Ins and Outs 2026/27

Malcomiller said:
Actually Lees lives in Harrogate I believe so an offer from them would suit him. Fact that they've taken him on while not actually fit seems risky
Click to expand...
Yes he does live in Harrogate. It’s a good deal for both Harrogate and the player.
It’s National League and will bring experience to their backline.
I wasn’t convinced he would get much game time with us. T.L. Is quoted as saying he’s turned EFL Clubs down to join Harrogate.
 
With our injury-prone players - who knows? Don't forget that Douglas and Duncan are already out injured! We probably didn't offer Lees a 2-year contract.
It will break the hearts of the Radio Sheffield presenters to see one of "their boys" going elsewhere, but we have now got to move on - time is running out! We can't afford to get sidetracked by timewasters.

No "official" news yet on which trialists have been offered contracts.
 
Last edited:
mikemiller said:
With our injury-prone players - who knows? Don't forget that Douglas and Duncan are already out injured! We probably didn't offer Lees a 2-year contract.
It will break the hearts of the Radio Sheffield presenters, seeing one of "their boys" going elsewhere, but we have now got to move on - time is running out! We can't afford to get sidetracked by timewasters.
Click to expand...
Dodged a bullet there. Same with Vassell. The RUFC love affair with crocks appears unabated. And I see some fans and media falling for the narrative, 'need for experience' blah, blah. Experience on high wages in the treatment room is no good to anyone. And for goodness sake we're talking L2 attackers. Agbaire and Adegboyega are not kids and don't need a 30 odd year old nanny; or shouldn't.
 
What we need at centre back is not necessarily experience. What we need imo is a bit of aggression. That doesn’t mean someone who’ll get lots of yellow cards and the occasional red. It means someone who will attack headers, get involved in physical battles, out-muscle a centre forward, shout at team mates - just be a big presence. Someone like a Richard Wood, Chris Swales or (dare I say it) a Guy Branston - someone you just wouldn’t mess with. He needs to be able to play a simple twenty yard pass to a team mate but beyond that his ability on the ball doesn’t really matter. If we can get that guy in and if he is fit to play far more often than not, I couldn’t care less if he is 21 or 41. That’s what we are missing.
 
CleanSweeper said:
What we need at centre back is not necessarily experience. What we need imo is a bit of aggression. That doesn’t mean someone who’ll get lots of yellow cards and the occasional red. It means someone who will attack headers, get involved in physical battles, out-muscle a centre forward, shout at team mates - just be a big presence. Someone like a Richard Wood, Chris Swales or (dare I say it) a Guy Branston - someone you just wouldn’t mess with. He needs to be able to play a simple twenty yard pass to a team mate but beyond that his ability on the ball doesn’t really matter. If we can get that guy in and if he is fit to play far more often than not, I couldn’t care less if he is 21 or 41. That’s what we are missing.
Click to expand...
I completely agree, Clean. A Ray Mielczarek, Ian Sharps and as you say Swales character.
 
CleanSweeper said:
What we need at centre back is not necessarily experience. What we need imo is a bit of aggression. That doesn’t mean someone who’ll get lots of yellow cards and the occasional red. It means someone who will attack headers, get involved in physical battles, out-muscle a centre forward, shout at team mates - just be a big presence. Someone like a Richard Wood, Chris Swales or (dare I say it) a Guy Branston - someone you just wouldn’t mess with. He needs to be able to play a simple twenty yard pass to a team mate but beyond that his ability on the ball doesn’t really matter. If we can get that guy in and if he is fit to play far more often than not, I couldn’t care less if he is 21 or 41. That’s what we are missing.
Click to expand...
Agreed and there are quite a few about - our forwards seemed regularly to get out-muscled by them last season. Raggett and Morrison were supposed to be that player and if they'd stayed fit they might have been (and a bit quicker). McCart was not. I thought Wiredu might do that job before Plymouth gazumped us. The point I'm making is there are options and we don't need a near 36 year old who hasn't been fit enough to train let alone play in a game.
 
A modern day Ian Sharps would do very nicely. Claude Davis wasn’t a great footballer, but he did a job at the level and took no prisoners. A fit Morrison or Raggett would have been great additions (Raggett was excellent when we had him on loan a few years ago). Sadly they weren’t able to be their best and play regularly for us. We are in League Two now - we don’t need ball playing centre halves. We need a good old fashioned ‘stopper’. I’m still optimistic for Harrison Duncan by the way. He is a unit but also quite mobile. Hopefully the Millers injury curse hasn’t struck him.
 
31/07/26

BBC Radio Sheffield - Interview with Paul Mullin, but nothing about any other possible signings, which trialists have/haven't been been offered Millers contracts, etc.

Main news was that our feathered neighbours have followed up the signing of Trueman with Bairstow. Probably Boycott next?... they seem to be a bit confused about which sport they are supposed to be playing. :p
 
Last edited:
Lindum said:
True but Daily Record is carrying the story as a done deal.
Click to expand...
Wonder if he was offered a contract with the Millers and he’s turned it down or he’s just chosen to go back to Scotland. As far as I know Bruce Anderson has never played in the English leagues. His second stint at Livingston .
Still quite a lot to do recruitment wise, perhaps Monday may bring an announcement…on the other hand ???.
 
Being linked on another forum with Josh Powell, 21 yo Notts Forest player presumably a loan if true. Plays LB, LWB, LW. Left foot. Know little about him except he played on loan at Colchester and Fleetwood last season. If we are after him it may have implications for some of the trialists?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.