I noticed that Martin Allen in this weeks interview suggested that it would be a challange to get into the play offs without bringing in new players. In other words with the same squad as hessy he thinks it will be a challange to improve our position. Given that its been widely discussed here that the its a decent squad that doesnt need much tinkering, just maybe a bit of tactical nouse and organisation, doesnt that assessment seem a bit negative? Maybe thats him just putting presure on scally to tie up the two transfers of payne and gazza so he can have a decent budget to work with or maybe he is calling it how it is and the squad isnt as good as many of us thought. But if he truly believes it would be a challange to get last seasons squad to the play offs then he cant rate himself any better than hess who just missed out by 1 place? Thoughts anyone?
I dont think our squad is that decent. Not a promotion winning team anyway. We have a good midfield, but lacking up front lacking pace on the wings and pace in general. Also we lost 2 ok/good centre defenders so we have essam who is ok and frampton who was poor last season. We need a good centre back, good cover for left back unless jackman moves to left back. need a striker and a winger. So need 4 very good signings for a chance at automatic in my opinion. And if anyone leaves they need to be replaced separately for an equally as good player. Have to lot of work to do but with the right people coming in we have a real chance.
I think he is trying not to be too positive as he comes across as that type of manager who thinks anything can be improved, he is right improvements can be made but it is not a bad squad. I think he is only saying that as we have no new players at the moment so he will tell us what he expects once the new players join.
As it is and with Gazza and Payne maybe on the move and no proven striker ( Birchall still not fit) I at this point in time cannot see us going up, we might scrape the play off's but not convinced. with 3 or 4 new players it may be a different story, MA was not my choice but I am warming to him and hope he can bring it the players we need and win his first promotion. He is being honest and trying to manage the expectations of the fans. I for one don't at the moment have high expectations, which is a shame with a new manager on board. I hate this league and so want to get out but think we may still be here next season. UTG!!
I think he is right, I don't think the squad is as good as many think. We have had too many players "underperforming" for two seasons under Hessy and he has complained that about individual players too often for it to be a bad run of form for many of them. MA is correct if it going to take a lot of hardwork to turn around a set of players who have, at best, stagnated over the last two years. MA is no mug, he'll know that both the chairman and players will hear this, it is both a plea to Scally to open his wallet and a challenge to the players to prove they are up to the task.
I think with the players that have left and the impending departures of Gazza and Payne it is a poor squad....at present! No proven goalscorer, a defence that had more holes in than a sponge, no wide players! Without getting some decent replacements in i think Allens take on things is spot on and he is just being realistic.
i think its more to do with the lack of depth and cover in the squad, young inexperienced players aside its really only centre midfield and maybe lb where we have 2 players good enough to push for promotion in that position, striker is an unknown quantity behind kedwell, whelpdale is our only winger depending on where you play jackman, rb fish only so certainly an area for improvement (fully fit fuller maybe?), cb dont get me started and goalkeeper atm we have 2 but that could very quickly change. basically we need some fresh quality faces if we are to challange as the squad as it stands isnt deep enough in every position, which is basically wht allen has said
jackman and martin. martin when he played to his full potential was good he does seemed to ahve dropped off a bit but i still think hes more than adequate for league 2 and obviously nothing needs to be said about jackman
Although the squad does seem a bit bare at the moment, with a few additions I do think it's highly competetive. Some of the underperformers or so to speak can really only get better. Lee and Whelpdale didn't live up to expectation and still Whelpdale was our joint highest goal scorer. I'm expecting a big season from Lee inparticular and expect Kedwell to surpass his 14 goals last season, he is capable of more. I do agree however that we really need to make 5 or 6 signings to bolster and erectify the problems of last season, mainly being the full back area.
I know it's a typing error - but I wish it was a real word. It certainly conjours up an interesting image - one that the new manager might want to consider as a method of punishment.
This isn't the same squad as Hessy had, Weston, Tomlin, Kuffour, Spiller etc.. all gone. We are lacking a decent goalscorer, Kedwell is good at taking a penalty but not much else. I would get a decent centre back and a striker at the bare minimum. Lee and Whelpdale are a class act with a decent manager now, i think we will move on up the league nicely.
