The idea we are "building" is absurd

Do you know how many first team regulars we actually own who are under the age of 30  is?  The answer is just 4 - Macca, Mills, Summerfield and Dembele (maybe 5 if you include Berrett). Of these only Dembele has a contract past next summer. We've got a  squad of old timers looking for one last payday and people who know they will be out of here come May.

We have two talented youngsters - Clifton who nearly never gets in the squad and Wright, who is upset that Town never seem to bother watching him play for a tin pot outfit. So it can't be said that Slade is investing in our youth.

Slade can't be said to be clearing out the dross - the only players who have left are Clements, Osborne and Jones - our three most creative and talented midfielders. Were still left with the likes of Asante and Macalister who for whatever reason have been clearly frozen out. Our squad isn't smaller than when Bignot arrived. Now we just have a squad of less talented and less caring players.

Is building bringing in 30 somethings like Woolford, Dixon and Clarke(who is admittedly ok) and non entities like Cardwell, Kelly and Hooper at the expense of club legends like Pearson and Disley who bled for town?

So how are we building for the future? We're not investing in our youth, were not reducing the squad and we've not bought in quality.  

The reality is that this club isn't building for next season we are on the slippery slope out of this league!

Couldn't agree more.

difficult to argue with the analysis

Never known such a cocked-up setup, particularly the 'strike' force. The strikers who were actually signed aren't good enough for the first team and the loan strikers who replaced them are dropped to make way for the next striker in on loan.
My lad played to a similar system for an under 10's team

Can't disagree with any of that. Absolutely ludicrous to claim we are building something and if he thinks he can fool the fans then he's more arrogant than we thought.

I wouldn't have minded a short term outlook if we were actually challenging like we were told he was brought in to do. If we signed some players in their 30's who did a really good job short term then I wouldn't mind but we're even worse than we were last season at the minute. On the whole we've signed rubbish, barely anyone with potential (Dembele aside) and half our squad isn't even ours!

It's what happened last time we took a nose dive into non league and the club are doing it all over again. Hardly any of the players have a vested interest in our future. The older ones are looking to their careers post hanging up their boots and the loanees have bigger better clubs to go back to should it all go t1ts up. They don't have the hunger and the desire to succeed here because their careers are not on the line. It's the Pearsons, the Bogles, the Jones' who have seen the bottom of the football pyramid and want to fight to not go back there- they are the sorts that are needed. How on earth we can expect to win games with our midfield is beyond a joke. Summerfield and Berrett have 3 goals between them in approaching 100 games, with a handful of assists. The last time they were in the league, they were relegated with York.

How the hell have we ended up with 9 strikers, and no-one capable of supplying them? As a proper builder Russ, i can tell you that the solid foundations come first, before you add the structure, then you can move on to the finishing touches. The house you are building is so top heavy, that it is more than likely to come crashing down.

All the while we have a huge wage bill sucking all the remaining funds away 9 strikers it`s unheard of and it`s unprofessional

Quoted from horsforthmariner

Do you know how many first team regulars we actually own who are under the age of 30  is?  The answer is just 4 - Macca, Mills, Summerfield and Dembele (maybe 5 if you include Berrett). Of these only Dembele has a contract past next summer. We've got a  squad of old timers looking for one last payday and people who know they will be out of here come May.

We have two talented youngsters - Clifton who nearly never gets in the squad and Wright, who is upset that Town never seem to bother watching him play for a tin pot outfit. So it can't be said that Slade is investing in our youth.

Slade can't be said to be clearing out the dross - the only players who have left are Clements, Osborne and Jones - our three most creative and talented midfielders. Were still left with the likes of Asante and Macalister who for whatever reason have been clearly frozen out. Our squad isn't smaller than when Bignot arrived. Now we just have a squad of less talented and less caring players.

Is building bringing in 30 somethings like Woolford, Dixon and Clarke(who is admittedly ok) and non entities like Cardwell, Kelly and Hooper at the expense of club legends like Pearson and Disley who bled for town?

So how are we building for the future? We're not investing in our youth, were not reducing the squad and we've not bought in quality.  

The reality is that this club isn't building for next season we are on the slippery slope out of this league!

Perfectly put. Now answer this ^^^^^ Mr "Getyoufactsright"

Quoted from Badger57

Perfectly put. Now answer this ^^^^^ Mr "Getyoufactsright"

No chance in bunker mode.

Fenty started out deconstructing a flag, moved onto Mighty Mariner, then the fans, then SLO, now it's a football club.

A film near you the Deconstructor, 'If it wasn't for yours truly, would you be tickled pink'

[img]https://i.imgur.com/Fxx3OCI.gif[/img]

The only thing that's being built is a big trapdoor. A trapdoor straight in to the non league again, and we're dancing around on the flimsy lid like clueless morons.
I think my Dad's cat could run Grimsby Town better than the people who are currently "allegedly" in charge. She's good a flipping off up trees, so at least there's one skill to bring to the table.

Absolutely agree with the OP, and to add insult to injury, this is being deliberately managed and sanctioned, and then defended by the board. It's a major reason why fans are and will turn their back on the club in their droves unable to accept the miserable and infuriating reality of this situation.
There's none so blind as those who will not see.

The players that have left since Slade was appointed make you wonder whether the first remit of his job was to get all of Bignot's signing's out of the club.

J.Osborne - GONE
Clements - GONE
Maxwell - GONE (was only here on loan)
Clements - GONE
Yussuf - GONE
Dyson - GONE (was only here on loan)
Gunning - GONE
S.Jones - GONE
Asante - allegedly training with the Youth Team.

Only one of the players brought in by Bignot is still here and he looks like he's not part of the and will be out on loan no doubt soon.

Why have we been so keen to move all of these players on? Were they all on big wages? Did they have some strange clause in their contracts? Is it just coincidence and Slade didn't rate them or think they fitted into his plans?

I'm not saying they should all still be here but at least 2 of them are better than what we've got left in the squad.

Quoted from Tommy

The players that have left since Slade was appointed make you wonder whether the first remit of his job was to get all of Bignot's signing's out of the club.

J.Osborne - GONE
Clements - GONE
Maxwell - GONE (was only here on loan)
Clements - GONE
Yussuf - GONE
Dyson - GONE (was only here on loan)
Gunning - GONE
S.Jones - GONE
Asante - allegedly training with the Youth Team.

Only one of the players brought in by Bignot is still here and he looks like he's not part of the and will be out on loan no doubt soon.

Why have we been so keen to move all of these players on? Were they all on big wages? Did they have some strange clause in their contracts? Is it just coincidence and Slade didn't rate them or think they fitted into his plans?

I'm not saying they should all still be here but at least 2 of them are better than what we've got left in the squad.

So while pointing out most have gone you state only two were possibly good enough ?  Bignot seemed very relaxed, too relaxed in fact, when it came to the off field management of players, Clement came with a hit and miss reputation, Osbourn a part timer with shin splints stepping upto full time training and League level , Asante injury record, Yussuf even Bignot dropped him after two games and we hardly saw him again...Mad Gav Gunning haha enough said....Maxwell ..did he actually play ?....Dyson didnt tear up any trees really either.....

Whilst at the time the influx of centre midfield "talent" was welcomed as that was a position that Hurst  hadnt really successfully mastered...in hindsight i think Bignot was more forgiving/ less experienced of the rigours and expectations of managing full time players...whereas Slade isnt.

Perhaps under Bignot players were allowed to swing the lead a little...which may have lead to the alleged senior pro's meeting with JF......i cant imagine Slade would allow it either having brought in some experienced pro's as a basis, then allow some who didnt want to pull their weight get away with it and cause discontent behind the scenes hence getting rid.  Jones for all his talent and technical ability didnt appear to be giving it his all so far this season either...maybe the same reasons as he himself has previously fell out with football before now ?

Hurst signed some stinkers on long contracts, Bignot signed some malfunctioning talent and Slade has probably been 40/60 regards his recruitment success....all in all its left us with a mish mash of steady, experienced , potential prospects, down right poor players and new loans to see the season out with.

Roll on the summer clear out.

Quoted from moosey_club

Slade has probably been 40/60 regards his recruitment success

I think 40/60 is being way over-generous Moosey!

Quoted from moosey_club

So while pointing out most have gone you state only two were possibly good enough ?  

Ha, yeah ok fair enough. I did say "at least" 2 though. The obvious ones Jones and Osborne. You could argue Clements as well.

It just gets suspicious for me letting Osborne and Jones go. That can't be based on judgement of their ability alone surely? Granted we don't really get insight into their mentality and attitude etc, but you'd question if we've let them go for the purpose of having all Bignot's signing's out the door? Again, i suspect we'll never really know.

During his first spell, Slade's signings were probably 40% good and 60% OK.

During this spell, they have been 40% OK and 60% below par.

Pretty obvious why we're doing poorly at present. A good player who isn't on his game is still generally OK, not something which is so for an OK player who isn't playing to the best of his abilities.

Quoted from Tommy

The players that have left since Slade was appointed make you wonder whether the first remit of his job was to get all of Bignot's signing's out of the club.

J.Osborne - GONE
Clements - GONE
Maxwell - GONE (was only here on loan)
Clements - GONE
Yussuf - GONE
Dyson - GONE (was only here on loan)
Gunning - GONE
S.Jones - GONE
Asante - allegedly training with the Youth Team.

Only one of the players brought in by Bignot is still here and he looks like he's not part of the and will be out on loan no doubt soon.

Why have we been so keen to move all of these players on? Were they all on big wages? Did they have some strange clause in their contracts? Is it just coincidence and Slade didn't rate them or think they fitted into his plans?

I'm not saying they should all still be here but at least 2 of them are better than what we've got left in the squad.

I think there may be some substance to what you have said. All managers like to get their own players in, but to get rid of so many so quickly means I am now wondering if all the Bignot signings did have something the board didn't like.

Is that why Slade is being given more time because he has carried out the boards wishes to a tee? Did Bignot cause more havoc whilst here than we thought, and Slade was brought in specifically to sort it out?

Its anybodys guess and a bit cloak and dagger, but something is very much amiss, obviously.    

After Bignot's January window dealing offering players long contracts it is noticeable that RS has only brought players in on loan. His choice or someone elses? However I do agree the time to "build" the core of a proper team is in the summer. More players available who can blend in pre-season. Unfortunately RS failed to get the quality required last summer and we have been doing "make do and mend" ever since.

Fair enough if Bignot’s signings were on big money, getting rid of some was the way forward. But then replacing them with shite like Kelly, Dixon and Hooper and keeping Berrett and Vernon? In what way is that solving any problems?

I find it very suspicious of how they’ve been sold/loaned out at a steady stream. For what reason did Osborne and Jones lose their desire to play for the club?

Quoted from Quagmire

I think 40/60 is being way over-generous Moosey!

Only off the top of my head.   ..will have to do an actual run down and maybe re calculate...point is while like any manager some signings work and some dont, he has also had remnants of 2 entirely different  managers teams to deal with as well, which compounds every one of his signings that dont work.  

Hes brought in two young players who might turn out good, one average journeyman and a crock of shite on permanent deals, no way is that a 40/60 split

If "God forbid" we get relegated to the Conference we won't need a clear out , we will already have the players that are just about good enough for that level..

Quoted from Grimal

If "God forbid" we get relegated to the Conference we won't need a clear out , we will already have the players that are just about good enough for that level..

I wouldn't want some of the crap he has signed playing for us if we went down.

Summers is 30 by the way!

Quoted from horsforthmariner

Do you know how many first team regulars we actually own who are under the age of 30  is?  The answer is just 4 - Macca, Mills, Summerfield and Dembele (maybe 5 if you include Berrett). Of these only Dembele has a contract past next summer. We've got a  squad of old timers looking for one last payday and people who know they will be out of here come May.

We have two talented youngsters - Clifton who nearly never gets in the squad and Wright, who is upset that Town never seem to bother watching him play for a tin pot outfit. So it can't be said that Slade is investing in our youth.

Slade can't be said to be clearing out the dross - the only players who have left are Clements, Osborne and Jones - our three most creative and talented midfielders. Were still left with the likes of Asante and Macalister who for whatever reason have been clearly frozen out. Our squad isn't smaller than when Bignot arrived. Now we just have a squad of less talented and less caring players.

Is building bringing in 30 somethings like Woolford, Dixon and Clarke(who is admittedly ok) and non entities like Cardwell, Kelly and Hooper at the expense of club legends like Pearson and Disley who bled for town?

So how are we building for the future? We're not investing in our youth, were not reducing the squad and we've not bought in quality.  

The reality is that this club isn't building for next season we are on the slippery slope out of this league!

Great post, I would like John Fenty to come on here and answer that then try to justify his comments in that statement.

I won't hold my  breath.

Quoted from Grimal

If "God forbid" we get relegated to the Conference we won't need a clear out , we will already have the players that are just about good enough for that level..

No way would the current side be good enough to challenge for promotion from the conference.

Quoted from Grantley

I find it very suspicious of how they’ve been sold/loaned out at a steady stream. For what reason did Osborne and Jones lose their desire to play for the club?

I played CM for a Sunday league club once, used to love playing for em. We had a new manager who wanted to go from back to front quickly, I spent most of the game watching the ball fly over my head and I can tell you it was proper shite, I was bored to tears and didn't enjoy playing anymore. I was shite, but at least I tried to play football, this crap Slade turns out isn't football, I can't blame Osborne or Jones for jumping ship. This sort of shite would dishearten anyone. It's bad to watch, imagine having to follow his instructions.