Who to sign for next season?

[Mellor!]

I suppose Crookes has only had coming up to 2 and a half seasons. Early days. 

[Fosse69]

I suppose Crookes has only had coming up to 2 and a half seasons. Early days. 

Different managers need players with different skills, some players are in the wrong place. It appears that DC maybe finding some of what he needs under his nose, then again he may look for someone different. An interesting Summer.

[Joe B]

Crookes has been here over 2 years and is the 3rd best left back in the club.

He wouldn't get anywhere near any good team in this division, which is what we're aiming to be next year. 

[LancyTony]

21 hours ago, Valiant62 said:

Superb post, that. We often make definitive decisions on far to little evidence and with far to little patience. Form, confidence, interactions with coaches, none of that stuff is fixed and I think Crookes is starting to show there’s a player in there. Anyone remember Pope in the early days?

We do - and the ex-players being talked about, now, because they've gone on to another club and are doing much better than we thought they would, in the 5 minutes we gave them, might just be proof we are too hasty? And, don't get me wrong - I've been as hasty as a lot of others. Now we have a more professional set-up, maybe we will take a little time to properly assess young(er) players? I'll be interested to see whether DC gets anything out of Harry McKirdy, now he's been re-registered?  

[LancyTony]

9 hours ago, Joe B said:

Crookes has been here over 2 years and is the 3rd best left back in the club.

He wouldn't get anywhere near any good team in this division, which is what we're aiming to be next year. 

He may have been here 2 years, but he has been played out of position, and in a defence lacking in confidence, and has only played 49 games in those 2 seasons, having been on loan at Lincoln, where he didn't play at all.  Nobody could have predicted the improvement in his play, so something has finally clicked with him at this club. My argument would be do you really want to get rid of a young player, who is finally getting some credit for his performances, in favour of bringing in another young player who might turn out to be no better? 

[LancyTony]

21 hours ago, philmpv said:

You're absolutely right that a lot of fans give players no time at all. The most stark and ridiculous example I've seen is actually someone who posted on here referring to a player (I forget who) who made a 4-5 minute cameo at the end of a game (I believe his only game time for us), and the person concluded that the player was awful!

Was it Nathan Ferguson? I do remember it being a recent post, and a perfect example of the desire to get rid, quickly, of players we take an instant dislike to! 

[valefan79]

32 minutes ago, LancyTony said:

He may have been here 2 years, but he has been played out of position, and in a defence lacking in confidence, and has only played 49 games in those 2 seasons, having been on loan at Lincoln, where he didn't play at all.  Nobody could have predicted the improvement in his play, so something has finally clicked with him at this club. My argument would be do you really want to get rid of a young player, who is finally getting some credit for his performances, in favour of bringing in another young player who might turn out to be no better? 

There is a reason he has only played 49 games and that is because he is not good enough, I still don't know what his ideal position is, at left back his distributon is poor and he doesnt get forward enough, centre half he is too lightweight.  I trust this management set up that we now have in place to not be so lazy as with Askey and to sign better quality players than Crookes.  If we want to improve and try and get out of this league at the right end, we need better players than Crookes.

[dishydave]

Crookes can't pass a ball and has cost us goals and points all whilst playing a lot better than before. We seem to be winning again since he's been out injured

[jjvale_03]

On 30/03/2021 at 10:04, Joe B said:

For all of our grumbles about the forwards,our main issue is that we've conceded the 4th most in the league.

Things have drastically improved under Clarke but the entire backline warrants questions being asked about; can the likes of Brown, Legge, Smith, and Joyce really be regular starters next year with such an abysmal record?

I understand it's a team effort, defending, and our pressing has been much less effective this season, but the aforementioned quartet will be on good money and have significantly underperformed.

I think primary focus should be on sorting the backline out.

You're spot on Joe. No time for sentiment in the summer. Legge has been much improved under Clarke but we really shouldn't be giving new contracts to players who are clearly on the decline and will be 36 years old by the start of next season. In any case, I never really get the sentiment for Legge. We've been dross for 80% of the time he's been here. Hardly cult hero status stuff. 

Same for Scott Brown and Luke Joyce, albeit Joyce is a couple of years younger (still 34 at the start of next season). Time stands still for no man and these players are very much replaceable. 

 

[jjvale_03]

On 23/03/2021 at 14:30, glenpvfc said:

I think Callum Guys contract is up at Carlisle, CM/DM, 9 assists which is only bettered by Wozza this season and a good age at 24. 

Really liked him when he was here and was a young man playing in a really poor side under really poor management.

Would be an excellent replacement for Joyce.

[LancyTony]

19 minutes ago, valefan79 said:

There is a reason he has only played 49 games and that is because he is not good enough, I still don't know what his ideal position is, at left back his distributon is poor and he doesnt get forward enough, centre half he is too lightweight.  I trust this management set up that we now have in place to not be so lazy as with Askey and to sign better quality players than Crookes.  If we want to improve and try and get out of this league at the right end, we need better players than Crookes.

We'll agree to differ.

[valefan79]

56 minutes ago, LancyTony said:

Was it Nathan Ferguson? I do remember it being a recent post, and a perfect example of the desire to get rid, quickly, of players we take an instant dislike to! 

How can you compare someone who has played 50 games to someone who played one game against Derby Under 23's.  We have seen what Crookes can do and he is not good enough if we want to progress and move on.  Next year for most teams there will be reduced squads and we can't have these places taken by poor players, for me Monty would be my back up for the left back spot with a specialist first choice left back signed as a priority.

[LancyTony]

Just now, valefan79 said:

How can you compare someone who has played 50 games to someone who played one game against Derby Under 23's.  We have seen what Crookes can do and he is not good enough if we want to progress and move on.  Next year for most teams there will be reduced squads and we can't have these places taken by poor players, for me Monty would be my back up for the left back spot with a specialist first choice left back signed as a priority.

You do realise that "We'll agree to disagree" means we're too far apart to do anything but argue on this?

[Joe B]

31 minutes ago, jjvale_03 said:

Really liked him when he was here and was a young man playing in a really poor side under really poor management.

Would be an excellent replacement for Joyce.

Guy is the darling of the lower league analytics community at present, so expect Peterborough/Forest Green to get him.

[Mario]

I'm leaving all transfer dealings to DC and Flitters they have the inside track on current playing staff and all those he might want to sign or release.