2025/26 squad

[MarciaBlaine]

A glutton for punishment, perhaps, but time to start thinking about new signings.

Edit: I forgot about keepers! Think we need at least one if not two.

Clearly a tight budget might constrain us, but we desperately need full-backs. Otherwise, defensively, we have 3 very capable centre backs so that's a solid footing. One more backup who can also play at full-back would suffice.

In midfield, another defensively-minded player in the mould of Martin is required. I do wonder whether we'll lighten our midfield by releasing some contracted players - we have a glut there. Goals from midfield are clearly an issue but we have players who can, in theory, fulfil that number 8 role in Stanway and Crawford. We have 4 wingers contracted (Fitzpatrick, Chalmers, McKay and Lawless) and that's plenty - perhaps too many, depending on how we set up.

And up top, we need at least one more striking option even with Diack returning from loan. The future of Graham being the elephant in the room, of course.

Who should we sign? And more importantly who can we afford? The likes of Docherty and Moult, who've been released by DU, would be great but are a pipedream, financially.

Edited May 20 by MarciaBlaine
goalkeepers

[Juanito]

Fair amount of budget tied up in some aging or injury prone players, think we will be coming to an agreement with a few players in the next few days, need to inject some energy and youth to the squad, but the bones of a solid team is there but a lot of work finding a midfielder and full backs who fit into our playing style are not easy to come by let alone a striker and a functional full time goalkeeper. Exciting times ahead. But at least a new manager has space to put his stamp on the squad.

[Yellow & Redneck]

At a minimum: 

GK: Mitchell as a back-up. I see Dabrowski has been released by Raith Rovers and is a decent shot-stopper. 

LB/RB: Megwa is mince, and is still under contract at Hibs. Hopefully won't be back next season. Reid is Lidl's own-brand extra-value mince (as well as injured so can't see him coming back). Desperately in need of two full-backs. 

CM: Probably need a defensive minded and attacking minded CM. Hopefully see Bannigan and at least one other moved on. Shame that Crawford is still under contract. 

Winger: Need at least one more wide-player. Hopefully MacKay can get a full season under his belt. Might have to cut our losses with Lawless. 

Striker: Need one more striker. Someone smaller and nippier than Graham/Diack. Michael Hirst at Dumbarton has been mentioned. 

The way I see it, we really need 6 additions, and to move on the deadwood and the younger guys who just haven't done enough to break through. 

 

 

[Dick Dastardly]

I wonder if we could prise Shaw away from Hamilton ? Way too good for League One, but would probably need to be a replacement for Graham rather than in addition to him.

Edited May 20 by Dick Dastardly

[laukat]

For next season I think we have 0 Goalkeepers, 3 defenders, 4 centre midfielders, 4 wingers and 2 strikers under contract. So 13 signed and minimum squad is usually 21. Potentially Low and Dolan might be seen as part of the squad so somewhere between 6 to 8 signings required

However I would question if we are going to keep Mackay, Lawless, Mackenzie and Diack. Graham depends on the head coach job and we already know Martin is out for a chunk of next season. 

So we could be needing anywhere between 6 and 12 players. Thankfully we have a Sporting Director who will well advanced in recruitment and we can expect stellar replacements to start arriving imminently? 

 

[laukat]

6 minutes ago, Dick Dastardly said:

I wonder if we could prise Oakley away from Hamilton ? Way too good for League One, but would probably need to be a replacement for Graham rather than in addition to him.

Do you mean Shaw at Hamilton? Oakley's at Ayr

[Dick Dastardly]

I do. Sorry.

[Dick Dastardly]

8 minutes ago, laukat said:

Thankfully we have a Sporting Director who will well advanced in recruitment and we can expect stellar replacements to start arriving imminently? 

 

The “gallusticos”

[lady-isobel-barnett]

Happy enough with Mitchell as back up keeper. Tho' we did miss Roberts I would prefer a keeper with much better distribution.

In an ideal situation we would replace Martin with a loanee defensive mid. Failing that, and assuming he's on more than a year contract, it would be preferable if such a player could play in more than the one position.

We also need a tidy box to box midfielder, one who is comfortable to move forward with the ball. Only McBeth, but most often from defence, can retain the ball with some effect in that manner. 

Up front of course depends on whether Graham is still with us. Leaving that aside I'm with Y & R re a smaller nippier striker. What I feel must change is any such signing must believe he's got as much chance as the next player to getting a start. Otherwise we'll not improve on the likes of Ablade or Jakubiak. Saying that, and far down the list of priorities, I wouldn't be averse to retaining Jakubiak as a squad player. 

Taking a more global view we need to redress the age of the squad and certainly up the pace in certain areas.

[JeanieD]

In my view players such as Docherty, Moult and Gallagher at Dundee U are way above the financial capabilities of the club - and we might be well below their aspirations as far as a club they might to join is concerned. 
We need to take a more rational and balanced approach to this summer’s recruitment- something which I think was lacking at this time last year. 
Interesting times ahead in many ways this close season perhaps.

[Third Lanark]

7 minutes ago, lady-isobel-barnett said:

Happy enough with Mitchell as back up keeper. Tho' we did miss Roberts I would prefer a keeper with much better distribution.

In an ideal situation we would replace Martin with a loanee defensive mid. Failing that, and assuming he's on more than a year contract, it would be preferable if such a player could play in more than the one position.

We also need a tidy box to box midfielder, one who is comfortable to move forward with the ball. Only McBeth, but most often from defence, can retain the ball with some effect in that manner. 

Up front of course depends on whether Graham is still with us. Leaving that aside I'm with Y & R re a smaller nippier striker. What I feel must change is any such signing must believe he's got as much chance as the next player to getting a start. Otherwise we'll not improve on the likes of Ablade or Jakubiak. Saying that, and far down the list of priorities, I wouldn't be averse to retaining Jakubiak as a squad player. 

Taking a more global view we need to redress the age of the squad and certainly up the pace in certain areas.

Is Roberts contract up at the end of the season? We obviously can’t get near what he would be earning just now but if his contract is up no harm in asking the question.

Like you I think Mitchell and Budinikaus are more than fine for backup

[fenski]

35 minutes ago, JeanieD said:

In my view players such as Docherty, Moult and Gallagher at Dundee U are way above the financial capabilities of the club - and we might be well below their aspirations as far as a club they might to join is concerned. 
We need to take a more rational and balanced approach to this summer’s recruitment- something which I think was lacking at this time last year. 
Interesting times ahead in many ways this close season perhaps.

I'd like to see Ross Docherty back, but assuming he doesn't have any lingering injury doubts, he'll definitely get something with a bottom six SPL club.

[jags on tour]

I see Nicky Clark has left St Johnstone,

I’d take him on a perm-anent deal. He’d be head and shoulders above everyone in this league.

[JAGSMAN1968]

cut it out!

[ChiThistle]

2 hours ago, Third Lanark said:

Is Roberts contract up at the end of the season? We obviously can’t get near what he would be earning just now but if his contract is up no harm in asking the question.

Like you I think Mitchell and Budinikaus are more than fine for backup

I was looking up his stats this season and it looks like he hasn’t seen the pitch in his current loan deal.  Might be able to entice him with guaranteed game time.

[Dick Dastardly]

45 minutes ago, ChiThistle said:

I was looking up his stats this season and it looks like he hasn’t seen the pitch in his current loan deal.  Might be able to entice him with guaranteed game time.

He has been injured 

[elevenone]

Ethan Drysdale freed by Hearts.  Maybe will see him in a Jags top yet.

[jlsarmy]

8 hours ago, fenski said:

I'd like to see Ross Docherty back, but assuming he doesn't have any lingering injury doubts, he'll definitely get something with a bottom six SPL club.

Take Ross Docherty back in a heart beat , maybe supplement his wages with the PTFC Women’s Team Managers Job

[Stephen1876]

I’d like us to have a clear signing strategy for next season, focused on an experienced core supplemented by younger players, including some of our own academy players  

Our 2012/13 squad was a mix of experienced players (Archie, Craig) shrewd lower league signings (ATS, Aero, Craigen) and bringing through young players (either our own like Banzo or those released by others such as SoD, Welshy and Forbes).

We have the core of a good experienced squad but I felt we lacked legs this year. I’d like to be signing players of 25 years old max (unless an exception like Doc becomes available) and be trying to progress some of our own young guys like Low, Dolan, Rooney, Falconer, MacKenzie and Diack. We need to be developing players and selling them in the years ahead. 

[Jaggernaut]

2 hours ago, Stephen1876 said:

I’d like us to have a clear signing strategy for next season, focused on an experienced core supplemented by younger players, including some of our own academy players  

Our 2012/13 squad was a mix of experienced players (Archie, Craig) shrewd lower league signings (ATS, Aero, Craigen) and bringing through young players (either our own like Banzo or those released by others such as SoD, Welshy and Forbes).

We have the core of a good experienced squad but I felt we lacked legs this year. I’d like to be signing players of 25 years old max (unless an exception like Doc becomes available) and be trying to progress some of our own young guys like Low, Dolan, Rooney, Falconer, MacKenzie and Diack. We need to be developing players and selling them in the years ahead. 

Agree with much of that. I'd add that the younger players you mention need a run of games to get up to speed and the conditions of the game, not just coming one for 10-20 minutes if they're (un)lucky, with little time to get settled or make a real impact.

[King Kenny]

A smaller squad supplemented by youth players is what I’d like to see us run with this season. Finances will most likely dictate that any way but it seems a sensible way to get the most out of our budget.

The waste of an improved budget last year on an over inflated first team squad that then required to be slashed should be a reminder of how important recruitment is. It might also finally allow a proper pathway for players from the academy in to the first team squad. 
 

Guardiola has stated today that he wants a vastly reduced first team squad supplemented by youth when/if required to cover injuries. I think he mentioned a squad of 21. 
 

Obviously we’re not comparable to the squad of Man City (!) but the premise of what he’s trying to do makes sense. Have a smaller, competitive pool to pick from with the chance to bleed in young players.

If achievable, some of our in contract players can hopefully be moved on as our squad has lacked balance all season. 
 

The new manager needs to be in place asap to decide the way he wants the team to play which in turn will allow the SD to recruit players to suit. This is the bit that slightly worries me, I hope our recruitment is much improved this year. 

 
 

 

[jlsarmy]

22 minutes ago, King Kenny said:

A smaller squad supplemented by youth players is what I’d like to see us run with this season. Finances will most likely dictate that any way but it seems a sensible way to get the most out of our budget.

The waste of an improved budget last year on an over inflated first team squad that then required to be slashed should be a reminder of how important recruitment is. It might also finally allow a proper pathway for players from the academy in to the first team squad. 
 

Guardiola has stated today that he wants a vastly reduced first team squad supplemented by youth when/if required to cover injuries. I think he mentioned a squad of 21. 
 

Obviously we’re not comparable to the squad of Man City (!) but the premise of what he’s trying to do makes sense. Have a smaller, competitive pool to pick from with the chance to bleed in young players.

If achievable, some of our in contract players can hopefully be moved on as our squad has lacked balance all season. 
 

The new manager needs to be in place asap to decide the way he wants the team to play which in turn will allow the SD to recruit players to suit. This is the bit that slightly worries me, I hope our recruitment is much improved this year. 

 
 

 

Thought it was the other way round and the SD was there to push forward the style of play and the direction the Club was going in .

If not , I’m unsure what the role of the SD is ?

[scotty]

1 hour ago, jlsarmy said:

Thought it was the other way round and the SD was there to push forward the style of play and the direction the Club was going in .

If not , I’m unsure what the role of the SD is ?

Hopefully the club will make this clear soon and stop all the "experts" speculating.

[Aliballibee]

"The waste of an improved budget last year on an over inflated first team squad that then required to be slashed should be a reminder of how important recruitment is."

You might argue that the budget wasn't wasted since we made the play off semi-final? Did anyone think (realistically) that we would win the league outright? 

[chunky jag]

I thought we’d win the league at start of the season. Years in the play offs, turner back who was brilliant last time with us (imo), signing dan mackay, ashcroft, megwa after his promising season with airdri, i thought livi would be decent, and i was sure falkirk would be in play offs, but i didnt think we’d be as limp as we were all season.
 

we scored 3+ goals twice all season, the lowest in the league for this metric. If i was to guess we had a budget that was top 2 in the league, which suggests a title challenge bare minimum. We were never ever in contention, from that first 0-0 draw at home to morton 1st day of season we looked broken, i think the budget was wasted. But maybe i was wrong and too optimistic (which would be unusual for me!)