Annan Season 4 Pre-Season
Transfers
It was evident that I need to improve the squad even further if we were make premier league so another season of player in out the door was in order
Out
The start of transfer period seen me release 5 players Stephen Tulloch, Martin McNiff, Steven Logan, Josh Horne and Alan Cook. With new transfers coming and repeating dropping down the pecking order they had go. I was Sorry to see Steven Logan and Josh Horne like last season when I let Mackay and McStay i felt that these guys were part of the history of club. McNiff and Cook i considered players that were there as back-up and with team progressing there demand was less but wished them best. Tulloch was player i was happy to see go he began as decent but through the see he wanted more and more which he was just not good enough.
My hardest transfer so far was letting the our legendary goalkeeper Pierre Antoine Martini leave. He had became such a hit with the fans and this decision had with a lot backlash from fan. At first i did not want him to leave but the offer came from Dundee which was quite surprising they were a league above and Martini was not that standard. Once the offer came of 6.5K he was going and nobody would change that and didn't want keep unhappy players. Jamie Bain would be the next player to leave club going on 1K deak to Brechin another story completely the same as Stephen Tulloch bye haha. Jamie Bowman would never start his second year on loan going out to Hayes and Yeading this time.
I decided to free up a few more spaces to enable more bigger players to come and plus the squad was getting a lot bigger. The first to leave was Phil Johnston who with current and new arrival had found himself very far down the pecking order he joined Alloa. Josh Todd was another player I have had seen the start didn't really want to see him go but he wasn't going to get some game time as last season, he left on free to join Forfar. Again the same case here two players because of new better arrival had to leave Yohan M'Vila and Grant Gallagher both left and double deal to Arbroath.
In
First transfer I got done was I renewed the loan deal of Jack Barmby, he would join my squad for another year. Micheal Kelly also renew his loan. Good luck always comes in threes as Kyle Dempsey announced he would stay.
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I did sign a player on free before transfer period began I signed The Gambia's 25 year old Seejou King from Sporting Lisbon B. He would offer more options at left back.
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The second full time signing i made was 28 year old Spanish Right Winger Garban on a free from Guijuelo. I didn't much about him replied on scout recommendations
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We added another CM to the squad in the form of Ross Forbes, he joined form Dunfermline on free transfer.
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Scott Wright who previously loaned last season became availiable on a free transfer so i thought give him a shot and let him join.
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The Next deal I got done was too replace Martini so I signed 28 year old Scottish Goalkeeper John Gibson on free transfer from Dunfermline. he vast experience from playing in all 4 leagues
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Sixth full time signing of the Window was for 22 year old French CM Ambroise Begue who arrives from Nancy. The only way is up for this guy got bags of potential and can be a big player here.
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I still had the link from Dundee United which enable me to loan 2 players and this year there a whole bunch of new players. I decided 20 year old Scottish CM Scott Lochhead could he and Begue produce this year partnership.
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Or could my next signing have something to say about I bought Ross Davidson on free transfer from Rangers. We will see...
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I made another striker addition 25 year old Scottish Gary Oliver on free transfer from Hearts, we lacked goals last season ans surely one my striker can hit it big
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I agreed a deal Reading Fc to break my transfer record by paying 70K for English Right back Tennai Watson. The 21 year old would right into the first team.
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Transfer deadline day saw me add my 14th and 15th addition of season first was DR Congo 21 year Left Back/Striker (Work out that combo haha) Boli Bolingoli -Mbombo on free transfer. Wasn't going to sign him but it was a absolute steal couldn't resist. My second signing was a rather smash and grab deal don't know how it will go. I signed Faissel El Bakhtaoui from Hibernian. I signed the 24 year old for 5.25K.
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I promise these were the last addtions to squad I made two free transfers after the deadline 25 year old Portuguese CB Miguel Lourenco from Vit Setubal and 30 year old German CB Steven Ruprecht from Rostock. These signing were made to strength that back two and give the option of player a back three aswell.
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The Team
After all of the in and out the final team looked like this
GK: Craig McDowall, John Gibson
RB: David Symington, Tennai Watson
LB: Aswad Thomas, Seejou King, Boli Bolingoli -Mbombo
CB: Steven Swinglehurst, Micheal Kelly, Andy Parry, Miguel Lourenco, Steven Ruprecht
CM: Ross Forbes, Ambroise Begue, Scott Lochhead, Ross Davidson
RM: Bobby Linn, Garban,Faissel El Bakhtaoui
LM: Stuart McColm,
ST: David Hopkirk, Scott Wright, Kyle Dempsey, Emanuele Bardelloni, Gary Oliver
Squad Numbers
1 Craig McDowall
2 David Symington
3 Aswad Thomas
4 Ross Forbes
5 Steven Swinglehurst
6 Andy Parry
7 Garban
8 Ambroise Begue
9 David Hopkirk
10 Scott Wright
11 Stuart McColm
12 Tennai Watson
13 John Gibson
15 Micheal Kelly
16 Ross Davidson
17 Emanuele Bardelloni
18 Bobby Linn
19 Cameron Park
20 Diego De Girolamo
21 Jack Barmby
22 Kyle Dempsey
23 Vacant ( Was Held by Grant Gallagher before departure)
24 Scott Lochhead
25 Miguel Lourenco (Was Held by Yohan M'Vila before departure )
26 Gary Oliver
28 Mark Timlin
30 Steven Ruprecht
33 Seejou King
40 Scott Wallace (Youth Team)
42 Lewis Murray (Youth Team)
44 Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo
51 Faissel El Bakhtaoui
The Strongest Line-Up in my opinion
4-2-2-2) with a AMR/L : Gibson, Watson, Kelly, Loucenco, Boli-Bolingoli, Begue, Davidson, Garban, Barmby, Bardelloni, Wright
Subs : McDowall, Parry, King, Dempsey, Oliver, De Girolamo, Park
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I think this is my strongest line up but I have plenty of depth
Pre-Season
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Our Pre-Season saw us play 4 teams from all different league we would Cowdenbeath, Rotherham, Dundee United and Craigmark. To be honest it was one the worst pre-season we have ever had first getting a bleak draw against Cowdenbeath then getting smashed 4-1 and 3-1 by Rotherdam and Dundee United. The only thing that soften the blow was the 3-0 win against Craigmark who to be honest we should of beat 7 or 8-0. Hard to pick a best player from that but i'll say Kyle Dempsey. Lets hope were better in the season.