2024/25 Squad

[Deleted]

Back in February, as soon as Covolan only agreed a deal till the end of the season, it was obvious he was leaving.

[Deleted]

Here's a thought,

Release most of the players, offer a small amount a chance to re-sign because behind the scenes the club is finalising a deal for a takeover where George will have a boost in money so can look at a higher quality of player.

[Deleted]

May 7, 2024 11:33:07 GMT @grovergreenstone said:

Here's a thought,

Release most of the players, offer a small amount a chance to re-sign because behind the scenes the club is finalising a deal for a takeover where George will have a boost in money so can look at a higher quality of player.

You never know you may be right next you'll be saying England will win the Euro's

[Deleted]

May 7, 2024 14:42:02 GMT sword65 said:

May 7, 2024 11:33:07 GMT @grovergreenstone said:

Here's a thought,

Release most of the players, offer a small amount a chance to re-sign because behind the scenes the club is finalising a deal for a takeover where George will have a boost in money so can look at a higher quality of player.

You never know you may be right next you'll be saying England will win the Euro's

Thats already a formality my friend. Bookies have us as outright favourites! 

[Deleted]

May 7, 2024 15:36:42 GMT @grovergreenstone said:

May 7, 2024 14:42:02 GMT sword65 said:

You never know you may be right next you'll be saying England will win the Euro's

Thats already a formality my friend. Bookies have us as outright favourites! 

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 not with Safegate in charge
.

[Deleted]

Southgate has done a great job, brought the players together and gets the players playing like they do for their clubs.

[Deleted]

May 7, 2024 20:41:57 GMT @grovergreenstone said:

Southgate has done a great job, brought the players together and gets the players playing like they do for their clubs.

He is an idiot who should stick to advertising pizza.

[Deleted]

May 8, 2024 2:00:41 GMT sword65 said:

May 7, 2024 20:41:57 GMT @grovergreenstone said:

Southgate has done a great job, brought the players together and gets the players playing like they do for their clubs.

He is an idiot who should stick to advertising pizza.

And what makes you think he's an idiot. Genuine question

[Deleted]

While it shouldn't take that long for a squad to 'gel' and play well as a team, experience suggests that it does - the back four learning to work with the goal keeper, midfield linking with attack and so on. Would say we were far tighter as a team at the end of the season than the start.
Makes me wonder if wholesale changes, that many teams at our level seem to do, are really the best way to prosper? Evolution rather than revolution maybe?
However, if the aim really is to get to the NL, the creating a squad that (with just a few additions), could prosper in the league above, then a fresh start could be the way to go. My phone impression is that most folk here agreed that the current squad would not have fared any better than Hak's one had we got promotion.
Whether we have the money, or indeed are attractive enough, to do so, remains to be seen.

[Deleted]

May 8, 2024 7:50:41 GMT @61666 said:

While it shouldn't take that long for a squad to 'gel' and play well as a team, experience suggests that it does - the back four learning to work with the goal keeper, midfield linking with attack and so on. Would say we were far tighter as a team at the end of the season than the start.
Makes me wonder if wholesale changes, that many teams at our level seem to do, are really the best way to prosper? Evolution rather than revolution maybe?
However, if the aim really is to get to the NL, the creating a squad that (with just a few additions), could prosper in the league above, then a fresh start could be the way to go. My phone impression is that most folk here agreed that the current squad would not have fared any better than Hak's one had we got promotion.
Whether we have the money, or indeed are attractive enough, to do so, remains to be seen.

Fair point and as you hinted I think it is more important to have that team that you are happy to carry into the NL with few changes than you are for another stint in the NLS.

[Deleted]

I don't think we should read too much into this season, especially where George is concerned. He did fantastically, especially as it was his first ever managerial season, but he initially struggled to put together a decent squad (remember, we nearly started the season with Earle in goal) - hence the more or less constant chop and change of players.

The end result was a squad that overall played OK, but struggled to do better. The occasional superb performance was more than outweighed by the games where we couldn't score for trying (and others where we didn't even seem to be trying). We did well to get up to 2nd by mid-season, but couldn't hold onto that position. And, not only were we never a serious threat to Yeovil, but we even failed to challenge teams like Chelmsford or Worthing - ultimately losing our chance of promotion as a result.

Overall, George did very well for his first season, especially our record breaking Cup run, and he more than achieved his targets. But he was forced to do it with a less than ideal squad, that he constantly needed to alter - and a squad who (mostly) weren't suited to going up to the NL, and probably weren't even really up to another season in the NS - especially if the target was to go one better and get promoted.

So, concluding that George is "ruthless" on just this season, or that most of the squad should have been retained, is a false perspective. He did what he had to do, given not much to start on (remember where we were this time last year), and, learning the ropes as he went, he built a squad that did the job, but no more. Next season, we'll see what he is really capable of.

[Deleted]

May 8, 2024 7:12:32 GMT @grovergreenstone said:

May 8, 2024 2:00:41 GMT sword65 said:

He is an idiot who should stick to advertising pizza.

And what makes you think he's an idiot. Genuine question

We had the best chance in years and maybe our only chance to win the world Cup and he bottled it with ultra negative tactics in the semi. The players didn't lose that game Safegate did and should have been out on his ear the following day. He wasted the talented players at his disposal as he will again next month. Anyone can beat no hopes to qualify but when he comes up against the best he will be clueless again.

[Deleted]

May 8, 2024 13:45:19 GMT sword65 said:

May 8, 2024 7:12:32 GMT @grovergreenstone said:

And what makes you think he's an idiot. Genuine question

We had the best chance in years and maybe our only chance to win the world Cup and he bottled it with ultra negative tactics in the semi. The players didn't lose that game Safegate did and should have been out on his ear the following day. He wasted the talented players at his disposal as he will again next month. Anyone can beat no hopes to qualify but when he comes up against the best he will be clueless again.

If you are referring to the Qatar World Cup, I'm intrigued to know what tactics Southgate used in the semi?

[Deleted]

May 8, 2024 9:35:47 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I don't think we should read too much into this season, especially where George is concerned. He did fantastically, especially as it was his first ever managerial season, but he initially struggled to put together a decent squad (remember, we nearly started the season with Earle in goal) - hence the more or less constant chop and change of players.

The end result was a squad that overall played OK, but struggled to do better. The occasional superb performance was more than outweighed by the games where we couldn't score for trying (and others where we didn't even seem to be trying). We did well to get up to 2nd by mid-season, but couldn't hold onto that position. And, not only were we never a serious threat to Yeovil, but we even failed to challenge teams like Chelmsford or Worthing - ultimately losing our chance of promotion as a result.

Overall, George did very well for his first season, especially our record breaking Cup run, and he more than achieved his targets. But he was forced to do it with a less than ideal squad, that he constantly needed to alter - and a squad who (mostly) weren't suited to going up to the NL, and probably weren't even really up to another season in the NS - especially if the target was to go one better and get promoted.

So, concluding that George is "ruthless" on just this season, or that most of the squad should have been retained, is a false perspective. He did what he had to do, given not much to start on (remember where we were this time last year), and, learning the ropes as he went, he built a squad that did the job, but no more. Next season, we'll see what he is really capable of.

What ? We beat Chelmsford home and away. Drew away at Yeovil and beat them at home. Spanked Worthing at home and got spanked back. It was the silly little games that cost us

[Deleted]

May 8, 2024 14:37:26 GMT shamstone said:

May 8, 2024 9:35:47 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I don't think we should read too much into this season, especially where George is concerned. He did fantastically, especially as it was his first ever managerial season, but he initially struggled to put together a decent squad (remember, we nearly started the season with Earle in goal) - hence the more or less constant chop and change of players.

The end result was a squad that overall played OK, but struggled to do better. The occasional superb performance was more than outweighed by the games where we couldn't score for trying (and others where we didn't even seem to be trying). We did well to get up to 2nd by mid-season, but couldn't hold onto that position. And, not only were we never a serious threat to Yeovil, but we even failed to challenge teams like Chelmsford or Worthing - ultimately losing our chance of promotion as a result.

Overall, George did very well for his first season, especially our record breaking Cup run, and he more than achieved his targets. But he was forced to do it with a less than ideal squad, that he constantly needed to alter - and a squad who (mostly) weren't suited to going up to the NL, and probably weren't even really up to another season in the NS - especially if the target was to go one better and get promoted.

So, concluding that George is "ruthless" on just this season, or that most of the squad should have been retained, is a false perspective. He did what he had to do, given not much to start on (remember where we were this time last year), and, learning the ropes as he went, he built a squad that did the job, but no more. Next season, we'll see what he is really capable of.

What ? We beat Chelmsford home and away. Drew away at Yeovil and beat them at home. Spanked Worthing at home and got spanked back. It was the silly little games that cost us

Don’t forget the other promoted team Braintree we won at theirs and drew at home.