2017/18 Ins and Outs Thread

Goalkeepers
Neil Alexander
Gary Maley

Defenders
Gregor Buchanan
Declan Gallagher
Craig Halkett
Alan Lithgow
Jackson Longridge
Jack McMillan

Midfielders
Shaun Byrne
Raffaele De Vita
Keaghan Jacobs
Josh Mullin
Scott Pittman
Craig Reid
Scott Robinson
Jordan Thompson

Strikers
Steven Boyd
Jack Hamilton
Dylan Mackin
Lee Miller
Nikolay Todorov

--------------------------------------
Summer
In
Neil Alexander - Aberdeen
Ross Brown - East Fife
Dylan Mackin - Motherwell
Jack McMillan - Motherwell (Loan)
James Penrice - Partick Thistle (Loan)
Josh Peters - Forfar Athletic
Scott Robinson - East Fife
Joe Thomson - Celtic (Loan)
Nikolay Todorov - Hearts (Loan)

Out
Liam Buchanan - raif
Sean Crighton - Brechin City
Liam Kelly - Rangers (End of loan)
Morgyn Neill - Stranraer
Jack Ogilvie - Pumpherston (Loan)
Josh Peters - Forfar Athletic  (Loan)
Joe Thomson - Celtic (End of Loan)
Kyle Sampson - Pumpherston (Loan)
Jordan Sinclair - Released
Nikolay Todorov - Hearts (End of loan)


Winter
In
Steven Boyd - Hamilton Academical (Loan)
Gregor Buchanan - St Mirren
Jack Hamilton - Penicuik Athletic (End of Loan)
Ryan Hardie - The Rangers (Loan)
Jack McMillan - Motherwell
Lee Miller - Falkirk
Jordan Thompson - The Rangers (Loan)

Out
Ross Brown - Airdrieonians
Dale Carrick - Airdrieonians
Jack Hamilton - Berwick Rangers (Loan)
Craig Henderson - Cowdenbeath (Loan)
Matthew Knox - East Fife (Loan)
Dylan Mackin - Brechin City (Loan)
Danny Mullen - St Mirren
James Penrice - Partick Thistle (End of Loan)
Josh Peters - Forfar Athletic
Kyle Sampson - Penicuik Athletic (Loan)
Nikolay Todorov - Hearts (End of Loan)

Brilliant news that Big Dec is staying. And I'm sure more of the current squad will extend their stays; but we will need to strengthen

Read Rafa was wanting to stay for next season and was hoping to get a deal sorted sometime next week. If we manage to get Buchs signed back up too we'll have quite a few Championship quality players already for next season.

                                 GK

RB               Gallagher      Halkett            Longridge



            Keghan/Miller/Byrne/Pittman/Millar/Rafa*


                        Mullen   Buchanan*



Imo those players are def Championship quality and will all play well at that level, I know Byrne and Miller moved to us from teams in the Championship to get first team football but they've been quality for us and just can't see them not doing well, esp Byrne, he's up there with Pittman as a class midfielder.

Cadden will face a new challenge as he's not played at that level but I think he will be fine, Mullin didn't really stand out the last time playing there but I think he's come on a lot this season and will be a lot better this time.

I also think Lithgow and Crighton will be ok, not sure if Hopkin will keep playing a back 3 of 3 CB's but we need to get a RB signed if we're going to seriously make a fist of it, we can't get away with pissing about with Crighton at RB again, that's fine if needs must but we should be looking to get the squad set up properly pre season and have positions filled with players who naturally play there.

So basically our midfield is fine, and so is our forward line for a starting 11, but another quality midfielder never hurts and a big forward to make changes tactically when needed should be targeted (i'd try and get Todorov signed). Prob need another 2 forwards to make sure we are covered for injuries and suspensions. Not sure what Hopkin's plans for our out on loan players, Neill and Carrick, I think both have done well for their on loan teams but not sure if either will want to come back if they aren't getting first team football. Carrick would have more chance that Neill of that.

*Rafa and Buchanan are in talks with the cub so hopefully both sign soon.

Yeah, I'd happily take all those back.

Byrne would be a top division candidate IF he had pace and/or regular goals in his locker. He can ghost past players with a feint but that won't be so easy next season. His close control & reading of the game are very good. In some ways he reminds me of Billy Stark but he plays deeper so doesn't pose the same goal threat as Stark did.

If we still have Knox next season he might benefit from a loan spell in the division we have just won.

Yeah it didn't do Snoddy and Dorrans any harm being put on loan to lower league teams, would get him regular games and bring him on with his development a bit quicker than the odd game for us would.

Liviforever wrote:Read Rafa was wanting to stay for next season and was hoping to get a deal sorted sometime next week.

Rafa and Buchanan are in talks with the cub so hopefully both sign soon.

Half way there... Rafa staying until June 2018

Good stuff, he's exactly the player we need next season in the Championship, adds a touch of class up front. His pass to Pittman for his goal on Sat was superb. Has helped Cadden this season too with advice.

He was heavily involved in the 3rd as well

I count that as 10 players definitely here for next season. Very refreshing for us to get our business done so soon, especially given we've still one more game to play of this season! Pleased Rafa is staying on, technically the best player in the squad and comfortable in so many positions in AM, out wide and up front. I think he'll be a big player for us next season, and I'm keen to see how DH utilises him. I think we may well ditch 4-4-2 to get the extra body into midfield, in that case I can see him wide left or behind the front man if so.

Plenty options with the players we have anyway.

Byrne now confirmed for next season

Need to start listing which players are signed cause I thought both Byrne and Miller were on 2 year deals last season. Lithgow, Cadden and Crighton  were signed on 2 year deals from Airdrie, just had that confirmed on P&B.



Right i'll start it off with the ones I know are signed.

Danny Mullen
Scott Pittman
Rafa De Vita
Dec Gallagher
Craig Halkett
Shaun Byrne
Matthew Knox
Josh Mullin (according to EL's squad for last season Mullin was contracted to May 2018)
Sean Crighton
Alan Lithgow
Nicky Cadden
Jackson Longridge   
================================
Mark Millar?
Mikey Miller?
Jordan Sinclair

=================================

*Edited to include Jackson Longridge now.

With Ayr likely being relegated i wonder if we could tempt their RB away from them. Nicky Devlin was voted by the players in the Championship team of the season.

Jacko confirmed for next season

Just need Liam Buchanan, Mikey Miller and Keaghan Jacobs now and we've got the best core group of players from this season. Read we're looking to sign another 4 or 5 new players too.

Agreed, signing up those three would be a good thing.

We still need a goalie and a specialist right back and a forward or two to provide serious cover & challenge to DM & LB (assuming he stays).

IMO Kelly improved over the course of the season so I would not be unhappy if he came back.

I just keep thinking about his howlers against East Fife, and the one he chucked into his own net in our 2-2 draw with Alloa. I got nervous whenever someone hit a 25 yard shot straight at him after that. His kicking got better though and he was part of the defence which was the best in the league so he wasn't all bad.

Are we in with a chance of getting Neil Alexander?

I think our defence saved Kelly from being more exposed. I'd like a big goalie who takes control of his area and lets his defenders know when he is taking the ball. The Albion Rovers guy today looked decent.

In defence (no pun intended) of Kelly, I think he is one of the best communicators we have had in goal. He never stops talking to the players in front of him, advising who is open for a pass, who is under pressure, that pressure is coming on the ball carrier's blind side. He is usually vocal when he is coming for a ball as well.

Every goalie can be caught out & when they are it is usually at the expense of a goal.

Is he the best available? No idea... But he definitely isn't the worst.

Neil Alexander? If we can afford him then why not? Would he want to step down a level? Probably would depend on other offers & maybe if coaching was part of the deal.

Imo Hurst at QP and Muir at East Fife are the 2 best keepers in League One, and not just when playing against us, I've read other fans and their own fans praising them up.

Hurst is with East Fife on loan from St Johnstone. Muir is with Queens Park. Says he went to East Fife in June 2016 and returned to Queens Park in August 2016. Strange!

Need to get Buchanan signed up, getting stressed out at the thought of him scoring against us.

And seeing him score 16 or 17 goals for another Championship team wouldn't be doing your stress levels much good either. Hopefully he'll agree terms sometime this week.

Liviforever wrote:And seeing him score 16 or 17 goals for another Championship team wouldn't be doing your stress levels much good either. Hopefully he'll agree terms sometime this week.

Probably sign for the team finishing 8th - condemning us to 9th or 10th.

Nightmares.

LiviLion wrote:

Liviforever wrote:And seeing him score 16 or 17 goals for another Championship team wouldn't be doing your stress levels much good either. Hopefully he'll agree terms sometime this week.

Probably sign for the team finishing 8th - condemning us to 9th or 10th.

Nightmares.

St Midden, or even worse John Hugh's Raith? I really think that would tip me over the edge.