What the club needs to get back in the league

As Crawley, Fleetwood and Luton demonstrated last time we were down there, you need to spend big on good players to get out.

We need at least four players who are in their prime, say late twenties, currently holding their own in either a top L2 or mid L1 outfit.

They will not come cheap, but they will come if you pay them well enough.

My shopping list would be two strong midfielders, a striker who scored regularly, and a commanding CB. Bring those in as a nucleus and some of our existing players such a Wright, Spokes, and Clifton can assist in various games to varying degrees.  

But relying on kids, crocks and has beens which seems to have been what to expect under Fenty will condemn us to years in the NL. Thankfully I believe the new owners are smarter than that.

You don't need world beaters to win the National League. You need a team, playing as a team, well organised and playing for each other, with a core of regulars believing in what the manager is doing.

When Lincoln won it, they had Matt Rhead as top scorer with 15 goals and Nathan Arnold with 12.

They had a back 5 containing Farman, Harbergham, Waterfall and Bradley Wood. Hardly world beaters.

They got on a roll and became unstoppable, winning many games at the death with late goals because they expected to win and were full of confidence. Their cup runs took on a life of their own.

They clearly had a good manager too who had proved with Braintree that he could get results with hard working players working to a plan.

Can Hurst replicate this quickly? I think he could but time will tell. He's done it before and got the better of the Cowleys along the way.

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Unless they’re called Dino or Hugo.

Exactly.

What do we need - stability and time. I’d give Hurst two seasons at least. Any less and we’re looking at another huge turnover of players and taking a risk on someone else. My worry is the usual suspects will be calling for his head if we’re not top by October. Thankfully I get the impression the new owners can see the big picture and won’t make panicky decisions.

Don't know if it's been mentioned elsewhere but I think there are now 6 teams in the National League play offs. We should be able to at least make the top seven I would have thought.

Quoted from Vance Warner

What do we need - stability and time. I’d give Hurst two seasons at least. Any less and we’re looking at another huge turnover of players and taking a risk on someone else. My worry is the usual suspects will be calling for his head if we’re not top by October. Thankfully I get the impression the new owners can see the big picture and won’t make panicky decisions.

FFS !

Why not give him a ten year contract ?

That might just be long enough to get us promoted !

Quoted from Vance Warner

What do we need - stability and time. I’d give Hurst two seasons at least. Any less and we’re looking at another huge turnover of players and taking a risk on someone else. My worry is the usual suspects will be calling for his head if we’re not top by October. Thankfully I get the impression the new owners can see the big picture and won’t make panicky decisions.

I completely agree with you.

The problem is that the one automatic promotion place leaves little margin for error.

I am a Hurst sycophant but I would fancy him to get us up to League 1 (if by miracle we stayed up) in 2 years over getting us up from the NL in two years.

Quoted from jimgtfc

Wouldn’t be surprised to see PH go after Abu Ogogo again. Not been playing at Bristol Rovers and out of contract in the summer. Wasn’t he captain of Shrewsbury under Hurst?

good call. Hurst liked him at sHrews
https://www.shropshirestar.com.....ury-town-ingredient/

and he is out of contract this summer
i wouldn't be surprised if Alex Rodman was also on his list

Quoted from Sir Matt Tease

FFS !

Why not give him a ten year contract ?

That might just be long enough to get us promoted !

Clearly it doesn’t take ten years to build a promotion squad but it does take at least two in most cases. Can’t believe after our experience last time that anyone expects us to p1ss the conference when only 2 teams go up each year. Some very short memories about how competitive the league is.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

We need a squad sorted before pre-season or very close to it and no waiting for “maybes”. Hit the ground running and fit and organised from Day One.

I have no idea which players Hurst rates apart from LJL and possibly McKeown so pointless for me to second guess comings and goings. But anyone could see we do need at least one striker who can do better than hit the bar from 6 yards with an open goal.

Exactly. I think the last time we were close to doing that was the season we went up.