[calvin plummers socks]

Lack of pre season with a club should negate a players actual fitness or conditioning- they can take care of that themselves / with a trainer etc.

But obviously the lack of tactical and team bonding etc is the issue

[Toddhopper.]

 warfey is a spireite, on 24 February 2025 - 03:19 PM, said:

But I'm right aren't I?

You've never been right....

[azul]

 JonB, on 25 February 2025 - 12:21 PM, said:

Well it seems we cant sign young players because they get injured as they arent ready and cant sign old players so they are passed it so we are supposed to be shopping in a very limited, and suspect far more expensive, age bracket for players.

Think it is a bit of a nonsense generally but I'd be amazed if signing players that haven't played for a while don't carry additional risks.

[60s 70s Spireite]

 JonB, on 25 February 2025 - 12:21 PM, said:

Well it seems we cant sign young players because they get injured as they arent ready and cant sign old players so they are passed it so we are supposed to be shopping in a very limited, and suspect far more expensive, age bracket for players.

Re the older ones, I reckon we have 14 players on our books 30 and over. Last season I am struggling to find six (explained that some players have hit 30 this season).
Looking at 14/15, I can see only Evatt, Roberts and Humphries over 30.

We managed without so many before.

[Search & Destroy]

This season was supposed to have been a genuine attempt at promotion and if that target was missed then it was building towards an attempt to win the league next year

I don?t think either has happened, it?s been poor in truth

[LondonBlue]

 Search & Destroy, on 27 February 2025 - 08:15 AM, said:

This season was supposed to have been a genuine attempt at promotion and if that target was missed then it was building towards an attempt to win the league next year

I don?t think either has happened, it?s been poor in truth

I thought we?d finish about 10th. I still think that may happen but in truth we are so inconsistent we could genuinely finish around 17th/18th.

In my opinion, our summer and January recruitment has been very poor. Dunkley, Fleck and Madden were/are expensive mistakes. Selling Berry and losing Markanday has also cost us - with Duffy looking decent but perhaps not as exciting as Berry and Olakigbe looking like what he is - a talented youngster with lots to learn and therefore not always effective - he is certainly NO Markanday.

Pepple is a beast but no Will Grigg.

It has been a major disappointment IMO and I doubt Ash and Phil Kirk are happy given our large squad and big earners. Cook needs to deliver next season.

This post has been edited by LondonBlue: 27 February 2025 - 08:39 AM

[Goku]

I reckon the Kirk?s would be very happy knowing they have a serial winner in charge of the club, they gush over Cook in every interview/podcast appearance. I imagine they?ve zero concerns over him.

[danblue]

 LondonBlue, on 27 February 2025 - 08:38 AM, said:

I thought we?d finish about 10th. I still think that may happen but in truth we are so inconsistent we could genuinely finish around 17th/18th.

In my opinion, our summer and January recruitment has been very poor. Dunkley, Fleck and Madden were/are expensive mistakes. Selling Berry and losing Markanday has also cost us - with Duffy looking decent but perhaps not as exciting as Berry and Olakigbe looking like what he is - a talented youngster with lots to learn and therefore not always effective - he is certainly NO Markanday.

Pepple is a beast but no Will Grigg.

It has been a major disappointment IMO and I doubt Ash and Phil Kirk are happy given our large squad and big earners. Cook needs to deliver next season.

Signings are only mistakes if they break down injured or gash - it's a gamble unfortunately.
The squad is bloated due to having to sign players to cover the horror of the injury list...and then the injured coming back fit.
Silver lining is that a vast majority are OOC / loan returned come next season, so the squad can be trimmed to the bone and a 'correct' amount of players brought in.

[LondonBlue]

 Goku, on 27 February 2025 - 08:44 AM, said:

I reckon the Kirk?s would be very happy knowing they have a serial winner in charge of the club, they gush over Cook in every interview/podcast appearance. I imagine they?ve zero concerns over him.

They?re definitely happy we have Cook, as are all of us. I still think they?ll be dissapointed with our position vs investment at present.

[60s 70s Spireite]

 Goku, on 27 February 2025 - 08:44 AM, said:

I reckon the Kirk?s would be very happy knowing they have a serial winner in charge of the club, they gush over Cook in every interview/podcast appearance. I imagine they?ve zero concerns over him.

Notwithstanding my comments about older players, I am totally with your sentiments, there is no other manager I would want other than Cook.

[JonB]

 LondonBlue, on 27 February 2025 - 08:38 AM, said:

I thought we?d finish about 10th. I still think that may happen but in truth we are so inconsistent we could genuinely finish around 17th/18th.

In my opinion, our summer and January recruitment has been very poor. Dunkley, Fleck and Madden were/are expensive mistakes. Selling Berry and losing Markanday has also cost us - with Duffy looking decent but perhaps not as exciting as Berry and Olakigbe looking like what he is - a talented youngster with lots to learn and therefore not always effective - he is certainly NO Markanday.

Pepple is a beast but no Will Grigg.

It has been a major disappointment IMO and I doubt Ash and Phil Kirk are happy given our large squad and big earners. Cook needs to deliver next season.

People seemed more than happy with the signings of Dunkley and Madden at the time, we werent to know and medicals wouldnt have picked up that Madden would get a knock in a friendly that caused issues whereas Dunkley ended up with a neck injury somehow. People are assuming Fleck is expensive when its unlikely to be the case, he was without a club after the season started and was training with us after approaching us. No one knows what he signed but are jumping to conclusions. Signings in January are always hard work and you might not get the ideal player you are after. Its harsh comparing Pepple who has barely any league experience with someone like Grigg, the only thing we did wrong in losing Markanday was play him every week and getting him playing really well to the point others were interested and his parent club wanted to try him higher up.

The squad wasnt that large until we had to sign folk to cover the horrendous injury list. The original squad only left a couple out and we had space to add people after the fact. The Kirks would have had to approve the additional spending which they were obviously happy to do. They seem pretty content with the overall situation at the club but are always looking to improve things. Planning for next season including signings, who is staying etc will have been in progress for a while now and while i dont think it will be the mass clearout of all of the out of contract players like some are wanting there will be a chance to refresh the squad. That said i think some of the older players like Grigg, Dunkley if he clears the neck injury, Naylor, Macfadzean still have something to offer in League 2 next season.

 LondonBlue, on 27 February 2025 - 09:13 AM, said:

They?re definitely happy we have Cook, as are all of us. I still think they?ll be dissapointed with our position vs investment at present.

Will they be that disappointed with the position currently....we are back in the league with decent crowds and will be realistic to know that the season has been pretty much curtailed by a horrendous injury run.

[clarevoyant.]

 LondonBlue, on 27 February 2025 - 09:13 AM, said:

They?re definitely happy we have Cook, as are all of us. I still think they?ll be dissapointed with our position vs investment at present.

I'm sure their disappointment will be tempered when acknowledging all the crap that as been flung in our direction, be it injuries and Bunkum officiating decisions and will be proud of the blokes they having steering the club on their behalf.

[Goku]

 LondonBlue, on 27 February 2025 - 09:13 AM, said:

They?re definitely happy we have Cook, as are all of us. I still think they?ll be dissapointed with our position vs investment at present.

Possibly but they would probably also take into account

1) unprecedented number of injuries suffered
2) signings having to be made due to injuries suffered
3) squad having to take time to gel given new signings
4) shocking refereeing decisions against us throughout the season but especially during the first few months

Also think you calling Dunkley is an expensive mistake is harsh. Whilst I would've preferred a 2 year deal over a 3 year deal, we couldn't account for the freak neck injury. Technically I suppose you're right, but that's nobody's fault if you're talking about him being injured. You also have no idea whether Fleck is an expensive mistake.

This post has been edited by Goku: 27 February 2025 - 09:58 AM

[Search & Destroy]

 Goku, on 27 February 2025 - 08:44 AM, said:

I reckon the Kirk?s would be very happy knowing they have a serial winner in charge of the club, they gush over Cook in every interview/podcast appearance. I imagine they?ve zero concerns over him.

Everyone connected the club gushes over Cook

Untouchable

[Goku]

 Search & Destroy, on 27 February 2025 - 10:09 AM, said:

Everyone connected the club gushes over Cook

Untouchable

Engage that grey matter and consider that perhaps, just perhaps, there might be a reason for that...

[Westbars Spireite]

 Goku, on 27 February 2025 - 10:21 AM, said:

Engage that grey matter and consider that perhaps, just perhaps, there might be a reason for that...

Sometimes when almost everyone else sees things differently, it's because you're wrong.

[HaslandBlue58]

 Search & Destroy, on 27 February 2025 - 10:09 AM, said:

Everyone connected the club gushes over Cook

Untouchable

So you gushing over JR is better?

[Sammy Spireite]

 Search & Destroy, on 27 February 2025 - 10:09 AM, said:

Everyone connected the club gushes over Cook

Untouchable

yet your man was so openly touchable it would seem!

[calvin plummers socks]

 Search & Destroy, on 27 February 2025 - 10:09 AM, said:

Everyone connected the club gushes over Cook

Untouchable

You actually changed your user name to James Rowe!

When he was still accused of sex offences.
Let that sink in a bit.

[Search & Destroy]

 HaslandBlue58, on 27 February 2025 - 11:29 AM, said:

So you gushing over JR is better?

You gush over Cook, everyone does

Not a controversial thing to say is it?