[NoSkillz]

July 2019 - Transfer Window


Transfers IN - Senior Team


GK - Paddy Martin - £0 (From Hibernian) - 19 years old, Scotland
DL - Jack Wilson - £0 (From St. Johnstone) - 18 years old, Scotland
DL - Michael Kennedy - £0 (From Forfar) - 22 years old, Scotland
DC - Josh MacDonald - £0 (From Vale of Leithen) - 20 years old, Scotland
DC - Jamie Hamill - £0 (From Stranraer) - 32 years old, Scotland
DC - Jason Krones - £0 (From Motherwell) - 20 years old, Scotland
DR - Craig Thomson - £0 (From Edinburgh City) - 27 years old, Scotland
MC - Jack Breen - £0 (From Hamilton) - 19 years old, Scotland
MC - Liam Miller - £0 (From St. Mirren) - 18 years old, Scotland
MC - Anton Eadie - £0 (From Partick Thistle) - 19 years old, Scotland
MC - Robbie Leitch - £0 (From Ayr) - 20 years old, Scotland
MC - Liam Brown - £0 (From Motherwell) - 19 years old, Scotland
AMR - Danny Carmichael - £0 (From Queen of South) - 28 years old, Scotland
AMR - Grant Nelson - £0 (From Brora) - 20 years old, Scotland
ST - Matthew Aitken - £0 (From Forfar) - 21 years old, Scotland
ST - Leeroy Makovora - £0 (From Hearts) - 17 years old, Scotland

Lots of depth and quality was added before the transfer window closed. Notable signings include Michael Kennedy, Jack Breen, Liam Miller, Danny Carmichael and Leeroy Makovora. All of those players could earn starting positions this season.



Loans IN - Senior Team


DC - Harris O'Connor - £0 (From Rangers) - 16 years old, Scotland
ST - Kieran McGrath - £0 (From Celtic) - 17 years old, Scotland

These are both outstanding pickups. Harris O'Connor should be very capable, even at 16 years of age while Kieran McGrath is one of Celtic's best prospects. He will hopefully provide capable cover behind incumbent starter Josh Peters



Transfers IN - U18 Team


GK - Jack Wills - Free - 16 years old, Scotland
GK - Brian Kinnear - Free - 18 years old, Scotland
GK - Sam Jackson - Free - 18 years old, Scotland
DC - Kane O'Connor - Free - 18 years old, Scotland
DC - Luke Lyons - Free - 18 years old, Scotland
DC - Conor Power - Free - 16 years old, Scotland
DR - Chris Finnie - Free - 16 years old, Scotland
DR - Joe MacPherson - Free - 18 years old, Scotland
DR - Marky Munro - Free - 18 years old, Scotland
DR - Josh Robertson - Free - 18 years old, Scotland
DR - Lee Duncanson - Free - 18 years old, Scotland
MC - Kieran Connelly - Free - 18 years old, Scotland
AMC - Scott Banks - Free - 17 years old, Scotland
AMR - Archie Morrison - Free - 17 years old, Scotland
ST - Niyah Joseph - Free - 17 years old, Scotland
ST - Kieran Shanks - Free - 16 years old, Scotland
ST - Jordan Northcroft - Free - 17 years old, Scotland

Lots of depth additions here. That said, I could easily see guys like Kane O'Connor, Luke Lyons, Conor Power, Scott Banks and Archie Morrison providing immediate dividends on the senior team as early as this year. Banks especially looks like a stud but he's blocked by our star AMC Kurtis Roberts.



Final Thoughts Before the Season Begins


We've done a pretty solid job of enhancing our roster for the jump to League One, with a good mixture of youth and experience.

We had great success moving to a 4-2-3-1 Gegenpress system in the middle of last season and our plan is to move forward with that as much as possible this year.

Jamie McKernon keeps the captain's armband while newcomer Michael Kennedy, our new starting left fullback, is named assistant captain over Dylan Thomas.

Due to Scottish League Cup action starting in mid-July, we're only able to get four preseason friendlies scheduled prior to the year starting, with the team going 2-2 in those games. We fought hard against Inverness CT and Motherwell, two Premiership sides but ultimately lost those games 2-0 and 3-2 respectively, while beating Darlington 3-2 and Civil Service 6-0 in the other two games.

As indicated, our primary tactic will see a Gegenpress system utilizing a 4-2-3-1 formation and a positive mentality. We will also utilize a 4-4-2 at other points of the season, I'm sure.

While our board will be happy if we fight hard against relegation, as always, I'm shooting for more.

Here is our starting lineup for our first Scottish League Cup match against Stranraer:

GK - Jordan Hart
D - Michael Kennedy - Jamie Hamill - Harris O'Connor - James Grant
M - Jamie McKernon - Liam Miller
AM -Adam Martin - Kurtis Roberts - Danny Carmichael
ST - Josh Peters