2024/25 Squad

[pinkpanther]

May 13, 2024 21:12:28 GMT Raymondo316 said:

Going by Twitter, a fair few Tonbridge fans think he's signing for us.

They aren't at all happy.

Presumably they were happy enough to pinch him from Dover last summer? Eastbourne Borough is the other suggestion on their forum, so possibly just assuming it'll be one of the most local full-time clubs in the same division. Lots of players travel a lot further than that join a new club.

He's been a bit of a slow burner. Came through the academy at Bromley, made 150+ appearances in 5 seasons aged 18-23, but only around 60 of them in the starting XI. He joined Dulwich 4 years ago ahead of the behind closed doors season and was initially a "manager's favourite" in a holding midfield role, reliably doing all the simple boring stuff without anything to excite the supporters. The next season he was converted to a right wing back and was a key player in a great first half of the season. When he moved back into a midfield role he looked more confident and assertive after that. Hamlet offered him a contract for a third season but he turned it down to join Dover, then moved to Tonbridge last year. He's a threat shooting from outside the box, and a decent crosser of the ball who can also take corners and free kicks, now aged 27.

[Deleted]

May 14, 2024 9:51:47 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I suppose the reality is that George is assembling a squad, not picking 'stars'. So he will be mostly going for players he thinks will do the job and fit in - and, of course, are within his budget restraints.

So, few of our new players will be headline buys. The sort of players fans will get excited about are going to go to clubs with money.

But, given George's track record, there's a good chance that a few of his buys will turn out to be something special.

Here's a question, how can you buy players you think will fit in, if there is no squad to fit them into

[Deleted]

May 14, 2024 11:08:09 GMT grovergreenstone said:

May 14, 2024 9:51:47 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I suppose the reality is that George is assembling a squad, not picking 'stars'. So he will be mostly going for players he thinks will do the job and fit in - and, of course, are within his budget restraints.

So, few of our new players will be headline buys. The sort of players fans will get excited about are going to go to clubs with money.

But, given George's track record, there's a good chance that a few of his buys will turn out to be something special.

Here's a question, how can you buy players you think will fit in, if there is no squad to fit them into

I am guessing George has a good idea who will be signing and who might not. I doubt he made the offers without having discussed it with the players.

Also, he will still know what kind of players he wants.

But it’s still a good point and also remember this is only his second attempt at assembling a squad. He should know much more now that he did 12 months ago

[Deleted]

May 14, 2024 10:40:43 GMT pinkpanther said:

May 13, 2024 21:12:28 GMT Raymondo316 said:

Going by Twitter, a fair few Tonbridge fans think he's signing for us.

They aren't at all happy.

Presumably they were happy enough to pinch him from Dover last summer? Eastbourne Borough is the other suggestion on their forum, so possibly just assuming it'll be one of the most local full-time clubs in the same division. Lots of players travel a lot further than that join a new club.

He's been a bit of a slow burner. Came through the academy at Bromley, made 150+ appearances in 5 seasons aged 18-23, but only around 60 of them in the starting XI. He joined Dulwich 4 years ago ahead of the behind closed doors season and was initially a "manager's favourite" in a holding midfield role, reliably doing all the simple boring stuff without anything to excite the supporters. The next season he was converted to a right wing back and was a key player in a great first half of the season. When he moved back into a midfield role he looked more confident and assertive after that. Hamlet offered him a contract for a third season but he turned it down to join Dover, then moved to Tonbridge last year. He's a threat shooting from outside the box, and a decent crosser of the ball who can also take corners and free kicks, now aged 27.

Thanks. Sounds like he could be a good addition then. Re the shooting from outside the box, he equalised against us in the last minutes of the away game last season with a volley from 20 yards

[Deleted]

May 14, 2024 9:51:47 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I suppose the reality is that George is assembling a squad, not picking 'stars'. So he will be mostly going for players he thinks will do the job and fit in - and, of course, are within his budget restraints.

So, few of our new players will be headline buys. The sort of players fans will get excited about are going to go to clubs with money.

But, given George's track record, there's a good chance that a few of his buys will turn out to be something special.

That should be easy enough.
There's only Sam and Temi to fit in with.

[Deleted]

May 14, 2024 11:08:09 GMT grovergreenstone said:

May 14, 2024 9:51:47 GMT @johndaubneyslegs said:

I suppose the reality is that George is assembling a squad, not picking 'stars'. So he will be mostly going for players he thinks will do the job and fit in - and, of course, are within his budget restraints.

So, few of our new players will be headline buys. The sort of players fans will get excited about are going to go to clubs with money.

But, given George's track record, there's a good chance that a few of his buys will turn out to be something special.

Here's a question, how can you buy players you think will fit in, if there is no squad to fit them into

I suppose that's why George is the manager and we're not!

[Deleted]

Maybe some of those considering their options will sign when they see the calibre of new arrivals. Everyone wants to be on the winning team.

[Deleted]

What Im saying is, no one has any idea how well they will fit in. Its just down to luck at this stage, when your adding 2 or 3 players to a group, then judging how they will fit in is important. Right now we need a group of 16 players or so, then start tinkering with the dynamics etc

[jackster]

Nearer 20 I would think.

[Deleted]

May 14, 2024 15:35:21 GMT grovergreenstone said:

What Im saying is, no one has any idea how well they will fit in. Its just down to luck at this stage, when your adding 2 or 3 players to a group, then judging how they will fit in is important. Right now we need a group of 16 players or so, then start tinkering with the dynamics etc

This is where I question the logic of starting afresh every season. The consensus here seems to be few of last season's squad would prosper in the NL and I won't argue with that. However, they were good enough to make the play offs, so why release the majority - it just creates new problems.
However few people are party to what goes on
behind the scenes and if the aim is to build a squad that WILL be good enough to not only win the NS, but (with a few additions) cope with the NL, then fair enough.
Nevertheless, only two teams can be promoted each year and when you've done pretty well in one year maybe evolution is better than revolution?
Glad I'm not the manager.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2024 7:46:43 GMT @61666 said:

May 14, 2024 15:35:21 GMT grovergreenstone said:

What Im saying is, no one has any idea how well they will fit in. Its just down to luck at this stage, when your adding 2 or 3 players to a group, then judging how they will fit in is important. Right now we need a group of 16 players or so, then start tinkering with the dynamics etc

This is where I question the logic of starting afresh every season. The consensus here seems to be few of last season's squad would prosper in the NL and I won't argue with that. However, they were good enough to make the play offs, so why release the majority - it just creates new problems.
However few people are party to what goes on
behind the scenes and if the aim is to build a squad that WILL be good enough to not only win the NS, but (with a few additions) cope with the NL, then fair enough.
Nevertheless, only two teams can be promoted each year and when you've done pretty well in one year maybe evolution is better than revolution?
Glad I'm not the manager.

Two schools of thought. Keep the majority and tweak but knowing you'll need to do wholesale changes should we go up.

Make wholesale changes now hoping you'll be happier with the squad should you go up and only need to tweak.

Let's face it, this is George's second proper go at this so he probably doesn't know what's for the best either. 

for what it's worth, I think George is the kind of manager who wants what he wants and now and now and wouldn't put up with second (or 5th) best.

[Deleted]

May 15, 2024 11:15:02 GMT pwoodstone said:

May 15, 2024 7:46:43 GMT @61666 said:

This is where I question the logic of starting afresh every season. The consensus here seems to be few of last season's squad would prosper in the NL and I won't argue with that. However, they were good enough to make the play offs, so why release the majority - it just creates new problems.
However few people are party to what goes on
behind the scenes and if the aim is to build a squad that WILL be good enough to not only win the NS, but (with a few additions) cope with the NL, then fair enough.
Nevertheless, only two teams can be promoted each year and when you've done pretty well in one year maybe evolution is better than revolution?
Glad I'm not the manager.

Two schools of thought. Keep the majority and tweak but knowing you'll need to do wholesale changes should we go up.

Make wholesale changes now hoping you'll be happier with the squad should you go up and only need to tweak.

Let's face it, this is George's second proper go at this so he probably doesn't know what's for the best either. 

for what it's worth, I think George is the kind of manager who wants what he wants and now and now and wouldn't put up with second (or 5th) best.

Unless you have loads of money to sign National league players you will never be able to build a team in the National South that is good enough for the league above.

History shows you will always need to make big changes if you want to survive in the league above.

[Harry]

Talk about getting ahead or ourselves.

With only 2 signings confirmed, getting a squad to compete in the NLS is proving problematical.

[Deleted]

This season's squad was good - George did a fantastic job building and maintaining it in his first ever season. But it wasn't good enough to win the league, or, as it turned out, to win the playoffs.

There's no point in just doing the same next season, George has to go one better. And the only way to do that, given the lottery of the playoffs, is to aim to win the league.

And that needs a much better team/squad than this year's. Which means a pretty radical rebuild. I was actually surprised that the retained list was as big as it was.

[Deleted]

I'm surprised so many were let go as I think most were good enough for NLS.

However, I think the 'new' attitude is that if you have an injury that keeps you out for more than a few games, then you're unlikely to be kept on.