Chasetown

[drummyb]

If we can keep possibly 10-12 of the current squad and add some more quality in certain areas then we should be right up there again

Id worked out about 8 of the current squad, were left from two years ago. Ultimately this is a new team near enough. Again though are better players happy to warm the bench? Definitely up front needs looking at, because Sim and Gregs are the ONLY option at present.

[VanessaYeltz]

If we can keep possibly 10-12 of the current squad and add some more quality in certain areas then we should be right up there again

Id worked out about 8 of the current squad, were left from two years ago. Ultimately this is a new team near enough. Again though are better players happy to warm the bench? Definitely up front needs looking at, because Sim and Gregs are the ONLY option at present.

Is it just me who thinks Simmy is far better out wide than up top?

Need to gets Gregs a partner to feed off him desperately - You can’t knock Taylor’s work rate and attitude, he’s a real handful, but he’s never going to change a game or get many goals - he’s okay to cause a bit of mayhem and hold it up when trying to close out, but when you need a goal and want to change things up he’s not going to make a difference. I’d also try and get Jack back for another year, he’s come on an awful lot and I think it would be a great move for both parties.

Overall we failed to win a few daft games and that cost us the title, nobody left anything out there on Tuesday night and the difference was a moment of madness from the best centre half in the division who is more than good enough to play at a higher level (would a more experienced ref not fell for the play acting and used common sense in the fact there was no opportunity for their guy to get the ball? Why was a child picked to ref such a big game and be so easily intimidated/influenced by the Chasetown gamesmanship - he wasn’t strong enough)

[drummyb]

Gotta disagree about Taylor to a degree. He offers nothing, is easily marked and is a yard off the pace. Ultimately he has one goal to his name, in Id guess two months without looking. Its no coincidence that after a period on top, Gregs came off and straightaway we lost any attacking threat at all.

It really is a shame Molly left cos he paired well with Sim and likewise could come off the bench and offer a threat.
Just have to see next year i guess.

Having seen the penalty replay, ok he play acted but it was a silly act and uneccessary. The ball was still in play and for that reason its a penalty.

I love Macca. I think he's a complete head case but superb. Its just a shame thats tarnished him a bit, cos as you say, he's easily a higher league player.

[AwayDayYeltz]

If Taylor and Rich Smith are the answer, then the wrong question is being asked.

As we look onto next season, if we're serious about challenging again, then they simply have to be shown the door. They're not the quality needed in order to win the league, or even compete in the play offs. We must sign better players to complement Sim and Greg's, should they stay.

As it stands, I'm not sure who will stay and who will go. I suspect it could be quite a busy summer.

Players I'd do all I can to keep are limited;

Platt
McCone (despite his superplex antics)
Kelly
Evo (I suspect he will leave).
Manning
Bunn
Holmes

Add Gregory, if you can guarantee fitness. The rest I wouldn't be saddened to see go, they're either not good enough, too inconsistent or go missing far too often.

Although the effort on Tuesday was outstanding, and nothing was left on the pitch, all too often the opposition have wanted it more, out fought us, and had more desire than us. Paul Smith must build a team of players that do the aforementioned better than the opponent every week, not just when it suits. This current squad has the ability, but not the desire over the course of the season, unfortunately.

A lot of work ahead.

[piearce9]

I guess the dust will need to settle and then it'll be a blank piece of paper as a new squad is drawn up.

Josh - I agree with your "hardcore" of players (would include Finn too, I think) although we'll have a job retaining some of them. A few have got the body language that they'll be off this summer and Bunn had kinda come back as a favour for the last few games.

It's good that Manning and Kelly both have options in their contracts for another year but I recall reading it's the players that have that option to extend and not the club? Manning goes under the radar a bit but would certainly cut it higher up the pyramid and showed his quality on Tuesday.

Just throwing this in the mix but I get the impression there are a handful of sub-groups in the dressing room, and I think if you lose one particular individual then you stand to lose a couple of his pals too. This mightn't be a bad thing though as I felt like there was a lack of cohesion in the team over these last few months.

[Westyeltz]

If Taylor and Rich Smith are the answer, then the wrong question is being asked.

As we look onto next season, if we're serious about challenging again, then they simply have to be shown the door. They're not the quality needed in order to win the league, or even compete in the play offs. We must sign better players to complement Sim and Greg's, should they stay.

As it stands, I'm not sure who will stay and who will go. I suspect it could be quite a busy summer.

Players I'd do all I can to keep are limited;

Platt
McCone (despite his superplex antics)
Kelly
Evo (I suspect he will leave).
Manning
Bunn
Holmes

Add Gregory, if you can guarantee fitness. The rest I wouldn't be saddened to see go, they're either not good enough, too inconsistent or go missing far too often.

Although the effort on Tuesday was outstanding, and nothing was left on the pitch, all too often the opposition have wanted it more, out fought us, and had more desire than us. Paul Smith must build a team of players that do the aforementioned better than the opponent every week, not just when it suits. This current squad has the ability, but not the desire over the course of the season, unfortunately.

A lot of work ahead.

That's it then?!! Maybe Paul Smith should make you his new Assistant Head Coach?

[VanessaYeltz]

Gotta disagree about Taylor to a degree. He offers nothing, is easily marked and is a yard off the pace. Ultimately he has one goal to his name, in Id guess two months without looking. Its no coincidence that after a period on top, Gregs came off and straightaway we lost any attacking threat at all.

It really is a shame Molly left cos he paired well with Sim and likewise could come off the bench and offer a threat.
Just have to see next year i guess.

Having seen the penalty replay, ok he play acted but it was a silly act and uneccessary. The ball was still in play and for that reason its a penalty.

I love Macca. I think he's a complete head case but superb. Its just a shame thats tarnished him a bit, cos as you say, he's easily a higher league player.

I was trying to be nice re Taylor, as he gives it all he physically can do so hard to knock him, but I agree. 5 goals a season absolute tops and pretty easy to mark out of the game for a half competent centre half - I’ve seen several games where he’s come on and not touched the ball once. He’s certainly not the quality required to come off the bench and change a game, let alone start in place of Greggs or Simmy.

[drummyb]

No I agree. He does give his all and seems a genuinely nice bloke. Ive said before I dont want to slate him, because he was bought in to cover when Sim got suspended. However, its all a part of the jigsaw that stopped promotion. Welcome by the way.

Sensible posters are always needed everywhere.

[VanessaYeltz]

No I agree. He does give his all and seems a genuinely nice bloke. Ive said before I dont want to slate him, because he was bought in to cover when Sim got suspended. However, its all a part of the jigsaw that stopped promotion. Welcome by the way.

Sensible posters are always needed everywhere.

Absolutely, games like Spalding and Sutton are where we missed out by not being able to freshen it up and get that all illusive goal - that’s what sees us staying where we are.

Cheers pal, been to the grove countless times over many years going back to Everan Wright etc but this season has seen me migrate from the hawthorns and my lad well and truly get the bug - whatever the result you’ll see that from my time at the Albion I’ll always give these lads credit for giving it everything- something missing up the road!

[drummyb]

If Taylor and Rich Smith are the answer, then the wrong question is being asked.

As we look onto next season, if we're serious about challenging again, then they simply have to be shown the door. They're not the quality needed in order to win the league, or even compete in the play offs. We must sign better players to complement Sim and Greg's, should they stay.

As it stands, I'm not sure who will stay and who will go. I suspect it could be quite a busy summer.

Players I'd do all I can to keep are limited;

Platt
McCone (despite his superplex antics)
Kelly
Evo (I suspect he will leave).
Manning
Bunn
Holmes

Add Gregory, if you can guarantee fitness. The rest I wouldn't be saddened to see go, they're either not good enough, too inconsistent or go missing far too often.

Although the effort on Tuesday was outstanding, and nothing was left on the pitch, all too often the opposition have wanted it more, out fought us, and had more desire than us. Paul Smith must build a team of players that do the aforementioned better than the opponent every week, not just when it suits. This current squad has the ability, but not the desire over the course of the season, unfortunately.

A lot of work ahead.

That's it then?!! Maybe Paul Smith should make you his new Assistant Head Coach?

But he does have a good point about a hard core of players...Id also add Finn, Greggs and Cobourne to that. Ali possibly, but I suspect he'll want first team football. Didnt really see enough of White to say, but everyone else raves about him.
Its not a lot really from the squad we have. I wholly beleive we need a settled consistent team, with subs who back them, rather than rotating due to the opposition.

Kelly is a very good player, likewise Evo. Evo hasnt been the player he can be since his knock and Kelly has looked shaky recently. I dunno if confidence went or not.

All I say in relation to the gaffer, re confidence, is that he truly backs his players up, when they are getting criticised. Im not sure, after poor games, bringing them to the Eddy to be moaned at helps, if I understand that correctly. Brilliant in one way for building relations, but not so good if confidence is low.

But its all about opinions.

If there are jobs going, can I be drinks bottle filler?