SQUADWATCH - Summer 2026

[morganb]

Defender Udoka Godwin-Malife officially signs on a 3 year deal for an undisclosed fee

[mikey_1871]

Come on, guys. The unrelenting positivity around every decision the club makes is tedious. This would be a dreadful appointment.

I'm not sure about unrelenting positivity, but it's certainly refreshing to have some more measured view that the hysterical reaction that everything seems to generate on twitter/X. I agree that the jury is out on Coleman but he clearly wants some experience alongside him. Doesn't change anything that the first half of next season is crucial for Leam's future.

Anyway, we've signed a new player today so hopefully we're allowed to be postive abouyt that

[WestYorksRoyal]

Are we nearly there defensively?

Pretty sure first choice back 4 will be:

Godwin-Malife POC Ward Roberts

In possession, it'll become a back 3 with Roberts pushing up.

Then we have Dorsett and Abrefa in the mix, plus a decision to make on the readiness of Kanu and Ahmed.

I'd suggest one more CB and LB option would benefit us. But these could be loan / squad options as opposed to first team starters.

[Brogue]

Come on, guys. The unrelenting positivity around every decision the club makes is tedious. This would be a dreadful appointment.

I'm not sure about unrelenting positivity, but it's certainly refreshing to have some more measured view that the hysterical reaction that everything seems to generate on twitter/X. I agree that the jury is out on Coleman but he clearly wants some experience alongside him. Doesn't change anything that the first half of next season is crucial for Leam's future.

Anyway, we've signed a new player today so hopefully we're allowed to be postive abouyt that

Yeah, sorry, it was supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek comment as it's the same trope that is thrown at me all the time, but for negativity instead of positivity.

It does still seem that the owners can do no wrong in some people's eyes.

Whereas I can be both positive and negative. For instance, here is me being positive - I think the signings of Lisbie and GM are good signings for this level. Well done to the club for getting them over the line.

Now, maybe some of the unrelenting club sycophants can, for once, come out and say Coleman is a terrible appointment if true.

[jahelt]

Come on, guys. The unrelenting positivity around every decision the club makes is tedious. This would be a dreadful appointment.

I'm not sure about unrelenting positivity, but it's certainly refreshing to have some more measured view that the hysterical reaction that everything seems to generate on twitter/X. I agree that the jury is out on Coleman but he clearly wants some experience alongside him. Doesn't change anything that the first half of next season is crucial for Leam's future.

Anyway, we've signed a new player today so hopefully we're allowed to be postive abouyt that

Yeah, sorry, it was supposed to be a tongue-in-cheek comment as it's the same trope that is thrown at me all the time, but for negativity instead of positivity.

It does still seem that the owners can do no wrong in some people's eyes.

Whereas I can be both positive and negative. For instance, here is me being positive - I think the signings of Lisbie and GM are good signings for this level. Well done to the club for getting them over the line.

Now, maybe some of the unrelenting club sycophants can, for once, come out and say Coleman is a terrible appointment if true.

Any idea on the other two players you said were close a few days ago?

[Brogue]

Are we nearly there defensively?

Pretty sure first choice back 4 will be:

Godwin-Malife POC Ward Roberts

In possession, it'll become a back 3 with Roberts pushing up.

Then we have Dorsett and Abrefa in the mix, plus a decision to make on the readiness of Kanu and Ahmed.

I'd suggest one more CB and LB option would benefit us. But these could be loan / squad options as opposed to first team starters.

We've lost Williams, Burns, Yiadom, Stickland and Nyambe. We've only brought in one so far. Were we bloated in defence last season? And don't need that many this season? I'd be concerned if any of GW POC or Ward got injured. Think we need at least one more CB maybe two, and another LB is required imo

[rabidbee]

I thought one of the main roles of an assistant manager was to be a bridge between the players and the manager, be the one who throws an arm around a shoulder where necessary, that kind of thing. If that's the case, his background and experience is of less value than how well he gels with the players.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Are we nearly there defensively?

Pretty sure first choice back 4 will be:

Godwin-Malife POC Ward Roberts

In possession, it'll become a back 3 with Roberts pushing up.

Then we have Dorsett and Abrefa in the mix, plus a decision to make on the readiness of Kanu and Ahmed.

I'd suggest one more CB and LB option would benefit us. But these could be loan / squad options as opposed to first team starters.

We've lost Williams, Burns, Yiadom, Stickland and Nyambe. We've only brought in one so far. Were we bloated in defence last season? And don't need that many this season? I'd be concerned if any of GW POC or Ward got injured. Think we need at least one more CB maybe two, and another LB is required imo

Williams, Nyambe and Yiadom only counted as one player between them given fitness issues. Stickland wasn't good enough. So overall we're down 2 players, we have signed one and had 2 come back from loan.

As mentioned elsewhere, we need to prioritise keeping players fit as much as new signings.

[Uke]

So are we having a "good" transfer window so far or are we as shit as the mongboarders predicted?

Seems sensible so far, just not the "instant multi-million pound gratification" that the kids want

[Brogue]

Are we nearly there defensively?

Pretty sure first choice back 4 will be:

Godwin-Malife POC Ward Roberts

In possession, it'll become a back 3 with Roberts pushing up.

Then we have Dorsett and Abrefa in the mix, plus a decision to make on the readiness of Kanu and Ahmed.

I'd suggest one more CB and LB option would benefit us. But these could be loan / squad options as opposed to first team starters.

We've lost Williams, Burns, Yiadom, Stickland and Nyambe. We've only brought in one so far. Were we bloated in defence last season? And don't need that many this season? I'd be concerned if any of GW POC or Ward got injured. Think we need at least one more CB maybe two, and another LB is required imo

Williams, Nyambe and Yiadom only counted as one player between them given fitness issues. Stickland wasn't good enough. So overall we're down 2 players, we have signed one and had 2 come back from loan.

As mentioned elsewhere, we need to prioritise keeping players fit as much as new signings.

Fair enough. Still think 4 capable CB’s are required for a promotion challenge. PoC and ward, check, despite Dorsett’s natural position being CB I don’t think he’s up to standard there, think he’s fine as a back up LB. Personally think we need two more CB’s. But maybe one more would suffice

[tidus_mi2]

We've lost Williams, Burns, Yiadom, Stickland and Nyambe. We've only brought in one so far. Were we bloated in defence last season? And don't need that many this season? I'd be concerned if any of GW POC or Ward got injured. Think we need at least one more CB maybe two, and another LB is required imo

Williams, Nyambe and Yiadom only counted as one player between them given fitness issues. Stickland wasn't good enough. So overall we're down 2 players, we have signed one and had 2 come back from loan.

As mentioned elsewhere, we need to prioritise keeping players fit as much as new signings.

Fair enough. Still think 4 capable CB’s are required for a promotion challenge. PoC and ward, check, despite Dorsett’s natural position being CB I don’t think he’s up to standard there, think he’s fine as a back up LB. Personally think we need two more CB’s. But maybe one more would suffice

Wonder if Kanu might be ready to step up and be a backup/squad option at CB, big step up from the top end of NL though.

[Brogue]

So are we having a "good" transfer window so far or are we as shit as the mongboarders predicted?

Seems sensible so far, just not the "instant multi-million pound gratification" that the kids want

Still a long way to go imo. But the two we’ve brought in are encouraging. Personally still think we are behind were we need to be.

Cm: rino wing Fraser savage. - most likely savage will go. - we need two more. And it’s too defensive. Can’t keep relying on 30 yard screamers from wing. We need goals in the centre of the park and them three are all holding/ defensive players

Wings I think we are ok DK Lane Lisbie WiFi

Defence - need another two CB’s imo as above I don’t think Dorsett is good enough and that only leaves us with two decent CB’s.
Gw,Abrefa, Dorsett and Robert’s as wing backs are fine

Striker - we need two more imo

So that’s 2 cbs 2 cm’s and 2 strikers.

That’s what I’d like to see.

So is this a good window so far? I’d say no, but still plenty of time.

[Marcel]

I wonder how people would have reacted to appointments like Wally Downes and signings like Kevin Doyle would have been received if we had social media in the early 00s.

Those people were appointed by staff who had good contacts throughout the football league and an excellent scouting network so no comparison.

[Sutekh]

So are we having a "good" transfer window so far or are we as shit as the mongboarders predicted?

Seems sensible so far, just not the "instant multi-million pound gratification" that the kids want

This. Sensible signings that would appear to be players that should do a decent job in areas we need strengthening. The big signing they must get right though is a striker and that will define the window.

No doubt the club has a heap of contacts working at the World Cup on its behalf and now teams are tumbling out I'm sure all the naysayers will be satisfied yet

[WestYorksRoyal]

Tbf this is the third window in a row we've needed a striker as a priority. Surely this time we can get it right?

[Fezza]

So are we having a "good" transfer window so far or are we as shit as the mongboarders predicted?

Seems sensible so far, just not the "instant multi-million pound gratification" that the kids want

Still a long way to go imo. But the two we’ve brought in are encouraging. Personally still think we are behind were we need to be.

Cm: rino wing Fraser savage. - most likely savage will go. - we need two more. And it’s too defensive. Can’t keep relying on 30 yard screamers from wing. We need goals in the centre of the park and them three are all holding/ defensive players

Wings I think we are ok DK Lane Lisbie WiFi

Defence - need another two CB’s imo as above I don’t think Dorsett is good enough and that only leaves us with two decent CB’s.
Gw,Abrefa, Dorsett and Robert’s as wing backs are fine

Striker - we need two more imo

So that’s 2 cbs 2 cm’s and 2 strikers.

That’s what I’d like to see.

So is this a good window so far? I’d say no, but still plenty of time.

Think you can add R Williams to the midfield / wing options, thought he was best behind the striker. More energy than Savage / Wing / Fraser

[Uke]

Tbf this is the third window in a row we've needed a striker as a priority. Surely this time we can get it right?

We get it right, then we need the cash from the sale…

[stealthpapes]

I wonder how people would have reacted to appointments like Wally Downes and signings like Kevin Doyle would have been received if we had social media in the early 00s.

My 05-06 prediction was -sorta - published. I’m always happy to review it and fully stand by it.

[stealthpapes]

Are we nearly there defensively?

Pretty sure first choice back 4 will be:

Godwin-Malife POC Ward Roberts

In possession, it'll become a back 3 with Roberts pushing up.

Then we have Dorsett and Abrefa in the mix, plus a decision to make on the readiness of Kanu and Ahmed.

I'd suggest one more CB and LB option would benefit us. But these could be loan / squad options as opposed to first team starters.

We've lost Williams, Burns, Yiadom, Stickland and Nyambe. We've only brought in one so far. Were we bloated in defence last season? And don't need that many this season? I'd be concerned if any of GW POC or Ward got injured. Think we need at least one more CB maybe two, and another LB is required imo

By my count, we needed two centre backs and some utility. So, agree on at least two more defenders, at least one of which a centre back.

All the pre-emptive shit about the transfer window was pre-emptive. And shit.

[stealthpapes]

Tbf this is the third window in a row we've needed a striker as a priority. Surely this time we can get it right?

Fourth, think we were fine Summer 2024.

Jan 24-25 (signed Bodin, lost Smith)
Summer 25 (MOM, lost Wareham)
Jan 25-26 (signed Keane, lost MOM)
Summer 26