I have to agree that if we went up I would let Richards go, but like I am saying he deserves a new one year contract as he is not bad.
I appreciate that you don't need the likes of Puyol and Pique at centre half in League 2, but like you openly admit, Richards struggles against the better teams, and the idea is for us to get promoted which would therefore mean beating the better teams! You say he can 'do a job' at this level, but is that what we want?! We need to get promoted and ask yourself if Richards would get anywhere near the Swindon, Shrewsbury and Crawley teams this year, I may have been over judgmental towards him but I just hope the new Manager has the same mindset as me in knowing that Richards cannot be anywhere near the heart of our defence if we want to get promoted. Hopefully Danny's contract can be sorted out. For the record I would also release King as I think we are all being a little too reminiscent with him, he will never get back to that standard.
I did say Richards struggles against the better sides in L1 meaning better footballing sides. No team in L2 plays a good standard of football, most favour a more direct approach, which would play into Richards strenghts. I understand your fears about his performance against the promotion chasing teams but you arguement would stand firmer if it was those dropped points that cost us a playoff place, rather than our inability to beat the also rans of the divison. I also don't believe that the Crawleys et al of the division had defenders different to the style and quality of Richards, perhaps they were better organised than us but certainly not significantly a better quality.
Before he was injured I thought that Richards was back in good form! Dropping him for a few games did the trick and he came back in the team and did really well! I would give him a new deal!
Richards did a good job but King even in his somewhat broken form offers a solid base at the back, someone talented for Essam to learn from and out of all of our centre backs is an attack set piece threat. King was one of the higher earners at the club and if he accepts a reduced contract he will offer more than a bit part role in our push next season. Richards in comparison is a a squad player along with Frammo.
And of course Richards was a key part of the side that got promoted from this division, his performance at Plymouth when we played most of the game with 10 men was immense. He is a solid strong commited defender at this level.
Three more gone...http://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10416~2777742,00.html? Two of those three I have obviously voiced my opinions on in the past, however, really disappointed to see Simon King go. Obviously I have no way of knowing his fitness or situation in regards to injury but I would certainly have offered him another one season deal. Maybe I see something Hessy does not or Hessy knows something I do not?
I am well pissed off that Richards and King have gone, we should not have let them go as we will only have Essam and Frampton as long as Essam signs up, we now need to sign someone good, but for Kuffour, I am happy he has gone.
We are being left very light at the back, I am not sure why these decisions are being made prior to the new manager being installed.
Yeah I thought these players were being left for the new manager, that is why they had not gone before the new manager came in, looks stupid in my eyes, I have a feeling that Hess and Scally are deciding between them who they will be left with, bit unfair on the new manager.
It does all seem a bit strange. Would I be right in assuming that as Director of Football, that Hessy could be caretaker manager (so to speak) until the replacement arrives, therefore possibly making the decisions?
If Hess is calling the shots in terms of retained players it does kind of undermine the new manager, however I guess it does free the maximum amount of funds for the purchase of new player. I just hope the new manager gets to choose these as opposed to Hess.
BSG - the only thing I do not like about this, is that I probably could have called Hessy's shouts, King being one of them. Why only one season for all of the youngsters? Still only two names I am really interested in, Connor Essam and Gavin Tomlin. Oh btw if he sells Gazza I'll go mental.
When the new man comes in, if he rated those that have been released he could re-sign them. I expect Hess has decided that its best to get rid of those that he thinks are surpless to requirements to give the new man room for manouvre in the transfer market. We all knew that the defence was rubbish so it needs to be rebuilt. I don't expect to see Frampton or Martin to get much game time next season, but as they are still on contract we're stuck with them. Sorry to see King and Richards go, but quite frankly ,thats football. We've got to build for the future, and younger,better players need to be brought in, and you can't do that and play them whist Richards and King are still on the payroll and taking up funds.
As they have been at the club for a decent length of time and are probably settled in the area, it's possible they could train with us before heading off on trials during pre-season. Perhaps the new gaffer will take a look. Yeah wishful thinking.
So Mr.Scally sacks Hess 'because he wasn't good enough'. The club stated only a little tweaking is needed to transform it into a successful side. Mr. Scally then lets the incompetent manager whom he has sacked, to dictate the released names (whilst having no control over the dead wood, i.e. players like Frampton .) This level of authority/ influence over such decisions makes a mockery that Mr.Scally thought it right to sack Hess on the grounds of his 'incompetence. If the side needed to have 9 players released - this should have been done sooner. ( We can't also claim that we were close to the finished article ) As aforementioned the authority of the next manager has to be in serious doubt. If I was a candidate for the job I think I would rather join a circus.
It helps the new guy for Hessy to make the unpopular decisions and the new guy may have been selected and consulted. These are the right decisions but you have to be sad for someone in Richards situation but as vinney correctly says that is football. King should have been paid up and awarded a testimonial at least a year ago. The Kuffour situation is the most perturbing because this feller showed he was capable of playing.....but only when he felt like it. We were warned. We have also had a warning on Tomlin....he does not stay fit however good he is on the rare occasions that he plays!
I don't see us getting out of league two next season now.......well not into league one anyway. Tweaking??? this has been night of the long knives!
