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Post by pwoodstone on Oct 10, 2022 9:14:33 GMT
Had no problem bringing the majority of the squad back for this season. It would hard to find and finance a whole new squad. Better the devil you know. As said by almost everyone, the players who have come in have been underwhelming. It smacks of lack of scouting or just bad judgement and more likely lack of funds to attract.
I’ve said it before, when did we last sign a player who was still wanted by their current club? Maybe Sol. That’s all I can think recently.
If some players are listed for transfer then it’s one way and probably the only way to bring in a few new faces.
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Post by holysmokes66 on Oct 10, 2022 9:29:50 GMT
Had no problem bringing the majority of the squad back for this season. It would hard to find and finance a whole new squad. Better the devil you know. As said by almost everyone, the players who have come in have been underwhelming. It smacks of lack of scouting or just bad judgement and more likely lack of funds to attract. I’ve said it before, when did we last sign a player who was still wanted by their current club? Maybe Sol. That’s all I can think recently. If some players are listed for transfer then it’s one way and probably the only way to bring in a few new faces. As Hak said about Amaluzor, he tried to bring him back but we just couldn't afford his wage demands. Think that's probably the story of our transfers this season. We also have to understand we're now a little fish in a big pond, whereas last season it was the other way round. Players can go and play in front of 1/3rd of the crowd we get for triple the wages. Our atmosphere, crowd size and relationship with the fans was probably a pull for some players last season, but I doubt that's the case now when there's players at the other end of the table getting £10k a week. Money talks, and if we can't stump up the cash it's pretty evident we end up getting the last pick of players unfortunately. We may have to look to the league below and try and attract the best players locally, but again - Ebbsfleet / Dartford / Dover / Dulwich, etc will all be paying decent money.
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Post by Nick on Oct 10, 2022 9:38:15 GMT
Probably true but it makes no difference to what Hak has to do. He has to find those 'gold nuggets' at bargain prices. That's his job, he sinks or swims by his success. Nobody said it was going to be easy. Its a tough league and to survive and even do reasonably well, you must have exceptional management. No excuses about size of club and availability of finance. Not quite 'water into wine' but getting close. Forget this 'the club is too small and can't compete' defeatism, we can do better and we must do better.
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Post by jdl on Oct 10, 2022 10:48:52 GMT
Well, at least Jay comes out well in all this - only now do we get to fully appreciate what he managed in 16/17 and 17/18 - with far fewer resources than Hak and Wheeler, and being expected to do more than just manage the 1st team. There's a few out there who owe Jay a long overdue apology.
A comparison between then and now is 'interesting'. In 2016, with largely the side we'd come up with, and still playing and training part-time, we were 11th at roughly the same point in the season. But Flish had just been badly injured in our victory at Torquay, and, without him, we collapsed - only managing 3 wins and two draws in the next 16 games (11 points out of 48). But Jay had started rebuilding the team, and results eventually picked up - in the final 18 games, we only lost 4, winning 9 and drawing 5 - finishing 14th on GD. Had we not gone off the boil at the very end of the season (2 draws and a loss in the final 3 games), we would have ended up comfortably in the top half.
And that rebuilt team went on to more success in the following season - by the 18th game, we were 5th. But then of course, we lost Pigott and began a slow decline down to 18th (7 draws and no wins in the next 17 games). But, once again, Jay rebuilt the team, and 4 wins and 3 draws in the last 11 games kept us up. Although, as before, a poor final game cost us places - with only 2 points difference between 19th and 14th.
So Jay, with all his inexperience, and without the resources and freedom afforded to his successors, kept us in the NL for two seasons, surviving the loss of two key players, and having to rebuild the side twice. Eventually paying the price of not being able to do miracles with limited resources - miracles which his successors, with many more resources, also failed to achieve.
The NL, it turns out is, hard. It was hard then, and it’s still bloody hard now. Without the money to spunk on players, we’re entirely reliant on canny managers to survive. Let’s see if Hak can do what Jay managed - twice.
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Post by holysmokes66 on Oct 10, 2022 13:12:50 GMT
Well, at least Jay comes out well in all this - only now do we get to fully appreciate what he managed in 16/17 and 17/18 - with far fewer resources than Hak and Wheeler, and being expected to do more than just manage the 1st team. There's a few out there who owe Jay a long overdue apology. A comparison between then and now is 'interesting'. In 2016, with largely the side we'd come up with, and still playing and training part-time, we were 11th at roughly the same point in the season. But Flish had just been badly injured in our victory at Torquay, and, without him, we collapsed - only managing 3 wins and two draws in the next 16 games (11 points out of 48). But Jay had started rebuilding the team, and results eventually picked up - in the final 18 games, we only lost 4, winning 9 and drawing 5 - finishing 14th on GD. Had we not gone off the boil at the very end of the season (2 draws and a loss in the final 3 games), we would have ended up comfortably in the top half. And that rebuilt team went on to more success in the following season - by the 18th game, we were 5th. But then of course, we lost Pigott and began a slow decline down to 18th (7 draws and no wins in the next 17 games). But, once again, Jay rebuilt the team, and 4 wins and 3 draws in the last 11 games kept us up. Although, as before, a poor final game cost us places - with only 2 points difference between 19th and 14th. So Jay, with all his inexperience, and without the resources and freedom afforded his successors, kept us in the NL for two seasons, surviving the loss of two key players, and having to rebuild the side twice. Eventually paying the price of not being able to do miracles with limited resources - miracles which his successors, with many more resources, also failed to achieve. The NL, it turns out is, hard. It was hard then, and it’s still bloody hard now. Without the money to spunk on players, we’re entirely reliant on canny managers to survive. Let’s see if Hak can do what Jay managed - twice. Even more impressive considering we started that first season with the line up below. Some great names in there, but at by my count, 8 or 9 of them had never played at the top end of National League football or above. At a quick scan, 8 or 9 of our starting line up HAD played at this level or above for our first game of this season. Unreal. Lee Worgan Callum Driver Kevin Lokko Dan Sweeney Jack Paxman Clovis Kamdjo Vas Karagiannis James Rogers Anthony Acheampong Alex Flisher Dumebi Dumaka Tom Mills Ben Greenhalgh
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Post by jdl on Oct 10, 2022 13:41:31 GMT
Well, at least Jay comes out well in all this - only now do we get to fully appreciate what he managed in 16/17 and 17/18 - with far fewer resources than Hak and Wheeler, and being expected to do more than just manage the 1st team. There's a few out there who owe Jay a long overdue apology. A comparison between then and now is 'interesting'. In 2016, with largely the side we'd come up with, and still playing and training part-time, we were 11th at roughly the same point in the season. But Flish had just been badly injured in our victory at Torquay, and, without him, we collapsed - only managing 3 wins and two draws in the next 16 games (11 points out of 48). But Jay had started rebuilding the team, and results eventually picked up - in the final 18 games, we only lost 4, winning 9 and drawing 5 - finishing 14th on GD. Had we not gone off the boil at the very end of the season (2 draws and a loss in the final 3 games), we would have ended up comfortably in the top half. And that rebuilt team went on to more success in the following season - by the 18th game, we were 5th. But then of course, we lost Pigott and began a slow decline down to 18th (7 draws and no wins in the next 17 games). But, once again, Jay rebuilt the team, and 4 wins and 3 draws in the last 11 games kept us up. Although, as before, a poor final game cost us places - with only 2 points difference between 19th and 14th. So Jay, with all his inexperience, and without the resources and freedom afforded his successors, kept us in the NL for two seasons, surviving the loss of two key players, and having to rebuild the side twice. Eventually paying the price of not being able to do miracles with limited resources - miracles which his successors, with many more resources, also failed to achieve. The NL, it turns out is, hard. It was hard then, and it’s still bloody hard now. Without the money to spunk on players, we’re entirely reliant on canny managers to survive. Let’s see if Hak can do what Jay managed - twice. Even more impressive considering we started that first season with the line up below. Some great names in there, but at by my count, 8 or 9 of them had never played at the top end of National League football or above. At a quick scan, 8 or 9 of our starting line up HAD played at this level or above for our first game of this season. Unreal. Lee Worgan Callum Driver Kevin Lokko Dan Sweeney Jack Paxman Clovis Kamdjo Vas Karagiannis James Rogers Anthony Acheampong Alex Flisher Dumebi Dumaka Tom Mills Ben Greenhalgh That really makes you stop and think. I'd forgotten just how inexperienced our team was - several of them hadn't played at higher than Isthmian Premier a year before! We'd only been in the NS one season - and hadn't even won that...
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Post by Nick on Oct 10, 2022 16:39:53 GMT
Well its all about opinions but I don't think Jay's squad was as strong as Hak's based on last season's form, although it probably doesn't look like that right now. It is also fair to say that Hak's team has applied and proven themselves at a higher level. Again, it feels like it at the moment. We don't know for a fact that Jay managed things on less resources, but it seems likely. No question Jay deserves his legend status. Hak has got plenty to do. This summer's player recruitment didn't do the business, he has to get it right with the next batch. It's all to play for.
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Post by hongkongstone on Oct 11, 2022 3:08:28 GMT
Frankly we have bought in zero upgrades from last seasons squad (unless SWS proves to be a star when he returns from injury). Michael Phillips has not been replaced and obviously with injuries to Luque and JBW we are now starting with players who would only have been impact subs or cover at best last season.
Obviously I do not know of the finances behind it all but our transfer business thus far has not improved the team which is surely the primary objective. Maybe it would be better to have a slightly smaller squad on better wages and use the acadamy to cover in emergencies?
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Post by steveh21 on Oct 11, 2022 6:47:55 GMT
I spoke to Michael Phillips a couple of weeks back and he wanted to come back to the Stones on loan. Apparently this was discussed between Stones and Barnet and Barnet manager was happy for it to happen. Michael was waiting on Stones to make the next move. Imo he is one of the biggest misses this season (apart from Christie's at Boreham Wood).
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Post by pwoodstone on Oct 11, 2022 6:51:20 GMT
Well, at least Jay comes out well in all this - only now do we get to fully appreciate what he managed in 16/17 and 17/18 - with far fewer resources than Hak and Wheeler, and being expected to do more than just manage the 1st team. There's a few out there who owe Jay a long overdue apology. A comparison between then and now is 'interesting'. In 2016, with largely the side we'd come up with, and still playing and training part-time, we were 11th at roughly the same point in the season. But Flish had just been badly injured in our victory at Torquay, and, without him, we collapsed - only managing 3 wins and two draws in the next 16 games (11 points out of 48). But Jay had started rebuilding the team, and results eventually picked up - in the final 18 games, we only lost 4, winning 9 and drawing 5 - finishing 14th on GD. Had we not gone off the boil at the very end of the season (2 draws and a loss in the final 3 games), we would have ended up comfortably in the top half. And that rebuilt team went on to more success in the following season - by the 18th game, we were 5th. But then of course, we lost Pigott and began a slow decline down to 18th (7 draws and no wins in the next 17 games). But, once again, Jay rebuilt the team, and 4 wins and 3 draws in the last 11 games kept us up. Although, as before, a poor final game cost us places - with only 2 points difference between 19th and 14th. So Jay, with all his inexperience, and without the resources and freedom afforded his successors, kept us in the NL for two seasons, surviving the loss of two key players, and having to rebuild the side twice. Eventually paying the price of not being able to do miracles with limited resources - miracles which his successors, with many more resources, also failed to achieve. The NL, it turns out is, hard. It was hard then, and it’s still bloody hard now. Without the money to spunk on players, we’re entirely reliant on canny managers to survive. Let’s see if Hak can do what Jay managed - twice. Even more impressive considering we started that first season with the line up below. Some great names in there, but at by my count, 8 or 9 of them had never played at the top end of National League football or above. At a quick scan, 8 or 9 of our starting line up HAD played at this level or above for our first game of this season. Unreal. Lee Worgan Callum Driver Kevin Lokko Dan Sweeney Jack Paxman Clovis Kamdjo Vas Karagiannis James Rogers Anthony Acheampong Alex Flisher Dumebi Dumaka Tom Mills Ben Greenhalgh Did Clovis Kamjo not play against us (and score) rather than for us in that first game?
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Post by holysmokes66 on Oct 11, 2022 11:47:01 GMT
I spoke to Michael Phillips a couple of weeks back and he wanted to come back to the Stones on loan. Apparently this was discussed between Stones and Barnet and Barnet manager was happy for it to happen. Michael was waiting on Stones to make the next move. Imo he is one of the biggest misses this season (apart from Christie's at Boreham Wood). Got pelters from the fans at Barnet away. Wonder if that would put him off coming back now?
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Post by holysmokes66 on Oct 11, 2022 11:48:06 GMT
Even more impressive considering we started that first season with the line up below. Some great names in there, but at by my count, 8 or 9 of them had never played at the top end of National League football or above. At a quick scan, 8 or 9 of our starting line up HAD played at this level or above for our first game of this season. Unreal. Lee Worgan Callum Driver Kevin Lokko Dan Sweeney Jack Paxman Clovis Kamdjo Vas Karagiannis James Rogers Anthony Acheampong Alex Flisher Dumebi Dumaka Tom Mills Ben Greenhalgh Did Clovis Kamjo not play against us (and score) rather than for us in that first game? I can't remember actually, you may very well be right there. Trying to rack my brain who I'm missing from the squad - Stuart Lewis, perhaps?
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Post by daveu on Oct 11, 2022 12:44:17 GMT
Did Clovis Kamjo not play against us (and score) rather than for us in that first game? I can't remember actually, you may very well be right there. Trying to rack my brain who I'm missing from the squad - Stuart Lewis, perhaps? Kamjo played for Crystal Palace U23s against us in a friendly I think. Can't remember if he scored.
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Post by bear5 on Oct 11, 2022 12:45:56 GMT
Did Clovis Kamjo not play against us (and score) rather than for us in that first game? I can't remember actually, you may very well be right there. Trying to rack my brain who I'm missing from the squad - Stuart Lewis, perhaps? In midfield, Jack Evans played for a few months at the beginning of the season. Stuart Lewis arrived in the January.
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Post by pwoodstone on Oct 11, 2022 12:53:49 GMT
Bobby Joe scored for us
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