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better days

Well-Known Member
What you sometimes get then is parents slagging off the system if their lad doesn’t make the grade. I think at most clubs they’re pretty honest now from a young age and say your lad probably isn’t going to make it as a footballer.
Yep the parents often think their kid is going to be the one who'll make it and are blind to what everyone else can see
 

Frankly_Mr_Shankly

Well-Known Member
What you sometimes get then is parents slagging off the system if their lad doesn’t make the grade. I think at most clubs they’re pretty honest now from a young age and say your lad probably isn’t going to make it as a footballer.
He’ll probably make it as a footballer, just not at this level. Then again, we’ve released many a player who’ve gone on to do ok.
 

Hobo

Well-Known Member
A strange one this … Captain of under 23’s all season but no where near the first team. Why develop the leadership skills of someone you plan to release ??

Because you have to develop players. Even if they dont end up staying and move on they are still your product.

It is potentially why the next player will agree to sign and maybe that one is one that will break through and stay for a few seasons?
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
when you are league 2 - 5 may be good enough
When you are league 1, 2 or 3
at this level - 1 if you are lucky

Shipley would never have had a chance if we were already in the championship when he came through

Yeah same as O’Hare at Villa, Sheaf at Arsenal, Clarke Salter at Chelsea etc they’d all get chances at a lower level but they have to come to clubs like us
 

SkyblueDad

Well-Known Member
The thing that's rarely talked about in football is how at any club there are usually only one or two youngsters in each age group who the coaches feel has a chance of making the first team
But they need the other 15 or so kids in order to field a team so the prospects can play
You get rare exceptions like the Manure Class of 92 but most clubs have guys like Ngandu who might have been prospects when they were younger and are kept on until eventually released at 18 or 19
Most end up playing semi pro but a lot are so disillusioned they give up the game completely
So true, pro-football the toughest uncompromising business in the world your best pal is a rival too, can go hero to zero in no time. Luck plays its part too, injuries at the wrong time while you are out for three or four month someone comes from behind for your perch. but it is now a global industry more than ever so there can be opportunities around the world.

Talking young Ngandu and luck I think he had an illness, not covid which put him out for a good while fingers crossed for him to make it elsewhere.
 

long way home

Well-Known Member
McGrath, Finnegan, Ngundu, Evans Harriot are all out of contact and I don't think will be kept, Rowe,Drysdale, Pask, Jones and Shipley are as good as gone. Kelly, Walker and Waghorn will be sold or loaned out. I see lots of movement out, not sure if we need to match the number back in but need quality signings.
 

skybluesam66

Well-Known Member
McGrath, Finnegan, Ngundu, Evans Harriot are all out of contact and I don't think will be kept, Rowe,Drysdale, Pask, Jones and Shipley are as good as gone. Kelly, Walker and Waghorn will be sold or loaned out. I see lots of movement out, not sure if we need to match the number back in but need quality signings.
Missed Kane off that list
 

Mucca Mad Boys

Well-Known Member
I am feeling nervous about possible whole scale changes. However, they usually get it right when they let players go.

Realistically, we need wholesale changes to freshen the Group up. Outside the starting eleven, we don’t really have any good options.

I know a lot of people wanted us to ‘go for it’ in the Jan transfer window, but our squad always looked quite threadbare and a couple of signings wasn’t going to make us a playoff team.

Hopefully, we follow in Luton’s footsteps. High turnover of players to get the squad up to the next level after establishing ourselves as a solid Championship team.
 

GaryMabbuttsLeftKnee

Well-Known Member
Shot stopping is his only weak area IMO but to say he’s often pinned to his line is utterly crazy to me. He’s extremely quick and confident when coming off his line.

Yep agree. I haven’t felt the confidence I feel with him coming for a cross for years and years and years. Wilson shits me up as much as Burge did. Not even close between them in my book


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CDK

Well-Known Member
What you sometimes get then is parents slagging off the system if their lad doesn’t make the grade. I think at most clubs they’re pretty honest now from a young age and say your lad probably isn’t going to make it as a footballer.
Also if he doesn't make the cut they knew anyway ,but if they make it to a pro contract then a nice suprise.
 

rexo87

Well-Known Member
I am not sure I trust the recruitment department if we go for a clear out. They have discovered some gems, but they have also got many horribly wrong. The more gaps we have to fill, the more the new 'horribly wrong' will impact the squad. Maybe I should have more faith.

I’m with you. I’d be nervous about clearing out too many


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Happy_Martian

Well-Known Member
I am not sure I trust the recruitment department if we go for a clear out. They have discovered some gems, but they have also got many horribly wrong. The more gaps we have to fill, the more the new 'horribly wrong' will impact the squad. Maybe I should have more faith.

Wasn't there a story recently that Robins was going to be more hands-on with recruitment ie. he was going to watch possible players ?
 

better days

Well-Known Member
The risk with the fringe players is minimal as they haven’t truly contributed this year. Replacing proven players is a different matter !
Going to be an interesting summer
5 subs allowed next season with 9 on the bench
Of course some of the U23s will step up but I'd guess not more than 3 or 4 of the current crop will be ready for Championship football based on Robins' choices over the past 2 seasons
He's not one for throwing loads of kids in to see if they sink or swim
 

SlowerThanPlatt

Well-Known Member
Going to be an interesting summer
5 subs allowed next season with 9 on the bench
Of course some of the U23s will step up but I'd guess not more than 3 or 4 of the current crop will be ready for Championship football based on Robins' choices over the past 2 seasons
He's not one for throwing loads of kids in to see if they sink or swim
Will you be staying?! 🤔
 

SleepyGinger

Well-Known Member
I am not sure I trust the recruitment department if we go for a clear out. They have discovered some gems, but they have also got many horribly wrong. The more gaps we have to fill, the more the new 'horribly wrong' will impact the squad. Maybe I should have more faith.
We’ve progressed every season under Robins and bar possibly last season or two there as been a big turn over of players every year. Hearing the likes of Kane Kelly etc may be moved on encourages me because Robins wouldn’t do it if he didn’t think it would improve us. Looks like we’re going for it next year.
 
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Deleted member 5849

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I am not sure I trust the recruitment department if we go for a clear out. They have discovered some gems, but they have also got many horribly wrong. The more gaps we have to fill, the more the new 'horribly wrong' will impact the squad. Maybe I should have more faith.
Yeah, plus there's getting a whole new group used to our style, way of playing. We've got faults of course, but the most amazing thing of this season has been the never say die attitude, the injury time goals, the refusal to accept defeat, and seeming to look out for one another, on the surface at least!

Wouldn't want to lose that.
 

saveitforthewombles

Well-Known Member
I am not sure I trust the recruitment department if we go for a clear out. They have discovered some gems, but they have also got many horribly wrong. The more gaps we have to fill, the more the new 'horribly wrong' will impact the squad. Maybe I should have more faith.

you should. Recruitment overall has had far more pluses than minuses. The league position shows that. We've always rotated during the summer window to try to upgrade again - last year it was Moore, Maatsen, Clarke-Salter, Sheaf (permanent), Gyokeres (permanent), Waghorn. I personally think the latter has been unlucky with injury and illness but granted the jury is out. Before last summer we were speculating in the free agent market mainly - that's always risky and I think the club has acknowledged that they took some risks. Some came off. A few didn't. But I don't expect them to have to take too many risks this summer. We're probably in need of a couple of defensive reinforcements (mainly LCB and a LWB) but then the focus will be on supplementing the attacking threat. Numbers wise will depend if any of the big three are sold because they would leave the biggest gaps although even if all three left then a foundation of Moore - Dabo - Eccles - Hyam - Rose - McFadzean - Bidwell - Kane Sheaf - Allen - Kelly (tbd) - Godden - Waghorn is a decent starting place to build again from (especially if we stick to our word and command at least market rate). Trust the process.
 

PUSB-We_are_going_up

Well-Known Member
Im optimistic for the season abead, let’s push on and fight for promotion, if we don’t get it I won’t be disappointed (unless we lose the play off final). And if we do then roll in the money
 

KenilworthSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
We’ve progressed every season under Robins and bar possibly last season or two there as been a big turn over of players every year. Hearing the likes of Kane Kelly etc may be moved on encourages me because Robins wouldn’t do it if he didn’t think it would improve us. Looks like we’re going for it next year.

Even if they do move on, it's likely we're going to be lumped with a significant proportion of their wages as a result of them being out on loan. Or if their contract's are mutually terminated the club will have to agree a compensation package which will similarly come at a cost. No doubt wages will be freed up, but whether it'll be enough for Robins to make significant improvements to the side this summer is nothing short of questionable.
 
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SleepyGinger

Well-Known Member
Even if they do move on, it's likely we're going to be lumped with a significant proportion of their wages as a result of them being out on loan. Or if their contract's are mutually terminated the club will have to agree a compensation package which will similarly come at a cost. No doubt wages will be freed up, but whether it'll be enough for Robins to make significant improvements to the side this summer is nothing short of questionable.
Yeah I agree but I’m sure Robins wouldn’t do it if it didn’t mean we’d have the finances to bring in someone better
 

robbiekeane

Well-Known Member
I am not sure I trust the recruitment department if we go for a clear out. They have discovered some gems, but they have also got many horribly wrong. The more gaps we have to fill, the more the new 'horribly wrong' will impact the squad. Maybe I should have more faith.

Yeah, plus there's getting a whole new group used to our style, way of playing. We've got faults of course, but the most amazing thing of this season has been the never say die attitude, the injury time goals, the refusal to accept defeat, and seeming to look out for one another, on the surface at least!

Wouldn't want to lose that.



Don’t really understand this. The whole current team you’re talking about was recruited but them (I know we’ve had one or two changes in recruitment department)

So you’re nervous about the recruitment teams ability to replace the team that they recruited?

These guys seem to have a plan and an actual pipeline of talent. They aren’t thinking about this now - they were thinking about it when they knew we would be safe in this league probably after about 3 months.
 

KenilworthSkyBlue

Well-Known Member
Don’t really understand this. The whole current team you’re talking about was recruited but them (I know we’ve had one or two changes in recruitment department)

So you’re nervous about the recruitment teams ability to replace the team that they recruited?

These guys seem to have a plan and an actual pipeline of talent. They aren’t thinking about this now - they were thinking about it when they knew we would be safe in this league probably after about 3 months.

They plan in advance, usually from the window before and will create a shortlist of names for every position.

The level of planning seems pretty proactive.
 
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Deleted member 5849

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So you’re nervous about the recruitment teams ability to replace the team that they recruited?
I'm nervous of breaking up a group wholesale that clearly has good character and team spirit. There's always a risk with a new signing that they don't fit, but it's easier to remove one Kane than half a dozen of them because you've changed so many.
 

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