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the_bully_wee

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    Clyde Season 23/24

    in Scottish League 2 General Chatter

    Posted

    We are obviously aiming very high with our recruitment this month, given some of the names mentioned. Maitland, McCall and our league status will live or die by how sensible that decision proves to be with hindsight. We're in a position with the squad now where it's possible that we could avoid tenth spot, but it would require serious good fortune with injuries given the paucity of cover, competition or general quality in some areas. I would hope that there are plenty of contingencies for key targets missed but, in a window notoriously difficult to do business in, that may not necessarily be the case. What we were told by Maitland at the fans' meeting was that, at that time, he expected around eight total arrivals and roughly four of those to be in place early on in the window - we saw three in for the first of January, so that wasn't far off. The longer we go by without any further business being conducted, the more worrisome the situation becomes though; rumours are swirling about targets who may have rejected us and why they've done so, and the messaging from those involved in recruitment is descending from bullish, robust and convincing to something rather more fraught, frustrated and hopeful.

    I don't doubt that Maitland and McCall are working their bollocks off in trying to improve the squad; they have both, evidently, been acutely aware of just what a state the squad was in since they respectively arrived at the club. They've obviously got a hefty chunk of change to enact change if we've been able to pay up/terminate a handful of contracts and then target the likes of Jordan Allan and Dario Zanatta on loan, both of whom will be on a wage that is a high-ticket one at part-time level. If they are two of between five and seven total targets, then there's obviously a lot to play with there. It is refreshing that the message continues to be about getting the right guys in and ensuring they are players of genuine quality, but the more January marches on, the more susceptible we are becoming to a late-window scramble for warm bodies and gambles.

    With three (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) available loan slots to use up, it could well be that there are some deals in the pipeline which haven't been formalised yet because higher-up clubs want to add to their own squads first. With us largely targeting players who are good enough to play in League One, it could be as OTIG says, that the players themselves - quite rightly, too - want to see if a club in less of a clusterfuck would be willing to match or better whatever offer we've tabled. The three we have signed so far, despite fitting into that League One quality category, were unattached and therefore there was probably a keener sense of urgency on their parts to secure themselves a contract ASAP.

    I wouldn't think that signings were being held back purely to protect the feelings of jobbers who are probably acutely aware by now that McCall will be chucking them right on the bench as soon as he can sign someone better. Maybe if it was another Jeanfield type tie where we could harbour reasonable expectations of progressing to the next round, but not when we're up against an Aberdeen side that'll be desperate to avoid a repeat of their shitemare last year.

    On Liam Brown - he'd be a terrific signing, provided his heart was in it. Given his loan spell at Stenhousemuir and his drop down to EK, though, I'm not entirely convinced it would be. Undoubtedly a smashing player though and one that I'd be horrified to learn we hadn't at least had a conversation with.

    -1

    Clyde Season 23/24

    in Scottish League 2 General Chatter

    Posted

    Today's game highlighted more than anything the need for more signings for us to take that next step. Lightweight and wasteful in forward areas, still weak at full back and absolutely no cover in the middle of the park. It's worrying that we are getting into mid-January and there are only now rumours that targets are turning their nose up at us. The good news is we now have two weeks to get things over the line before our next meaningful action, but the anxiety is definitely growing.

    2

    Clyde Vs Bonnyrigg

    in Scottish League 2 General Chatter

    Posted · Edited by the_bully_wee

    Needlessly nervy at the end, but for the most part that was good. Definitely still need a handful to add to those already signed, but what a difference being able to play a back four with two quick, aggressive, technically adept centre-backs. Lyon was actually having a very decent game up until his blunder too and Dunachie was decent against limited opposition. Scullion had a fine game further forward and while there's more to come from Leitch, he showed some nice touches and combined really well with King ahead of the opener. On that point, I'd love for us to try and extend that loan based on what we saw today but that may be unlikely.

    Big win and hopefully that gives them some belief. The shackles really came off as soon as we went two up and we were playing some lovely stuff. Long may the improvements continue!

    ETA: Ray Grant is worth a word as well, he and Cuddihy gave us great control of that game. Subbing him was definitely the right call given his circumstances, let's hope he can build up his fitness and remain fit as he will be a massive player for the battle to come.

    0

    Clyde Season 23/24

    in Scottish League 2 General Chatter

    Posted

    There might be a player buried somewhere inside McCulloch but I'll never have any idea what it was that Duffman saw in Mulvanny. Best of luck to both. I think if we were going to see any signings this week, then it'd have been on Wednesday or Thursday, but I'd be delighted to be proven wrong.

    0

    Clyde Season 23/24

    in Scottish League 2 General Chatter

    Posted

    24 minutes ago, Clyde85 said:

    I’ve every faith that McCall and Maitland have targets identified and possibly even signed just waiting to announce them.

    They both sound calm and confident about our January business, which is somewhat reassuring. It's hard not to still be really anxious in spite of that, though, given the areas in which we are weakest and how hard it can be to fill them at the best of times - never mind in January, when you're rooted to the bottom of the pile. I'd feel better if two of our first three signings weren't centre backs, I think, but that's just how the chips have fallen. In saying that, they'll both help with our build-up from the back and allow us to defend five yards higher, so that'll be handy.

    1

    Clyde Season 23/24

    in Scottish League 2 General Chatter

    Posted

    I can see why McCall started Cuddihy as the deepest midfielder, as he picked up some nice positions and got on the ball quite a lot in the first half, but the game completely bypassed Hynes ahead of him and we had so little creativity that it was unreal. Ray Grant did some good things in his time on the pitch - I hope he'll be fit enough for a start soon, and that he can get anywhere close to the player he was before his injury; that would be really big for us. I'm scratching my head about how we'll line up next week - you'd assume that Hamilton will slot in at centre back somewhere, but Howie could end up shunted out to right (wing) back or into midfield, while Leitch played more for Edinburgh as an advanced central midfielder despite his career until this season consisting of appearances as a winger or number 10. 

    Aside from such matters, hopefully we get a post-match interview from McCall in which he announces, with great fervour, the names of all those being released. That would be a nice tonic after the absolute guff we had to endure this afternoon.

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