Question Where will the improvement come from?

[Yorkshire Blue]

Collin - just turned 21. 66 league games under his belt. Prime candidate to improve and learn from mistakes as gains more experience
Gus - 27 years old. Closing in on 100 games for us as a full-time pro at this level. Can’t see much room for improvement here.
Taylor - 27 years old. Over 200 games at this level, playing the best football of his career - can’t see another level to untap here
Crowther 23 years old. Just 16 starts at this level. Still adjusting to this level. Plenty more potential to untap
Gubbins 23 years old. 50 appearances at this level or higher. Still settling into the side. Seems to be potentially more to unlock
Ralph 31. Vastly experienced. Potential regression candidate particularly if injury hits although he may have more longevity at LCB than LWB
Bridge - turns 29 this week. Has likely peaked
Miley - 29. Currently injured. Has likely peaked.
Appiah-Forson - turns 23 soon, had a good loan spell in the division last year. Big breakout candidate.
Husin - 27. Just notched up 100th appearance for us. Has likely peaked
Morton 25. With still getting up to speed with this level. Has potential to grow.
Coker 21 - currently injured but only 28 starts at this level so big candidate to develop
Moncur - 31. Fitness an issue but whatever scope there is for improved performance with improved fitness is tempered by reports that this has always been an issue. This is probably what we’re going to get
Bonne - turns 29 next month. Clearly not currently fit so presumably there’s more to come if he can get himself fitter but career wise is on the way down
Walker - currently injured. Turns 27 this year. Has likely career peaked although we’re really yet to see what he can do in a Southend shirt.
Waldron - 28 and currently injured. Only 19 appearances at this level so maybe there is some room for growth but this seems optimistic
Pepple - 21. Young and inexperienced. Suspect this is a year too soon for him to take a lead role and should be more of a squad player. Only a loanee so we’re unlikely to see the benefit of the growing pains

Wild cards - George Wind 22 next month- yet to show he can he play at this level. He could be good
Jack Wood (21?) - hasn’t established himself yet

This squad is really lacking in the sweet spot of established first team players who are still improving as players. All those players Maher signed to lower the age profile of the squad have basically peaked without there being another wave of players behind them to supplement them. Maybe Crowther, Gubbins, Morton and KAF can be that next wave and step up but none of them have nailed down a starting position yet.

 

[onceknownasrab]

The majority of the squad has a good few years left in their legs and I believe a good smattering of the players could do the job in lg 2. It's an evolving team and over the next few years the coming and goings will be plentiful. If we were fortunate enough to win the playoffs this season or next, I feel confident we have the nucleus of a side to step up a level. Some of squad need the opportunity to prove and express themselves.

 

[Strykr]

bar Gus, lets hope they can all improve their shooting....

 

[edwardss2]

I think the positive is that this league is pretty poor, and if we can gel as a team (and start scoring some goals) and good run can easily put us in the play-offs. It is going to be tough if none of our strikers can score though.

 

[leeblue]

Things will improve.
When injured players return, you can't tell me walker wouldn't be gobbling up these sitters Pepple and Bonne have missed lately.
Cav breaking up the opposition play.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

I think the positive is that this league is pretty poor, and if we can gel as a team (and start scoring some goals) and good run can easily put us in the play-offs. It is going to be tough if none of our strikers can score though.

You only have to finish 7th in this League to make the playoffs which means you’re only ever a good run away from it.

My concern is that we’re unexpectedly in the middle of a rebuild yet it looks a lot like a squad should be better placed to win this season than next season.

If Butcher signs that will be three out of the last four signings who are in the decline stage of their career, whilst the majority of the existing squad seemed to have peaked.

There seems to be little budget wriggle room but most of the squad is locked into multi year contracts so that doesn’t look like improving any time soon. The only players that aren’t are Ralph, Bridge, Waldron, Bonne (plus Moncur and Pepple are loanees).