[diddyuk]

 Exharboroughspireite, on 05 March 2025 - 06:43 AM, said:

The recruitment needs seriously looking at. Whilst some have been injuries we couldn?t see coming others have been appalling in terms of quality:

Daley Campbell - looks out of his depth. Played 9 times. Injuries.
Gordon - very good signing. Season hampered by injury. 20 appearances
Dunkley - very good signing. Freak injury. 9 appearances.
Mcfadzean - signing attempted to stop rot. Impact injury. 2 appearances.
Madden - the new Chris O Grady. Brought very little. 20 appearances. Only started around 20% of those. 3 goals. Injuries. Major wage earner.
Drummond - looks out of his depth. Sent out on loan to lower league where very few goals scored. Back but now can?t get in squad. 14 appearances. 1 goal.
Duffy - very good signing. Probably wonders what is going on seeing as though benched and subbed last night when looked like only player of quality.
Olakigbe - all fur coat and no knickers. Looks lovely, zero impact and can?t defend or track back to save his life.
Sparkes - good signing however has been exposed last few weeks playing with sub standard defenders around him.
Markanday - outstanding talent. Knew was going to be recalled when permission was not going to be given for first round of cup.
Tanton - played 8 times and sent back due to injuries
Thompson - unable to keep number 1 jersey from boot. Only played 18 times. Cook obviously doubts his quality.
Metcalfe - injuries and lack of quality. 16 appearances and only started 1/4 of those. Looks out of his depth.
Pepple - struggling in a poor side. Holds a ball up but very little footballing intelligence to play up front on his own. 9 appearances, 2 goals (same game). Out of his depth in the formation played.
Araujo - looked classy around September time especially next to Dunkey. Injuries has cost him. Played only 18 times.
Fleck - disaster signing. can?t get him fit, can?t get him to shift weight. 4 appearances in the league and no starts. Signed September!
Donacien - another disaster signing. Can?t get him fit. String of injuries. 3 appearances only 1 start.
Akinola - cook clearly thinks out of his depth. Sent to non league twice. 2 sub appearances.

Doesn?t make good reading does it?

Well put, it should open the eyes of supporters who had rose-tinted glasses on

[gordon_brittas]

 Blue95, on 04 March 2025 - 11:55 PM, said:

I?m Cooks biggest fan but he has to take some responsibility for what this seasons turned into.
The obvious injuries derailed us, but the recruitment in the summer and in January can?t be ignored, the Madden signing especially is rather baffling.
Think we?ve underestimated this league, glad we have the opportunity now, with a lot of players OOC in the summer to rebuild and have a proper go next year.
I trust the management to get it right.

The signings last summer to me indicate a level of arrogance, make do and mend, we will muddle through, grab a promotion spot and rebuilt in League 1. We are Chesterfield, far too big for this league. Massively wrong. Our levels of fitness very very poor. Most sides have a level of fitness that is so superior to ours, and pace, jeez, we are so slow its unreal.
There are some good players in this league, and if we can set our mark in the sand that we are going places next season, I think most will accept a promotion in season 2026/2027 if it benefits us in the long run.
Please no more old players on long contract. It doesnt work as we have found out with Madden.

[Search & Destroy]

 Exharboroughspireite, on 05 March 2025 - 06:43 AM, said:

The recruitment needs seriously looking at. Whilst some have been injuries we couldn?t see coming others have been appalling in terms of quality:

Daley Campbell - looks out of his depth. Played 9 times. Injuries.
Gordon - very good signing. Season hampered by injury. 20 appearances
Dunkley - very good signing. Freak injury. 9 appearances.
Mcfadzean - signing attempted to stop rot. Impact injury. 2 appearances.
Madden - the new Chris O Grady. Brought very little. 20 appearances. Only started around 20% of those. 3 goals. Injuries. Major wage earner.
Drummond - looks out of his depth. Sent out on loan to lower league where very few goals scored. Back but now can?t get in squad. 14 appearances. 1 goal.
Duffy - very good signing. Probably wonders what is going on seeing as though benched and subbed last night when looked like only player of quality.
Olakigbe - all fur coat and no knickers. Looks lovely, zero impact and can?t defend or track back to save his life.
Sparkes - good signing however has been exposed last few weeks playing with sub standard defenders around him.
Markanday - outstanding talent. Knew was going to be recalled when permission was not going to be given for first round of cup.
Tanton - played 8 times and sent back due to injuries
Thompson - unable to keep number 1 jersey from boot. Only played 18 times. Cook obviously doubts his quality.
Metcalfe - injuries and lack of quality. 16 appearances and only started 1/4 of those. Looks out of his depth.
Pepple - struggling in a poor side. Holds a ball up but very little footballing intelligence to play up front on his own. 9 appearances, 2 goals (same game). Out of his depth in the formation played.
Araujo - looked classy around September time especially next to Dunkey. Injuries has cost him. Played only 18 times.
Fleck - disaster signing. can?t get him fit, can?t get him to shift weight. 4 appearances in the league and no starts. Signed September!
Donacien - another disaster signing. Can?t get him fit. String of injuries. 3 appearances only 1 start.
Akinola - cook clearly thinks out of his depth. Sent to non league twice. 2 sub appearances.

Doesn?t make good reading does it?

Good post

[rodney]

 Exharboroughspireite, on 05 March 2025 - 06:43 AM, said:

The recruitment needs seriously looking at. Whilst some have been injuries we couldn?t see coming others have been appalling in terms of quality:

Daley Campbell - looks out of his depth. Played 9 times. Injuries.
Gordon - very good signing. Season hampered by injury. 20 appearances
Dunkley - very good signing. Freak injury. 9 appearances.
Mcfadzean - signing attempted to stop rot. Impact injury. 2 appearances.
Madden - the new Chris O Grady. Brought very little. 20 appearances. Only started around 20% of those. 3 goals. Injuries. Major wage earner.
Drummond - looks out of his depth. Sent out on loan to lower league where very few goals scored. Back but now can?t get in squad. 14 appearances. 1 goal.
Duffy - very good signing. Probably wonders what is going on seeing as though benched and subbed last night when looked like only player of quality.
Olakigbe - all fur coat and no knickers. Looks lovely, zero impact and can?t defend or track back to save his life.
Sparkes - good signing however has been exposed last few weeks playing with sub standard defenders around him.
Markanday - outstanding talent. Knew was going to be recalled when permission was not going to be given for first round of cup.
Tanton - played 8 times and sent back due to injuries
Thompson - unable to keep number 1 jersey from boot. Only played 18 times. Cook obviously doubts his quality.
Metcalfe - injuries and lack of quality. 16 appearances and only started 1/4 of those. Looks out of his depth.
Pepple - struggling in a poor side. Holds a ball up but very little footballing intelligence to play up front on his own. 9 appearances, 2 goals (same game). Out of his depth in the formation played.
Araujo - looked classy around September time especially next to Dunkey. Injuries has cost him. Played only 18 times.
Fleck - disaster signing. can?t get him fit, can?t get him to shift weight. 4 appearances in the league and no starts. Signed September!
Donacien - another disaster signing. Can?t get him fit. String of injuries. 3 appearances only 1 start.
Akinola - cook clearly thinks out of his depth. Sent to non league twice. 2 sub appearances.

Doesn?t make good reading does it?

Very balanced post
The one that intrigued me is Dunkley?. Did he have the neck complaint before joining us?!

[stainlessstephen]

[quote name='Exharboroughspireite' timestamp='1741157001' post='1878979']
The recruitment needs seriously looking at. Whilst some have been injuries we couldn?t see coming others have been appalling in terms of quality:

Daley Campbell - looks out of his depth. Played 9 times. Injuries.
Gordon - very good signing. Season hampered by injury. 20 appearances
Dunkley - very good signing. Freak injury. 9 appearances.
Mcfadzean - signing attempted to stop rot. Impact injury. 2 appearances.
Madden - the new Chris O Grady. Brought very little. 20 appearances. Only started around 20% of those. 3 goals. Injuries. Major wage earner.
Drummond - looks out of his depth. Sent out on loan to lower league where very few goals scored. Back but now can?t get in squad. 14 appearances. 1 goal.
Duffy - very good signing. Probably wonders what is going on seeing as though benched and subbed last night when looked like only player of quality.
Olakigbe - all fur coat and no knickers. Looks lovely, zero impact and can?t defend or track back to save his life.
Sparkes - good signing however has been exposed last few weeks playing with sub standard defenders around him.
Markanday - outstanding talent. Knew was going to be recalled when permission was not going to be given for first round of cup.
Tanton - played 8 times and sent back due to injuries
Thompson - unable to keep number 1 jersey from boot. Only played 18 times. Cook obviously doubts his quality.
Metcalfe - injuries and lack of quality. 16 appearances and only started 1/4 of those. Looks out of his depth.
Pepple - struggling in a poor side. Holds a ball up but very little footballing intelligence to play up front on his own. 9 appearances, 2 goals (same game). Out of his depth in the formation played.
Araujo - looked classy around September time especially next to Dunkey. Injuries has cost him. Played only 18 times.
Fleck - disaster signing. can?t get him fit, can?t get him to shift weight. 4 appearances in the league and no starts. Signed September!
Donacien - another disaster signing. Can?t get him fit. String of injuries. 3 appearances only 1 start.
Akinola - cook clearly thinks out of his depth. Sent to non league twice. 2 sub appearances.

Doesn?t make good reading does it?


I agree with all of that. What concerns me right now is how we are going to get to 50 points, we can't even buy a goal at the moment. It will only take those below us to go on a run and that potentially puts us in trouble.

As I've said before I've faith in the management team to sort it, but there is a big task ahead. People will just have to be patient.

[Waller is my hero]

I do find it intriguing on here that when a post is made of genuine thought & debate it gets quickly jumped on by the usual clowns who have a skill of turning it into a witch hunt & complete negativity?some strange folk on here.
To really get into the head of these people, read a book called surrounded by idiots & you quickly understand the mentality of the likes of Britas, S&D, Walton, Warpey etc 😂😂😂

[Waller is my hero]

Key word in your post StainlessStephen that some struggle with?patience

[hilly81]

 Exharboroughspireite, on 05 March 2025 - 06:43 AM, said:

The recruitment needs seriously looking at. Whilst some have been injuries we couldn?t see coming others have been appalling in terms of quality:

Daley Campbell - looks out of his depth. Played 9 times. Injuries.
Gordon - very good signing. Season hampered by injury. 20 appearances
Dunkley - very good signing. Freak injury. 9 appearances.
Mcfadzean - signing attempted to stop rot. Impact injury. 2 appearances.
Madden - the new Chris O Grady. Brought very little. 20 appearances. Only started around 20% of those. 3 goals. Injuries. Major wage earner.
Drummond - looks out of his depth. Sent out on loan to lower league where very few goals scored. Back but now can?t get in squad. 14 appearances. 1 goal.
Duffy - very good signing. Probably wonders what is going on seeing as though benched and subbed last night when looked like only player of quality.
Olakigbe - all fur coat and no knickers. Looks lovely, zero impact and can?t defend or track back to save his life.
Sparkes - good signing however has been exposed last few weeks playing with sub standard defenders around him.
Markanday - outstanding talent. Knew was going to be recalled when permission was not going to be given for first round of cup.
Tanton - played 8 times and sent back due to injuries
Thompson - unable to keep number 1 jersey from boot. Only played 18 times. Cook obviously doubts his quality.
Metcalfe - injuries and lack of quality. 16 appearances and only started 1/4 of those. Looks out of his depth.
Pepple - struggling in a poor side. Holds a ball up but very little footballing intelligence to play up front on his own. 9 appearances, 2 goals (same game). Out of his depth in the formation played.
Araujo - looked classy around September time especially next to Dunkey. Injuries has cost him. Played only 18 times.
Fleck - disaster signing. can?t get him fit, can?t get him to shift weight. 4 appearances in the league and no starts. Signed September!
Donacien - another disaster signing. Can?t get him fit. String of injuries. 3 appearances only 1 start.
Akinola - cook clearly thinks out of his depth. Sent to non league twice. 2 sub appearances.

Doesn?t make good reading does it?

This is a pretty well thought out post. I don't think VDC is as bad as many think but I only saw limited amount of him. Drummond is the sort of kid that is worth a punt (See Berry). Fleck was worth a go. It hasn't worked out which is a shame because when he has played recently he has looked excellent. Madden looked a good signing on paper. There wasn't many, if any people on here disappointed when he signed. Niggling injuries for him haven't helped but he is another than just hasn't worked out so far. The oddest signing for me was Akinola. Every other player on there I can see why we signed them but Akinola was pony the first time round.

[jack bauer]

 Waller is my hero, on 05 March 2025 - 07:45 AM, said:

I do find it intriguing on here that when a post is made of genuine thought & debate it gets quickly jumped on by the usual clowns who have a skill of turning it into a witch hunt & complete negativity?some strange folk on here.
To really get into the head of these people, read a book called surrounded by idiots & you quickly understand the mentality of the likes of Britas, S&D, Walton, Warpey etc 😂😂😂

this season is and always was going to be a transition season, we have been out of the EFL for 6 years, we were never going to walk it like we did last season, we carried a lot of NL players into this season with us and come the end of this season i think most will be released. Bookies early favourites combined with a season of just winning and then signing Madden probably got expectations racing away. Now since mid December we have been dissapointing, injuries are a factor, not an excuse, we've also had a couple of needless suspensions (banks and oldaker) at times we couldn't afford them, plus then the loss of berry and our player of the season to that point markandy, so a january mini rebuild was required... duffy and sparkes have been good recrtuitments and i'd love to see sparkes here next season, sadly the others have not worked out, i like pepple's effort but he is nowhere near a replacement for talisman grigg who we are missing so much, many of these recent tight away games (swindon, cheltenham, colchester) grigg puts a chance away and we get a point.
a win soon would be incredibly welcome.

To quote Ollie Banks from last nights post match " we have to stick together right now"... we are going through a tough period and it's unpleasant but i'm confident we will end the season of transition in a good position and kick on next season (btw i'm not suggesting we'll walk the league next season, i think respect to the league we may be at it for 2-3 seasons yet)

[peakblue]

Yea,good post
Maybe the players need warning that they could get dragged in to a relegation battle,it might give them a kick up the bottom
Anything above bottom 2 would be a good end of season in my opinion,rebuild and a play-off place at least a target next season
Some may not like that,but some are in melt down because promotion hasn?t happened again

[Tha Knows...]

We wont need 50 points.
To reach 50, Morecambe and Tranmere would need to win 7 of their remaining 11 games and Carlisle 8 from 12.
Two of those 3 would have to achieve that.

[JonB]

 Tha Knows..., on 05 March 2025 - 09:01 AM, said:

We wont need 50 points.
To reach 50, Morecambe and Tranmere would need to win 7 of their remaining 11 games and Carlisle 8 from 12.
Two of those 3 would have to achieve that.

As an indicator of getting those wins, in their last 10 games Tranmere are W0 D5 L5 and Morecambe are W3 D0 L7 and Carlisle are W2 D3 L5 so getting the wins needed is a massive upturn in form and would also need the other teams between us and them to do similar and with i suspect teams playing each other it reduces the points on offer as well.

[spireitetoo]

 JonB, on 05 March 2025 - 09:08 AM, said:

As an indicator of getting those wins, in their last 10 games Tranmere are W0 D5 L5 and Morecambe are W3 D0 L7 and Carlisle are W2 D3 L5 so getting the wins needed is a massive upturn in form and would also need the other teams between us and them to do similar and with i suspect teams playing each other it reduces the points on offer as well.

The fact that posts like this are being made, shows just how bad we've become, .. this season can't end soon enuff, and so the rebuild can commence

[warfey is a spireite]

 Exharboroughspireite, on 05 March 2025 - 06:43 AM, said:

The recruitment needs seriously looking at. Whilst some have been injuries we couldn?t see coming others have been appalling in terms of quality:

Daley Campbell - looks out of his depth. Played 9 times. Injuries.
Gordon - very good signing. Season hampered by injury. 20 appearances
Dunkley - very good signing. Freak injury. 9 appearances.
Mcfadzean - signing attempted to stop rot. Impact injury. 2 appearances.
Madden - the new Chris O Grady. Brought very little. 20 appearances. Only started around 20% of those. 3 goals. Injuries. Major wage earner.
Drummond - looks out of his depth. Sent out on loan to lower league where very few goals scored. Back but now can?t get in squad. 14 appearances. 1 goal.
Duffy - very good signing. Probably wonders what is going on seeing as though benched and subbed last night when looked like only player of quality.
Olakigbe - all fur coat and no knickers. Looks lovely, zero impact and can?t defend or track back to save his life.
Sparkes - good signing however has been exposed last few weeks playing with sub standard defenders around him.
Markanday - outstanding talent. Knew was going to be recalled when permission was not going to be given for first round of cup.
Tanton - played 8 times and sent back due to injuries
Thompson - unable to keep number 1 jersey from boot. Only played 18 times. Cook obviously doubts his quality.
Metcalfe - injuries and lack of quality. 16 appearances and only started 1/4 of those. Looks out of his depth.
Pepple - struggling in a poor side. Holds a ball up but very little footballing intelligence to play up front on his own. 9 appearances, 2 goals (same game). Out of his depth in the formation played.
Araujo - looked classy around September time especially next to Dunkey. Injuries has cost him. Played only 18 times.
Fleck - disaster signing. can?t get him fit, can?t get him to shift weight. 4 appearances in the league and no starts. Signed September!
Donacien - another disaster signing. Can?t get him fit. String of injuries. 3 appearances only 1 start.
Akinola - cook clearly thinks out of his depth. Sent to non league twice. 2 sub appearances.

Doesn?t make good reading does it?

Cooks sanctioned these signings @ 400 k not used on berry.

 Waller is my hero, on 05 March 2025 - 07:45 AM, said:

I do find it intriguing on here that when a post is made of genuine thought & debate it gets quickly jumped on by the usual clowns who have a skill of turning it into a witch hunt & complete negativity?some strange folk on here.
To really get into the head of these people, read a book called surrounded by idiots & you quickly understand the mentality of the likes of Britas, S&D, Walton, Warpey etc 😂😂😂

Your the idiot,witch hunt blimey teat

[Exharboroughspireite]

 warfey is a spireite, on 05 March 2025 - 09:20 AM, said:

Cooks sanctioned these signings @ 400 k not used on berry.


Your the idiot,witch hunt blimey teat

Just keep the thread intelligent football talk. That would be nice. As for the ?400k comment we have no idea how that deal is structured and I would argue that chucking a load of cash in january when the market is overinflated (perfect example is the fee paid for Berry) and with other clubs knowing we had come into money would not have been financially sensible.

This post has been edited by Exharboroughspireite: 05 March 2025 - 09:25 AM

[Bald magician]

 Dougspireite78, on 05 March 2025 - 06:30 AM, said:

The problem next season will be the money coming in. With the feel good factor totally gone from last session title triumph there's no way we will sell anywhere near 5k session tickets. We will also do well to get 5 - 6k crowds so we will have less money for the wage bill. Long term then how long will the kittens want to keep funding a loss making business and can they keep putting their hands in their pockets every single season?

The feel good factor certainly hasn't left me. Fundamentally I'd rather be discussing frustrations in the football league than the national league.

The club is in the right hands.

It's very clear there is another phase of change on the playing side coming in the next 4 to 6 months. Sit back and enjoy the ride is my take on things!

[Paragon of Virtue]

 hilly81, on 05 March 2025 - 08:04 AM, said:

This is a pretty well thought out post. I don't think VDC is as bad as many think but I only saw limited amount of him. Drummond is the sort of kid that is worth a punt (See Berry). Fleck was worth a go. It hasn't worked out which is a shame because when he has played recently he has looked excellent. Madden looked a good signing on paper. There wasn't many, if any people on here disappointed when he signed. Niggling injuries for him haven't helped but he is another than just hasn't worked out so far. The oddest signing for me was Akinola. Every other player on there I can see why we signed them but Akinola was pony the first time round.

That's a bit harsh, Akinola definitely showed some quality the first time around, just was in and out of the team for some reason. I can see why we thought he was a bit of a rough diamond and worth a punt.

[Looker-on]

 gordon_brittas, on 05 March 2025 - 07:06 AM, said:

I think most will accept a promotion in season 2026/2027 if it benefits us in the long run.

Do you think there are some who wouldn't welcome promotion in 2026-7? So long as it is not from the National League again I'd welcome it with open arms.

[JonB]

 Exharboroughspireite, on 05 March 2025 - 09:25 AM, said:

Just keep the thread intelligent football talk. That would be nice. As for the ?400k comment we have no idea how that deal is structured and I would argue that chucking a load of cash in january when the market is overinflated (perfect example is the fee paid for Berry) and with other clubs knowing we had come into money would not have been financially sensible.

We also made 6 signings in January all of which had a cost of some sort attached be it a fee, loan fee, wages etc that had to come from somewhere. Also Berry, Markanday and Horton i think were the only ones to actually leave the club so we came out of January with a bigger squad than we started again which is additional cost. Chuck in thats unlikely Wycombe have just transferred us a lump sum of ?400k as well it was never going to be a case that we had that money burning a hole to be spent. Also as you say January is a crap time to be trying to buy folk.

[hilly81]

 Paragon of Virtue, on 05 March 2025 - 09:30 AM, said:

That's a bit harsh, Akinola definitely showed some quality the first time around, just was in and out of the team for some reason. I can see why we thought he was a bit of a rough diamond and worth a punt.

I remember him doing some fancy footwork in a couple of games live on TNT but that is about it. He doesn't appear to be a defensive midfielder or an attacking midfielder. No goal threat. Doesn't create. Very odd signing. He will end up at Dorking or similar.