by Willie Wastle » Mon May 14, 2018 11:40 am
Now that the season's over, what on earth does our best XI for next season currently look like?
Ferguson and Crawford are away, and let's assume Templeton and Sarris are leaving too, but everyone else we would want to stay is staying (although clearly that could change).
I'd be happy with Woods in goal and Fulton as back-up, but if Woods leaves, we'll need a new first choice keeper, as Fulton isn't ready to step up.
Our back three would be Want, Tomas and McMann - I'd love that to work, but I'm really not sure about big Xavier as our main man, and I'd prefer to find an upgrade.
Lyon and Imrie as the wing backs? I don't think that's Lyon's position, as he doesn't contribute enough defensively - we need a replacement at least as good as Skondras. As for Dougie, are we really going to play him (as captain) for another season? He still offers a bit of an attacking threat, but he doesn't defend, and he's too negative to be a good leader on the park (I suspect he damages McMann's confidence, for one). But can we afford to bring in a decent left wing back AND bring in someone who'll give us some leadership (not necessarily the same person)?
MacKinnon and Gogic at the heart of midfield could well work. Miller and Redmond for the creative roles ahead (or Boyd if he comes back rejuvenated).
Rojano (or Oggy) up front.
If we still have Van Der Weg, Jenkins and Bingham, that takes us to 17 players, and we're sure to see one or two of the youngsters breaking through - Hughes? Cunningham?
But frankly, that looks like a weaker team than the one that's just stayed up by the skin of its teeth.
If somehow Temps stays, we may have a chance with that XI, as we have goals from several players, but our problems are more at the back, and I think we need to prioritise shoring up the defence. I'd like to see us sign an experienced centre-half who'd command the box and could be our captain. That would create competition for places in defence, and would hopefully plug the gaps and help us better defend set-pieces, which have cost us so much. If that's not possible, one high quality player anywhere on the field can lift the rest, as we've seen with Temps. I'd rather we made one decent acquisition than lots who aren't any better than what we already have.
sic a wife as Willie had, I wadna gie a button for her!