No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
I think the real deflation is that neither signing seems like an oven ready ‘let’s have a crack at promotion’ type signing - more with an eye on the future
Can two loanees be for the future? Perhaps more of a short term solution
If Zach & Terry have clauses allowing us to bring them back if needed, we’re not as exposed to injury as it seems. In addition, both players could be called back having played regularly, which is a better position than having them kicking their heels on the bench / directors box.
If Zach & Terry have clauses allowing us to bring them back if needed, we’re not as exposed to injury as it seems. In addition, both players could be called back having played regularly, which is a better position than having them kicking their heels on the bench / directors box.
We won’t be able to recall any of the loans that have gone out this month. Can only recall from non-league
If Zach & Terry have clauses allowing us to bring them back if needed, we’re not as exposed to injury as it seems. In addition, both players could be called back having played regularly, which is a better position than having them kicking their heels on the bench / directors box.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
I'm fairly relaxed about our business. There was never any serious talk about our key players being nabbed, and the players that have been let go have not generally been in contention for starting berths.
I think our fitness and pathways back from injury - touch wood!! - have looked a lot better in the last little while, too. Kayne Ramsay's undisclosed knee injury could have taken a lot longer under a previous medical team, I suspect (but that is obviously conjecture), for instance. And we seem to be fitter more generally. So, while we lack some depth, the fact we've gone with nigh on the same squad for several games now is an indictment of improvements here.
Alex Gilbert is someone apparently universally rated to some extent - even if he lacks game time - while in McIntyre, any option to challenge Gillesphey is going to hopefully drive him to better things. (Who knows, of course - they could both be rubbish.) Fine.
Overall, we've trimmed the fat: let's be real, Potts and Hilton aren't proper, Asiimwe and Mitchell need game time and were third choices at best at their positions, Edun and REG weren't getting a look in even as second choices either, and Campbell was not good enough.
I am also going to be in a minority about Terry Taylor: tidy passer though he is, I don't actually think he offered enough drive and penetration going forward. Lots of his best work was too similar to Coventry, who offers far more defensively. He's the one I have the most reservations about leaving though, as he would be fine as cover. No youth prospect immediately springs to mind who could add more in the middle of the park, which is a worry.
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
I think the real deflation is that neither signing seems like an oven ready ‘let’s have a crack at promotion’ type signing - more with an eye on the future
When Lee Bowyer brought in Parker, probably like many others, I wasn’t impressed and for most of the games he played, to me, it looked like we were carrying him and for a striker I can’t recall if he actually scored or not but we did look like a team that would win games and as it turned out we were awesome and won at Wembley against an equally strong Sunderland side. Parker was clearly the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle.
Just over two months ago I’d have had no issues if Nathan went. I wouldn’t have been the only one. We just didn’t look like a team at times. We do now and a lot of that has come at the same time as we’ve been playing with a consistent team selection. Trimming the squad down and bringing in just two players in those positions just looks like the right thing to have done if we are going to give it a good go at challenging for promotion. One, or both of them, could be this season’s ‘Parker’.
You may be right - Gilbert was a priority position for me to improve on Berry - my next priority was a deputy for TC and small, then an upgrade on Gillesphey. It's the missing TC / Small deputy that will hurt us - everything else in the window makes sense unless Gilbert really can cover for them as well and / or Dixon and Kanu manage to 'help out'
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Surely you can see it as not being promoted is a failure, but that also doesn’t mean we haven’t made progress or moved forward?
We finished 16th last season, 19th and looking at relegation when Jones took over. If we finish in the top 6 or just outside it this season that is surely progress that we can build on next season even if we don’t win the playoffs and get promoted?
I think the real deflation is that neither signing seems like an oven ready ‘let’s have a crack at promotion’ type signing - more with an eye on the future
Can two loanees be for the future? Perhaps more of a short term solution
look like loanees with a potential buy to me although it has been stated that Middlesborough wouldn't sell which can be interpreted in many ways tbh
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
Just checking, are you assuming we don't win the play-offs when we finish fifth?
No idea how good or not Gilbert or Mullofkintyre will be but I’d say that one comes with little experience and the other with less than glowing reviews. They seem to me to be spot on Charlton signings that we’ve seen come and go over recent seasons. If I’m honest I’m less than impressed and certainly don’t feel these two will tip us over the edge into genuine promotion contenders. I posted many times on this thread that we shouldn’t get excited or our hopes up and took quite a few lols for the trouble. I have little hesitation in saying the summer will be rinse and repeat. No confidence that we’re moving forward. Clubs treading water and as far as I can see going nowhere.
We have quite clearly moved forward since Jones came in. We were scrapping for survival then and now we are level with 6th. In just a year that is definitely moving forward
Need to see where we finish after 46 games, mid table or below is hardly moving forward
We finished 16th last season... So anything better than that is moving forward
16th, 12th, 7th, 9th 14th - what does it actually matter ? Moving forward as far as I’m concerned is getting promoted. Nothing else moves us forward. The rest is just noise.
So if promotion is the only way to move forward, what happens if we get to the Championship next season... Is 21st failure?
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
If we were to get promoted to the championship the 1st couple of seasons would be trying to stabilise the club and not come back down. So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
But thats not the case in League One and below, after a couple of rocky seasons with bad signings?
Every season in league one is a failure. The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving. So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
Yes the Championship is our rightful place... Yes promotion would be the ideal scenario in one fowl swoop
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
Just checking, are you assuming we don't win the play-offs when we finish fifth?
Yeah that sort of example would be losing in the Play-Offs - Like Bolton fans are expecting this season, if we were to fall into that scenario, this season, next season... I'd expect us to build on that position at the very least the following campaign.
I thought it was a very good window. We now have back up for the much maligned Gillesphey and a little bit of pressure applied for him to keep his place. Got rid of Campbell, Edun and REG and Pottts, none of whom were on the smallest of wages, considering where they came from. Now have a proper replacement for Luke Berry, rather than bringing on Karoy Anderson and changing the shape. Loaned out the young players in Assimwe and Mitchell, and gave Taylor game time at Northampton, all needed to be playing first team football, not just spending time at the training ground with no prospect of playing.. Lastly, didn't lose Small, Leaburn or Tyreece Campbell. Yeah I'm happy with that.
I think the real deflation is that neither signing seems like an oven ready ‘let’s have a crack at promotion’ type signing - more with an eye on the future
When Lee Bowyer brought in Parker, probably like many others, I wasn’t impressed and for most of the games he played, to me, it looked like we were carrying him and for a striker I can’t recall if he actually scored or not but we did look like a team that would win games and as it turned out we were awesome and won at Wembley against an equally strong Sunderland side. Parker was clearly the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle.
Just over two months ago I’d have had no issues if Nathan went. I wouldn’t have been the only one. We just didn’t look like a team at times. We do now and a lot of that has come at the same time as we’ve been playing with a consistent team selection. Trimming the squad down and bringing in just two players in those positions just looks like the right thing to have done if we are going to give it a good go at challenging for promotion. One, or both of them, could be this season’s ‘Parker’.
You may be right - Gilbert was a priority position for me to improve on Berry - my next priority was a deputy for TC and small, then an upgrade on Gillesphey. It's the missing TC / Small deputy that will hurt us - everything else in the window makes sense unless Gilbert really can cover for them as well and / or Dixon and Kanu manage to 'help out'
In a way Small and TC are each other’s cover. You only need one of those in a team and that we’ve got one on each wing is incredible. What’s not great is we’ve not quite worked out how to exploit them and I think it’s been the absence of a natural attacking central midfielder that’s been the missing link. Having one gives us a diamond formation in the opposition goal area and options for where a pass/cross/shot can be made. At present the only option is quite often just to blast it either at the first defender or towards the opposite corner flag.
Interesting to read the range of complete different views.
Personally it’s one of anticipated disappointment.
We are 7th and with 18 games to go in a battle for a play off place that realistically goes down to Rotherham in 15th place. That’s a LOT of teams in the running for effectively 3 places.
Does our business this month scream at you ‘We are going for it?’
I don’t think a single fan would answer ‘yes’ to that.
Anything can happen and there’s 54 points still on offer. I fear we have wasted an opportunity but what will be will be.
I'm delighted we went nowhere near Owen Dale. One of the biggest all fart, no shit footballers in the 92
i'd agree with that based on nothing other than a gut feeling when i saw his over manicured facial hair and his expression - he looks exactly as you describe
I think the real deflation is that neither signing seems like an oven ready ‘let’s have a crack at promotion’ type signing - more with an eye on the future
When Lee Bowyer brought in Parker, probably like many others, I wasn’t impressed and for most of the games he played, to me, it looked like we were carrying him and for a striker I can’t recall if he actually scored or not but we did look like a team that would win games and as it turned out we were awesome and won at Wembley against an equally strong Sunderland side. Parker was clearly the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle.
Just over two months ago I’d have had no issues if Nathan went. I wouldn’t have been the only one. We just didn’t look like a team at times. We do now and a lot of that has come at the same time as we’ve been playing with a consistent team selection. Trimming the squad down and bringing in just two players in those positions just looks like the right thing to have done if we are going to give it a good go at challenging for promotion. One, or both of them, could be this season’s ‘Parker’.
You may be right - Gilbert was a priority position for me to improve on Berry - my next priority was a deputy for TC and small, then an upgrade on Gillesphey. It's the missing TC / Small deputy that will hurt us - everything else in the window makes sense unless Gilbert really can cover for them as well and / or Dixon and Kanu manage to 'help out'
In a way Small and TC are each other’s cover. You only need one of those in a team and that we’ve got one on each wing is incredible. What’s not great is we’ve not quite worked out how to exploit them and I think it’s been the absence of a natural attacking central midfielder that’s been the missing link. Having one gives us a diamond formation in the opposition goal area and options for where a pass/cross/shot can be made. At present the only option is quite often just to blast it either at the first defender or towards the opposite corner flag.
By the way, I like Gillespie, I think he’s a really good player but like everyone else I suspect I find it really frustrating when he makes a wayward pass to an opposition player and puts us in trouble. If I had to take a wild guess at why I’d say he may well be colour blind.
I'm delighted we went nowhere near Owen Dale. One of the biggest all fart, no shit footballers in the 92
i'd agree with that based on nothing other than a gut feeling when i saw his over manicured facial hair and his expression - he looks exactly as you describe
He's a brunette Charlie Kirk. Absolutely amazed he has got so many moves above League 2
I think the real deflation is that neither signing seems like an oven ready ‘let’s have a crack at promotion’ type signing - more with an eye on the future
When Lee Bowyer brought in Parker, probably like many others, I wasn’t impressed and for most of the games he played, to me, it looked like we were carrying him and for a striker I can’t recall if he actually scored or not but we did look like a team that would win games and as it turned out we were awesome and won at Wembley against an equally strong Sunderland side. Parker was clearly the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle.
Just over two months ago I’d have had no issues if Nathan went. I wouldn’t have been the only one. We just didn’t look like a team at times. We do now and a lot of that has come at the same time as we’ve been playing with a consistent team selection. Trimming the squad down and bringing in just two players in those positions just looks like the right thing to have done if we are going to give it a good go at challenging for promotion. One, or both of them, could be this season’s ‘Parker’.
You may be right - Gilbert was a priority position for me to improve on Berry - my next priority was a deputy for TC and small, then an upgrade on Gillesphey. It's the missing TC / Small deputy that will hurt us - everything else in the window makes sense unless Gilbert really can cover for them as well and / or Dixon and Kanu manage to 'help out'
In a way Small and TC are each other’s cover. You only need one of those in a team and that we’ve got one on each wing is incredible. What’s not great is we’ve not quite worked out how to exploit them and I think it’s been the absence of a natural attacking central midfielder that’s been the missing link. Having one gives us a diamond formation in the opposition goal area and options for where a pass/cross/shot can be made. At present the only option is quite often just to blast it either at the first defender or towards the opposite corner flag.
again, you may be right but for me, our upturn has been based on 2 things - Lloyd Jones return and getting those 2 playing on each wing at the same time - go down to 1 or other and we regress.
Comments
Of course we ALL want to be promoted every season (Until its no longer possible), but equally have to be realistic
The lads never completed 90 mins in his career. At age 23.
Just our usual transfer window. Leave it to the last minute then scramble around for half fit loanees who aren't up to doing 90 mins from day 1.
You don't fail to get your deadline day signing over the line if you sign them on Jan 10th !!!!
I mean just because he hasn't played 90mins in a League game, isn't evidence that he cant
So any positions above relegation would be acceptable.
The championship is our natural place to be.
When we spent 4 years in the top flight under Lenny and 8 years under Curbs we were punching above our weight.
But every year we are in league one we are under achieving.
So if we don't win promotion this season many (including myself) will see it as failure.
Any season spent in the championship as long as it doesn't end in relation would be acceptable.
I think our fitness and pathways back from injury - touch wood!! - have looked a lot better in the last little while, too. Kayne Ramsay's undisclosed knee injury could have taken a lot longer under a previous medical team, I suspect (but that is obviously conjecture), for instance. And we seem to be fitter more generally. So, while we lack some depth, the fact we've gone with nigh on the same squad for several games now is an indictment of improvements here.
Alex Gilbert is someone apparently universally rated to some extent - even if he lacks game time - while in McIntyre, any option to challenge Gillesphey is going to hopefully drive him to better things. (Who knows, of course - they could both be rubbish.) Fine.
Overall, we've trimmed the fat: let's be real, Potts and Hilton aren't proper, Asiimwe and Mitchell need game time and were third choices at best at their positions, Edun and REG weren't getting a look in even as second choices either, and Campbell was not good enough.
I am also going to be in a minority about Terry Taylor: tidy passer though he is, I don't actually think he offered enough drive and penetration going forward. Lots of his best work was too similar to Coventry, who offers far more defensively. He's the one I have the most reservations about leaving though, as he would be fine as cover. No youth prospect immediately springs to mind who could add more in the middle of the park, which is a worry.
All said though - best judged on results. UTA
I get that no one likes being at this level, and we want to get out of, but if we go from 16th to 10th / 8th this season, to 5th next season, to 2nd the following season... Or even 16th to 6th this season (ending in promotion), that is the definition of moving forward.
We finished 16th last season, 19th and looking at relegation when Jones took over. If we finish in the top 6 or just outside it this season that is surely progress that we can build on next season even if we don’t win the playoffs and get promoted?
I don’t think a single fan would answer ‘yes’ to that.
Anything can happen and there’s 54 points still on offer. I fear we have wasted an opportunity but what will be will be.