Pre-season 23/24

They look ecstatic to be back.

 

Surely he gets another week off for being on Soccer Aid duty?

 

Should give him the season off at the very least.

 

Couldn’t we just donate him to wherever the Soccer Aid charitable proceeds go?

 

Seen this on Twitter. Person who posted it thinks Martins is the blonde on the left (just based on his hair).

Edit: Martins is 6cm shorter than Ferreira, so at a glance the height checks out.

 

I thought it was Kalu, having forgotten to dye his hair black.

 

Penaranda turned up for pre-season for old time’s sake?

 

He signed a 3-year deal with Boa Vista last summer, but a club sanction meant he couldn't be registered. He has now left them, so it would not shock me at all if he was back with us.

 

"Like a new signing".

 

Now with added go faster stripe!

 

Some people just buy a Porsche when they have a mid life crisis

 

Does it unlock turbo mode on his wheelchair?

 

Fixed for you

 

Keeping track of who we have seen.
Bold = seen.
A number of players missing.

 

what a dreadful collection of unsellable Pozzo tat accumulated over the years!

 

Pretty sure that was Kayembe in the very first silhouette photo from yesterday. As far as I'm concerned, way too many players have returned. It's a really depressing squad list.

 

That picture wasn't from yesterday. The players were wearing last year's red training kit in that photo.

 

Someone has suggested it could be Juergen Elitim? Similar height to Martins, and may have dyed his hair in the summer? I guess Martins would potentially have an extended break too, so would maybe make more sense?

 

Good spot. Yes, you are correct. The club fooled me with that. Thank god.....no Kayembe......get in.

 

I would say Elitim is 5 inches shorter than Ferreira, and that is not a 5 inch height difference in the photo.

 

This absolutely reeks. A handful who are serviceable at this level, and then a lot of dross that needs shifting, ASAP.

Jeremy Ngakia
Mario Gaspar
João Ferreira
Ashley Fletcher
Vakoun Bayo
Domingos Quina
Tom Dele-Bashiru
Ben Hamer
Christian Kabasele
Samuel Kalu
Francisco Sierralta
Mattie Pollock
Ignacio Pussetto
Kwadwo Baah
Maduka Okoye
Joseph Hungbo
Edo Kayembe
James Morris
Wesley Hoedt
Ryan Andrews
Tobi Adeyemo

 

I know Sarr is probably leaving but should he be in training or is he on international duty

 

He's with Senegal atm.

 

If Ismael can't win the league with that fine squad, he has no right to be managing in the championship.

 

We'll need to sign quite a few players just to get back to the level of last year's 11th placed finishing team, let alone start looking further up the table...

 

No, it was all down to ill-fitting coaches

 

On that, whilst agreeing with you, I think we had the quality to finish much higher, but the desire and attitude was pathetic. So, I feel we could reduce the quality as long as those coming in are of a Porteous type nature, which it sounds like they will be.

Looking at what we have left, right now, does look bleak though, I can't lie. Far too many have returned were part of the stinky culture or regulars on the treatment table. We need to move away from players with frequent injuries or questionable commitment. From the list I'd only keep Louza, Asprilla, Ferreira, Porteous and the youngsters who have broken through. The rest can all go.

 

Agreed, though we've the internationals ready to come back too don't forget. If they hang around then Porteous, Kone, Louza and Asprilla will add a little more quality.

 

I don't know about HMSptl, more like HMS down we go with that ensemble. Also, I was extremely relived to see that Bayo has returned. Feared that he would have been re-purchased by Charleroi after they rinsed us clean.

 

He wouldn't be on international duty would he?

 

But we've also lost our highest quality in Pedro (and soon) Sarr. I actually don't think we could've finished much higher with that squad, had us down for 8th-10th at the start of the season. A lot of the time it wasn't so much a lack of effort, it was just a team that were so fragile and lacking in character, something several of us called out last summer.

They still ran around a lot (ok not Davis) but they were bullied and intimated, plus overly cautious on the ball. Good sides need a bit of devil in them, our squad last season were a collection of wet lettuces.