DreamOakTree

Wouldn’t be surprised as a back/up centre back is one of our top priorities together with goalkeeper.

Cheers, looking forward to see who Dougie has in mind.

If the 4 offered terms accept, I think that gives us a squad of 14. How many do we need to add to get our normal squad number?

TFIF and I'm off for a beer!

Just to expand for VT's "understanding", I read all the weekly match reports including Lower League and Juniors. Familiar names come up frequently, including ex-Morton players. This where I remembered seeing those three names. If I'd remembered 4 or 5 names then I would have posted those 4 or 5 names. It turns out Jamie's RB at Berwick, Kenny's CF at Beith Juniors. David was a player/GK Coach until 2021 but is now GK Coach only at Kelty.

That’s not what happened, I named three I was sure were still playing, turns out two of them are.

Deego asked who’s still playing! What’s happened to you, you’re getting so lazy you’re answering the posts without reading them! What happened to your renowned FBA?

What about David McGurn, Jamie Stevenson and Kenny McLean?

Dougie’s showing by his decisions he just wants the best squad possible for next season. The players who are signed up, those who’ve been offered a new deal and those who’ve been let go all point to a stronger squad, with ample room for more players to be added. I don’t think anyone will be surprised if Dougie already knows who he wants to add.

Rickie Lamie’s a great shout, would make up partly for Strapp’s departure. Keeping Grimshaw would also be a coup, though I’d like to see him in midfield, in which case I wouldn’t be averse to Tumilty replacing him at right back if available. I’m happy with most of what we have though I just feel we’ve needed a playmaker in the mould of a Tidser for several seasons now. All of the above would be good by me. I’ve also kind of warmed to Brian Schwake recently. To respond as he has to Dougie’s severe criticism at such a young age has been most impressive, and I thought he had a great performance on Friday.

So given that’s Dougie’s plan, what players does he have in mind to supplement our current squad and give us a competitive/winning starting eleven? Mostly guessing here as I don’t know who’s available or in Dougie’s plans: GK - Hamilton?/Fulton? FB - Tumility?, Waters? CM - Grimshaw?, Murdoch? LM/LW - McCowan?, Mullin?

SpoonTon’s balanced post made me think maybe it’s not all one way.

You’re probably correct. My grievance is maybe based on enjoying seeing our own players coming through and being given a chance, rather than what impact they have on the team. That’s where Imrie has to make the tough decisions. In Strapp’s case it could be financial, in Lyon’s case he probably feels it’s difficult to tell how he’s going to perform, likewise Garrity and previously McGregor. I’d hope he sees something in McGrattan and King though. Imrie no doubt has some “ready made” players in mind to supplement the squad and he’s making room by letting go some with potential yet to be realised. It’s his job to improve Morton, perhaps ruthlessness is part of that.

I think Tidser knows a midfielder when he sees one. Good luck to Reece and I just hope McGrattan, King and Garrity don’t follow him out the door along with fellow academy graduates Strapp and McGregor.

Congrats also to Darren Young on leading Stirling Albion to the League 2 Title.

That’s correct, the statements don’t marry up with what happened. Was Dougie also taking our promotion prospects into account when he said Lewis wasn’t in his plans for next season, if that would also be strange if he’s also saying Lewis could maybe play at higher level, which promotion with Morton would’ve provided.

Okay cheers for that.

Not sure where I got that then! Is the second bit correct?

Did Dougie not take the captaincy off Lewis though and also drop him from the team for a few games? Suggests a bit more than just budgetary issues.

That doesn’t seem a good fit to me, the Saintee’s always seemed too sensible and non-controversial but have maybe moved away from that by sacking a manager who won 3 trophies in two seasons. If they want the opposite of Callum then Dougie’s as close to that as anyone!

Despite all that, it looks a good squad for next season.

I find it a bit stomach churning that Dougie would tell our captain and possibly best player that he’s got no future at Morton, while he’s trying to recover from a long term injury. Imrie has a very good ratio in improving players who were unpopular with the fans, plus his new signings. I wonder if he has something against popular home grown players such as Strapp, McGrattan, McGregor, Lyon etc. If so I’m not sure why this would be the case.

No that one came straight from the Greenock Telegraph! Either Darragh O’Connor wasn’t meant to reveal what Dougie said to the squad, or one or both of them was misquoted.

I find it strange that Imrie is happy to build for next season without trying to keep such an established player as Strapp. That would be one less position to fill instead of hoping a new signing will tick the same boxes. When he won the manager of the month awards he was making all the right decisions and saying all the right things. I’m hoping he can get back to that level with his plans for next season, as he seems to have inexplicably given up on this season.

Can’t believe this news. Has Imrie got free rein on recruitment now as well as our policy on whether we want to go for promotion. If I was a board member I’d be questioning his commitment to the club and how his decisions are affecting our ambitions. He told the players after we reached 40 points that our target was achieved so they should just enjoy the rest of the season. Are the board aligned with that attitude and if not what are they doing about it. He’s spending the club’s hard earned cash on vanity projects such as Ali and Calvin, whilst telling a club stalwart who would rag doll both of them at the same time, even with an injury. If Dougie thinks Lewis isn’t big or physical enough he should challenge him to a fight and the winner stays at Cappielow. It would last about 3 seconds!