Yelloow Since 72

About 6''2" I think. Not sure why City need another CB when there are 6 at the moment, including the Aussie trialist Joarder.

I suggest reading the Pink''Un article ''Bridges Over Troubled Waters'' where he is very clear about his first choice - City.

I  think Steer deserves more credit for the clean sheet, his second in a row after Fakenham. Not bad ofr a 17 year old, number 3 keeper! Well done Jed!

That''s a surprising view coming from you LC!

Might be worth reading the 2nd half report as well before conclusions are drawn: "The second half started brightly, Gill flashing a shot wide after good work by Tudur Jones and at the other end Tade denied by a superb Adam Drury tackle and then by some brave goalkeeping by Steer, who grabbed the ball amid a face-full of studs. The first City changes came on 56 minutes, Maric and Jamie Cureton replaced by Bridges and Craig, with Otsemobor giving way to McVeigh, who soon made his mark, some clever footwork enabling him to control Pattison''s low cross from the left giving him the space to score from eight yards - another classy goal from the man who fired a cracker against Fakenham on Friday. Craig almost doubled the advantage but fired straight at the keeper and by the hour mark City were well on top. Spillane cleared one off the line with 10 minutes remaining, but City were worth the win."

Final score Raith 0 City 1

Some sanity at last! I particularly like the damned if we do, damned if we don''t post re ''lack of ambition!

I don''t think that Dickinson was ever the prime target. The Previous offers may have been testing the water. It''s also possible that things have moved on and Gunn and the 2 Ians think that Maric and Bridges might offer more than Dickinson.

That is right Elej. Hoolahan and Doc are more likely being saved until the tougher match on Thursday.

As one of those who has been suggesting Semmy at RM, I''m really pleased that Gunn is giving it a go. At this stage of pre-season, it''s still all about getting match-fit and Gunn looks like playing different teams in this and the next match. With the size of the squad boosted by all the triallists, he has plenty of options whilst enabling all the players to get match-fit. My guess would be that subs will be used freely but they haven''t been named as yet. Makes the game more interesting anyway! [:O]

Even with a limited budget, it is beginning to look possible to have at least 2 players at every position and a youth player behind each of those (trialists and possibles have a ?). GK Theoklitos, Rudd, Steer RB Otsemobor, Spillane, Mtandari? LB Drury, Lappin, Mtandari?, Habergham (Mtandari played RB and LB against Fakenham) CB Doherty, Nelson, Stephens CB Stefanovic, Spillane, Dumic, Joarder? CM Tudur-Jones, Spillane, Smith, Chrysanthou? CM Gill, Pattison, Adeyemi, Lappin RM Whaley?, Neilson?, Smith, McVeigh?, Lathrope LM Hoolahan, Lappin, Pattison, McVeigh? ST Maric?, Bridges?, Martin, Powell?, Renton, Kelly ST McDonald, Martin, Cureton, McVeigh?, Daley, Craig? If enough of the triallists work out this could develop into a reasonable squad, with youth players at every position for future development. I think that this is the right way to go rather than having to play players out of position (Russell as striker, etc.). Injuries would have less impact with such back-up available and consistency of performance easier to achieve, IMO.

I think Sammy and Rusty are going but there isn''t any indication Pattison will any time soon, or he wouldn''t have played at Dartford. Personally, I think a good team spirit is going to count more than individual stars next year.

Much as we will miss Clingan, especially defensively and for penalties and free-kicks, I think that if Russell and Clingan leave in exchange for wingers (as has been rumoured) that would leave a well balanced squad, especially if the current trialists, including Bridges and/or Craig) work out well. Trialists and possibles have a ?. GK Theoklitos, Rudd, Steer RB Otsemobor, Spillane, Mtandari? LB Drury, Lappin, Mtandari?, Habergham (Mtandari played RB and LB against Fakenham) CB Doherty, Nelson, Spillane CB Stefanovic, Stephens, Dumic, Joarder? CM Tudur-Jones, Spillane, Smith, Chrysanthou? CM Gill, Pattison, Adeyemi, Lappin RM Whaley?, Neilson, Smith, McVeigh?, Lathrope LM Hoolahan, Parry?, Lappin, Pattison, McVeigh? S Maric?, Bridges?, Martin, Powell?, Renton, Kelly S McDonald, Martin, Cureton, McVeigh?, Daley, Craig? If enough of the triallists work out this could develop into a reasonable squad, with youth players at every position for future development.

I also think Lee is what is needed now but would like to see the trialist Powell signed as well if he does well in Scotland. With the youth players from the Academy, the 3 trialists from Spurs and the Aussie Joarder would give a youth player at every position providing a third level back-up and at last some potential for the future. If major investment isn''t coming in, then developing young players is the way forward IMO. They can''t cost that much but could make a vital difference in the future.

Yes, both McVeigh and Mulryne, as well as the 2 Ians (Crook and Culverhouse) and the rest already named. Mtandari is of African descent BTW, and can play FB on either side. The squad looks quite balanced to me if the exchanges go ahead as rumoured: GK Theoklitos, Rudd, Steer RB Otsemobor, Spillane, Mtandari LB Drury, Lappin, Mtandari, Habergham CB Doherty, Nelson, Spillane CB Stefanovic, Stephens, Dumic, Joarder CM Tudur-Jones, Spillane, Smith, Chrysanthou CM Gill, Pattison, Adeyemi, Lappin RM Whaley?, Neilson, Smith, McVeigh?, Lathrope LM Hoolahan, Parry?, Lappin, Pattison, McVeigh? S Maric?, Martin, Powell, Renton, Kelly S McDonald, Martin, Cureton, McVeigh?, Daley I''d still like to see Lee or another physical presence up front, though.  

The latest rumour is a swap of Clingan for Parry plus cash.

Be interesting to see how these youngsters fare next time out against stiffer competition, but at least there is some chance of a target-man, if only in the future. It also sounds like Adeyemi might fit the Damien Francis role.

According to Archant reports, the 3 Spurs trialists (Powell, Mtandari, and Chrysanthou) have all been released by Spurs and Micky Hazard contacted Crook to see about trials for them. Crook thought all of them played well last night, especially ''target-man'' Powell who made 2, scored 2 and played the whole game. Crook came to City out of the same Spurs academy, as did Ian Culverhouse, Phil Mulryne and Paul McVeigh, who of course was back last night and also playing well and scoring a cracking 25 yard volley. The fourth trialist was the young Aussie Spoarder (CB, I think) who is still a bit of a mystery - another Crook connection? With Dumic and Stephens also playing well, future developement of the squad looks very positive.

Now he''s scored the 6th as well. Useful evening! OTBC!

I feel a another collective frenzy coming on that is likely to end in tears of frustration yet again. I''ll be delighted if this is not the case, and I fully support the signings so far, but it gets harder from here. Having said all that, I have to hope that a big striker and winger who can play either side or as a striker could be on the cards. (Could be Lee and Small, but then again it could be Wiggins on loan and further talks with Hughes.

I think that this is typical of the split in fans at the moment. For some, whatever happens it''ll be wrong. For others, there is a desire for things to get better. Being in the second camp, I think a lot of hard work has gone into the four signings so far. My concern is that this still has to be proved on the pitch. The Fakenham and Dartford games won''t be conclusive, but they will give some indication. I''m willing to keep an open mind on McVeigh, especially as he can play on either wing or as a strker. I also hope that Neilson works out as well, as the hunger players like him and Cody will be invaluable next year, which is going to be tough. My concern is still that of a strong and physical striker who can score and enable others to score. Lee, Dickinson, and Holt are all possibles, but the price has to be right. It''s interesting that McNally spoke of looking for players in the UK and abroad. Perhaps there''s something going on we don''t know about?

Not much information about him, but some pictures at least: http://www.zimbio.com/Michael+Theoklitos I suppose Crook knows of him from Oz days.

If it wasn''t for the fact that he is now 42 and retired he could have been just what we are looking for! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_%C3%85ge_Fj%C3%B8rtoft Oh well!

I think NYCanary is not far off the mark. I would like to see City aiming at 2 points per match overall and that would be 8 from the first 12. The signings so far have been good, IMO, but the 9 and 1 positions should be filled soon. The others can fill in later.

Like many others here, I''m getting a bit tired of the contsant moaning about everything at NCFC. NCISA seems to have become a focal point for this, which begs the question as to why they have the S in their acronym (I can''t remember the last time I heard any support for the club. Football is a game. As such it involves many different aspects. Personally, I think that changes were needed and changes have been made. Let''s give the new lot a chance before immediately descending into doom and gloom. Personally, I''m looking forward to a new season and hoping it goes well. OTBC!