The season ahead

[@mwooly63]

whether TAH and JMac are likely to be fit at least in say October.

Both were reported back in light training with the team end of last week so hopefully
Having TAH back will be like a new signing

[Flashheart]

If the squad and manager are shit enough we will go down. If they are good enough we will go up and if they are average, we will be mid-table.

What do I win?

[Reg Smeeton]

If the squad and manager are shit enough we will go down. If they are good enough we will go up and if they are average, we will be mid-table.

What do I win?

What happens if the manager, squad and Board change mid season again?

[Flashheart]

What happens if the manager, squad and Board change mid season again?

Then our fortunes may get worse, or they may improve!

[Only Me]

Badly worded maybe.  What I was trying to say is that the closer we get to the start of the season, the more remote the possibility of another club coming in for Caddis becomes.  We're not the only club out there (far from it, in fact) that is tightening its belt and placing a greater reliance on youth...which comes a lot cheaper, obviously.  And one consequence of that is that the market for proven players such as Ferry and Caddis takes a bit of a knock.  You never know...we might just be the best offer that PC has to consider.

Don't worry. Some of us understood what you meant.

[Honkytonk]

Don't worry. Some of us understood what you meant.

I did too, I was just being an arse.

[Benzel]

We'll get off to a wobbly start and the moaners will be on the young kids backs, immediately crushing their confidence and any hope of turning it around.

I'm cautiously optimistic, keeping Ward and Caddis/replacing them with equally experienced players is the key at this time.

[horlock07]

We'll get off to a wobbly start and the moaners will be on the young kids backs, immediately crushing their confidence and any hope of turning it around.

I'm cautiously optimistic, keeping Ward and Caddis/replacing them with equally experienced players is the key at this time.

Lets be honest with many of our supporters even if we get off to a fantastic start the moaners will be on the young kids backs, immediately crushing their confidence and any hope of turning it around.

[Cibocchi_Is_God]

I reckon' we'll have a similar season to the one under Wilson a few years back.. An average start with too many draws, then we'll explode into life over Christmas with a few shrewd loan signings before tailing off again at the end of the season (but still making the playoffs)

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

We won't be in the promotion picture. Mid table.

[leftside]

Based on the squad we have now, lower mid.

If we lose some more experienced players, ward in particular, then I see a relegation battle looming.

Same for me

[Lemis]

I think we'll finish 12th with a poor start a strong middle and a weak finish in the season

[DV]

I have been pleasantly surprised by the off field goings on, seems the board now have a handle on things and know where they want to go and they have a path to get there. The Business Presentation/Q&A thing seemed to go very well.

One thing I didnt get from I think it was Si Pies paraphrasing was that our wage bill was still too hight but there were funds available or something like that - what are those funds for, to make up the short fall? a just in case back up fund - or a 'if we're doing well in January' fund - maybe I miss interoperated the point.

As for one the pitch, ok - so we all know we had to cut back and go in a slightly different direction and getting youngsters from Spurs is a decent way to go, however it leaves us with a squad which is a very unknown quantity. However, I personally think the vital part of our squad is the experienced players the on and off pitch leaders to help these young players. Currently Darren Ward is still here which is fantastic news considering it looked like he was on his way. The type of centre half that brings the best out of his partner whose value to the team is worth more than any transfer fee we'd receive for him (see G.Greer)

Ward isnt going to be able to play 'daddy' to everyone all game, every game. After him we have McEveley and Navarro who have both suffered alot with injuries over the last few years. Would definitely help is they stay fit plus Navarro would add experience to the midfield and works pretty well as the holding player in a 5 man midfield, if we go with this formation - although I think his legs are gone.

After those 3 its alot of young players. Bedwell, Oakley, Ferguson, Walden, Jackson, Francis, Jones, Barthram, Hall, Pritchard, Smith, Reis - never seen any of them play and certainly the ones who have come through our youth ranks have never been hyped up or talked about as potential first team players.

In truth I think we will really feel the losses of Devera, Flint, McCormack and Ferry - as we havent replaced them like for like.

I dont see anyone (at the moment, again alot of our players are unknown quantities) with the technical ability of Ferry to control the game, no one with the driven and determination of McCormack. Whilst we've signed a big tall young centre back in Hall, he doesnt have the same experience Flint and Devera had.

Of course there is a chance our young players could be brilliant but in truth - I think our squad is weaker than it was last season so cant see a promotion charge as a possibility at all. We've got the best keeper in the division, two very reliable defenders in Ward and Thompson, a completely unknown midfield, goals in Collins and goals in a confident(!) Williams.

I think we will struggle at times due to the youth and inexperience in the squad. At times their heads will drop. There is also the possibility that because we have alot of loan players, they wont give a shit either way.

I dont think we'll be in trouble of relegation but dont think we will crack the top half. If I had to call it now I'd say 14th.

However, this is still time for ins and outs (I've not mentioned Caddis, Rooney or Benson because I expect them to go or if not, be sat in the stands) I would feel alot more positive if we bought in a very McCormack like player to go in alongside Luongo in midfield.

I also never really rated Byrne when I saw him to be honest, clearly not a left back and thought he was very weak defensively at right back. Dont think he cracks out starting 11 - if everyone was/is fit and able.

Foderingham

Thompson
Ward
TAH
McEveley

Reis
Luongo
Navarro
Pritchard

Collins
Williams

[ronnie21]

One thing I didnt get from I think it was Si Pies paraphrasing was that our wage bill was still too hight but there were funds available or something like that - what are those funds for, to make up the short fall? a just in case back up fund - or a 'if we're doing well in January' fund - maybe I miss interoperated the point

If I have remembered it correctly a question was asked on the wage bill, and the answer was that the budget was £2.4m but the current projection as it stands was £2.9m.  When pushed further on it, Steve Murrall stated that the lower figure was the ideal budget figure and this was based on gates of 7.5k, he also stated that if it did come in at the higher figure for the season there would be a contingency to meet it comfortably.  Also stated that at the higher figure we are just under the FL 60% rule so it stands to reason that until the wage bill is brought down further there will not be many more incomers before some outgoers - although anybody prepared to loan us player(s) and pick up their wages will not dent our budgets.

[ronnie21]

Thinking about my answer above, I just wonder whether the Byrne fee to Spurs is really a fee not only for him but the loan fees for the other loanees.