The Squad List (2024/25 Edition)

[Nemo]

Heard it's definitely an ACL for Smith. Could be the last we see of him unfortunately. Hope he recovers and is back stronger, of course.

You can really see why footballers always take the money, the guy has gone from a £300k bid and presumably an equivalent big contract to long term injured and out of contract in the space of a few days. Absolutely brutal for him, hopefully the insurance helps a bit.

[Batch]

I think we all accept it’s a shit way to recruit but the fact is that the way the squad has been built and style it plays is Smith or bust. Asking a lot to reinvent the style this late in the day, would also need multiple new recruits and is there budget for that?

Got to hope that the players we have can do it.

I know we have mostly lumped it so far, but we haven't seen it they can do it another way yet.

[Berniman]

Horrendous news. Feel for Smith.

However, we need to snap out of this mentality that it's Smith or bust for the season

To be relying on a 30 year old journeyman Centre Forward and pinning our entire hopes on him. I'm a massive fan of Smith but this isn't a sustainable way to build a team. He's not Messi for fuck sake.

This indicates a problem with recruitment.

TBF, it's Holloway that put all his eggs in the Smith basket, not the fans - many fans thought that they should take the money on offer for Smith given the number and his age/contract situation - Hence the "what do the fans know?" hoohah..  The squad is built reliant on key personel, Smith/Clarke/Wright/Ripley - any of those 4 go down and we are facing an upwards battle, and that is on the club > Holloway to address..

[Pericardinho]

TBF, it's Holloway that put all his eggs in the Smith basket, not the fans - many fans thought that they should take the money on offer for Smith given the number and his age/contract situation - Hence the "what do the fans know?" hoohah..  The squad is built reliant on key personel, Smith/Clarke/Wright/Ripley - any of those 4 go down and we are facing an upwards battle, and that is on the club > Holloway to address..

When I say 'we' I was mainly referring to the club mate.

FWIW I'd have sold him as well.

[theakston2k]

Also I don’t think it’s just the reliance on Smith that is the issue. We have a massive reliance on Clarke who only plays about 1 in 3 games, when he doesn’t play there’s no one able to replace his influence on the pitch.

[Batch]

That's what Bernie said : Ripley/wright/Clarke/smith are the core 4.

[theakston2k]

That's what Bernie said : Ripley/wright/Clarke/smith are the core 4.

1 is out and Clarke is a known sick note. So really we have a real core of 2 now. It just further highlights how unbalanced the squad is.

[Anonymous77]

I don’t think we can change to a back 4 as i don’t trust Clarke, Wright, Ball to be in a back 4. I think the 5 back will remain but please please just start trying to play football, Kilkenny and Oldaker are technically very good for the level yet we seem to just clip it straight over their heads.

[theakston2k]

I don’t think we can change to a back 4 as i don’t trust Clarke, Wright, Ball to be in a back 4. I think the 5 back will remain but please please just start trying to play football, Kilkenny and Oldaker are technically very good for the level yet we seem to just clip it straight over their heads.

That highlights another problem with the ‘core 4’. We can’t trust a back 4 with Wright in it, he’s probably a non-league defender if he didn’t have the set pieces and goals in his armoury yet he’s our core defender. We urgently need a proper leader at the back.

[Batch]

I'm not seeing what others see in oldaker..yet

[Batch]

That highlights another problem with the ‘core 4’. We can’t trust a back 4 with Wright in it, he’s probably a non-league defender if he didn’t have the set pieces and goals in his armoury yet he’s our core defender. We urgently need a proper leader at the back.

I absolutely disagree Wright is a non league defender.

He's certainly not a bruser, but he's a decent player

I don't think it was wise to leave him with two rookies to organise though. He doesn't come across as that type of player.

[Peter Venkman]

I absolutely disagree Wright is a non league defender.

He's certainly not a bruser, but he's a decent player

I don't think it was wise to leave him with two rookies to organise though. He doesn't come across as that type of player.

Agree, he put in a good shift for 90% of yesterday making a few really good interceptions.

I'm not seeing what others see in oldaker..yet

Again I agree, hes not shown me anything at all yet. Kilkenny is vastly better, even Nichols in his new position offers more.

[theakston2k]

I absolutely disagree Wright is a non league defender.

He's certainly not a bruser, but he's a decent player

I don't think it was wise to leave him with two rookies to organise though. He doesn't come across as that type of player.

The stats don’t lie though, he’s been ever present for 12 months in a defence that concedes on average almost 2 goals a game. Yes it’s not all on him of course but he gets caught out far too often. His other attributes have made him a L2 regular but out and out defending and definitely leadership aren’t his strengths.

[Barrett17]

With Smith likely out for the season. We need 3 solid players in by end of the window. Given his lack of game time I can see them using Ameen to fund what is needed unfortunately.

[Batch]

With Smith likely out for the season. We need 3 solid players in by end of the window. Given his lack of game time I can see them using Ameen to fund what is needed unfortunately.

But if he's not signing a contract and there's interest it's a massive shame but what choice do they have.