Michael Appleton: “We’ve got thirteen senior outfield players to choose from.”

Ahead of the Oxford United game, Michael Appleton provided a measured analysis of the realities regarding the current injury and recruitment situations.

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Player Availability: “We’ve got thirteen senior outfield players to choose from”.

Dan N’Lundulu definitely has a hamstring tear, the extent of which is not yet fully known. It is a different hamstring than last time.
Anthony Scully should be ok. He has been protected by not training with MA remaining reasonably confident he will be available.
Max Melbourne has tested positive for Covid and he is the only player that has done so. Max lives separate from other players so MA doesn’t believe it will be an issue.

Recruitment and Transfers: MA reflected on the reality of how competitive the market is for players amongst League 1 clubs.

“We try to put ourselves in the arm wrestle with many players and make sure we’re in it to have a go and try and get players to come to the football club for different reasons other than finances” MA was satisfied the club has been relatively successful but sometimes simply cannot compete if players are offered double elsewhere. There are approximately a dozen clubs in L1 that The Imps cannot compete with on financial terms.

Specifically regarding Brandon Hanlon, MA expressed his disappointment at missing out on the player, especially given the shortage of strikers at Lincoln.

“The stark reality is we got blown out the water when it came to the fee and we got blown out the water when it comes to the salary”

MA ruefully observed it was the second time this season it had happened involving Wycombe, who had managed to sign another target player ahead of the Imps. However, he felt that by doing things differently the club can still hold its own. MA identified the current squad are reasonably competitive and should hopefully provide on-field success. There is value in the players at the club and over the next one or two years, those players will move on and have successful careers.

Pertaining to current movements MA expects everything to happen late. “I think it will come to a little bit of last minute.com”.
MA put it down to parent clubs weighing up the best options on loans going to the last moment.

Importance of, and Recruitment Style: MA highlighted how in recent years the value of putting effort and resources into effective recruitment had become absolutely essential; something recognised by most clubs now. Relating to scouts working for MA he had this to say. “The biggest thing for me is, as a manager my scouts and my team have to watch games through my eyes……ultimately it’s not about signing good players, it’s about signing players that will fit into the manager’s way, the manager’s system and style, etc.”.

Oxford United: They have been a club on the rise for the past seven or eight years, having been unfortunate to miss out on promotion via the play-offs for the last two seasons. It is only a matter of time before they do get promoted. Oxford combine a fantastic squad containing good players.

In spite of Lincoln’s injury woes, MA remained very optimistic about the team’s chances on Saturday. He felt that although limited in numbers the players available to him are good enough to win the game. Unlike last time the players will not be going there full of Covid.

He took further encouragement from the team performances thus far, which with the exception of last week at Wycombe have been very pleasing. The players themselves are in a very positive mood.

Writer: hulloutpost

Michael Appleton: "We've got thirteen senior outfield players to choose from."https://t.co/MgMcg0zkar#OUFC #ImpsAsOne #ProudToBeImps

— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) August 27, 2021