Squad for next season

Luton Roman wrote:Parselle is a big signing, NLS team of the year, Chip love him, we're getting serious.

It's important that he develops a good relationship with Batten. Hopefully he is also someone who can organise the defence as Bally did. If Ryan isn't first choice goalie then that role is vital.
But the team seems to be taking shape nicely.

With Tom Smith now signed and Dave Sims-Burgess going it just leaves Alex Fletcher from last season's team not accounted for. Hopefully he will be back to resume his goalscoring partnership with Cody but the longer it goes with no mention of him the more I fear we won't see him again.

Les - where did you get the Sims-Burgess news from - I've seen nothing on the website?

I am sure that lots of us will be gutted if Alex doesn't re-sign for us this year. What we don't know, of course, is what he was offered by us to stay on. Even at this level a lot of players are keen to get as much money as they can, but, as we grabbed him from Tiverton? and made him into the player he is today, I think it would be a crying shame if another Club 'steals' him.

All the clubs in our league and possibly above will have been alerted by the goals he scored last season.

Hayfield and Lines take us to 11 signed on for the season. Interesting to see what we do about goalkeeper and strikers - like others, fingers crossed that we can keep Alex.

Reading the concerns about Alex ,Im reminded that he was having a busy summer. In his last interview he mentioned 2 holidays, Spain and Greece.

He also spoke positively about a run up to the next season!

So lets relax and think positive!

(hope he's not stuck in an airport somewhere!)

Busy summer inolves going to Spain and Greece - doesn't seem that bad unless you are the pilot!

Having said that I flew to Cyprus ( well the plane did) and spent more time in Bristol Airport than in the air.

I see Dan Greenslade is back. I was impressed by him when he came to us on loan so am quite pleased with this acquisition

Alex Fletcher is signed on which is great news. Keeper will be a loan - Harvey WR maybe? Not sure what the current squad numbers are but didn't Jerry mention a larger squad for this season?

Talked about 18 recently I think

13 signed on so far.

Rodney wrote:Alex Fletcher is signed on which is great news. Keeper will be a loan - Harvey WR maybe? Not sure what the current squad numbers are but didn't Jerry mention a larger squad for this season?

Could certainly do a lot worse than HWR. Star keeper.
Jerry was a bit miffed about loanees being recalled last season which left us short but presumably this makes the player cheaper for us.

Alex re-signing - never in doubt! - Phew!

18 is not an increase on last year overall, but I think that figure represented how many contracted players we would have. I believe, in one of his many recent interviews, Jerry conceded that he may well add to the squad by having a couple of loanees, eventually - but this would make sense as I feel we need at least twenty players overall.

Looks like Kitan J (no way I can spell his surname) will be the one to look out for this season. Looks like someone who can make things happen.
Peach of a goal from Luke Spokes as well.

Doesn't look like Kitan has signed for us and may not be eligable to play for anyone.

At least he got through 45 mins this time compared to his previous appearance in last season's friendly at Larkhall.

BenE wrote:Doesn't look like Kitan has signed for us and may not be eligable to play for anyone.

Even in a week like this has been, that’s some U-turn!

I should have googled him first. All the other trialists were listed as trialist A B C etc so we assumed because he was named he was further up the pecking order not lower.

BenE wrote:Doesn't look like Kitan has signed for us and may not be eligable to play for anyone.

Well he starts today in a strong 1st half line up.

Caused problems with his pace and he was hacked down a couple of times. Had to be subbed by Fletcher who had already been subbed off.
Tom Smith had a very good game and Lines looks like an excellent signing.

Have we as many signed players as prime minister candidates.

Have we as many signed players as prime minister candidates?

Peter Newman wrote:Have we as many signed players as prime minister candidates?

Only just.

By my reckoning we have a stronger squad than last season especially midfield
GK Joe Wright Ryan Clark
Defenders Joe Raynes, Jack Batten, Keiran Parcelle, Dan Greenslade, Jordan Dyer
Midfield Chris Lines, Tom Smith, Dan Hayfield, Rex Mannings, Luke Spokes, Elliot Freer,
Forwards Cody Cooke, Alex Fletcher,
We maybe need another option up top. The triallists that have played in the back four have actually looked pretty good against two fairly robust L2 sides and would be useful on the bench.

For some years I have paid zero attention to pre-season results and performances, preferring to have a completely open mind come the first league fixture and trying not to pass judgement on the strength of the squad, especially new additions, until at least the end of September.

For what it’s worth, my opinion is that 30 minutes of a tough away fixture reveals far more about a new recruit than how they perform in the Twerton sunshine in early July.

I broke that rule last year but I don’t think I was the only one who returned from the thrashing at Oxford last August Bank Holiday convinced that Francois wasn’t up to it. Fortunately he (or his agent) ruled that getting cup tied through appearing for us at Shaftesbury would make him less marketable (!) and we didn’t see him again.

Interesting to read this thread again from last summer…

https://bathcityfc.forumotion.co.uk/t2711-new-signings-season-2021-22