Out of Contract 2022

[Hound]

I think that is probably a bit overly negative

There is a decent core retained and we should have some flexibility to bring in some newer hungrier players

Obvs recruitment has to be right. And understandably confidence not too high on that

[URZZZZ]

Obvs recruitment has to be right

The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before

[Dirk Gently]

Obvs recruitment has to be right

The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before

Becasue there is no strategic plan, just an annual scramble of "let's try and survive this year."

Not that we're in any position to do anything else right now, of course, but a strategy in previous years might well have ensured that were wern't in the situation we find ourselves in now.

[6ft Kerplunk]

This year will be yet another new manager with new tactics trying to get a squad to play his way on a limited budget. Unless we get very lucky with the new manager and signings there's no quick way out of this mess.

[Hound]

Obvs recruitment has to be right

The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before

Well yes, hence my original large caveat

[SCIAG]

Recruitment has been pretty good for the last few years given the constraints we have been operating under. Barker feels a bit superfluous but most of the players we sign are Championship standard, improve the squad, and good value.

The issue that is still dragging us down is a string of bad signings 2-4 years ago - Ilori, Bacuna, Aluko, Popa, Mannone, Baldock, Edwards, Puscas, not selling Moore when Brighton were interested - I’m sure there are more but those are the ones who come to mind. Not the worst players we’ve ever had by any means, but expensive, and not contributing enough on the pitch to justify that expense. They probably also contributed to screwing up our wage structure in general.

We paid “best in the league” fees and wages for mediocrity that sometimes didn’t even improve the squad. Now we’re plugging gaps and can’t make expensive mistakes.

[Snowflake Royal]

Recruitment has been pretty good for the last few years given the constraints we have been operating under. Barker feels a bit superfluous but most of the players we sign are Championship standard, improve the squad, and good value.

The issue that is still dragging us down is a string of bad signings 2-4 years ago - Ilori, Bacuna, Aluko, Popa, Mannone, Baldock, Edwards, Puscas, not selling Moore when Brighton were interested - I’m sure there are more but those are the ones who come to mind. Not the worst players we’ve ever had by any means, but expensive, and not contributing enough on the pitch to justify that expense. They probably also contributed to screwing up our wage structure in general.

We paid “best in the league” fees and wages for mediocrity that sometimes didn’t even improve the squad. Now we’re plugging gaps and can’t make expensive mistakes.

And that's a fairly over-optimistic view.

[Hound]

Obvs recruitment has to be right

The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before

Becasue there is no strategic plan, just an annual scramble of "let's try and survive this year."

Not that we're in any position to do anything else right now, of course, but a strategy in previous years might well have ensured that were wern't in the situation we find ourselves in now.

Although that in itself is actually a strategy for next year. Aim most be solely to survive with the budget limitations etc

We’ve had this kind of wishy washy attempt to go for promotion which has ended in signing players like Drinkwater, baba and Boye who are gambles that may have turned out to be amazing but not really suited to a scrap at the bottom

[Snowflake Royal]

The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before

Becasue there is no strategic plan, just an annual scramble of "let's try and survive this year."

Not that we're in any position to do anything else right now, of course, but a strategy in previous years might well have ensured that were wern't in the situation we find ourselves in now.

Although that in itself is actually a strategy for next year. Aim most be solely to survive with the budget limitations etc

We’ve had this kind of wishy washy attempt to go for promotion which has ended in signing players like Drinkwater, baba and Boye who are gambles that may have turned out to be amazing but not really suited to a scrap at the bottom

We're basically the football equivalent of an armchair PL fan crossed with a magpie.

We just try to sign whatever shiny name we think sounds good for the most part. I don't think we even have a 'must stay up strategy'. That would suggest a degree of self awareness the club is incapable of.

And, you know, the goal of building a cohesive squad. Any side that goes into a season with one senior fullback and a loanee, both who are going to be at the ACON has no concept of squad building.

[Dirk Gently]

Becasue there is no strategic plan, just an annual scramble of "let's try and survive this year."

Not that we're in any position to do anything else right now, of course, but a strategy in previous years might well have ensured that were wern't in the situation we find ourselves in now.

Although that in itself is actually a strategy for next year. Aim most be solely to survive with the budget limitations etc

We’ve had this kind of wishy washy attempt to go for promotion which has ended in signing players like Drinkwater, baba and Boye who are gambles that may have turned out to be amazing but not really suited to a scrap at the bottom

We're basically the football equivalent of an armchair PL fan crossed with a magpie.

We just try to sign whatever shiny name we think sounds good for the most part. I don't think we even have a 'must stay up strategy'. That would suggest a degree of self awareness the club is incapable of.

And, you know, the goal of building a cohesive squad. Any side that goes into a season with one senior fullback and a loanee, both who are going to be at the ACON has no concept of squad building.

The "strategy" was to go up last season and then spunk loads of money on replacements for them, which would have resolved that issue.

But that was it. No fallback plan, no contingency, no plan B - just promotion or bust.

Which is why we're where we are this season.

[Snowflake Royal]

Which was stupid given we finished 14th the season before and 20th the 2 before that, had no right to expect our great start and made little significant change to our squad.

That's not a strategy. That's an unrealistic goal with no strategy.

[URZZZZ]

The problem is that we keep saying this. Every summer is the “biggest one yet” - and somehow we assemble a squad worse/more unbalanced than the year before

Becasue there is no strategic plan, just an annual scramble of "let's try and survive this year."

Not that we're in any position to do anything else right now, of course, but a strategy in previous years might well have ensured that were wern't in the situation we find ourselves in now.

Although that in itself is actually a strategy for next year. Aim most be solely to survive with the budget limitations etc

We’ve had this kind of wishy washy attempt to go for promotion which has ended in signing players like Drinkwater, baba and Boye who are gambles that may have turned out to be amazing but not really suited to a scrap at the bottom

Thing is - if you look at some of the teams at the top, ignoring the obvious ones, the likes of Luton, Huddersfield etc, they have budget limitations themselves and are faring well

Their whole game plan is based on hard work and a united squad - something I feel we’ve lacked for a while now

[URZZZZ]

Which was stupid given we finished 14th the season before and 20th the 2 before that, had no right to expect our great start and made little significant change to our squad.

That's not a strategy. That's an unrealistic goal with no strategy.

Not the first time we’ve tried that strategy although at least there was more substance behind Stam’s attempt with the 3rd place finish prior

[Hound]

I don’t think there was any real strategy to go up last year. We had an embargo, we tried to be a bit too clever with some of the loans, but I suspect everyone was as surprised as I was with our start to the season

Stam season 2 was a genuine attempt to build on the season before and buy promotion. A horrendously bad one of course. Since then it’s been trying to recover from that - with the odd splurge ina striker or 3

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Recruitment has been pretty good for the last few years given the constraints we have been operating under. Barker feels a bit superfluous but most of the players we sign are Championship standard, improve the squad, and good value.

The issue that is still dragging us down is a string of bad signings 2-4 years ago - Ilori, Bacuna, Aluko, Popa, Mannone, Baldock, Edwards, Puscas, not selling Moore when Brighton were interested - I’m sure there are more but those are the ones who come to mind. Not the worst players we’ve ever had by any means, but expensive, and not contributing enough on the pitch to justify that expense. They probably also contributed to screwing up our wage structure in general.

We paid “best in the league” fees and wages for mediocrity that sometimes didn’t even improve the squad. Now we’re plugging gaps and can’t make expensive mistakes.

Has recruitment been pretty good for years?

I wouldn't even say it's been that good this year to be quite honest. Yes, all low-risk signings due to being freebies and loans so we weren't going to lose anything on them but, from a performance point of view, Nyland looks promising, Hein was ok but unconvincing and strange, Rahman has done ok, Dann has been ok, Drinkwater has been underwhelming/poor at times, TDB seemed ok but don't know what he's given us, Barker made no sense, Ince has done ok, Hoilett has done ok and Halilovic has been injured most of the time. So it hasn't been necessarily bad, but strange to decent at best.

The best recruitment was done last season, when only Josh Laurent, Lewis Gibson and Semedo were brought to the club. Laurent obviously stood out, Semedo I thought did pretty well when actually played in position and was never overly impressed by Gibson but he did a job.

[Snowflake Royal]

The best you could say is its been better. But still pretty shit.

[Hound]

Esteves as well last year

We did ok this year considering the restrictions. Not brilliantly but ok. Obvs none long term and none really likely to be brilliant. It’s a tough league to find people willing to come for 1 year on 8.5k pw

[SCIAG]

Recruitment has been pretty good for the last few years given the constraints we have been operating under. Barker feels a bit superfluous but most of the players we sign are Championship standard, improve the squad, and good value.

The issue that is still dragging us down is a string of bad signings 2-4 years ago - Ilori, Bacuna, Aluko, Popa, Mannone, Baldock, Edwards, Puscas, not selling Moore when Brighton were interested - I’m sure there are more but those are the ones who come to mind. Not the worst players we’ve ever had by any means, but expensive, and not contributing enough on the pitch to justify that expense. They probably also contributed to screwing up our wage structure in general.

We paid “best in the league” fees and wages for mediocrity that sometimes didn’t even improve the squad. Now we’re plugging gaps and can’t make expensive mistakes.

Has recruitment been pretty good for years?

I wouldn't even say it's been that good this year to be quite honest. Yes, all low-risk signings due to being freebies and loans so we weren't going to lose anything on them but, from a performance point of view, Nyland looks promising, Hein was ok but unconvincing and strange, Rahman has done ok, Dann has been ok, Drinkwater has been underwhelming/poor at times, TDB seemed ok but don't know what he's given us, Barker made no sense, Ince has done ok, Hoilett has done ok and Halilovic has been injured most of the time. So it hasn't been necessarily bad, but strange to decent at best.

The best recruitment was done last season, when only Josh Laurent, Lewis Gibson and Semedo were brought to the club. Laurent obviously stood out, Semedo I thought did pretty well when actually played in position and was never overly impressed by Gibson but he did a job.

Given some of the absolute dross we’ve had on free signings or loans in the past, I think everyone but Hein and Barker improving the squad and making some useful contributions on the pitch has to go down as a success.

[Notts Royal]

I’d completely forgotten about Gibson, Semedo & Esteves…and they were here only last season! Shows how many forgettable players we’ve churned through in the past few years

Very good points made above. Essentially there is no strategy. I’d prefer there to be a sense of realisation from the club at to our current position in the footballing pyramid & a strategy of how to improve over time. As already pointed out, Drinkwater & Rahman are examples of signings that look impressive on paper but the reality is they are completely the wrong fit for a club like us, or for a relegation battle

[YorkshireRoyal99]

I’d completely forgotten about Gibson, Semedo & Esteves…and they were here only last season! Shows how many forgettable players we’ve churned through in the past few years

Very good points made above. Essentially there is no strategy. I’d prefer there to be a sense of realisation from the club at to our current position in the footballing pyramid & a strategy of how to improve over time. As already pointed out, Drinkwater & Rahman are examples of signings that look impressive on paper but the reality is they are completely the wrong fit for a club like us, or for a relegation battle

Interesting point about the "fit" of the club, I've always had that down as a big factor to recruitment within a club.

We've never really had a great deal of success with high-profile players or players that cost large sums of money, it's always been players who can grow organically with the club and usually on decent, but not spectacular, money as well as reasonably, yet not excessively, priced. Even in recent times, players like Gunter, McCleary, Le Fondre, Gorkss, Norwood etc were all successful signings that fit the profile of the club for example.

However, the likes of Carrico and Puscas, high-profile and high value signings, have been less than successful because they just didn't seem to fit the profile of the club.