Greg Halford signs

[shrimpled]

Some very bizarre contracts been offered here already. Oxley, Demi and Halford are all well past their best and we had great chance to clear the decks.

Halford’s legs went a long time ago and offers absolutely nothing. I’m worried an embargo could be looming and we’re being forced to keep what we have as some of these decisions make no sense.

Embargoes allow upto a certain squad size, so we can release players and bring in new ones.

No, this is by choice. Which is really worrying.

 

[Mad Cyril]

My bet is that we are signing a few players who have played at a higher level so that Boots and Laces car park looks respectable rather than an illegal cruise meeting.

 

[Barling Magna]

From the Echo article:

But Brown still feels Halford has plenty to offer. "I think ability wise he can play at this level comfortably," said the Shrimpers boss.

Comfortably?? I hope this doesn't mean that PB is underestimating the quality of the other clubs in the National League? It ain't gonna be no cake walk Phil.......

 

[Wingnut]

But remember there is no transfer window at this level ,browns going to love it

 

[Barry.C]

If we end up with both MM and PB having signed Ricky Holmes and Greg Halford, perhaps it tells us something about the difficulty we have attracting quality, fit players in their prime.

Thats a popular view which I get

However with close to 450 players released from League 1 and 2 clubs, another lot available from the National leagues and allegedly us having already picked up 2 , its hard to believe that at least a tenth of those, potentially 600 or 700 players would be interested in coming here

We also brought in Hart, Holmes, ANG, Walsh, Akinola and Ferguson

 

[manor15]

I suppose being positive it is only a month-to-month contract but it seems like these cheap month-to-month deals never work out - Halford, Ranger, Blackman. It all seems a false economy paying half-price for someone who doesn't end up positively contributing

This is it for me. At a time when we have a chance to rebuild, I'd be saying I only want players who I think are good enough, fit enough and reliable enough to last 12 months.

The previous ones we've had have all been short-term cover fixes and nowhere near good enough. When Halford joined it seemed he'd be in that club, but to still be here 2 transfer windows later, as others have said, would raise big question marks.

Starting from scratch is great, but we seem to be doing it while building on the same shaky foundations that have seen us relegated two seasons in a row.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

We also brought in Hart, Holmes, ANG, Walsh, Akinola and Ferguson

And we got relegated. There's a few attack minded players there who were meant to offer something going forward but they didn't, we went down due to our blatant inability to create/convert chances.

I think if we don't sign what might count as a couple of key players - 'spine' players to build a team around - the natives will start getting restless very soon. Players who can actually do it consistently at the level they'll be playing at, who are better than what we have. Players at their prime and proven .... not players who are almost ready for the knackers yard.

Can we??? If we can't then alarm bells will start ringing very loudly, as zero will have changed.

 

[Shrimping Around]

Thats a popular view which I get

However with close to 450 players released from League 1 and 2 clubs, another lot available from the National leagues and allegedly us having already picked up 2 , its hard to believe that at least a tenth of those, potentially 600 or 700 players would be interested in coming here

We also brought in Hart, Holmes, ANG, Walsh, Akinola and Ferguson

Quality not quantity is the problem. MM proved that we have no problem signing the ageing, the injured, the has-beens and the never-weres. Our problem is that fit quality players in their prime will have plenty of options and it remains to be seen how attractive we are to those sort of players even at NL level.

 

[Shrimping Around]

Just heard from a friend who is quite high up at the BBC about a revamp of the Saturday night schedule that includes plans for our very own GH to host a Val Doonican style early evening show. Hope PB knew about this before offering GH a new contract.

 

[Barry.C]

Obviously You cant argue with the issue of Quality over quantity as our last season proved. However with 2 years of squads having to be reduced in size there are far more players of decent quality available than was previously the case

If there are 500 players plus looking for a job this time round I do not believe a higher quality isnt there and that they wouldnt come to us, The issue is as much about how good are we at spotting the talent?

 

[Barry.C]

For info 2 years ago 189 players were released from league 1 and 2 clubs. So far this season its close to 450 and rising

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Quality not quantity is the problem. MM proved that we have no problem signing the ageing, the injured, the has-beens and the never-weres. Our problem is that fit quality players in their prime will have plenty of options and it remains to be seen how attractive we are to those sort of players even at NL level.

The expected signing of Rhys Murphy bodes well then. He's a decent player at that level, will have been sought after and whilst he's a little past his prime he should have a few years left him in him still.

Plus my expectations is there will be a lot of free agents again this year. We saw last year the effect of covid (albeit from the sidelines as we were under embargo) where those whose deals were expiring struggled to find employment and were grateful for whatever offers they had. Now many of those who were still under contract last year so escaped the chop will be coming up for renewal plus those who could only secure one year deals last year (and I expect fewer multiyear deals were on offer last year than normal). The lack of crowds last year, no associated revenue from burger sales or bar takings or corporate hospitality is still being felt.

 

[Strykr]

Obviously You cant argue with the issue of Quality over quantity as our last season proved. However with 2 years of squads having to be reduced in size there are far more players of decent quality available than was previously the case

If there are 500 players plus looking for a job this time round I do not believe a higher quality isnt there and that they wouldnt come to us, The issue is as much about how good are we at spotting the talent?

Ah it'll be fine. Day one of the new season, halford up front as lone striker.

 

[Holy Joe]

Thats a popular view which I get

However with close to 450 players released from League 1 and 2 clubs, another lot available from the National leagues and allegedly us having already picked up 2 , its hard to believe that at least a tenth of those, potentially 600 or 700 players would be interested in coming here

We also brought in Hart, Holmes, ANG, Walsh, Akinola and Ferguson

Does 450 players released, mean L1 and L2 clubs will also be looking to recruit 450 players or will squad sizes be permanently reduced?

 

[overseas shrimper]

Not sure Phil Brown would be in a position to have an issue with somebody mixing his football career with media gigs. ?

 

[flangejackrabbit]

Edit: the merging of threads will have left this a bit nonsensical, sorry.

 

[Barry.C]

Does 450 players released, mean L1 and L2 clubs will also be looking to recruit 450 players or will squad sizes be permanently reduced?

As far as I know its permanent as the aim is to reduce the size of squads to help youngsters get more of a chance as part of it. League one and 2 sides must reduce to a squad of just 20?? Not sure how well it will work with injuries ?

PFA dont like it at all and considering legal challenge in part related to the in jury risk over a long season and Championship clubs retain a squad of 25. So that does leave a lot of [players looking for a club and maybe having to drop further down the food chain

 

[Barry.C]

The Professional Footballers' Association has threatened to serve the English Football League with another arbitration over squad size limits for the 2021/22 campaign in an open letter to all EFL clubs and players.In February, an independent panel unanimously confirmed that the introduction of a salary cap without agreement from the Premier League, the FA and the PFA was in breach of the legally binding Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC) constitution and it was subsequently withdrawn.

Caps had been voted through by third and fourth-tier clubs in August last year and were set at £2.5m per club in League One and £1.5m per club in .In addition to the now withdrawn salary cap, a squad limit size was implemented and is set to limit teams in League One and League Two next season to only 20 players.While the Championship clubs will be able to select 25 players for their 46-game campaign, it will be a smaller number for sides in the bottom two tiers of the EFL.



–



The PFA sent their open letter to the EFL, their clubs and players on Wednesday, which read: "Following the logic of the panel's decision in the salary caps case, the PFA expected the EFL to remove the squad size limits (25 for the Championship, and as from next season, 20 for Leagues One and Two) because these limits were also introduced without consultation or the agreement required from the members of the PFNCC.


"Unfortunately, the EFL is refusing to withdraw the squad size limits. Frustrating as this is, unless another solution can be found, the PFA must now therefore consider commencing a further arbitration claim and/or bringing other legal claims.

"This would cause a further needless waste of legal costs, money that ultimately the clubs themselves have to pay if the EFL is again unsuccessful."

Image:Championship clubs would be able to select up to 25 players for next season under the current EFL rules, but League One and League Two clubs would be limited to a squad of only 20 players
A proposed temporary solution by the PFA would be for a limit of 25 players across all EFL leagues pending further discussions.

Given the amount of games played throughout the EFL, a squad size limit of 20 in League One and Two is believed to increase the risk of injury to players, while those clubs relegated from the Championship could have to honour multi-year contracts to squad members who may not play due to reduced squad sizes.

The PFA has urged clubs to request a vote on the PFA's proposal under Article 10 of the Articles of Association of the EFL as an alternative to another arbitration through PFNCC.

"To avoid further legal costs and uncertainty for next season, the PFA has proposed to the EFL a temporary limit of 25 players across all EFL leagues, pending a proper discussion of the underlying issues and the best way to resolve them," the open letter continued.

"The EFL has rejected our proposal but we believe there exists a majority of clubs in the EFL that would prefer to have stability and certainty for next season instead of suffering the inevitable uncertainty that another challenge through arbitration or the courts brings."

Oxford defender John Mousinho, who is part of the PFA's management committee, is set to help host an open discussion about squad size limits in the near future.

The PFA letter added: "We trust that clubs and players alike see that the PFA intends to be part of the longer-term solution to current challenges. The PFA is certainly not the problem.

"Our door always remains open for those who wish to discuss a fair and appropriate way forward, in the same way that we never objected to squad size limits for the Premier League, or financial controls for clubs in lower leagues in the form of SCMP (Salary Cost Management Protocol)."

An EFL spokesperson said: "The EFL notes the correspondence published today by the PFA and continues to engage in positive dialogue with both our members and the union in respect of the matters raised.

"At the heart of these discussions is the principle of how the EFL can achieve long-term sustainability and address wage inflation issues through sensible cost control measures and appropriate financial regulation.

"We have discussed the issues raised in the letter with all 72 clubs today and will now continue to engage with the PFA as we seek to reach a solution that addresses the concerns of all parties

 

[stuey26]

WTF?

Player - what they can offer

Demi - could be a steady RB for us next season.
Holmes - creative midfielder who might help us get some goals.
Cox [if we did sign him] - intelligent forward who can grab a goal.
Halford - answers on a postcard?

Cox - massive disruptive influence - no ta

 

[Whispering Bob]

The Professional Footballers' Association has threatened to serve the English Football League with another arbitration over squad size limits for the 2021/22 campaign in an open letter to all EFL clubs and players.In February, an independent panel unanimously confirmed that the introduction of a salary cap without agreement from the Premier League, the FA and the PFA was in breach of the legally binding Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee (PFNCC) constitution and it was subsequently withdrawn.

Caps had been voted through by third and fourth-tier clubs in August last year and were set at £2.5m per club in League One and £1.5m per club in .In addition to the now withdrawn salary cap, a squad limit size was implemented and is set to limit teams in League One and League Two next season to only 20 players.While the Championship clubs will be able to select 25 players for their 46-game campaign, it will be a smaller number for sides in the bottom two tiers of the EFL.

–
The PFA sent their open letter to the EFL, their clubs and players on Wednesday, which read: "Following the logic of the panel's decision in the salary caps case, the PFA expected the EFL to remove the squad size limits (25 for the Championship, and as from next season, 20 for Leagues One and Two) because these limits were also introduced without consultation or the agreement required from the members of the PFNCC.


"Unfortunately, the EFL is refusing to withdraw the squad size limits. Frustrating as this is, unless another solution can be found, the PFA must now therefore consider commencing a further arbitration claim and/or bringing other legal claims.

"This would cause a further needless waste of legal costs, money that ultimately the clubs themselves have to pay if the EFL is again unsuccessful."

Image:Championship clubs would be able to select up to 25 players for next season under the current EFL rules, but League One and League Two clubs would be limited to a squad of only 20 players
A proposed temporary solution by the PFA would be for a limit of 25 players across all EFL leagues pending further discussions.

Given the amount of games played throughout the EFL, a squad size limit of 20 in League One and Two is believed to increase the risk of injury to players, while those clubs relegated from the Championship could have to honour multi-year contracts to squad members who may not play due to reduced squad sizes.

The PFA has urged clubs to request a vote on the PFA's proposal under Article 10 of the Articles of Association of the EFL as an alternative to another arbitration through PFNCC.

"To avoid further legal costs and uncertainty for next season, the PFA has proposed to the EFL a temporary limit of 25 players across all EFL leagues, pending a proper discussion of the underlying issues and the best way to resolve them," the open letter continued.

"The EFL has rejected our proposal but we believe there exists a majority of clubs in the EFL that would prefer to have stability and certainty for next season instead of suffering the inevitable uncertainty that another challenge through arbitration or the courts brings."

Oxford defender John Mousinho, who is part of the PFA's management committee, is set to help host an open discussion about squad size limits in the near future.

The PFA letter added: "We trust that clubs and players alike see that the PFA intends to be part of the longer-term solution to current challenges. The PFA is certainly not the problem.

"Our door always remains open for those who wish to discuss a fair and appropriate way forward, in the same way that we never objected to squad size limits for the Premier League, or financial controls for clubs in lower leagues in the form of SCMP (Salary Cost Management Protocol)."

An EFL spokesperson said: "The EFL notes the correspondence published today by the PFA and continues to engage in positive dialogue with both our members and the union in respect of the matters raised.

"At the heart of these discussions is the principle of how the EFL can achieve long-term sustainability and address wage inflation issues through sensible cost control measures and appropriate financial regulation.

"We have discussed the issues raised in the letter with all 72 clubs today and will now continue to engage with the PFA as we seek to reach a solution that addresses the concerns of all parties

Interesting. 20 is too small. An injury crisis, whereby 5/6 players are ruled out (not uncommon) you are bug*ered.