I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
The likelihood is IMO that Leaburn and probably Small aren’t here next season. We are never not going to be a selling club.
I’d prefer to look at the positives that we’ve lost good players and come out better as a whole - not always been the case in recent years but hopefully we’re starting to see a reversal of that trend.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
And I don't think I've ever agreed more with your post that disagrees with the original.
To think that because we are now looking to finish better than last year means we aren't missing May & Dobson.......and to then think we could do better next season should we lose Leaburn, Jones & Small is totally bewildering.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I really struggle to understand your perspective that "it's fine to lose your best players because you can just replace them." Was this your stance back in November when we were performing terribly, or is it something you've adopted since we've hit a run of good form over the past month?
If we hadn't lost Alfie May and Dobson — and had also strengthened the rest of the squad — we might even be sitting higher in the league right now. Sure, losing players who outgrow the club is inevitable, but we consistently let go of players we shouldn’t be losing. Almost every replacement we’ve brought in has been a downgrade.
This is our fifth consecutive season in League One. Doesn't that tell you we're not capable of adequately replacing our best players?
But we were unlucky and yes we made errors that cost us but we were unquestionably the better team. I'll take that and let's not be so pessamistic. Yesterday showed we have reasons to be optimistic. We have no more games to get in the way of our run up the table.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I really struggle to understand your perspective that "it's fine to lose your best players because you can just replace them." Was this your stance back in November when we were performing terribly, or is it something you've adopted since we've hit a run of good form over the past month?
If we hadn't lost Alfie May and Dobson — and had also strengthened the rest of the squad — we might even be sitting higher in the league right now. Sure, losing players who outgrow the club is inevitable, but we consistently let go of players we shouldn’t be losing. Almost every replacement we’ve brought in has been a downgrade.
This is our fifth consecutive season in League One. Doesn't that tell you we're not capable of adequately replacing our best players?
I have never thought it’s fine to lose good players in that context. Ideally we never have to sell anyone unless the club outgrows them but that’s not reality. So you have to work within the reality that confronts you.
Previous years we haven’t replaced good players with better, hence the steady trend downwards since the 2019/20 relegation.
All I’m saying is that losing good players is inevitable and I’m going to take some positives from the fact that we seem to have improved as a team from the one who finished 16th last season despite it.
I could be wrong and we continue getting worse and worse, eventually getting relegated to League 2. But I don’t think there’s much value in me posting that…
Even when we won at the beginning of the season we were mainly shit and therefore when the results replicated the performances the shit set in . Now with a change of approach plus the returning Leaburn and Jones we look reasonable/decent and have progressed to a position where the results aren't a surprise and the football isn't the dullest crap ever and upward progression is happening and we have a chance of the playoffs .
For more than this season, it has been obvious that the way to set up against us is to put bodies behind the ball and break. I genuinely think that tactic now has issues for the first time in a long time and that fact gives me some optimism. We haven't totally cracked it because we still need a few more goals in the side, but we are a lot better IMO.
Even when we won at the beginning of the season we were mainly shit and therefore when the results replicated the performances the shit set in . Now with a change of approach plus the returning Leaburn and Jones we look reasonable/decent and have progressed to a position where the results aren't a surprise and the football isn't the dullest crap ever and upward progression is happening and we have a chance of the playoffs .
So let's bask in the glory until the end of Jan when we announce Small, Leaburn and Jones are all leaving for a combined £300, team ruby and a packet of crisps and we are replacing them with 3 x 19 year old kids on loan from prem teams.
I mean Callum isn't wrong in the context of sell your best players, attempt to build a better squad from it and progress that way - Just look at Peterborough, they've been following that blueprint for years, and they've had some pretty decent results come from it, whilst winning promotion at the same time.
The trouble is...
(1) we need to improve our strategy with Recruitment for it to really work (2) you only need to look at Peterborough this season to see it doesnt always work, and can backfire badly.
Southampton are another example of a club who have purchased players with the aim of making a decent profit from them in the future, building a better squad from it and improving League position that way. Can argue Brighton themselves are the latest side to be successful from it.
I'd even argue its the proper way to approach Financial Fair Play Regulations (Yes I know they dont apply in League One like they do elsewhere, but better get used to the practice sooner instead of later). Could argue its better than throwing money at the issue like Ipswich, Birmingham... and now seemingly Huddersfield
Unfortunately it wont ever be popular because its not necessarily the quickest strategy, its never a guaranteed approach to success either.
Not to mention, the difficult factor, the impossible factor is sustaining that approach... of selling your way to "the top"
Think the result was a blessing in disguise really. Plenty of positives from the performance but can now fully focus on climbing the table. Plus Lloyd Jones won't score against us at The Valley for Wycombe!
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I think people are maybe a little bit misinterpreting Callums point.
No one wants to lose their best players. Obviously.
But we are where we are, we have players who are too good for the level we are at or whose stock has risen compared to when we brought them in and they could get a better deal elsewhere. That's football. We are where we are and until the club starts growing we won't be able to keep players in those positions.
The key in that situation is to get as much cash as possible and use it well. There is some (not loads but some) evidence that this bunch of owners and the recruitment setup are gonna be better at that than the last couple of regimes. We have to hope that trend continues and they improve further so that when we do lose players we manage to strengthen the squad overall as a result and push on up the league.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
A "blip" !!!?!
The blip: Played 14 | Won 3 | Drew 4 | Lost 7.
Total points possible: 42 | Points actual: 13
And, 30.43% of our total games for the whole season.
Lucky that the league is crap and lucky that our academy boys have stepped up. We haven't replaced May with anyone near the same quality and there's no evidence to suggest we'd sufficiently replace Leaburn, Jones or Small.
No genuine promotion contender would have a strike force of Ahadme and Godden.
Lucky that the league is crap and lucky that our academy boys have stepped up. We haven't replaced May with anyone near the same quality and there's no evidence to suggest we'd sufficiently replace Leaburn, Jones or Small.
No genuine promotion contender would have a strike force of Ahadme and Godden.
I do think we need Kanu to get game time, he's shown a lot of promise but this season he's been struggling with dipping in and out of the squad. I still have faith he'll be a decent forward at this level. More importantly though we need an out and out goal scorer to replace May.
Lucky that the league is crap and lucky that our academy boys have stepped up. We haven't replaced May with anyone near the same quality and there's no evidence to suggest we'd sufficiently replace Leaburn, Jones or Small.
No genuine promotion contender would have a strike force of Ahadme and Godden.
I do think we need Kanu to get game time, he's shown a lot of promise but this season he's been struggling with dipping in and out of the squad. I still have faith he'll be a decent forward at this level. More importantly though we need an out and out goal scorer to replace May.
Agreed, would like to see Kanu get more minutes too. Feels like we’re running TC into the ground at the moment.
I ended up sitting next to Josh Edwards Dad and brother, very nice people. The only other game they had got to was Wrexham. They were driving back to Scotland after the game, his dad wanted Boro in the next round had we got through.
I ended up sitting next to Josh Edwards Dad and brother, very nice people. The only other game they had got to was Wrexham. They were driving back to Scotland after the game, his dad wanted Boro in the next round had we got through.
Long trek down for them to be fair, not many clubs in the division north of about Manchester now Carlisle/Sunderland aren’t in it
Lucky that the league is crap and lucky that our academy boys have stepped up. We haven't replaced May with anyone near the same quality and there's no evidence to suggest we'd sufficiently replace Leaburn, Jones or Small.
No genuine promotion contender would have a strike force of Ahadme and Godden.
I do think we need Kanu to get game time, he's shown a lot of promise but this season he's been struggling with dipping in and out of the squad. I still have faith he'll be a decent forward at this level. More importantly though we need an out and out goal scorer to replace May.
Lucky that the league is crap and lucky that our academy boys have stepped up. We haven't replaced May with anyone near the same quality and there's no evidence to suggest we'd sufficiently replace Leaburn, Jones or Small.
No genuine promotion contender would have a strike force of Ahadme and Godden.
I do think we need Kanu to get game time, he's shown a lot of promise but this season he's been struggling with dipping in and out of the squad. I still have faith he'll be a decent forward at this level. More importantly though we need an out and out goal scorer to replace May.
Lucky that the league is crap and lucky that our academy boys have stepped up. We haven't replaced May with anyone near the same quality and there's no evidence to suggest we'd sufficiently replace Leaburn, Jones or Small.
No genuine promotion contender would have a strike force of Ahadme and Godden.
I do think we need Kanu to get game time, he's shown a lot of promise but this season he's been struggling with dipping in and out of the squad. I still have faith he'll be a decent forward at this level. More importantly though we need an out and out goal scorer to replace May.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
A "blip" !!!?!
The blip: Played 14 | Won 3 | Drew 4 | Lost 7.
Total points possible: 42 | Points actual: 13
And, 30.43% of our total games for the whole season.
This is so draining to have everything I say micro analysed.
Some of these results & performances together aren’t even that bad.
We have had two shocking dips in performance which were Blackpool through to Bristol Rovers and Exeter through to Crawley but otherwise I just see a run of games where within that run, we had 4 points in 3 at the start and 6 points in 4 including beating the runaway winners of the league later.
The issue is when you get 0 points from 3 games, or 3 points from a poor team from 4 games. Those are the blips.
But people are desperate to say I’m wrong and jump on my posts.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
A "blip" !!!?!
The blip: Played 14 | Won 3 | Drew 4 | Lost 7.
Total points possible: 42 | Points actual: 13
And, 30.43% of our total games for the whole season.
This is so draining to have everything I say micro analysed.
Some of these results & performances together aren’t even that bad.
We have had two shocking dips in performance which were Blackpool through to Bristol Rovers and Exeter through to Crawley but otherwise I just see a run of games where within that run, we had 4 points in 3 at the start and 6 points in 4 including beating the runaway winners of the league later.
The issue is when you get 0 points from 3 games, or 3 points from a poor team from 4 games. Those are the blips.
But people are desperate to say I’m wrong and jump on my posts.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
A "blip" !!!?!
The blip: Played 14 | Won 3 | Drew 4 | Lost 7.
Total points possible: 42 | Points actual: 13
And, 30.43% of our total games for the whole season.
This is so draining to have everything I say micro analysed.
Some of these results & performances together aren’t even that bad.
We have had two shocking dips in performance which were Blackpool through to Bristol Rovers and Exeter through to Crawley but otherwise I just see a run of games where within that run, we had 4 points in 3 at the start and 6 points in 4 including beating the runaway winners of the league later.
The issue is when you get 0 points from 3 games, or 3 points from a poor team from 4 games. Those are the blips.
But people are desperate to say I’m wrong and jump on my posts.
If you were correct we would not be in 11th position and would be much closer to the play offs points wise.
I know I am probably on my own but although I do agree a bad pass from Mitchell, Mannion should have been stronger in the tackle or be more courageous and dive on the ball as I believe AMB would have done
For a start if he dives on the ball, it's a booking at best and a free kick to them in our 6 yard box.
Also can we please move away from this AMB is better and has a higher ceiling than Mannion has crap.
We saw his capabilities throughout the whole of last season. He's not good enough, can't communicate and his kicking/distribution is pants.
Mannion is not the answer, but we are more defensively sound when he plays.
Pretty sure if you asked Mitchell or Jones who they prefer in goal, the answer won't be AMB.
AMB has improved considerably this season, hence the number of shutouts, aided of course by better defenders. I don't think a goalie is a priority just now. Attacking midfielder to replace 'Stroller' Berry is.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
I have been really keen we don’t end up being satisfied with finishing eighth and arguing that we have the basis of a challenge next season, because 1) it’s just not good enough against the resources and the opportunity and 2) we know it’s not that simple and elements of the team will be dismantled.
i think that’s where we are though, which I suppose is better than a year ago, and it’s certainly better to watch.
If we lost Alfie May and George Dobson in the summer and then moved up from 16th to 8th then that would give me confidence that it’s possible we can lose Leaburn, Jones, Small in the upcoming summer window and do the same again, becoming serious automatic promotion contenders / comfortable top six next season, like the current top four are.
Yes it’s not simple but we are moving in the right direction already, despite already having lost previous key players. Hopefully a sign that we’re sorting out our recruitment / squad building process…
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a post than I have with this.
If we lost Alfie and George and replaced them with better I might agree with Callum. However it has taken us what 4 months to start looking competitive. I don't think we can risk that in January.
I never said in January. And for the record I don’t think any of those three go this month without a silly offer coming in.
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
A "blip" !!!?!
The blip: Played 14 | Won 3 | Drew 4 | Lost 7.
Total points possible: 42 | Points actual: 13
And, 30.43% of our total games for the whole season.
This is so draining to have everything I say micro analysed.
Some of these results & performances together aren’t even that bad.
We have had two shocking dips in performance which were Blackpool through to Bristol Rovers and Exeter through to Crawley but otherwise I just see a run of games where within that run, we had 4 points in 3 at the start and 6 points in 4 including beating the runaway winners of the league later.
The issue is when you get 0 points from 3 games, or 3 points from a poor team from 4 games. Those are the blips.
But people are desperate to say I’m wrong and jump on my posts.
If you were correct we would not be in 11th position and would be much closer to the play offs points wise.
Comments
We started the season strong, had a blip and now we’re back in form. Who knows where we’ll end up come May but it looks like steady progress is going to be made in spite of losing our better players from last year’s team.
To think that because we are now looking to finish better than last year means we aren't missing May & Dobson.......and to then think we could do better next season should we lose Leaburn, Jones & Small is totally bewildering.
I really struggle to understand your perspective that "it's fine to lose your best players because you can just replace them." Was this your stance back in November when we were performing terribly, or is it something you've adopted since we've hit a run of good form over the past month?
If we hadn't lost Alfie May and Dobson — and had also strengthened the rest of the squad — we might even be sitting higher in the league right now. Sure, losing players who outgrow the club is inevitable, but we consistently let go of players we shouldn’t be losing. Almost every replacement we’ve brought in has been a downgrade.
This is our fifth consecutive season in League One. Doesn't that tell you we're not capable of adequately replacing our best players?
Previous years we haven’t replaced good players with better, hence the steady trend downwards since the 2019/20 relegation.
All I’m saying is that losing good players is inevitable and I’m going to take some positives from the fact that we seem to have improved as a team from the one who finished 16th last season despite it.
I could be wrong and we continue getting worse and worse, eventually getting relegated to League 2. But I don’t think there’s much value in me posting that…
Now with a change of approach plus the returning Leaburn and Jones we look reasonable/decent and have progressed to a position where the results aren't a surprise and the football isn't the dullest crap ever and upward progression is happening and we have a chance of the playoffs .
The trouble is...
(1) we need to improve our strategy with Recruitment for it to really work
(2) you only need to look at Peterborough this season to see it doesnt always work, and can backfire badly.
Southampton are another example of a club who have purchased players with the aim of making a decent profit from them in the future, building a better squad from it and improving League position that way. Can argue Brighton themselves are the latest side to be successful from it.
I'd even argue its the proper way to approach Financial Fair Play Regulations (Yes I know they dont apply in League One like they do elsewhere, but better get used to the practice sooner instead of later). Could argue its better than throwing money at the issue like Ipswich, Birmingham... and now seemingly Huddersfield
Unfortunately it wont ever be popular because its not necessarily the quickest strategy, its never a guaranteed approach to success either.
Not to mention, the difficult factor, the impossible factor is sustaining that approach... of selling your way to "the top"
No one wants to lose their best players. Obviously.
But we are where we are, we have players who are too good for the level we are at or whose stock has risen compared to when we brought them in and they could get a better deal elsewhere. That's football. We are where we are and until the club starts growing we won't be able to keep players in those positions.
The key in that situation is to get as much cash as possible and use it well. There is some (not loads but some) evidence that this bunch of owners and the recruitment setup are gonna be better at that than the last couple of regimes. We have to hope that trend continues and they improve further so that when we do lose players we manage to strengthen the squad overall as a result and push on up the league.
Total points possible: 42 | Points actual: 13
And, 30.43% of our total games for the whole season.
Luckily, there's so much crap it's allowed us to stay in the mix with a few wins scraped together, despite the 'blip'.
No genuine promotion contender would have a strike force of Ahadme and Godden.
Some of these results & performances together aren’t even that bad.
The table does not lie.
I bet our xg stats are okay though Rambo.