ListerRRFC 345 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 How about if we don't sign two wingers we can play a 4-3-3 with Clarke and Graham up top with a small, fast, Jamie Walker-esque player playing just behind them? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoss 632 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 I guess outsiders might be a bit bemused at us being so happy re-signing so many of the players after last season, but once again that's great news. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ebanda's Handyman Services 3,614 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 I guess outsiders might be a bit bemused at us being so happy re-signing so many of the players after last season, but once again that's great news. I know it's the rambling of a happy clapper but things really were tight between ourselves and the other teams last season, Livi aside. I'm very happy with the way things are shaping up at the moment. Hopefully McGlynn will have a few loanee aces up his sleeve to supplement what already looks like a decent squad. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lzreid 81 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Next season is shaping up well so far, the dead wood has been cut and the players who played such a huge part in keeping us up have mostly been retained. We do need a central midfielder (hopefully Davidson), a wide man, a striker and some loanees to pad it out but I'm optimistic. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
renton 5,109 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 I know it's the rambling of a happy clapper but things really were tight between ourselves and the other teams last season, Livi aside. I'm very happy with the way things are shaping up at the moment. Hopefully McGlynn will have a few loanee aces up his sleeve to supplement what already looks like a decent squad. Yeah, but I feel like we were always two or three bodies away from staying with the pack last year. A big problem we had was a total lack of width for large parts of the year, partly becuase Hammill just couldn't play there, partly because Walker is not a natural winger and partly becuase neither full back was going to bomb forward. Add to that a lack of decent striking options at the start of the season, with only Baird an unfit Graham and Reynolds and our squad just wasn't fit for purpose. By the end of the season we had Thomson finally giving us the attacking presence from right back that had been a huge part of our strategy when we had Craig Wilson, an out and out winger in Jamie Walker and Clarke and Casalinouvo providing cover for Baird and Graham (now fit) and we looked transformed. It wasn't a huge amount of differences. It was one or two guys that just balanced the team out better. So far McG has brought Thomson back and in Malone we hopefully have a left back with more confidence to get forward than Dyer did. By bringing in Clarke we have a very natural finisher (which is something we haven't had in a while - I include Baird and Tade in that) and we can only hope that Graham brings his form from the tail end of last year on into the new season. So I don't think it's too much to be applauding McG for bringing large parts of the squad back. Alan Walker is versatile, and does chip in with goals - a perfectly solid player for this level. We know that Hill, Ellis and Murray are comfortable at this level. What McG does next will give us an idea of where we'll be in terms of aspirations, we will need another out and out winger and more cover for the attack - and hopefully we can get Davo back. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ListerRRFC 345 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 To be honest, our team is good enough to be pushing for at least mid-table. I think it's got to be a priority that we add some pace though, it'd be extremely beneficial as shown when we added Jamie Walker to our team. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CALDERON 5,098 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 What a difference a year makes. A bit of positivity with things moving at a good pace. Well done and keep it up. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoss 632 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Add to that a lack of decent striking options at the start of the season, with only Baird an unfit Graham and Reynolds and our squad just wasn't fit for purpose. Reynolds, blimey, I'd forgotten about him already. Would it be unkind to fetch up the shit strikers thread? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoss 632 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Anyhow. Is it possible, in the absence of any other signings, that Donaldson will be given a chance somewhere across midfield? Hard to believe that, with such a small squad, we'd restrict two players to right-back only. And he's a promising player, for all that he went off the boil a bit during the season. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ListerRRFC 345 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Reynolds, blimey, I'd forgotten about him already. Would it be unkind to fetch up the shit strikers thread? From his Wiki He was well known for his heading ability and his finishing. To be fair to him, he didn't get much of a chance but his running style was atrocious, he ran like how you'd imagine a T-Rex to run. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
true_rover 265 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 From his Wiki To be fair to him, he didn't get much of a chance but his running style was atrocious, he ran like how you'd imagine a T-Rex to run. Did he not score in the only game he started, rounding the keeper if I remember rightly? 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Raith Against The Machine 4,697 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 I'm delighted that Allan Walker has re-signed. I was really quite afraid that we were going to lose the "heart and soul" of the squad, and that John McGlynn would have to work at teaching a whole new bunch of players "his way" of thinking, but there's a real continuity coming on from last season. When you think that everyone was almost certainly offered reduced terms, it's excellent to see so many opting to carry on. As much as there are less and less jobs going on decent wages in Scottish football, a lot of our guys could've easily found another club in this division to at least match last season's wages, and while I wouldn't dream of criticising those who have chosen to move on, those who have stayed deserve a lot of recognition. Unless we concede early on in a pre-season friendly, in which case they can f**k off. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ListerRRFC 345 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Did he not score in the only game he started, rounding the keeper if I remember rightly? He did, he rounded the keeper and then decided to take about 10 touches before putting the ball into the net. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken Algorithms 3,780 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Lets all be brutally honest, Stark's wouldn't be the same without the frantic squeak of Allan Walker's voice on match-day. Still, utter legend for his goals against the Pars and Dundee. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
p&b is a disgrace 192 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Anyhow. Is it possible, in the absence of any other signings, that Donaldson will be given a chance somewhere across midfield? Hes actually got a decent cross in him. Right side of midfield with Walker and Hammil in the middle? J ust needs us signing a left sided midfielder and using the kids for cover. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zen Archer Esq. 17,775 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Welcome back "square go" Walker, that episode was a bit silly, however he took his medicine and was quickly forgiven. Nothing wrong with passion when it's properly chanelled. In fact, I'm pleased so many of the guys have shown loyalty to the cub in re-signing 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ListerRRFC 345 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 More moments like this from Walker and I'll be happy. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roverthemoon 2,049 Report post Posted May 28, 2012 Good news. Just need Davo to sign and Jamie Walker back....pretty please 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken Algorithms 3,780 Report post Posted May 29, 2012 If Jamie Walker re-signs with us, then I'd happily cover myself in maroon body paint and run down Leith Walk, stopping off at Easter Road to spray paint in red "Gorgie rules" on the wall....I'd love to see the boy back in a Rovers shirt next season! He was ridiculous towards the end of the season. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Enigma 3,503 Report post Posted May 29, 2012 (edited) As a previous poster suggested 4-3-3 may not be such a silly idea. Especially if Davo re-signs. That would mean we are one striker away from a solid starting 11. I remember when we played with Weir, Smith and Wales up front, that was quality. Edited May 29, 2012 by Enigma 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
