Keeping Dobbo, Ness, Fraser, Leaburn, Rak Sakyi, Egbo and Sessegnon. Potentially the new signings as well, but we'll need a month or two to know how they turn out.
The really optimistic view is that we are clearing out of a lot of players now, saving some cash with the aim of really strengthening in the summer. Unfortunately I wish I'd believed it.
We now have a team that is capable of remaining in L1 this season and it gives the youngsters a possible path forward which for players like Henry might encourage them to remain. Some of the loanees will return at season end and if they get regular match time there is the possibility that they will return better than when they left. After that it depends on the new owners, assuming we have some, and if they invest the squad will have the places to bring in better players, but that depends on new owners about which we know nothing.
There's the possibility that Kirk, DJ and Lavelle will play well and find they have interested buyers in the summer. McGrandles will hopefully get back up to speed and we might see the player we'd hoped we'd signed next season.
Everything really hinges on who's in charge of the club in the summer and what their budget is
So have I got this right. 4 in (Bonne, Penney, Hector and Kane). 8 out (Mcgilvary, Lavelle, O'connor, Mcgrandles, Forster Caskey, Kirk, Jayseimi and Stockley). Of the 4 in 1 is already injured and out for a couple of months while 1 has hardly played for 3 years)
They're only positives in the context of the monumental clusterfuck to which our club is being subjected The relentless decline is being accelerated with every move these yankee tosspots make - they're starting to make douchebag look less than crazy
So have I got this right. 4 in (Bonne, Penney, Hector and Kane). 8 out (Mcgilvary, Lavelle, O'connor, Mcgrandles, Forster Caskey, Kirk, Jayseimi and Stockley). Of the 4 in 1 is already injured and out for a couple of months while 1 has hardly played for 3 years)
So have I got this right. 4 in (Bonne, Penney, Hector and Kane). 8 out (Mcgilvary, Lavelle, O'connor, Mcgrandles, Forster Caskey, Kirk, Jayseimi and Stockley). Of the 4 in 1 is already injured and out for a couple of months while 1 has hardly played for 3 years)
That's unfair though. AMB has replaced Mac in the squad. Ness has replaced one of the CB's. Campbell has already played more than DJ. We've essentially added 2 FB's and lost a CM and a winger. Could also argue Henry will replace one of the CMs.
So have I got this right. 4 in (Bonne, Penney, Hector and Kane). 8 out (Mcgilvary, Lavelle, O'connor, Mcgrandles, Forster Caskey, Kirk, Jayseimi and Stockley). Of the 4 in 1 is already injured and out for a couple of months while 1 has hardly played for 3 years)
If it’s part of plan then it could be a massive positive. Given that the playoffs were only a very remote possibility after the Bolton result, and that relegation is fairly unlikely (never say never with Charlton…) then clearing the decks now by removing some of the higher earners who really weren’t justifying their salary is not necessarily a bad thing.
This positive perspective is predicated on us using the now available budget sensibly in the summer to build a team that can challenge. If we just cut the budget to the current level and leave it there, or spend it badly, then we will be in massive trouble next season. And if we suffer from 3 or 4 injuries over the next few months we may find ourselves in trouble even sooner than that.
Trying to be positive - Holden has said previously that he needs to change the culture and attitude within the club because it’s all negative. So they have shipped out the sick, lame and lazy and bought in experienced hungry players that will fight for a contract come the summer. He may also say that this leaves a pathway for our high quality academy players to get into the first team squad. So the likes of AMB, Ness, Henry, Campbell sign new contracts
So have I got this right. 4 in (Bonne, Penney, Hector and Kane). 8 out (Mcgilvary, Lavelle, O'connor, Mcgrandles, Forster Caskey, Kirk, Jayseimi and Stockley). Of the 4 in 1 is already injured and out for a couple of months while 1 has hardly played for 3 years)
That's unfair though. AMB has replaced Mac in the squad. Ness has replaced one of the CB's. Campbell has already played more than DJ. We've essentially added 2 FB's and lost a CM and a winger. Could also argue Henry will replace one of the CMs.
Plus it's 5, you missed Kilkenny.
Yes I missed Kilkenney. I wasn't commenting on whether it was good or bad. In fact one of the positives is that some of our youngsters especially the 4 you mention will get more opportunity to gain experience.
well if the financial position of the club is precarious, it’s brought down the wage bill and helped fund the ‘gang of four’.
with no trust in our recruitment, we’ve not tied up anything long term that’s going to disappoint
if you believe that Accrington, Cambridge or Burton are not going win 3 more games than us by the end of the season, then it was all largely irrelevant what happens
I think those positives are big, though, and underline the only massive positive difference between this era and a few years ago. We didn't sell our best players. That's huge, as I have no doubt there were bids for Dobson and Leaburn especially. In the cold light of day we have a far better base to build off today than we did a month ago.
Simultaneously, though, we appear to have lost the ability to unearth a gem in the market. Of the recent permanent signings only Dobson, Fraser and perhaps Wollacott can be said to have made a positive impact. Maybe Egbo. That's still a poor hit rate.
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Potentially the new signings as well, but we'll need a month or two to know how they turn out.
Sorry, I'm still here 😁
That's about it.
The relentless decline is being accelerated with every move these yankee tosspots make - they're starting to make douchebag look less than crazy
Plus it's 5, you missed Kilkenny.
Why wait till the end of the season when you can start at the end of January instead.
well if the financial position of the club is precarious, it’s brought down the wage bill and helped fund the ‘gang of four’.
with no trust in our recruitment, we’ve not tied up anything long term that’s going to disappoint
if you believe that Accrington, Cambridge or Burton are not going win 3 more games than us by the end of the season, then it was all largely irrelevant what happens
Simultaneously, though, we appear to have lost the ability to unearth a gem in the market. Of the recent permanent signings only Dobson, Fraser and perhaps Wollacott can be said to have made a positive impact. Maybe Egbo. That's still a poor hit rate.