[jack bauer]

Mr Mercury, on 01 February 2025 - 11:09 PM, said:

I think we?ve fallen into the January window trap.

i think i know what you mean but go on?

[Mr Mercury]

jack bauer, on 01 February 2025 - 11:13 PM, said:

i think i know what you mean but go on?

It?s need must, last year Cook didn?t bring anyone in during January, I know the NL doesn?t have the same window exclusions, and I?d guess he?d have loved it to be the same this year, but we seem to be doing an almost revolving door this window, which I?d guess is as far from Cooks style of management as possible. If it works and we go up brilliant but maybe take a step back, relax and to a certain extent go with what we?ve got and see if they can do it, otherwise start prepping for next year.
Don?t get me wrong this is no way a go at Cook or the Kirk?s but we seem to have be dragged to a place were we shouldn?t have been and in all honesty should have taken a step back from.

This post has been edited by Mr Mercury: 01 February 2025 - 11:24 PM

[tomjoad]

Mr Mercury, on 01 February 2025 - 11:22 PM, said:

It?s need must, last year Cook didn?t bring anyone in during January, I know the NL doesn?t have the same window exclusions, and I?d guess he?d have loved it to be the same this year, but we seem to be doing an almost revolving door this window, which I?d guess is as far from Cooks style of management as possible. If it works and we go up brilliant but maybe take a step back, relax and to a certain extent go with what we?ve got and see if they can do it, otherwise start prepping for next year.
Don?t get me wrong this is no way a go at Cook or the Kirk?s but we seem to have be dragged to a place were we shouldn?t have been and in all honesty should have taken a step back from.

I think all our expectations have been a bit high? If we go up fantastic if not next year we will be better placed to push on? At least we are in the league!!

Just my view

[jack bauer]

Mr Mercury, on 01 February 2025 - 11:22 PM, said:

It?s need must, last year Cook didn?t bring anyone in during January, I know the NL doesn?t have the same window exclusions, and I?d guess he?d have loved it to be the same this year, but we seem to be doing an almost revolving door this window, which I?d guess is as far from Cooks style of management as possible. If it works and we go up brilliant but maybe take a step back, relax and to a certain extent go with what we?ve got and see if they can do it, otherwise start prepping for next year.
Don?t get me wrong this is no way a go at Cook or the Kirk?s but we seem to have be dragged to a place were we shouldn?t have been and in all honesty should have taken a step back from.

i thought that's what you meant, cheers for reply, it's the chasing it mentality, we've seen that there is nothing to fear in this league and we have every opportunity "IF" we can get enough qulaity on the pitch, our problem is we can't, feels to me like a transition season with opportunity, doesn't feel like a promotion season and here's a weird statement (simply because it hasn't played out yet) but next season does feel like a promotion season, i feel if we do fall short this season, we will see a squad put together next season that will be balanced, controlling and ruthless

[azul]

tomjoad, on 01 February 2025 - 11:28 PM, said:

I think all our expectations have been a bit high? If we go up fantastic if not next year we will be better placed to push on? At least we are in the league!!

Just my view

I don't think they are too high but perhaps it is time to admit we have been snookered by injuries and it is not meant to be.

We have played poorer this season but today I thought we had lost some of our identity.

Ironically after all these changes we may end up starting with 8 or 9 of last season stalwarts against Doncaster, although it doesn't sound like the signings are over

[DIFH]

SocraticCFC, on 01 February 2025 - 05:33 PM, said:

Has to be a striker for me
Could be a Keeper
At least summat's happenin' Has to be a striker.

Got to be a finisher because it will all be over by the time Grigg gets back and up to speed.

[Search & Destroy]

So many signings this year, some sort of record

[s42blue]

tomjoad, on 01 February 2025 - 11:28 PM, said:

I think all our expectations have been a bit high? If we go up fantastic if not next year we will be better placed to push on? At least we are in the league!!

Just my view

I?m with you. I heard the Kirk?s say top 10 would be good and go for it next season. At the fans forum so was public.

Sorry no chance of play offs for me. Hope I?m wrong.

Easy to lose our identity with so many new players in a short space of time. People poor signing from the start.

[danblue]

Search & Destroy, on 02 February 2025 - 09:11 AM, said:

So many signings this year, some sort of record

But quite a few loans who can go back (some already left - Dev, Markandy) at the end of the season, so we'll not have an over inflated squad come the the start of the next. It's just for this short period of time to cover the injuries and I can see the odd one or two of ours back out on loan

[Search & Destroy]

Thompson
Tanton
Arajo
McFadz
Donicen
Sparkes
Gordon
Fleck
Duffy
Markandy
Pepple
Madden
Brentford Lad
Campbell
Drummond
Akinola

Back of a fag packet and I?ve probably missed a few but that?s 16 signings so far this season


Edit
Metcalfe

This post has been edited by Search & Destroy: 02 February 2025 - 09:52 AM

[Toddhopper.]

Everyone needs to have a bit of patience. We have had no continuity this season because of the mother of all injury crises & restructuring & rebuilding has had to go into overdrive with the sale of Berry & the loss of Markanday coming close on its heals. Our manager is trying his utmost to maintain a push for the play-offs but lets face reality here, the chances are we will be too inconsistent to get there. Time is what we need, so look to it coming together towards the end of the season with a view to being well prepared for a very strong promotion challenge next season.

[Toddhopper.]

Search & Destroy, on 02 February 2025 - 09:39 AM, said:

Thompson
Tanton
Arajo
McFadz
Donicen
Sparkes
Gordon
Fleck
Duffy
Markandy
Pepple
Madden
Brentford Lad
Campbell
Drummond
Akinola

Back of a fag packet and I?ve probably missed a few but that?s 16 signings so far this season

6 of those are as a direct result of injuries or players leaving & 8 were close season signings.

[dtp]

Toddhopper., on 02 February 2025 - 09:46 AM, said:

6 of those are as a direct result of injuries or players leaving & 8 were close season signings.

It can take time for new signings to gel. In a preseason all players, new and old, have time to get to know each others game etc. January signings do not allow that to happen. Whether or not all the new arrivals can improve us sufficiently for a late push remains to be seen.

I have previously heard Cook critically comment about the size of player turnover at the Club since he was last with us. However, we do seem to have had quite a revolving door since his return. I understand Cook is continually trying to improve us, I understand what he says about players having levels, I understand we have had a terrible injury list, I understand that he will have an idea of when each of the returning injured players will have a true impact on the team, but I always thought this season would be one of consolidation and not one when we seem in a rush to change personnel in the hope of having a good run of results.

Tomorrow might be a very interesting day but, whether it is tomorrow or after, there has to be more outs than ins.

[Search & Destroy]

Boot
Shecks Palmer
Naylor Banks
Mandy Dobra Colclough
Grigg

Fadz, Gordon/Sparkes and Markandy improve us , not sure about the rest

[dim view]

dtp, on 02 February 2025 - 10:12 AM, said:

It can take time for new signings to gel. In a preseason all players, new and old, have time to get to know each others game etc. January signings do not allow that to happen. Whether or not all the new arrivals can improve us sufficiently for a late push remains to be seen.

I have previously heard Cook critically comment about the size of player turnover at the Club since he was last with us. However, we do seem to have had quite a revolving door since his return. I understand Cook is continually trying to improve us, I understand what he says about players having levels, I understand we have had a terrible injury list, I understand that he will have an idea of when each of the returning injured players will have a true impact on the team, but I always thought this season would be one of consolidation and not one when we seem in a rush to change personnel in the hope of having a good run of results.

Tomorrow might be a very interesting day but, whether it is tomorrow or after, there has to be more outs than ins.

The end of season review will have to major on the wisdom (or not) of not breaking up the NL winning squad. I think it was wise given that consolidation was and is the sensible goal, as that group of closely knit players were always going to succeed with the objective.

As we stand I think we've only got one new signing who is already under contract next year so that's also good planning although if Fleck can force a new contract it will be one of the coups of the season.

This, of course, will have to come second on the agenda following the top of the bill item, injuries.

[Mr_Pleasant]

Toddhopper., on 02 February 2025 - 09:42 AM, said:

Everyone needs to have a bit of patience. We have had no continuity this season because of the mother of all injury crises & restructuring & rebuilding has had to go into overdrive with the sale of Berry & the loss of Markanday coming close on its heals. Our manager is trying his utmost to maintain a push for the play-offs but lets face reality here, the chances are we will be too inconsistent to get there. Time is what we need, so look to it coming together towards the end of the season with a view to being well prepared for a very strong promotion challenge next season.

Totally agree with this. Just on the way back from Cheltenham and yesterday ended up being very disappointing, but there were positive signs first half. This is a bit of a free hit season. We need to work out how we deal with uninspiring teams being well organised and closing down space. We can't have the same level of injuries next season, so Cook can start planning a squad that can challenge.
The only thing I find a bit odd is that we seem to be now looking at wingers getting crosses in when we tend to try to play through teams. Slightly confused.
Tip of the hat to Ty yesterday. Excellent performance.

[dim view]

Mr_Pleasant, on 02 February 2025 - 10:52 AM, said:

Tip of the hat to Ty yesterday. Excellent performance.

The goal was a combination of cock ups and, in my opinion, Ty dropped far too deep. I'd have to ask Bonnyman but I'm sure the coaching manual says mark the player not the space. Cook obviously is of a mind to blame somebody but he's too much of a gentleman to name him/them.

Thompson got 1866 MOM.

[SocraticCFC]

Mr_Pleasant, on 02 February 2025 - 10:52 AM, said:

Totally agree with this. Just on the way back from Cheltenham and yesterday ended up being very disappointing, but there were positive signs first half. This is a bit of a free hit season. We need to work out how we deal with uninspiring teams being well organised and closing down space. We can't have the same level of injuries next season, so Cook can start planning a squad that can challenge.
The only thing I find a bit odd is that we seem to be now looking at wingers getting crosses in when we tend to try to play through teams. Slightly confused.
Tip of the hat to Ty yesterday. Excellent performance.

He's not that bad a player - Ty- but not sure he's quick enough. If we make one or two signings on Monday - either loan or permanent - they have to be - as Theresa May would say - the right ones. I can't see a big hitting centre fwd coming in unless it's permanent. Madden can go out for me , as can the other fringe players. The rest of the season is about respectability and not necessarily a promotion push. Events have conspired to dictate this is unlikely to happen. I'm sure PC and GR, DR etc have in mind who they want to stay but it would be great if we could get someone who can finish....Dallas anyone?? Goals Goals.

[warfey is a spireite]

Fit as a Nelson, on 01 February 2025 - 07:25 PM, said:

If it?s true Grigg is only a few weeks away, do we really need a striker? What do you do with Pepple?

Put him at the side of the road with the other pepples

[azul]

PC and the Kirks must think we still have a chance of promotion if they are investing more on deadline day. I'm afraid I no longer share their optimism as we probably need close to two points a game with some tough looking games on the horizon. When to quit and when to Stick?