Richie - 5 more signings needed

I make it 10 or 14 players depending on whether you include the 4 youth players who made 1 first team appearance between them. Either way, the others include 2 pointless loan signings and a CB who didn't play at all last season.

So 7 losses of any significance. 1 or 2 of those likely influenced by Obiero and possibly Pegrum stepping up into the first team squad.

Sounds like we already have a keeper all but ready to announce.

Still seven weeks of the window to go.

There is as you rightly say 7 weeks to go.  But that flies in the face of RW saying he doesn’t want us to repeat last seasons poor start because we were not prepared and NT saying we need to be quicker. If we don’t recruit, and soon, we are letting RW down. Given his commitment to the club that would be frankly unacceptable in my opinion.  It won’t happen, it cannot happen.

I fully expect 3 signings to be announced very shortly with maybe a couple of later arrivals.  But yet again other clubs are getting on with it, building for the new season and we are standing still.

Depends partly on how serious we are about the full-back trialists. That's potentially a couple of signings who've been training with us this whole time. Big if, granted.

The way Richie has been talking about Perkins and Kelman I think we can assume they'll be competing for the 9 spot. Maybe you don't consider them "major", but they're two first team signings nonetheless.

We appear to be crossing the t's and dotting the i's on a keeper.

So potentially we're only a DM away from an L1-ready starting lineup.

We have a packed schedule in the first 2 months of the season.  We need depth.  We haven’t got depth.  If the trialists are good, great, if the keeper is sorted, great. But as we stand today we are lacking.  We need more than rumours, guesses, hopes.  We need contracted players who have enjoyed a full preseason (too late for that already) and ready to go.

3 in next week will help.  Trialists doing well in Scotland will help. But however you slice it, we need contracted players because until we sign them, other teams can.

Tbf Richie is usually very complimentary about players. Good management. Boost their confidence. Did the same with Drinan before he went.

RW definitely has a touch or two of cloughy about him.
Knows its pointless crucifying players,the arm round the shoulders works wonders.and the heart on the sleeve manner as well.
Not a great tactician,but better than tommy Taylors pie n mash and swimming sessions

Yes I’ve noticed that RW is often effusive in his praise of players shortly before he lets them go!😆😆👍

Praise in public. Bollock in private. I’m sure RW knows when to dish out the bollockings but like the good manager he is will rarely do it in public.  The other side of that coin is the praise he gives. Genuine? Sales pitch for other clubs? Fodder for the fan base? Boost for the player?  Take your pick.

We have at least two decent players in every position except the ones mentioned. Some astute first-team signings there and our depth will be fine imo. We can't afford to prepare for multiple long-term injuries in the same position as happened last year. If it happens again, we just have to deal with it the best we can come January.

I expect many of the big signings will happen later in the window. The most in-demand players will bide their time unless a big team makes an offer they can't refuse.