So who exactly is signed up for next season so far:

1. R. Esson

2. J. Meekings

3. A. Doran

4. S. Sutherland

5. R. Foran

6. A. Shinnie

7. G. Shinnie

8. G. Morrison

9. N. Ross

10. B. McKay

11. G. Warren

12. O. Tudor Jones

13. S. Mathison

14. L. Polworth

15. G. Smith

16. M. Laing

17. C. Hogg

18. D. Raven

19. A. Reguero

20. J. Oswell

....who else?

Ryan Esson (announced signed 2-year contract - 17-May-12) - STAY

Thomas Piermayr (rejected new contract - 01-Jun-12) - GONE

Ross Tokely (rejected new contract - 01-Jun-12) - GONE

Owain Tudur Jones (agreed new contract) - STAY

Chris Hogg (agreed new contract) - STAY

Jonny Hayes (joined Aberdeen 2-year contract) - GONE

Greg Tansey (joined Stevenage 3-year contract - 25-May-12) - GONE

Gregory Tade (joined St.Johnstone 2-year contract - 30-May-12) - GONE

Billy McKay (announced signed 2-year contract - 01-Jun-12) - STAY

Kenny Gillet

David Proctor - not offered new contract - RELEASED

Jonny Tuffey - not offered new contract - RELEASED

Edited June 28, 201213 yr by Tichy_Blacks_Back
Updated List

If he's only planning two more signings, then I can't say I'm very confident about the new season. I wonder of Polworth, Laing and Pepper are part of the "seven".

If he's only planning two more signings, then I can't say I'm very confident about the new season. I wonder of Polworth, Laing and Pepper are part of the "seven".

well if he has signed 5 players and he is planning 2 more then i take it they're not part of the seven

Well done Steve Marsella

Oops, wrong forum

Oops, wrong forum

Wrong planet ?

So, if we bring in another player, we are then on 22 players but seem a bit short defensively so will loanees be coming in do you reckon, IHE, sorry, i know IHE knows these things, thats why i asked him :P?

Fortunately it would appear that we are trying to get a squad as full of "regulars" as possible. I suspect that we are awaiting responses from at least another two short contract contacts and then we may look at loanees if unsuccessful. If injuries hit us again loanees are the way out.

Who is Ryan Watson who played at Buckie yesterday? Is he one of our youngsters? Or have I missed a signing in all the comings and goings recently?

Ryan Watson plays in the u19 team. He is the grandson of ex Caley trainer Alex Young.

Terrys column in todays Press and Journal indicates a few more moves in the transfer market. He says that the expects to hear back early this week from a player that has been earmarked for a while, sounds like the player has quite a few options so we'll have to wait and see on that one. He says he has one other target but also expects to make two other signings.

Our defensive options at the weekend sounded pretty bare so i'm sure Terry will be identifying some defensive recruits. If as the article suggests we are going to be making 4 new additions then a left back, a centre half, a striker and a winger would be my preference in guys coming in

The problem with loan signings are they are an extra expense - especially if they are coming from somewhere "good". I still expect them to be Plan B and on a strict six month basis.

We need a left back, Centre half and a striker in my eyes. McKay has played a fair whack of his career out wide and could be again be utilised there if needs be and Sutherland can play there (though I think he's be better utlised up front with McKay, Shinnie and Doran (or Ross for one of these guys) playing off him and Foran and Jones in the midfield positions (again Draper/Morrison).

3 players in the positions outlined would give us a squad of 24 which, for us, is ideal. I'd even be ok without a striker if the new boy Oswell is up to it, as I see left back and a centre half, of which I'd happily take Roman Golabart back on loan, as the positions needing attention.

TB says in todays Pysh and Drivel thats he's aiming to sign 1 player this week, and is considering player Meekings in central defence after Warren got injured last night, Jeez i am really getting worried about the season ahead... should i be?

The key to a succesful team is a settled and solid defence. So yes, you should be worried.

After seeing how stretched out small squad was with last night's game I am worried as well. The right back Cooper looks a good prospect though. Is he on trial?

Rudi Skacel would be a great signing for us. Could we not use some of the Muirfield money to tempt him north?

Rudi Skacel would be a great signing for us. Could we not use some of the Muirfield money to tempt him north?

I really can't see us getting anywhere near Skacel Row S. Hearts,even skint are likely to be able to afford higher wages than us and he was one of their higher earners and they can't bring together a package to keep him so i sincerely doubt we'd have much in the way of any financial muscle to tempt him.

It would appear David Raven is now injured as well as Warren. So that means our fully fit defenders at the moment are: Meekings, Shinnie and Cooper (U19)

Deja Vu.

You've got to laugh...... or is that cry!

*rummages in the cupboard for boots*

Dont tell me we have bought another bunch of cripples, what kind of medicals are these guys getting before they get signed

Medicals dont predict injury. That said it seems that footballers get injured very easily nowadays. We are not the only club that has problems. I just wonder what is so different about the way they train and warm up etc. Are gyms a problem? I played shinty. The only injuries I succumbed to were due to contact with a stick. I didnt go to the gym. I didnt do extensive fitness training. I still managed to go out on the lash on a friday night then play a full game on saturday.

Is the intensive training of the bodern day footballer actually weakening muscle? Is the footwear maybe the problem?

intensive fitness reigimes come at a risk as does everything.

footballers have to be so fit these days that they have to push their body to the limit, this is why alot of youths dont make it and get injured, because the training is too much for them.

intensive fitness reigimes come at a risk as does everything.

footballers have to be so fit these days that they have to push their body to the limit, this is why alot of youths dont make it and get injured, because the training is too much for them.

Seems to me it shouldn't if it isn't a one size fits all set up....if it is, then of course you are going to have some players with weaknesses which will be exacerbated by techniques which do not help their specific problems.

Bearing in mind that I know sod all re football...and have not been at many matches over the piece in the last few years, I have never been overly impressed at the warm-up/stretching exercises the subs periodically do. They seem to me to be half-hearted and the minimum required. At Buckie the other night, the players before the second half spent more time wandering about and chatting than anything else and repetitions of any mobility exercises were conspicuous by their absence (imo).

But I have the problem that in the mid/late sixties, which was the last time I understood and really appreciated football , which, frankly, imo, has become as regimented in the money-making echelons into uselessness, just as nursing, etc has over the years with the insertion of "career opportunities and expectations" and "degrees", has trashed the NHS, there was no gym..or the same intensive training. My almost-ex used to keep his fitness for Highland League up by running the sand-dunes at Findhorn during the off-season and periodically during the season if we happened to be down with the kids.

Never quite got my head round the idea that in the last forty years it takes more intensive stamina and fitness training to last the same length of time doing much the same thing as players used to manage without it.....bar the fact that a whole lucrative industry appears to have grown up to make money from "training" players specially to last 90 minutes, or getting their heads right so they mentally can last 90 minutes, or other variations on an "I see a possible problem and I have a solution which will cost you....and I guarantee I will find a problem if you let me loose among your squad".