Clearing the decks

Chunkylad said:
Good move all round. We’ve only 2 max more cup games so just need the working squad of 20-22 players where Critch can give more time to them and the coaching.

Fine if we sign a couple of prospects too to have a look at. Our business really needs to be done in the summer rather than panic buys in Jan.
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Bang on
 
Chunkylad said:
Good move all round. We’ve only 2 max more cup games so just need the working squad of 20-22 players where Critch can give more time to them and the coaching.

Fine if we sign a couple of prospects too to have a look at. Our business really needs to be done in the summer rather than panic buys in Jan.
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You think running club more important than promotion, keeping club stability
getting rid of players who arnt playing is good , trims the wage bill
but I don’t like idea selling to playoff rivals like Oxford , just in case it comes back and bites us later near end of season
unless pool get better in of course lol
 
The thing is, we have other players out of contract in the summer and not all will either re--sign or generate a fee - Huaband, Ekpiteta, Virtue, Carey, Connolly, O'Donnell, Lavery. And we may lose the likes if Gabruel and Lyons. Could be a big rebuilding job
 
We dont have enough midfielders for the rest of the season IMO. I cant see Critchley chasing a play-off position with what he has at present, another midfielder has to come in at least. As for LCB cover thats been needed all season, Husband has had a good season but he needs a rest
only playing Saturday to Saturday in my view.
 
JOHNMAJORTOM said:
we DO have to build already for 24.25 . whatever LEAGUE we are in. We do have a decent playing squad and if we do fall short then next season we should be competitive..
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So do we fill in all available spaces now and hope, we do not then get caught out by a pesky promotion where more than half the squad are not championship standard?
I think you are old enough to remember the days, when 12 men played most of season.
24 to 25 is a maximum number not always, a, target
 
bfcpete said:
The thing is, we have other players out of contract in the summer and not all will either re--sign or generate a fee - Huaband, Ekpiteta, Virtue, Carey, Connolly, O'Donnell, Lavery. And we may lose the likes if Gabruel and Lyons. Could be a big rebuilding job
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I think Carey has a possible 1 yr extension, option for club.
 
tangysider said:
So do we fill in all available spaces now and hope, we do not then get caught out by a pesky promotion where more than half the squad are not championship standard?
I think you are old enough to remember the days, when 12 men played most of season.
24 to 25 is a maximum number not always, a, target
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i absolutely am. 64 yesterday. but we had reserve leagues in those days What happened to them. I do hope we get promoted. And yes we would recruit for the Championship.
 
Tangerine Manc said:
You think running club more important than promotion, keeping club stability
getting rid of players who arnt playing is good , trims the wage bill
but I don’t like idea selling to playoff rivals like Oxford , just in case it comes back and bites us later near end of season
unless pool get better in of course lol
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I think there’s a balance. I read Peps biography where he was very clear how he couldn’t work with a big squad as it stopped him having quality time with those that mattered as he couldn’t be seen to be ignoring some players.

So I’d rather we worked with a smaller, more quality squad than just collecting players to sit outside the squad on the off chance that might need them. If that helps the finances then that’s a bonus as come what may we need that cash this summer be it for a Championship season or another Div 1 campaign.
 
Albert Ross said:
Who signed these bang average squad fillers?
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The recruitment team, of which Critchley is a part. I get that we have to shop smart but in the main, most just haven't kicked on. It'll be interesting to see if this former Shef Wed bloke fairs any better.
 
20togo said:
"clearing the decks" of players he brought in in the first place.
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Come on 20s that’s a bit harsh. It isn’t an exact science is it. Even teams like Man Utd with all their resources signed players who you would have thought would be awesome (Sancho for example) yet it didn’t work out and they have to ‘clear the decks’.
 
I don’t think there’s any harm in clearing out some of the deadwood, which we’ve all said it is.

There definitely needs to be 1 decent signing and I think we’ll bag a central midfielder on loan tomorrow who’s got recent promotion experience…

Can’t believe how good Owen Dale has become since we’ve let him go today! Bang average player suddenly turned into Ryan Giggs circa 1992-2003.
 
Chunkylad said:
Come on 20s that’s a bit harsh. It isn’t an exact science is it. Even teams like Man Utd with all their resources signed players who you would have thought would be awesome (Sancho for example) yet it didn’t work out and they have to ‘clear the decks’.
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yes. it's a bit harsh but is there too many that haven't worked out? And how many will still be here who won't work out either. And consider this. People are saying prepare for a summer re-build but then what? Will they be then be saying and making excuses in November, December that it takes time to bed players in like they've just been doing? Excuses have to stop.
 
Agree on that. I’ll give latitude this season as I do believe managers showing progress need at least that. This season to reverse the slide and rebuild the squad and the summer to perfect it.

No excuses next season.
 
20togo said:
yes. it's a bit harsh but is there too many that haven't worked out? And how many will still be here who won't work out either. And consider this. People are saying prepare for a summer re-build but then what? Will they be then be saying and making excuses in November, December that it takes time to bed players in like they've just been doing? Excuses have to stop.
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Do any of the outgoings grate with you 20's?
All were given opportunities to force themselves into contention and they did not.
We have a different recruitment team, so hopefully the outgoings will be replaced with better
 
NewburyOne said:
The recruitment team, of which Critchley is a part. I get that we have to shop smart but in the main, most just haven't kicked on. It'll be interesting to see if this former Shef Wed bloke fairs any better.
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This is the second recruitment team who were going to find us all these gems.🤷 The club could save some money by whittling down some of the chaff. It’s more top heavy than the NHS. 😉
 
20togo said:
but some will make them. Personally, i think we should be doing much better this season.
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Agree
It would be interesting to see how many points have been lost to individual errors.
Do not like Critchley's style of play, and he does play players out of position, but our play and performances look better after Xmas.
 
Chunkylad said:
Good move all round. We’ve only 2 max more cup games so just need the working squad of 20-22 players where Critch can give more time to them and the coaching.

Fine if we sign a couple of prospects too to have a look at. Our business really needs to be done in the summer rather than panic buys in Jan.
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They don't have to be panic buys if we have properly done our homework on a player. We've known Kenny was going for absolutely ages and so a replacement should have been sourced long ago. Critchley said he wanted the squad stronger at the end of the window than at the beginning. At the moment it is weaker.
 
tangysider said:
Do any of the outgoings grate with you 20's?
All were given opportunities to force themselves into contention and they did not.
We have a different recruitment team, so hopefully the outgoings will be replaced with better
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Well i rated Dougall but seems he wanted to go. But to answer your question, no none really grate but none of them so far were really given a chance. But Critchley saw them every day in training so you have to go with his judgement. Seems Dale might be going seeing what we've read on here. Was/Is he any good? Well not as a wing back imo, yet that's pretty much the only position he played for us when he started. So maybe Dale wasn't happy with that so he wanted to go.

What i will say, is that we can't just keep on bringing in squad players, we have to bring in team players, that's how you improve the squad. Go back to Critchleys first season here and how many players did he bring in who we all thought great but who soon simply became squad players. Seems loads of them. That for me is a simply poor thought out policy and yep, it seems it's happened this season too, Seems very scatter gun.
 
It seems odd that we employ a recruitment team, yet always seem to sign players that have played for Crewe. Which makes me think that

Critch is responsible for choosing all the signings and the recruitment team simply provides the stats to justify the purchase.
 
Loco said:
He thought they might offer something, gave them a chance but then quickly got rid when they didn't progess. Not every signing will be stellar.
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not asking them to be stellar signings at all but every signing costs money and let's face it we've had pretty much no return on some of them. Yep, I know i'm being harsh but I think we should be and are a much better team than our league position suggests and ultimately that is down to Critchley. As i said previously will some on here be saying in 12 months time that players need time to bed in after a summer re-build?
 
20togo said:
Well i rated Dougall but seems he wanted to go. But to answer your question, no none really grate but none of them so far were really given a chance. But Critchley saw them every day in training so you have to go with his judgement. Seems Dale might be going seeing what we've read on here. Was/Is he any good? Well not as a wing back imo, yet that's pretty much the only position he played for us when he started. So maybe Dale wasn't happy with that so he wanted to go.

What i will say, is that we can't just keep on bringing in squad players, we have to bring in team players, that's how you improve the squad. Go back to Critchleys first season here and how many players did he bring in who we all thought great but who soon simply became squad players. Seems loads of them. That for me is a simply poor thought out policy and yep, it seems it's happened this season too, Seems very scatter gun.
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Spot on.

There seems to be no thought about what, why and where we want to be.

I don't quite understand why. It doesn't make sense.
 
Chunkylad said:
Good move all round. We’ve only 2 max more cup games so just need the working squad of 20-22 players where Critch can give more time to them and the coaching.

Fine if we sign a couple of prospects too to have a look at. Our business really needs to be done in the summer rather than panic buys in Jan.
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💯 I doubt vey much he will make many 1st team appearances from the start this season
20togo said:
Well i rated Dougall but seems he wanted to go. But to answer your question, no none really grate but none of them so far were really given a chance. But Critchley saw them every day in training so you have to go with his judgement. Seems Dale might be going seeing what we've read on here. Was/Is he any good? Well not as a wing back imo, yet that's pretty much the only position he played for us when he started. So maybe Dale wasn't happy with that so he wanted to go.

What i will say, is that we can't just keep on bringing in squad players, we have to bring in team players, that's how you improve the squad. Go back to Critchleys first season here and how many players did he bring in who we all thought great but who soon simply became squad players. Seems loads of them. That for me is a simply poor thought out policy and yep, it seems it's happened this season too, Seems very scatter gun.
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True 20s, players brought in to the squad must be able to step into the first team when needed and l believe we’ve got that now with the players released. On the other hand l doubt Finnegan will get many opportunities this season given his fitness but one for next season me thinks.
 
20togo said:
not asking them to be stellar signings at all but every signing costs money and let's face it we've had pretty much no return on some of them. Yep, I know i'm being harsh but I think we should be and are a much better team than our league position suggests and ultimately that is down to Critchley. As i said previously will some on here be saying in 12 months time that players need time to bed in after a summer re-build?
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Well it does take time. We are seeing that this season, but that means we have plenty to build on. Half the team had to get relegation out of their system and get used to different style of play. Look at Morgan, he's found his feet. And KK looks like a great prospect.
 
Get the selections right as Middlesborough did with Rogers, and although they have had little effect on the pitch they make a massive contribution in revenue, could have been us
 
Loco said:
Well it does take time. We are seeing that this season, but that means we have plenty to build on. Half the team had to get relegation out of their system and get used to different style of play. Look at Morgan, he's found his feet. And KK looks like a great prospect.
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But you're just making excuses because if every time we need a rebuild and then it takes time to bed them in and that is why results aren't what they should be, then how do we get out of that circle of events?. That's not to deny that Morgan has come good and yes there is potential in KK.
 
We have bought in some real shite since Sadler took over and we have some players in the squad even after this latest clear out who still aren't good enough. It will be another clear out in June, so we will need to have players lined up ready to come in. We are a small squad in numbers as it stands so will there be a couple of quality players coming in late tonight or will it be make do with what we have? Personally I am glad we have got rid of the deadwood but where are the better replacements? Probably not available this window so we have to hope we stay injury free and carry on improving. I will make my mind up about the running of the club at the end of the season, or sooner if we fail to make the play offs before the end of the season.
 
hertfordseasider said:
We have bought in some real shite since Sadler took over and we have some players in the squad even after this latest clear out who still aren't good enough. It will be another clear out in June, so we will need to have players lined up ready to come in. We are a small squad in numbers as it stands so will there be a couple of quality players coming in late tonight or will it be make do with what we have? Personally I am glad we have got rid of the deadwood but where are the better replacements? Probably not available this window so we have to hope we stay injury free and carry on improving. I will make my mind up about the running of the club at the end of the season, or sooner if we fail to make the play offs before the end of the season.
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Shite managers lead to a, shite transfer policy. Needs continuity
 
20togo said:
But you're just making excuses because if every time we need a rebuild and then it takes time to bed them in and that is why results aren't what they should be, then how do we get out of that circle of events?. That's not to deny that Morgan has come good and yes there is potential in KK.
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I'm not making excuses, just being realistic. We had terrible injury problems last year too. Gabriel is only really just getting back to normal. Joseph too. If we have stability at the top (manager) then we won't need to keep changing things completely. Players will fit into the overall pattern. Last season was disastrous for so many different reasons, including constant change. It's quite interesting watching how the current team is developing. And yes, I do think we should be better off points-wise.
 
Loco said:
I'm not making excuses, just being realistic. We had terrible injury problems last year too. Gabriel is only really just getting back to normal. Joseph too. If we have stability at the top (manager) then we won't need to keep changing things completely. Players will fit into the overall pattern. Last season was disastrous for so many different reasons, including constant change. It's quite interesting watching how the current team is developing. And yes, I do think we should be better off points-wise.
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yeah, but my point is that we can't keep saying the same old things. If a players is good enough he should be able to fit in to a system pretty much straight away. Systems aren't a new concept, players are adaptable. They should be comfortable in the system from the off. Example? Norburn came in straight away, made captain knows the system.
 
Chunkylad said:
I think there’s a balance. I read Peps biography where he was very clear how he couldn’t work with a big squad as it stopped him having quality time with those that mattered as he couldn’t be seen to be ignoring some players.

So I’d rather we worked with a smaller, more quality squad than just collecting players to sit outside the squad on the off chance that might need them. If that helps the finances then that’s a bonus as come what may we need that cash this summer be it for a Championship season or another Div 1 campaign.
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I agree with this but if we get back to 9/10 players out injured we'll be properly screwed!
 
Loco said:
I'm not making excuses, just being realistic. We had terrible injury problems last year too. Gabriel is only really just getting back to normal. Joseph too. If we have stability at the top (manager) then we won't need to keep changing things completely. Players will fit into the overall pattern. Last season was disastrous for so many different reasons, including constant change. It's quite interesting watching how the current team is developing. And yes, I do think we should be better off points-wise.
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That’s all fair comment but if after ten games next season we are still not any better than 8th to 10th then does the manager come under pressure or do we wait until 20 games 30 games ? At some point the excuses have to wear thin particularly if we are playing the boring football we do at times( it has been better recently particularly at home)…how long do we accept failure and this season will be just that if we miss out on the play offs even if we win the Mickey Mouse cup.

Too many of our fans are happy to be a well run sustainable team but they won’t be giving out trophies at the end of the season for that …it’s a very disappointing window so far if we don’t bring in some quality tomorrow.
 
I’m no lover of Critchley as I’ve said many times over but if he’s shifting out the deadwood then I’m all for it why should we be carrying players who aren’t going to make it? We’re in league one FFS If they can’t cut it here where can’t they?

If we can’t fill all the squad places this window so be it would sooner run a few players short than bringing in quantity just to fill spaces up which I’ve heard a lot about today.
 
At the moment we lack players with pace in central positions. We have pace we can use out wide but at Centre Defence, Centre Midfield and even centre forward we are short of real pace.

Too often we are getting done with opposition players the taking advantage of our lack of speed and energy in these areas. In the first half of the Bolton game they were much quicker to the ball than us. In the second half they tired due to the high energy pressing game they had played.

We need to recruit with our lack pace in mind, especially in the central spine of the team.

Stan53
 
TANGERINETOWERPOWER said:
That’s all fair comment but if after ten games next season we are still not any better than 8th to 10th then does the manager come under pressure or do we wait until 20 games 30 games ? At some point the excuses have to wear thin particularly if we are playing the boring football we do at times( it has been better recently particularly at home)…how long do we accept failure and this season will be just that if we miss out on the play offs even if we win the Mickey Mouse cup.

Too many of our fans are happy to be a well run sustainable team but they won’t be giving out trophies at the end of the season for that …it’s a very disappointing window so far if we don’t bring in some quality tomorrow.
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Obviously next season is a different matter. The solid foundations should be in place by then.
 
Loco said:
Obviously next season is a different matter. The solid foundations should be in place by then.
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It’s a given that Critchley has to stay now and try and get us up but this season must go down as a failure if he doesn’t and his credit in the bank from the last promotion will be all but spent
 
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