Who is good enough

When you look at our overall results, take out the extreme ones , it boils down to our goal scoring.

We just don't have the goal threat throughout the side. One player in double figures is it ?  and nobody else anywhere near that.

We are capable of keeping it tight at the back and have showed some very organised disciplined defending as a unit across the season but mistakes have been punished and we havnt done the same at the other end.

I think Dennis is capable of that but until we are getting the ball in the box then little point in him playing.

There was a cracking (or terrible) example on Saturday, right on the stroke of half time we won a free kick in a cracking position on the edge of the box....wind behind us...crowded penalty area.....and we totally made a pigs ear of it....with the exception of Pringle we have not had a decent delivery from a set piece....we have hardly hit the target with any direct free kicks and even throw ins we turn the ball straight over to the opposition more often than not.

Quoted from golfer

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

God knows why so many people have red-crossed this post. Is it because they don't believe you haven't had a funny feeling for years? Well I for one am prepared to take your word for it.

I actually don't think Embleton's been as good, over the course of the season, as most seem to believe. Had a good spell before xmas and is obviously a good player. But I wonder if he'd be bigged up so much if he was on loan to us from Fleetwood rather than Sunderland?

Before anyone jumps down my throat I'm clearly not saying he's not been a good player for us. I'd be happy if we signed him in the summer, and had maybe benefit from being in a better team too.  But I think people have gone a bit over the top with it. If Sunderland get promoted there's certainly no way he's ready for Championship football. I'd say another season of League Two football would be the best thing for him personally, before having a crack at League One the year after that.

We need big improvements in midfield, they have created very little this season.

Also the fact that Thomas has no assists whatsoever is not great as it shows his hold up play and bringing others into the game isnt great.

I have to disagree with most of the views on this thread.  The main issue with the current squad is inconsistency.  They have shown for several spells in the season that they are good enough to be at the top end of the table but struggled to maintain that form.  Despite that, even now a handful of different results would have seen us in the playoffs. We maybe don’t have the squad to be runaway leaders but results show we have potential to be firm play off contenders and we have the strongest squad since Slade MK1.

Why are we inconsistent?

- we’ve got a lot of young players who have never played 40+ games a season.  The majority of this squad will be back next season and will be a year more experienced with games under their belt.
- the manager has been developing the playing style and this takes time. Teams work out how to play against us and we need to keep evolving, having a plan B etc
- we have a young management team who have also never managed through a season and will be learning how to keep a squad fresh and motivated.
- as we get to this stage of the season, as play off hopes fade, player levels inevitably drop a bit, especially those who won’t be here next year.

What the team needs most is a summer of evolution.  Coming back next season with a settled squad and management and just a handful of new players is the key to success.

A few of our players whose contracts expire in May I would definitely try to keep but some of those signed for longer I would try to get rid of eg keep Hall-Johnson  offload Walsh

Quoted from monkeyboy

We need big improvements in midfield, they have created very little this season.

Also the fact that Thomas has no assists whatsoever is not great as it shows his hold up play and bringing others into the game isnt great.

He never has been a target man though has he? The manager will have known that. I think that for a 30+ journeyman striker, signed as a last minute stopgap and living 100+ miles away, the bloke has done well for us. God knows where we would be without his goals because nobody else has even looked like getting many even when we do eventually get the ball somewhere near the goal. If we want better we have to pay for it or grow another Kevin Drinkell. And we have to get a Welsh type leader on the field to dictate play who is fit and able to run further than to the nearest treatment table.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

He never has been a target man though has he? The manager will have known that. I think that for a 30+ journeyman striker, signed as a last minute stopgap and living 100+ miles away, the bloke has done well for us. God knows where we would be without his goals because nobody else has even looked like getting many even when we do eventually get the ball somewhere near the goal. If we want better we have to pay for it or grow another Kevin Drinkell. And we have to get a Welsh type leader on the field to dictate play who is fit and able to run further than to the nearest treatment table.

Someone to shout 'yakky dah!' in the middle of the pitch?

Quoted from LondonMariner43

I have to disagree with most of the views on this thread.  The main issue with the current squad is inconsistency.  They have shown for several spells in the season that they are good enough to be at the top end of the table but struggled to maintain that form.  Despite that, even now a handful of different results would have seen us in the playoffs. We maybe don’t have the squad to be runaway leaders but results show we have potential to be firm play off contenders and we have the strongest squad since Slade MK1.

Why are we inconsistent?

- we’ve got a lot of young players who have never played 40+ games a season.  The majority of this squad will be back next season and will be a year more experienced with games under their belt.
- the manager has been developing the playing style and this takes time. Teams work out how to play against us and we need to keep evolving, having a plan B etc
- we have a young management team who have also never managed through a season and will be learning how to keep a squad fresh and motivated.
- as we get to this stage of the season, as play off hopes fade, player levels inevitably drop a bit, especially those who won’t be here next year.

What the team needs most is a summer of evolution.  Coming back next season with a settled squad and management and just a handful of new players is the key to success.

Bang on IMO.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

Someone to shout 'yakky dah!' in the middle of the pitch?

Harry Clifton perhaps 😉