The New Raith Rovers Thread

[Michael W]

2 hours ago, Ro Sham Bo said:

So what's the state of play regarding signed players for next season:

Goalkeepers: MacDonald and Thomson

Defenders: Dick, Berra, Lang, Young 

Midfielders: Matthews, Stanton, Arnott, Connolly, Zanatta, Ross

Forwards: Gullan, Vaughan, Mitchell

So, a decent starting point but still some serious work required to pull a squad together. Major work required in defence and up front, and possibly a bit of tweaking required to get the balance right in midfield. 

I'd forgotten we had Gullan. Still think we need two strikers in, though. 

If we can keep Spencer, the midfield is mostly there. Maybe another CM in on loan as that doesn't look a priority area. I would ideally like another wide player given Zanatta's patchy form, but that's maybe asking a bit much.

Defence needs an overhaul; that goes without saying. New LB needed, new RB assuming Tumilty is off and two CBs. Would keep Benedictus if Musonda goes, which we all expect. 

Edited May 1, 2022 by Michael W

[Kuma Power]

I wonder if we might see Ben Williamson back on loan, at least for the start of next season? I guess it depends on the manager situation and what Rangers' plans for him are, but I wouldn't be averse to having Williamson as an option in midfield if we were offered him again.

[roverthemoon]

On 30/04/2022 at 13:50, Hank Scorpio said:

If you feel that way, fair enough, but using the official programme is not the place to air those feelings I’m afraid. He could use his wee club RDS for that if he wanted. 

They have made it clear that it’s an unofficial programme and doesn’t reflect the official stance of Raith Rovers - which as we know from the Sim interview is pretty much ‘f**k you’ The club’s problem is the programme is produced by volunteers. Without them, the club would have no programme. Hadn’t realised that other the the Frank Connor tribute, we’ve had no official programme since the Goodwillie signing. Well done on the editor for calling out the unrepentant shysters in the Board Room. 

[TxRover]

6 hours ago, Ro Sham Bo said:

So what's the state of play regarding signed players for next season:

Goalkeepers: MacDonald and Thomson

Defenders: Dick, Berra, Lang, Young 

Midfielders: Matthews, Stanton, Arnott, Connolly, Zanatta, Ross

Forwards: Gullan, Vaughan, Mitchell

So, a decent starting point but still some serious work required to pull a squad together. Major work required in defence and up front, and possibly a bit of tweaking required to get the balance right in midfield. 

Add Bow at keeper, Masson at defender, Coulson and Mahady at forward/wing

[Ro Sham Bo]

[Rovers1992/1993]

Going by that article, it sounds like Spencer is already signed up for next season?

[Ding Dang Doo]

The most interesting thing here is the Spencer comments. Not those of someone who's going to be leaving

[craigkillie]

There is something to be said with how McGlynns view of the board is. After the whole fiasco in January he has been the only one to come out hold his hands up and show some contrition. 
The board have otherwise stuck their fingers in their ears and pretended it wasn't going on. 

The board backed him when he wanted to sign his sex offender pal, even though they knew it would cause problems. I can't imagine most managers getting that degree of support from a board.

[Beachbum]

That's brilliant news. Looking forward already to having Spencer and Stanton in midfield.

[Broken Algorithms]

Would be happy if we can keep Spencer and if we got Williamson back in.

[renton]

3 minutes ago, Broken Algorithms said:

Would be happy if we can keep Spencer and if we got Williamson back in.

I'd definitely be happy to keep Spencer. Williamson has the toolkit to be a good player but not sure he's what we need in the short term. I think we need a positional player, a good defensive player who can actively screen the defence and allow us to change shape and go a bit tighter.

Matthews can do some of that but would be interested in seeing us go for a specialist in that role.

Beyond that I'm wary about just having the whole same squad again. It's entirely true that you can make a solid case for retaining each player on an individual basis, yet our squad has lacked balance and the form through the second half of the season has been awful. There does need to be some changes, somewhere.

We will likely lose Tumilty. Dick should no longer be seen as anything other than a bench filler. Benedictus just isn't consistent enough to warrant a place either. We need a couple of forwards, and ideally another guy to play left wing.

[Broken Algorithms]

I'd definitely be happy to keep Spencer. Williamson has the toolkit to be a good player but not sure he's what we need in the short term. I think we need a positional player, a good defensive player who can actively screen the defence and allow us to change shape and go a bit tighter.
Matthews can do some of that but would be interested in seeing us go for a specialist in that role.
Beyond that I'm wary about just having the whole same squad again. It's entirely true that you can make a solid case for retaining each player on an individual basis, yet our squad has lacked balance and the form through the second half of the season has been awful. There does need to be some changes, somewhere.
We will likely lose Tumilty. Dick should no longer be seen as anything other than a bench filler. Benedictus just isn't consistent enough to warrant a place either. We need a couple of forwards, and ideally another guy to play left wing.

I think we're really looking at changes in a few limited positions. Up top, we'll be looking at least two new forwards coming in. I can't see us replacing Dick, and I think if McGlynn does stay then he'll keep Benedictus although I don't think we should. I feel like there's a lot to be said about continuity at this level, although it's clear we can't go 2/3rds of our season without our forwards scoring.

[renton]

8 minutes ago, Broken Algorithms said:

15 minutes ago, renton said:

I'd definitely be happy to keep Spencer. Williamson has the toolkit to be a good player but not sure he's what we need in the short term. I think we need a positional player, a good defensive player who can actively screen the defence and allow us to change shape and go a bit tighter.
Matthews can do some of that but would be interested in seeing us go for a specialist in that role.
Beyond that I'm wary about just having the whole same squad again. It's entirely true that you can make a solid case for retaining each player on an individual basis, yet our squad has lacked balance and the form through the second half of the season has been awful. There does need to be some changes, somewhere.
We will likely lose Tumilty. Dick should no longer be seen as anything other than a bench filler. Benedictus just isn't consistent enough to warrant a place either. We need a couple of forwards, and ideally another guy to play left wing.

I think we're really looking at changes in a few limited positions. Up top, we'll be looking at least two new forwards coming in. I can't see us replacing Dick, and I think if McGlynn does stay then he'll keep Benedictus although I don't think we should. I feel like there's a lot to be said about continuity at this level, although it's clear we can't go 2/3rds of our season without our forwards scoring.

Continuity is good, change is also good. We need to balance getting that against adding freshness to the club.

McGlynn maybe lacks that killer instinct and indeed would probably still be handing out year long contracts to Davidson if he were physically up to it.

One of either Dick or Zanatta will end up as bench filler. They are not a complimentary pairing. If you want the best out of Zanatta you need a shape that stops opposition from doubling up on him, someone who will reliably overlap him down the touch line when he goes inside. That's not Liam Dick. If you want to keep Dick then you need an altogether different player in front of him, likely a more natural left footer who will chase a ball down the channel.

I also do not think Dick is all that good on his own merits as a left back. McGlynn needs to face up to that and make a change if possible.

 

[Ro Sham Bo]

28 minutes ago, renton said:

Continuity is good, change is also good. We need to balance getting that against adding freshness to the club.

McGlynn maybe lacks that killer instinct and indeed would probably still be handing out year long contracts to Davidson if he were physically up to it.

One of either Dick or Zanatta will end up as bench filler. They are not a complimentary pairing. If you want the best out of Zanatta you need a shape that stops opposition from doubling up on him, someone who will reliably overlap him down the touch line when he goes inside. That's not Liam Dick. If you want to keep Dick then you need an altogether different player in front of him, likely a more natural left footer who will chase a ball down the channel.

I also do not think Dick is all that good on his own merits as a left back. McGlynn needs to face up to that and make a change if possible.

 

I'm expecting Sean Mackie to be signed as competition for Dick.

[Paco]

Beyond that I'm wary about just having the whole same squad again. It's entirely true that you can make a solid case for retaining each player on an individual basis, yet our squad has lacked balance and the form through the second half of the season has been awful. There does need to be some changes, somewhere.

Yeah, I’d agree with this. Of the out of contract players I don’t think you can say we’d happily lose any one of Bene/Musonda/Tumilty/Spencer. They’re all good players. But if they all sign, we’re really looking at having virtually the same team next season with a new centre forward. Would that solve all our ills?

On the other hand I guess continuity is good. Arbroath seem to have the same bloody team every time you play them, with a new loanee up front. And continuity isn’t something we’re really able to enjoy with the injuries we get. Would Bene and Musonda (or Lang and Berra, or any other combination) be as good a partnership as O’Brien and Little if only we could actually name the same defence more than two games running?

Encouraged to see Spencer’s words there, I assumed that alongside Tumilty and Musonda, he’d be gone. Maybe the injury has helped us in that regard.

[RRPT]

23 minutes ago, Ro Sham Bo said:

I'm expecting Sean Mackie to be signed as competition for Dick.

I hope not; he's dreadful.

[Brashy's Boots]

I hope not; he's dreadful.

He wasn't dreadful on Friday. Best display so far.

[steakngravy]

He didn't do much wrong in the cup final either.

[Ding Dang Doo]

If we have any ambition Mackie shouldn't be anywhere near our squad next season. Tried hard but not up the standard needed to take us forward.

Same goes for Williamson. I think he does actually have quality but in his position you need to get a lot more from him and a couple of decent performances late in the season shouldn't change that. He was liked at Arbroath last season but still think that is Campbell thought he was going to improve them then they would have gone back in for him.

[Brashy's Boots]

If we have any ambition Mackie shouldn't be anywhere near our squad next season. Tried hard but not up the standard needed to take us forward.

Same goes for Williamson. I think he does actually have quality but in his position you need to get a lot more from him and a couple of decent performances late in the season shouldn't change that. He was liked at Arbroath last season but still think that is Campbell thought he was going to improve them then they would have gone back in for him.

Baw locks.