A Year Today

[mistertonmick]

since that awful performance against Grimsby and the end of watching the Iron live, I hope when we are allowed back the Chairman realises he has to work very hard to get supporters back to the Sands Siro so we need a new positive attitude from him and also the football starved supporters.

but does it seem a year to you.

[Northumbiron]

Three years ago today we were in the middle of a run of 10 games without a win and Graham Alexander had only a fortnight left before he was sacked.

So to go from that to the abject performance against Grimsby in two years was certainly some achievement.

Unfortunately that will be what fans remember once the gates reopen.

Cox and the players seem to have finally started to do their bit, and some canny work in the summer transfer window (particularly in the striking department) may help.

Turning out in a proper football strip would be good, but that doesn’t look likely!

[DarrynStampGoalMachine]

Next season worries me more to be fair.

We’ve done ok this season in the end but we are likely going to lose Gillead, Eisa, McGahey, & Karacan. Also possibly Kev.

What are the chances of us signing players anywhere near as good as that?

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lesgeo

[Iron-awe]

All points about those players and a few more I made the other week DSGM and you are spot on, it will be more young pretenders lacking experience but raring to go, however we have improved since Xmas because despite players like Loft beginning to find his feet, the older heads have regained fitness and joined the fight. We can’t expect a lack experience next season to be our only way forward, we need a few old heads to show them the way. That’s how not only football works but life in general.

1 user thanked author for this post.

lesgeo

[cassidystash]

Our chances next season could and should depend on the next couple of months IMO.
Who do we want to keep?
Who can we afford to keep?
Who wants to stay?
If we see a few new contracts sorted before seasons end then the signs are excellent, but who?
Howard – not everybody’s choice but solid at this level
Rowe – improving and looks the part
Karacan – would be a statement of intent
Gilliead – as above
We know Eisa has said he won’t be staying but what about McGahey and KVV. Both looking a bit injury prone lately and likely on top money so they might be tough decisions.
Come on Mr Chairman, show us you still mean business.

[DarrynStampGoalMachine]

cassidystash wrote:

Who wants to stay?

That one will be the key and I worry the answer will be not many.

Even if we are offering to over pay which we won’t (and shouldn’t)

Gillead walks into a league one squad with ease.

McGaheys injury history may hurt him but I would imagine he will think he can do better.

Eisa is going

Karacan I would expect to do better than league 2 with what we’ve seen. Certainly a higher end league 2 club will be interested and probably several with more appealing locations.

We’re not totally screwed Rowe, Taft, Onarise, O’Malley, Beestin, Spence and Loft is a good start.

But we need to have learned from this seasons awful close season attempt that trying to go too cheap leaves you with too many of those shit players who aren’t going to make an impact and lead to you still having to sign more to cover the mistakes.

If we keep Howard great if not sign a keeper and learn from what you tried to do last year.

And desperately try to ship some dead wood.

[Cliff Byrne’s Right Peg]

DarrynStampGoalMachine wrote:

cassidystash wrote:

Who wants to stay?

That one will be the key and I worry the answer will be not many.

I’d be surprised if many players expect to, or find, offers from higher placed clubs this summer. Who knows what the post covid age will bring but surely with most clubs hanging on financially by a thread, wages will stagnate or even reduce aswell as squads being trimmed.

If we can have this core of players secured by the June I’d be more than happy:

Howard
Taft
Mcghaey
Onarisie
Rowe
O’Malley
Spence
Beestin
Karacan
Gillead
Loft
Van Veen
Green

As alluded too, we need to think carefully about future signings and kick the habit of warehousing players.

[Ferrite]

It’ll be really interesting in the summer. With the salary cap no longer in effect, we can spend a bit more, if we want to. Or will Austerity Iron continue? To be honest, given the way the whole league has had to struggle through this year, it will be tough to see much investment in playing squads for the foreseeable future.

For me, the biggest barometer for next season will be whether KVV is offered a new deal.

[alcazar]

My biggest worry is the Prawn.
Went with youth and little experience, and it’s got us safe so far.
If we do lose some of the older heads, will he do the same again, and will it work for the second time with less experienced players available?

My bet is yes…and no…in that order.

[cassidystash]

I think we’ll be starting with a better base than this season. Taft is a good, experienced CB and Rowe, Onariase and O’Malley will all have more L2 minutes. Beestin has L1 games under his belt and Spence a full season in L2.
Green and Hippolyte have shown (sometimes) that they have something to offer and could step up to L2 level. Not sure that Jarvis is good enough and we’ve seen nothing of Mooney and KDT but clearly Loft is a major plus. I think all but Rowe are contracted for next season and it seems that, finally, those at the top have realised that Watson is not the answer. So a few (3?) quality signings, a couple of *loans* and a couple of youngsters/NLers to fill the gaps and improve some areas rather than loads of hopefuls who won’t get near the matchday squad and we’d look decent.
* Proper loans not like the dross we ended up with this season.

[Ferrite]

I think those are good points Cass, a big difference from the huge number of new players last summer. That said, would we expect some of the more established players to be sold or to leave for free? I really can’t see Eisa staying, Jordan Clarke might call it a day, KVV could go, Loft might attract some offers, same with McGahey.

[Author]

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