Last season we had the smallest squad of all 92 EFL and PL clubs. That is not a statistic I am at all keen on seeing again.
So you aren't at all keen on seeing us reach the play-offs again?
Some perspective is needed here. Some people have unrealistic fantasies about Lincoln having loads of money and being able to spend a large chunk of it on a brilliant striker who will score us 30 goals next season. Pie in the sky, I'm afraid.
Lincoln have a solid financial position without question, but spending a lot of money on this mythical striker (or on any other player at our level) could prove disastrous if it does not come off. Every transfer is a risk: just ask Barnet about Dave Tarpey, who they signed on big money to propel them to League One. Serious injury in his second game, ruled out for twelve months, no money left to sign a valid replacement, relegated to the National League.
I would much rather see Lincoln build something inexorably solid over the course of several seasons. There seems to be a rabid impatience descending over some sections of support, anxious to win every game and reach League One as soon as we can. It isn't just about the destination, so why not enjoy the journey and make sure we do it the right way?
Summer business so far looks very good to me. We have two very exciting young players replacing some dead weight (Walton, Knott, Stewart, Arnold, Farman). OK, we have lost Woodyard, but that means we already have two very good players where we previously had one. If Danny keeps adding players of that calibre, that will do me. In terms of quality, I think we are already in a better position than we were last season.
Of course we need more players to make a viable squad, but Danny's record so far at Lincoln is probably second to none in British football, and I include the likes of Manchester City in that statement. He has stated on numerous occasions that he likes to work with a smaller squad, of perhaps 24. That has worked for us so far, has it not? He will add a number of players over the next few weeks who will be just as exciting as Andrade and Toffolo. Furthermore, Danny can hardly force players to sign when they are biding their time and weighing up options. That is exactly what the better ones tend to do because they are in demand and receive more offers. The transfer market is a lot more difficult to navigate than most people realise.
No League Two club is signing a lot of players at the moment, and those who have (Colchester, Cheltenham, Port Vale, Stevenage - all bottom-half sides, you will note) have signed a right load of rubbish. The agents try to hold sway at this stage of the window, and the clubs are telling them to get lost. That will change very soon as the agents get pressure from their clients and start to panic.
Some people almost seem to believe we failed in the transfer market last season, which is crazy: we reached the play-offs at the first attempt, finished in the highest position of all the promoted clubs in the top five divisions, and won the Checkatrade Trophy. I prefer to trust the manager who did all of that.