Players who could seriously help us not a promotion challenge?

We're in dire need of some pace too, Jon. Agree with your post.

 

That midfield needs a MASSIVE injection of pace and power, and we need to finally bin Gilliead off in my opinion - not because he's disgraced himself, he's done his best, but he has little talent or ability - he's like a human engine.

Agree with you completely.

I just hope Hughes doesn't stick with Smallwood and Clayton.

 

You just contradicted yourself saying people are obsessed with non league teams then saying Wrexham will be top 3!! They won’t!

 

You don't think so?

Big call.

I was responding to the basic 'whoever comes up will be 1 and 2' comments.

Notts County?

Not seeing it, but they will compete.

 

Having watched a fair bit of both they will both be at least in the play offs next season. Teams coming down from league 1 ain't much cop, I expect Gillingham, Mansfield, Salford and ourselves to be in the mix as well. Can't see any other of the dress finishing below 8th this season improving.

 

The 4 teams coming down all look poor to me.

1 or 2 will factor in the top half, but they're nothing special.

We have every chance next season IF we stick with it.

If Hughes, Lewis, and Cook all leave, we can pretty much forget it.

 

New players we bring in must have goals in them from midfielders and both our flanks.

 

Hughes has next season to deliver. Promotion or piss off.

 

I agree.

And I'd back him to do that.

If not, he can join the scrap heap.

 

Talking of ambition,we must try signing players who have been a star player and scored goals this season ,Dan Agyei comes to mind.

 

15000 season ticket holders will soon make their feelings known if there is any repeat of the shite we’ve seen at VP this season.
Hughes could get the first 10 games and if we are not in the top 3 he’ll be gone. Playoffs aren’t good enough next season.

 

Talking of goals we've got Oliver with 3 goals on a 3yr contract.

Whoever sanctioned that contract needs sacking.

 

Hughes ain't getting sacked and I don't think he quite deserves that, but I wouldn't mind if he goes of his own accord, although not sure why Brum supposedly want him. I'd probably take the Cowleys as they are now probably our level.
I'd have taken Evans or Whellans but they are in jobs now.

Cook - would he wanna warm the bench at Wrexham? Will he be as good next year? Are we too focussed on him scoring to play as a team? Although we haven't looked like giving him the ball for 4 games.

Lewis - he's not a champ keeper yet and L1 and L2 clubs don't pay money for keepers. I think we'll have him for another year.

Banks - whatever he thinks (T&A yday), he's not getting in at Palace, nowhere near good enough. L1 at best next season, he may make Champ eventually.

Critchlow - depends where he wants to live. If he likes it around here, he may give us a go, knowing he still has little things to work on. He's not quite top of L1 ready yet.

Of the OOC players, try keep Cook, prob Gilly too, rest can go, other than the kids I know nothing about.
Smallwood - needs an energetic midfield with wide options around him.
Try get Wright back from PLymouth. We've been his one success.

Osadebe has shown the very fleeting glimpse. Stress on the very! But he's had an horrific injury, close season and a defined position for him, there could be something there.

Walker is far better when we have 2 wide players to stretch the pitch and defenders. Since we have had no left side, and Ridehalgh can't bomb on, he has been well shackled.

For all our failings this season, had we kept Wright on the left, I think we would have been autos.

We have a top keeper, 2 of Stubbs/Rom/Platt is okay L2 centre back pairing, Halliday has got better (would prefer someone quicker but he's solid and getting over his season out), definitely need a decent, quick, left back. Midfield needs a revamp. Wright back on the left. Decent replacement for Banks, as I tihnk he'll be in L1.

 

And Odusina too. Three year contract.

 

I have been thinking about that. We have players that have not played or when they do are not up to standard. Somebody needs to hold their hands up, because signing players on three year contracts or even two years when they offer nothing to the squad is not on. We are not a charity club for failed players!

 

If we offered the job to Evans right now he’d dump Stevenage in a heartbeat and be in Bradford by the end of the day.

 

Good and fair prospective. Totally agree outside of;
A. I’d be disappointed if Hughes isn’t here next season
B. I’d love Wright back, but highly doubt it happening.



Looking at the final day squad from last game of last season (ironically against Carlisle) in all honesty we’ve probably only improved in:
* GK: without doubt the most improved position on the pitch. I also believe Harry will be with us next season. Contract terms and also based on he genuinely looks to be happy. Give his comments he nearly quit the game, to me he comes across a wise enough guy to not move unless he’s the guaranteed starter, which he 100% is with us. I expect at least one more season from him.
* CB: Stubbs and Crichlow/Platt are an upgrade on POC and Songo’o IMO. Agree to your Crichlow comments - personally I’d welcome him back.
* RB: Halliday is definitely an upgrade.
* CM: so very very marginally I’d say our strength in depth is improved but not the starting XI like-for-like.
* CF: Cook is an upgrade on Angol but only based on this wonder season he’s had. I too question that he will get anywhere near this seasons goal return and believe we will offer him a decent deal which he will sign. My concern been, what’s the alternative if we see the version of him we know exists?

I firmly believe our final league finish and outcome of the playoffs are a fair reflection of the season. We ultimately fell short of failing to be clinical when it really truly mattered (Barrow, Hartlepool, Rochdale (home), Crawley (away)) but above all we failed to find solutions when plan A failed.

If you go back 10 years, Parky’s bench rarely felt like it weakened us. Yesterday the moment we started making changes I couldn’t see us winning and was surprised by the Derbyshire goal. If Hughes is with us next season he really has to fix his ability to rotate and be way more dimensional in our approach.

 

I think recruitment needs looking at , I’ve never got this love in with Stephen Gent. The loans in January were dreadful,Costello,Nevers,Bola. The signings of Clayton, Derbyshire, ageing veterans was dubious. He got some right in the summer with Lewis, Wright, Halliday but we’ve also got to remember Odisina, Oliver and not convinced Osadebe is a footballer.

 

After seeing both legs, I don't think either of the sides will beat Stockport. Kind of better going out at this point than losing at Wembley, I suppose?

It's progressing on last season for sure. Huge summer ahead, but we need to find a shape that works for us and recruit better. Top sides don't change their formation 3 or 4 times over in a season.

 

What seemed to happen last summer was Gent came in and had to get to work straight away and relied heavily on his Middlesbrough connections so I hope the net will be cast wider this year. I think Oliver on a 3 year deal was a panic buy after our initial target or targets fell through. I think the other 3 year deals were maybe made thinking we could develop the likes of Young, Odusina and East and sell them on for good money, but out of those 3, only East really looks like a prospect and I'm disappointed he hasn't been given more of a chance this year because he's impressed me every time he's played.

What really worries me is that although everyone on here pretty much agrees that central midfield has been a major part of our lack of success this season, Smallwood is still going to be there next season for definite, and I can also see Gilliead and Clayton being offered new deals. I'm guessing we will be issuing the retained list in the coming week now our season is done so we shouldn't have long to wait to find out.