SUFC: The Future Next season

[The Original Tribal Chief]

Starting the season under an embargo, missing out on key targets like Pearce due to that, losing Cardwell due to a release clause we had to put in in order to not lose him for free, losing a young EFL quality defender in Kensdale for free out of the blue having done all the hard work in developing him, picking out a striker with a rubbish scoring record who somehow clicks here then gets recalled, all whilst having a roughly 7th in the league wage bill, to finish 7th after the 3rd best run of form in the second half of the season, to then beat two teams away with far higher wage bills and come 10 minutes off from doing it again in the final.

Yeah, I think I'm with you that we should've done far better this season.

We're all aware we're too big for this division and are ****ed off we're in this situation, sadly there are no magic buttons.

Do let us know if you've got any practical suggestions though.

Practical suggestions? New management team, new recruitment team, about a dozen new players. How's that?

 

[fredheim_holm]

Practical suggestions? New management team, new recruitment team, about a dozen new players. How's that?

New recruitment team? Who do you suggest to replace John Still & co with?

At this rate you’ll be wanting new owners in a few months.

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

New recruitment team? Who do you suggest to replace John Still & co with?

At this rate you’ll be wanting new owners in a few months.

There seem to be quite a few scouts with a better hit rate than Still & Co. We are a big club for this level - go and tap up whoever recruited Barnet's team.

 

[stewart]

We need

A solid goalie. Hayes to depart. Colin as back up
A younger faster smarter central defender or 2 eg Golding
Back up for Ralph / Taylor if current squad members don't stay ie crowther gubbins
1-2 left wingers aka Gus style
1-2 central mid / attack mid
3 forwards - 2 big guys and a pacy skillful striker

Ie almost a like for like remove and add / improve

Ideal world :

To go 12
Bridge
Goodlife
Hayes
Miley
Coker
Hopper
Kendall
Bonne
Crowther
Gubbins
Wood
Waldron

Keep 9
Colin
Taylor
Ralph
Husin
Gus
Wind
Parillion
Morton
Appiah forson

And keep kids

I would keep both Coker and Kendalland you can be sure Miley and Hopper will still be here also Walker didnt get a mention. Myself i would let Collin go too ,hes made off cardboard touch him and he gets injured . but maybe keep him as a # 2 and pray he dont injure himseld on the training track or at home .

 

[stewart]

We have some very good players at this level - Collin if he can stay fit is fine, some back up will be good as Hayes is a lemon. Gus, Ralph, Taylor - Wind is a solid option. Bridge, Gubbins, Crowther can all float off - yesterday made my mind up on Goodliffe, he runs like the tin man and is too clumbsy despite what he brings in the opposition box - don't want him.

Midfield - Appiah Forson, Parillon need to have someone who has played in the leagues above who can dictate play - Husin and Cav are not that player. Morton is fine as a squad player

Forwards - Kendall is the only one I would keep, understand we will still be lumbered with Hopper & Walker - both have been truly awful signings. Bye Bonne

So, another keeper, two centre backs, two centre mids and at least one forward

you never mentioned Coker who i would keep

 

[* ORM *]

Practical suggestions? New management team, new recruitment team, about a dozen new players. How's that?

I needed a good laugh and you’ve just given me one. Whatever meds you are on you need to up the dose or change them.

 

[* ORM *]

Practical suggestions? New management team, new recruitment team, about a dozen new players. How's that?

Let me qualify my previous reply. Results since January don’t suggest to me that there is anything wrong with management or recruitment. I’d even go so far as to say that Hopper was a key signing.

As to next season.

GK - need a new number 1 for which Collin to be an understudy. Collin has the makings of a great keeper. As for Hayes he had frailties but again I’m not convinced we’d have made the play offs without. We need to be more ambitious though.

Defence. Not too much wrong with any of our CB choices but we need a rock solid and permanent contract leader.

WBs - Whether GSM goes or not I think we can do better. His goals this season have (rightly) overshadowed his defensive frailties which were there for all to see on Sunday. He is just not going to be so prolific ever again. I still think Bridge has much to offer but again a new LWB unless someone like Coker can make it his own.

Midfield - KAF and Parillon are going to be our creative force next season. I’d still like to see us strengthen the midfield.

Forwards - Hopper, Kendall plus new blood. I think Walker will score goals for any other club but we can’t afford the luxury of him or Bonne. However if either or both of them stay they have much use as impact subs. We haven’t had an out an out striker/fox in the box for far two long. Cards wasn’t prolific before he joined us and won’t be going forward. This is one area where I wouldn’t mind seeing physical cash splashed out on a proven name.

Just to restate my thoughts on Hopper. Yep, another one who had a poor final, not helped by the referee, but also he let that get to him as a seasoned pro. On game and he is an intelligent player. Reminds me a bit of Donut without the red mist. Get that 18-20 goal striker in and I think Hopper will pair up well.

I don’t expect people will agree but I do expect qualified argument for or against.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Don’t think so. He’s inconsistent and aggressive. But I’ll give you he’s not had time to recover from injury. His sloppy tackles give me as much anxiety as Colin’s distribution.

Your bio says you've "started liking football by mistake", so I'm presuming that's quite recent. I'd urge you to go back and look at some videos of some of our previous DCMs, Alan McCormack and Michael Timlin in particular, and see how often they picked up cards. It comes with the job role.

Cav is an excellent player who has suffered with bad handling of his injuries which affected him at the end of last season and through this. He just needs to get back fully fit.

 

[It'sGrimUpNorth]

Let me qualify my previous reply. Results since January don’t suggest to me that there is anything wrong with management or recruitment. I’d even go so far as to say that Hopper was a key signing.

As to next season.

GK - need a new number 1 for which Collin to be an understudy. Collin has the makings of a great keeper. As for Hayes he had frailties but again I’m not convinced we’d have made the play offs without. We need to be more ambitious though.

Defence. Not too much wrong with any of our CB choices but we need a rock solid and permanent contract leader.

WBs - Whether GSM goes or not I think we can do better. His goals this season have (rightly) overshadowed his defensive frailties which were there for all to see on Sunday. He is just not going to be so prolific ever again. I still think Bridge has much to offer but again a new LWB unless someone like Coker can make it his own.

Midfield - KAF and Parillon are going to be our creative force next season. I’d still like to see us strengthen the midfield.

Forwards - Hopper, Kendall plus new blood. I think Walker will score goals for any other club but we can’t afford the luxury of him or Bonne. However if either or both of them stay they have much use as impact subs. We haven’t had an out an out striker/fox in the box for far two long. Cards wasn’t prolific before he joined us and won’t be going forward. This is one area where I wouldn’t mind seeing physical cash splashed out on a proven name.

Just to restate my thoughts on Hopper. Yep, another one who had a poor final, not helped by the referee, but also he let that get to him as a seasoned pro. On game and he is an intelligent player. Reminds me a bit of Donut without the red mist. Get that 18-20 goal striker in and I think Hopper will pair up well.

I don’t expect people will agree but I do expect qualified argument for or against.

I agree. Mostly. I think Bonne is worth keeping. He has been doing so much work lately.

Not a fan of Hayes or Walker, that’s for sure.

 

[Southend Elvis]

Don’t think so. He’s inconsistent and aggressive. But I’ll give you he’s not had time to recover from injury. His sloppy tackles give me as much anxiety as Colin’s distribution.

He was always liable to get booked, but it seems his injury lay off has slowed him down, thus tackles late. I did say to my son before the final he would get booked 1st, that bet he won.
Kev should have removed him at half time as he stopped tackling..

 

[geoffmundo]

Practical suggestions? New management team, new recruitment team, about a dozen new players. How's that?

You seem to be ignoring the fact that we are still losing upwards of £2m a year. With your magic wand who would (realistically) be in your Management team? Who would be your number 1 target, presumably a Manager out of work (Phil Brown?). 12 new players so a huge squad (assuming new Manager can’t offload all the unwanted contracted players). With all your ‘suggestions’ up to what increase in annual losses would you be happy to accept….?

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

7th wasn’t good enough…but it was a start. We should be looking at pushing on now and getting out of this league. We need to hit the ground running and get some new faces in that improve the squad and inject both flair and solidity. I believe we’re in good hands. Nobody can hide next season. No excuses.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I would go for loans than permanent signings it never done Oldham no harm

They would have if they were recalled like Bim was.

 

[Ian Benjamin]

We need

A solid goalie. Hayes to depart. Colin as back up
A younger faster smarter central defender or 2 eg Golding
Back up for Ralph / Taylor if current squad members don't stay ie crowther gubbins
1-2 left wingers aka Gus style
1-2 central mid / attack mid
3 forwards - 2 big guys and a pacy skillful striker

Ie almost a like for like remove and add / improve

Ideal world :

To go 12
Bridge
Goodlife
Hayes
Miley
Coker
Hopper
Kendall
Bonne
Crowther
Gubbins
Wood
Waldron

Keep 9
Colin
Taylor
Ralph
Husin
Gus
Wind
Parillion
Morton
Appiah forson

And keep kids

That looks about right to me. Wholesale changes needed.
Can see Keenan being a very in demand player, we will do well to keep him.

 

[SeldomSeenShrimper]

Seen alot of comments about a change of captain ... What are you basing this off of?

A club captain is someone who can lead 7 days a week 24-7. Not just for 90 minutes.

Ralph is a great club captain and suggestions of Gus or Taylor make absolutely no sense at all. Neither have shown leadership qualities imo.

Great Characters for sure, but not leaders.

Gus is our beloved ****house and he'd be a walking red card if he was captain. Not to mention he switches off when we concede a goal ... Too passionate to be captain, he's better suited as a fan favourite.

 

[EdgwareShrimp]

You may well be right but it seems to me that Brennan was very decisive and ruthless when making those signings and releases after last year's playoffs, I just can't see kevs recruitment being any different ie a bit hit and miss and also hopeful , ps good luck next season

You are right. Immediately after the 4-0 drubbing by Solihull Moors, he said next Season starts right now, we don't have the BIG game players. He sorted that one out. One ruthless thing Brennan did half way through last season, was get rid of Nick Hayes.. He didn't command the area, his kicking was poor and it was heart in mouth time everytime he tried to play out from the back. Owen Evans came in and the rest is history.

 

[Grayson]

Don’t think so. He’s inconsistent and aggressive. But I’ll give you he’s not had time to recover from injury. His sloppy tackles give me as much anxiety as Colin’s distribution.

A second wrong take used to enforce the first one. Judge.

 

[kentblues]

There seem to be quite a few scouts with a better hit rate than Still & Co. We are a big club for this level - go and tap up whoever recruited Barnet's team.

Be tough to repeat without Barnet’s budget.
Rip it up and start again, get rid of a number of players under contract, bring in new management team, payoff players and management…new manager will come in, listen to expectations, see we are the biggest supported club in the league and “say of course I will have the biggest budget?”….. “oh well no, maybe 6th or 7th, and we are starting again, but automatic promotion is the goal, yes we realise that means finishing top…”. What could possibly go wrong?

I think I’ll stick with what we have and build one step on..

All about opinions of course

 

[Microbe]

This shows our 2 main problems that need fixing for next season.

Not enough goals scored, apart from Gus & Bim, 3 or 5 each from our strikers is noway near enough
So few pens awarded and scored. 4 across the whole season??
OG also underperformed too

Obvious we need more efficient strikers but not sure what we can do about getting more pens awarded?

 

[Shrimper]

View attachment 37352

This shows our 2 main problems that need fixing for next season.

Not enough goals scored, apart from Gus & Bim, 3 or 5 each from our strikers is noway near enough
So few pens awarded and scored. 4 across the whole season??
OG also underperformed too

Obvious we need more efficient strikers but not sure what we can do about getting more pens awarded?

We also need to be having winning streaks of more than 2 games in a row if we want to challenge