Who is good enough

I think what james mckeown said on the d3d4 podcast is really worth listening to, about the mental toll of playing football and how the younger players need to learn to switch off and let themselves relax between games and its something that comes with time and could explain why the teams faded a bit now were getting to the end

Feel after a few bad results people are being a bit overly harsh on what we all acknowledge is a fairly young squad, that when they were playing really well we were all quick to say ‘and they’ll keep getting better!’

Just by retaining this entire squad we’ll have a bit of a better team next season. A couple of quality additions and a couple of players that would add variety is what we need imo. I think the key could be having someone more developed in the embleton position, someone causing havoc and creating chances week in week out.

The question is more likely to be (from MJ's point of view) of the 10 players out of contract in May, who are we going to offer a new one to?

http://codalmighty.com/site/ca.php?article=4202

Feel we are not too far away
Defence is as good as most - Collins and Whitmore might not be here next season
Midfield - Embleton probably not coming back and Whitehousse coming back; Welsh? He will be a year older having hardly played but is on 2 year deal I believe? Woolford? MJ seems to rate him. Need a creatve type if we can find one

Up front is the major area for me - we need a consistent number of goals up top, not just good months and then nothing the next month.

Wes - not guaranteed to be here
Vernam - unless he adapts to a different role (the Woolford role?) then I can't see him fitting in and being a regular
Cook - the Woolford role?
Cardwell and Rose - both raw
Dennis - not sure about him and not sure he will be here

It's a worry - but I'd be putting  huge amount of budget into finding the next Podge and Bogle (although Podge was cheap as chips, I suspect)

NB: It's not just about budget - Norwich City are on cusp of PL and their back four has three players under 21 who either came from the ranks or lower league, including a lad from York City!

We have too many players that are quite good on there day but cannot keep it up for a season for some reason. Its no god being good for 4 games and bad for the next 4... i know its probably what you get at this level and with our playing budget , but other teams seem to a lot better than us in this department

There's some good quality in this current squad...Hess, rhj, Ohman, Davis, Clifton, Cook, Hendrie, Macca, Ring, Vernham ect but all young and my concern is we don't have enough experience if the likes of Collins, Woolie, Welsh, Thomas leave in the summer...if it was me I'd be looking to bring a midfielder, striker, defender or combinations of who are late twenties to give some balance between youth and experience..

I've got a funny feeling and I haven't had one for years but I think Embleton will be here next year

Quoted from WHYWONTYOULETMESIGNUP

I think what james mckeown said on the d3d4 podcast is really worth listening to, about the mental toll of playing football and how the younger players need to learn to switch off and let themselves relax between games and its something that comes with time and could explain why the teams faded a bit now were getting to the end

Feel after a few bad results people are being a bit overly harsh on what we all acknowledge is a fairly young squad, that when they were playing really well we were all quick to say ‘and they’ll keep getting better!’

Just by retaining this entire squad we’ll have a bit of a better team next season. A couple of quality additions and a couple of players that would add variety is what we need imo. I think the key could be having someone more developed in the embleton position, someone causing havoc and creating chances week in week out.

It's a bit of a myth that we've got a young squad relative to the other teams in the division. Can't remember where I saw it, but we were exactly middle out of all of the clubs in the EFL. I've found a list of youngest and oldest starting elevens in our league this season and we don't feature on either.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/league-two/durchschnittsalter/wettbewerb/GB4

There needs to be a change of mindset at the club and fanbase. I know we've all been worn down by the past twenty years, but we can't keep finding reason after reason, excuse after excuse, season after season, because we won't get anywhere. At sometime in the near future someone has to put their balls on the line and set realisable goals..Someone who looks at all the reasons and excuses that are often laid out on here as merely hurdles to get over. It's ok to shoot for the stars and land on the moon rather than just habitually settling for the moon. The acceptance of mediocrity and willingness to accept it or give reasons for it, valid or not, is like a disease that's taken a grip on everyone, a common acceptance of who we purportedly are. The wise sages will all hand out doses of realism without realising that they're just adding to the long-standing malaise. There's hundreds of young players out there in their early twenties that are coping well enough with a long season, I don't buy why the ones at GTFC should be any different if managed correctly. We're not playing loads of teenagers, many are in their early to mid-twenties, so I can't even agree that the point is a valid one to make. The club's identity exudes a lack of confidence and low esteem in so many ways and has now somehow become entrenched and this needs to change..

I am concerned about the number of posters mentioning / relying on Whitehouse,He hasn't actually kicked a ball for us yet has he?

Quoted from Ipswin

I am concerned about the number of posters mentioning / relying on Whitehouse,He hasn't actually kicked a ball for us yet has he?

We tend to build up all our signings to a great level until we see them play!!!

That said reports, via a young pro at the club, is that he is looking a quality footballer in the training he has taken part in also reported to be one of nicest guys around so let’s hope he is a success.

Judging players is part & parcel of being a supporter but we should all remember players like Rob Jones who were twice the player in their second season. Players also improve and/or look much better when accompanied by better teammates alongside them.

That said I would retain

1. Both keepers
2. All but DC of the defenders, but would look to add pacy left back and more mobile centre back
3 Keep Hess, Clifton, so 3 new additions of which Whitehouse will be one, plus at least one wide player.
4 Keep Cook, Vernham but not sure about Thomas as feel we need a more physical specimen up front although would be happy for Wes to be part of improved squad.  Not sure why Cardwell given extension as not even benchwarmer nowadays so assuming he is not too demanding on our budget. Akeem needs to get more game time to judge his qualities and yet to see Max Wright play but he got the thumbs up from Ben Davies who is playing with him at Boston. Personally would suggest we need two quality forwards but like others mentioned Dennis not played sufficiently to see if he should be one of these.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/HIYcTel.png[/img]


Unfortunately I can only go on from the highlights on iFollow, and the first game of the season (lets just put that behind us  ), I don't get the chance these days to attend every game like you folks so I value your opinions   .

I think he'll trigger Whitmore's, RHJ and Davis's extensions.  He'll offer Thomas a new deal, maybe even try and sign Dennis if he's done well enough.  Hooper I can see getting let go, and maybe releasing Welsh, if he is unable to train or is still injured.  We cant afford to keep players who are unavailable for the first team really, and the wage could be used for someone younger.  I can see him offering Woolford a new deal as well.

I cannot see Elliot coming back, I think there would be interest higher up the leagues unfortunately.  I think that leaves Collins, I wouldn't be surprised if he was to become part of the coaching team instead.

I think he will keep the number of signings low, but with added quality.  Maybe a defender, couple of midfielders and a couple of strikers.