Wouldn’t be surprised if new manager in summer

Agree with Fordy pretty much. I wouldn't have given them a contract, I'd have kept it casual as it was and then reassessed things in the Summer, with an inclination to get a decent manager in place if there was one available. Giving them a contract put pressure on them and it's told as since then it's gone downhill. Cooke now being out doesn't help, but I cannot see these two getting us promoted next season. So what's the expectation? I can see us being League 2 for a decade like last time at this rate. Need some decent recruitment in the Summer to at least give the midfield decent backup.

 

Next season has to be about a promotion push, but we need a stronger squad to do it. Another manager change should be an absolute last resort. Our focus should be on building a promotion capable squad in the summer, and then if by Christmas we're not in the mix, look at a change then. Right now, all efforts and thoughts should be on backing T&S. If we wobble every time a manager has a run of 5 or 6 poor results, we'll change our manager 3 or 4 times a season.

 

Absolutely agree with this, this has to be our philosophy.

I don't see anything wrong with how we recruited in January, we looked at the right positions and signed the right calibre of player, we'll need better obviously, but better isn't necessarily available in the winter transfer window.

What we've done is enough to ensure our Football League status, and being annoyed that it isn't promotion calibre just doesn't seem right to me.

 

Kept us up Fordy? You'd have got us into the autos.

 

We did a lot of good work in the window apart from once again missing the obvious midfield weakness...

 

Watt and Sutton are looking very leggy, spent too much of the season chasing the game an it's started to show. I'd like to see us try 4 4 2 now that Cooke is out. This is a test for T&S, let's see if they are flexible.
I wasn't against them getting an 18 month contract, with what's gone on the last few years they were a bit of a breath of fresh air and it gives them a bit a vote of confidence so they can crack on.
I trust Turnbull to identify the right new faces. If T&S turn out to not be the answer I also trust Sparks to make a management change sooner rather than later. He will be supportive but although quite young and inexperienced he is ambitious and knows his growing reputation will depend on it.

 

Your car in need of wash and valeting?

 

One position that we've neglected for years, is a commanding, dominant Central Midfielder. Needs to be top of our summer shopping list. And I wouldn't mind an older player, if we can find one who's coming for the right reasons.

 

I agree for sure, and I think we need 2 very good backup midfielders to give decent rotation options instead of having to rely on Cooke to do everything. Midfield without Cooke is letting us down badly.

 

Trueman and Sellars are victims of their own success. Had they have got us to our current position with a slow start followed by a great run everyone would be hailing them. The time for criticism is after the next transfer window if we don't make progress. We know where we are weak, central midfield for definite and upfront where i would only keep one of Rowe, Novak or Cook. I wouldn't be bothered which one either. I think the squad will look a lot different again at the start of next season and my trust at the moment is in the recruiting department to bring in the right signings.

 

I wonder whether they had targets in mind in January and were knocked back, and unlike previous January windows, didnt panic and bring someone else in for the sake of it?

 

I also agree and make him Captain as well.

 

Once we have a promotion ready squad, it's over to T and S to keep the dressing room in check and get us where we need to be.

Until then, I'm keeping the toys in the pram.

 

ha ha In fact it does.

 

It's a possibility, the January window is generally a tough one to prise players away from clubs.

 

Oh well. Can't get it right every time. The Don MOTM for me today. 2 cracking assists. Well done mate.

 

Shame Gary Jones doesn't have a nasty little brother.