / right

M. Melbourne / LB / CB / 24 / 5’11” / left
C. Stokes / LB / CB / 32 / 6’1” / left

J. Bedeau / CB / LB / 23 / 6’0” / left
F. Rawson / CB / 26 / 6’4” / right

D. Love / RB / LB,DM,RW / 28 / 5’10” / right
J. Senior / RB / LB / 24 / 5’11” / right

Y. Songo’o / DM / CB / 31 / 5’11” / right
J. Taylor / CM / AM,DM,RW,RB / 24 / 5’10” / right

A. Mayor / LW / RW,LB / 19 / 5’11” / left

C. Smith / AM / RW,LW,ST / 27 / 5’9” / right

C. Brown / ST / 23 / 5’9” / left

Looking at the squad so far some good balance , 2 keepers , 2 right backs , 2 left backs etc

I think another 5 signings to make 18 and 4 Academy players to make 22.

Was it D.A. in his original time in office who said the ideal squad is 2 players in each position including 2 academy signings ?

jbc.shrimp wrote:Was it D.A. in his original time in office who said the ideal squad is 2 players in each position including 2 academy signings ?

Yeah basically. 2 per position plus another one or two for utility and then a youth keeper minimum, although we saw last season that we didn’t have much at DM so depends on budget and what’s available I guess!

JJ McKiernan added.

Derek’s done an interview and he mentions that there’s probably about SIX more signings to go, then two U18s will be added to the squad. He says this’ll take it to 23, but there’d be only 22 based on the current squad we have… Have we got another signing to announce?!


Player name / Main position / Other positions / Age / Height / strong foot

A. Smith / GK / 30 / 6’3” / right
S. Moore / GK / 28 / 6’4” / right

M. Melbourne / LB / CB / 24 / 5’11” / left
C. Stokes / LB / CB / 32 / 6’1” / left

J. Bedeau / CB / LB / 23 / 6’0” / left
F. Rawson / CB / 26 / 6’4” / right

D. Love / RB / LB,DM,RW / 28 / 5’10” / right
J. Senior / RB / LB / 24 / 5’11” / right

Y. Songo’o / DM / CB / 31 / 5’11” / right
J. Taylor / CM / AM,DM,RW,RB / 24 / 5’10” / right
J. McKiernan / CM / AM / 21 / 6’0” / right

A. Mayor / LW / RW,LB / 19 / 5’11” / left

C. Smith / AM / RW,LW,ST / 27 / 5’9” / right

C. Brown / ST / 23 / 5’9” / left

For me we badly need someone up front who can add some muscle to compliment the other new forwards.

Ideally that would have been Cole but someone with his physical presence would be a much needed requirement in EFL2 who can take and dish out some hard challenges when needed.

A 6' beast who can both head the ball and bring others into the game with his hold up play would be an asset.

redrobo wrote:For me we badly need someone up front who can add some muscle to compliment the other new forwards.

Ideally that would have been Cole but someone with his physical presence would be a much needed requirement in EFL2 who can take and dish out some hard challenges when needed.

A 6' beast who can both head the ball and bring others into the game with his hold up play would be an asset.

A strong striker with a bit of nouse seems like a priority. Likewise, I don’t think we have much pace in the attack so one or two speed merchants would help greatly. Mayor, Smith and Brown are decent technicians (by the sounds of it) but we need to add these physical attributes to our attack next.

The squad were doing laps of the athletics track at Salt Ayre on Friday in two groups of eight. At least we have enough to put a team out

Two more players yet to be announced or potentially a couple of academy lads training with the first team?

Is it true that Jordan Slew is training with us? I hope it doesn't mean we might be re-signing him.

fulwoodshrimp wrote:Is it true that Jordan Slew is training with us? I hope it doesn't mean we might be re-signing him.

This rumour seems to be doing the rounds on Twitter.

I suspect even if this true, maybe he is just here gaining match fitness? It is not uncommon for former players to train with ex clubs - particularly when they left on good terms/have a relationship with the manager. Its also mutually beneficial in terms of putting on effective sessions if you are already low on numbers.

I would be surprised if he was given a deal here, having been released by FC Halifax Town last season... but also he did ok for us last time. Our major weakness last year was a lack of goals and cutting edge, even before losing Stockton. Its a clear need in the squad assembled to date, which looks quite solid at the back so far. I don't think Jordan really helps us overcome those needs.

I am a little surprised D.A. doesn't seem to have offered Niasse a contract. He seemed to be fairly handy up front last season and for me would easily replace Stockton.

And how exactly do you know he hasn’t??? Do you actually think everyone offered contracts actually signs them, do you know he would re sign on with us if offered, do you think DA would announce anything about offers unless a player actually signs

nobbyshrimp wrote:And how exactly do you know he hasn’t??? Do you actually think everyone offered contracts actually signs them, do you know he would re sign on with us if offered, do you think DA would announce anything about offers unless a player actually signs

EXACTLY!

Every club has to submit their release/retained list. Derek could’ve subsequently offered deals once he knew the budget was set in stone and we were no longer running to break-even.

RapidShrimp wrote:

nobbyshrimp wrote:And how exactly do you know he hasn’t??? Do you actually think everyone offered contracts actually signs them, do you know he would re sign on with us if offered, do you think DA would announce anything about offers unless a player actually signs

EXACTLY!

Every club has to submit their release/retained list. Derek could’ve subsequently offered deals once he knew the budget was set in stone and we were no longer running to break-even.

As in the case of Adam Smith. He may well have tried for others, some of who could still rejoin us.

Some may have an offer from Derek, but are sitting on it, to see if they are offered something better, elsewhere?

Jimmy Bell , John Coleman's assistant , was on Radio Lancashire the other day. Accrington haven't signed a single player up till then and don't expect to sign any yet.

He said the they can't sign the players they can afford yet because they are trying to get better deals elsewhere. It will only be by the time they don't get fixed up at other clubs and then lower their wage expectations that Accrington have a chance of signing them. I think we have done well to get in the number and quality of players that we have already signed. Players do want to sign for The King.

Gone_Shrimping wrote:Jimmy Bell , John Coleman's assistant , was on Radio Lancashire the other day. Accrington haven't signed a single player up till then and don't expect to sign any yet.

He said the they can't sign the players they can afford yet because they are trying to get better deals elsewhere. It will only be by the time they don't get fixed up at other clubs and then lower their wage expectations that Accrington have a chance of signing them. I think we have done well to get in the number and quality of players that we have already signed. Players do want to sign for The King.

And they still haven't signed anyone yet. Their fans forum seem to have accepted that this is the way it goes with clubs with small fan base and very little money. At least they have an owner they are grateful for.

RapidShrimp wrote:JJ McKiernan added.

Derek’s done an interview and he mentions that there’s probably about SIX more signings to go, then two U18s will be added to the squad. He says this’ll take it to 23, but there’d be only 22 based on the current squad we have… Have we got another signing to announce?!


Player name / Main position / Other positions / Age / Height / strong foot

A. Smith / GK / 30 / 6’3” / right
S. Moore / GK / 28 / 6’4” / right

M. Melbourne / LB / CB / 24 / 5’11” / left
C. Stokes / LB / CB / 32 / 6’1” / left

J. Bedeau / CB / LB / 23 / 6’0” / left
F. Rawson / CB / 26 / 6’4” / right

D. Love / RB / LB,DM,RW / 28 / 5’10” / right
J. Senior / RB / LB / 24 / 5’11” / right

Y. Songo’o / DM / CB / 31 / 5’11” / right
J. Taylor / CM / AM,DM,RW,RB / 24 / 5’10” / right
J. McKiernan / CM / AM / 21 / 6’0” / right

A. Mayor / LW / RW,LB / 19 / 5’11” / left

C. Smith / AM / RW,LW,ST / 27 / 5’9” / right

C. Brown / ST / 23 / 5’9” / left

So with Jordan Slew added to these that gives us a squad of 15. I think Derek said something about a squad of 21 senior player and 2 academy lads.

So 6 more signings , a centre back or possibly 2. A couple of forwards. A couple more midfielders.

Wonder if we will have a couple of trialists in the squad on Tuesday?

I think we need…

2 x defenders (either two CBs or one CB and one LB, depending on where Stokes will mostly play)
2 x centre mids
2 x attackers (probably one centre forward and one wide man)