Guitar Ray

When did he tell you this?

As stated elsewhere, one of the key takeaways from the fans forum was that between now and the end of the window we’re only aiming to potentially sign 2 more young loans. This would be all well and good if we had a fully fit squad with strength in depth in all positions to which we were looking to augment by adding a bit of quality competition in some positions. This is obviously not the case as we were already weak in certain areas prior to the latest crop of injuries, with Uche added to the list yesterday, in addition to losing the 2 quality loans, Arblaster and Devine. To make matters worse we’re sitting just above the relegation zone with “games in hand” rather than points on the board. Each window should allow teams to strengthen but in our case we’re simply replacing the loan players we’ve lost and we’re back to square one in terms of having to get those players up to speed, we’re definitely not stronger. Additionally, we have no idea as to how soon the longer term injured players will be out for but what is fact is that they too will take time to get up to full speed. The club seem to be taking a real gamble here, calculated or not. The only positive I see in this overall policy right now isn’t the tie ups with the top clubs but the fact that we’re in the fortunate position of having a crop of youngsters capable of playing at this level, but even this is somewhat offset by their inconsistency. Bit of a ramble.

Butter and Golden Syrup still a big favourite in our house. 👍🏻

I think the majority of fans will accept a more patient approach if there’s some end product, which in my view there was earlier in the season, we just couldn’t finish in front of goal. Towards the back end of our winless spell it had all become slow, crab like passing. In fairness it’s up to the more advanced players to give the defenders some decent options when we’re playing out from the back and often our movement was poor. In the ideal world we’d be “up an at ‘em” without the ball and play a high tempo passing style when we have possession……if we have the players to do this.

Just to be clear, I’m not having a pop at you personally, I’m having a pop at what you say in this instance because I disagree with a lot of it and you saying that people were coming on here saying pretty much the same as me suggests you’re possibly in the minority, who knows? There’s no doubting our form tailed off and we got stuck in a rut of passing for the sake of it and everything being too slow but prior to that we played some lovely football. You could say Crosby is a yes man but ultimately he’s employed to do a job and there will be certain criteria he has to adhere to, like anyone employed in any job. If his employer tells him they want the team to play a certain way because the club want a certain identity as it’s all part of a plan then he’s got 2 choices. As far as Uche goes we’ve already seen that the club won’t stand in the way of any player if said player wanted to leave for any reason, and Charlton would certainly be an attractive proposition for a player in our league. All this could, and likely will, be asked at the forum.

Your memory is shot. Earlier in the season we were playing some great possession based football. That is a fact. Ok, towards the end of our barren run things had got too slow and turgid but even during that run we’d played well in games, we played great in the cups away at Mansfield and Burton for example. As I said, your stats are just nonsense because there are also games where we had low possession numbers which we lost. Crosbys hand was as much forced by the injuries to the squad along with players he had available rather than any desire to change the philosophy. Our recruitment will tell us what that philosophy will be going forward. Joe summed it up in an earlier post, it’s the way the “club” want to play rather than just Croz, he’s simply tasked with delivering that at first team level.

Your stats prove little. Look at the numbers for the wins v Cobblers or Wigan for example, both of which we won with loads of possession from memory. Equally there are plenty of games where the opposition had more possession than us and won. Tippy tappy football is fine, possession is fine, the only bit you’ve got right is the tempo. There has to be some zip no matter what style of football we wish to play.

Not where the stats are from simply what your point is.

Care to explain what you’re illustrating with these seemingly random stats?

No idea if, or why, he’s failed a medical but to be fair he’s finished the last few games a lot stronger. You only need to look at the guy to realise he’s not built for endurance, he’s all power and strength. You’re not going to see any distance runners built like Uche that’s for sure. If he’s puffing and blowing towards the end of a game then at least it tells you he’s putting the effort in, which he is, and most fans can see and appreciate that.

Uche came in on a short term deal to get himself fit and put himself in the shop window, so it’s hardly surprising that despite his lack of goals other clubs are interested. Vale have been pretty clear that they won’t stand in a players way if the player wishes to move so the chances are that he, or his agent, would be having the conversations with interested parties well before now. He’s looked fitter and better with each game and has been a vital part to our recent change in style. One look at his record will tell anyone he’s unlikely to become a goal machine but his other attributes make him a real asset and a good option even if only from the bench.

Best of luck to the guy. He’ll need it.

Were there any decent transfer rumours doing the rounds in the pubs or around the ground yesterday? I heard nowt.

….I’ll also add that our January recruitment must include more of the current squad….also someone needs to start the fund for the Ben Garrity statue…..

Wilson is absolute quality, miles above this level. It’s always been a case of if the deal is right then it’s a no brainer.

Maybe not the best thought to have in my mind at tea time….

Another stick for some to beat Flickers, Crosby and Carol with no doubt.

Correct. The same can be said for all of the young players, Arblaster excepted, and he’s struggled at times. To become regular starters on merit the likes of Devine, Thomas and our own youngsters have to show far more consistency throughout a game and then repeat that week in week out. This will only come by playing and the likes of Walter’s may get more minutes with us than he would another club at this level. Like you say he’s a great prospects at the moment rather than anywhere near the finished article.

I tend to agree with this but in all fairness he’s looked terrible bar the odd flash. Someone mentioned his fitness, lack of, and they may have a point. Pretty sure he hadn’t played much latterly at BR. Ultimately you can only go on what you see on the pitch so it’s up to Loft to prove the doubters wrong.

Totally agree. From what I’ve seen of Devine I wouldn’t have him as a starter, either Chizz or Plant all day long for me.

Interesting what Croz said in his latest interview about the number of games to be played before “2nd of January” plus there was also some reference to the level of competition because of numbers. Make of this what you will. Obviously we’ll have some players returning from injury between now and then, 3 to 4 before the cup game I think he said, but maybe he’s also thinking that we’ll be making additions early in the next window. Who knows? Also, possibly this has been mentioned elsewhere, but Rhys Walter’s contract is being discussed currently with the player, his agent & his family.

If he was so special we’d offer him a longer contract. However he is obviously good enough to warrant a longer look. There’s a chance we could lose Arblaster and/or Devine in January which would dent the numbers a bit if it happened.

Really? The rumoured move in the summer was to a club far closer to home as I remember but I guess Cheltenham isn’t an extreme distance. Maybe he’d prefer to stay relatively close to his family and local soccer academy if the option of a midlands or north west club was available. Anyhow he’s gone nowhere yet and circumstances could still see him here til summer. Stranger things have happened.

Are Conlon and Wilson likely to move that far? No idea about Massey.

Yes, so sloooowwwwww. It’s taken over a minute to log in before replying to this topic.