[The Earl of Chesterfield]

Don't buy into this lousy recruitment argument.

The only one who's really disappointed is Madden. Other than that injuries have curtailed appearances, rendering genuine assessments moot.

Meanwhile I don't blame Cook for standing by lads who delivered last season's epic success.

Looking forward to an exciting summer - though haven't written off this season yet...

[60s 70s Spireite]

dtp, on 07 April 2025 - 08:21 AM, said:

Maybe, the players we have consolidated include Gordon, Dobra, Duffy and Mandeville backed up by MacFadzean, Dunkley, Naylor and Grigg. Additionally, Boot, for me has proved he is plenty good enough as a back up keeper.

From that, first choice recruitment wise, I think we might need a GK, RB, LCB, DM, and a CF.

Obviously, we will need to fill the squad out depending on who stays and who goes but I tend to try and think in terms of a settled team with appropriate cover. Something which has certainly not happened this season. I would also like to think we could recruit some decent U21 talent within the exercise too.

I will give you Dobra and Mandy. Duffy - a bit concerning he has been relegated to the bench in recent times - so is he merely a squad player? Gordon - would be behind Sparkes if he was fit. I think you can run an argument Naylor has rather than consolidated gone backwards- and he was easily my player of the season last one.
Will Fadz and Dunkley be fit and here next season?

[Bald magician]

[quote name='60s 70s Spireite' timestamp='1744016689' post='1885363']
I will give you Dobra and Mandy. Duffy - a bit concerning he has been relegated to the bench in recent times - so is he merely a squad player? Gordon - would be behind Sparkes if he was fit. I think you can run an argument Naylor has rather than consolidated gone backwards- and he was easily my player of the season last one.
Will Fadz and Dunkley be fit and here next season?
[/quote


Never in a million years is Gordon behind sparkes in the pecking order

[hilly81]

60s 70s Spireite, on 07 April 2025 - 09:04 AM, said:

I will give you Dobra and Mandy. Duffy - a bit concerning he has been relegated to the bench in recent times - so is he merely a squad player? Gordon - would be behind Sparkes if he was fit. I think you can run an argument Naylor has rather than consolidated gone backwards- and he was easily my player of the season last one.
Will Fadz and Dunkley be fit and here next season?

I personally think Duffy has been benched as he is firmly in the plans for next season and Cook is giving others, particularly those out of contract, a chance to impress.

[60s 70s Spireite]

hilly81, on 07 April 2025 - 09:38 AM, said:

I personally think Duffy has been benched as he is firmly in the plans for next season and Cook is giving others, particularly those out of contract, a chance to impress.

That could be true.

[hilly81]

Bald magician, on 07 April 2025 - 09:24 AM, said:

Never in a million years is Gordon behind sparkes in the pecking order

I like Gordon (although he was very poor on Saturday) but Sparkes is a much better player. Granted he's not quite as solid but he offers so much more going forward.

[rodney]

hilly81, on 07 April 2025 - 09:40 AM, said:

I like Gordon (although he was very poor on Saturday) but Sparkes is a much better player. Granted he's not quite as solid but he offers so much more going forward.

Agree. Sparkes offers more than Gordon overall. Would be great to have them both next year.

[MrTall]

Bald magician, on 07 April 2025 - 09:24 AM, said:

Never in a million years is Gordon behind sparkes in the pecking order

Sparkes is by far the better player.

[Blue5]

hilly81, on 07 April 2025 - 09:40 AM, said:

I like Gordon (although he was very poor on Saturday) but Sparkes is a much better player. Granted he's not quite as solid but he offers so much more going forward.

I like Lewis, but since his return it's noticeable how much he slows us down and he's not on his own in that respect.

If the aim is high-tempo possession football, it's hard to see him featuring in the starting 11.

[LondonBlue]

60s 70s Spireite, on 07 April 2025 - 09:04 AM, said:

I will give you Dobra and Mandy. Duffy - a bit concerning he has been relegated to the bench in recent times - so is he merely a squad player? Gordon - would be behind Sparkes if he was fit. I think you can run an argument Naylor has rather than consolidated gone backwards- and he was easily my player of the season last one.
Will Fadz and Dunkley be fit and here next season?
[/quote


Never in a million years is Gordon behind sparkes in the pecking order

Sparkes is head and shoulders above Gordon.

[Walton Spireite]

LondonBlue, on 07 April 2025 - 11:52 AM, said:

Sparkes is head and shoulders above Gordon.

Correct 100%

[LondonBlue]

Blue5, on 07 April 2025 - 11:02 AM, said:

I like Lewis, but since his return it's noticeable how much he slows us down and he's not on his own in that respect.

If the aim is high-tempo possession football, it's hard to see him featuring in the starting 11.

Gordon is solid but offers next to no forward threat. Good back up for Sparkes next season if we can get him on a permanent deal this summer.

[warfey is a spireite]

Sparkes first name id get

[dart in the crossbar]

The Earl of Chesterfield, on 07 April 2025 - 08:31 AM, said:

Don't buy into this lousy recruitment argument.

The only one who's really disappointed is Madden. Other than that injuries have curtailed appearances, rendering genuine assessments moot.

Meanwhile I don't blame Cook for standing by lads who delivered last season's epic success.

Looking forward to an exciting summer - though haven't written off this season yet...

Madden is a handy player at our standard. He hasn't had the game time due to injuries and then form. He's still a very decent player. He reads the game well and takes up good positions in their box. He also does his running early when he has to come back to defend corners. Despite the fact that he's had a poor season by his standards, he's set a good example on the pitch.

[Trigger]

Can Gordon play left centre back? Good defender and got a bit of pace. But for the way we play and him as an advancing full back isn't as effective as Sparkes. Gordon gets a nose bleed ⅔s of the way up the pitch, turns round and passes back 90% of the time.

[Hoare (400)]

warfey is a spireite, on 07 April 2025 - 12:40 PM, said:

Sparkes first name id get

Markanday should be our first priority and I would be very surprised if we havent already touched base with Blackburn over him signing. If he does it will clearly set out our intentions for next season.



Hoare (400)

[dtp]

Trigger, on 07 April 2025 - 01:59 PM, said:

Can Gordon play left centre back? Good defender and got a bit of pace. But for the way we play and him as an advancing full back isn't as effective as Sparkes. Gordon gets a nose bleed ⅔s of the way up the pitch, turns round and passes back 90% of the time.

I think we have to remember that Gordon has only just returned from injury. Probably a little too early too but a necessity because of the injury to Sparkes. We have had no other cover for LB since his return so probably his performances have been restricted by this. Nevertheless, Tranmere apart, in general our form has been pretty good since he came back into the fold and prior to his injury most, if not all, on these boards were quite happy with the consistency of his performances.

From tomorrow I’m expecting Araujo to be in the squad as cover for both LCB and LB. Having such cover for LB will be the first time since Sparkes was injured.

Going forward, it will be interesting to see what the situation is with Peterborough and Sparkes. If it is considered best to transfer list him then I would think we might be in for him as long as stupid money isn’t being demanded. If he was signed there could be a temptation to play Sparkes on the left of the three and in front of Gordon in certain games.

[Cartman]

The Earl of Chesterfield, on 07 April 2025 - 08:31 AM, said:

Don't buy into this lousy recruitment argument.

The only one who's really disappointed is Madden. Other than that injuries have curtailed appearances, rendering genuine assessments moot.

Meanwhile I don't blame Cook for standing by lads who delivered last season's epic success.

Looking forward to an exciting summer - though haven't written off this season yet...

Agreed, the poor recruitment argument is ridiculous and takes no account of the horrendous injury list we’ve had to contend with

[Walton Spireite]

Cartman, on 07 April 2025 - 04:52 PM, said:

Agreed, the poor recruitment argument is ridiculous and takes no account of the horrendous injury list we’ve had to contend with

Yes the signings of Akinola, Donacien, Vdc, Thompson etc has been awesome really made a real difference.Throw in the likes of Metcalfe and you have mid table underachievement.

This post has been edited by Walton Spireite: 07 April 2025 - 05:04 PM

[Blue5]

Walton Spireite, on 07 April 2025 - 05:02 PM, said:

Yes the signings of Akinola, Donacien, Vdc, Thompson etc has been awesome really made a real difference.Throw in the likes of Metcalfe and you have mid table underachievement.

You consider Metcalfe to be a poor loan signing, do you? 😂🤦‍♂️