SUFC: The Future Next season

[The Original Tribal Chief]

Don't think he's been misquoted, he suggested we should be 'chasing top honours' next season. I reckon he knows enough about the game to realise that the current squad, with a few minor tweaks, won't be able to do that. That's led me to think that there may be more changes on the way than I previously thought. I certainly won't be calling for COSU heads if that doesn't happen though.

You would be correct. It may come as a surprise to many on this board but most of the COSU members feel the same way as I do about last season - nice playoff run, regular season hugely disappointing. Maher isn't going anywhere, but he will be told that more is required.

 

[graingerroad54]

View attachment 37265
Next season's National League. ****ing hell it's going to be grim.

Approximate round trip milage. Carlisle 652 Truro 626 Morecambe 600 Gateshead 594 Hartlepool 558 Rochdale 488 York 456 Halifax 454 Altrincham 448 Scunthorpe 386 Yeovil 360 Tamworth 338 FGR 326 Solihull 314 Boston 284 Eastley 254 Brackley 232 Aldershot 172 Woking 156 Sutton 128 Wealdstone 114 Borehamwood 104 Braintree 64. Total 7708.

View attachment 37265
Next season's National League. ****ing hell it's going to be grim.

 

[gatecrasher]

Fundamentally we have to start the season better than last, we had a mountain to climb and if it wasn't for Gateshead end of season collapse we wouldn't of been in the playoffs at all.


I take the no pre season, loss of Cardwell and Kensdale were critical losses but we have to do better with the budget we do have, some rank bad decisions were made in recruitment recently. Bonne, Hopper, Gubbins, Walker, Hayes & Crowther have been very poor. Husin, Cav, Bridge - their races have been run and they need moving on.

I think we need at least 7/8 players to come in, more if we lose Appiah Forson/ Gus. The good thing about most of COSU is that they are fans of the club and will want us to be out of this division as much as the rest of us.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Fully understand that there are budget constraints, but based on the Chairman's recent comments I'm hoping for more squad changes than previously expected. Incredibly proud of what the current squad achieved in some difficult circumstances, but the reality is that we just squeezed into the playoffs on 69 points.

If we really are going to go for it next season, as Justin says we are, then we need a squad that can add 25 - 30 points to our tally from last season. That will surely mean moving on some players currently under contract, and I think also having a larger squad than we've recently had.

Barnet lost in the playoffs in 2024 after finishing second with 86 points, they then made 12 new signings by the end of June. That was a real show of intent that transformed them into a title winning team. I'm not expecting us to compete with that but would be good to see some early signings in key positions where we need to improve.

You cant look at last season as a whole. We had no pre-season, a transfer embargo, and lost 2 key players in August, and took 27 points from 23 games.

We then bring in 2 or 3 players, and pick up 41 points from the next 23. Losing only 4 league games, to Barnet, York, Maidenhead and Solihull.

Even with the same squad we would be around 10-12 points better off next season than this season based on the 2nd half of this season with no embargo's etc.

We don't need mass rebuilding unless loads leave. We need 3 or 4 better players in key positions, then if needed a couple of loans during the season to cover.

 

[Wingnut]

I think we need enough for a plan b,just to mix things up when we need to

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

You cant look at last season as a whole. We had no pre-season, a transfer embargo, and lost 2 key players in August, and took 27 points from 23 games.

We then bring in 2 or 3 players, and pick up 41 points from the next 23. Losing only 4 league games, to Barnet, York, Maidenhead and Solihull.

Even with the same squad we would be around 10-12 points better off next season than this season based on the 2nd half of this season with no embargo's etc.

We don't need mass rebuilding unless loads leave. We need 3 or 4 better players in key positions, then if needed a couple of loans during the season to cover.

If we had 41 points from both halves of the season, we are still a long way off promotion. Maybe we get a bye into the playoff semi-finals, which clearly helped York and FGR. We need to be 30 points better off and not rationalizing losses to the likes of ****ing Maidenhead and Solihull. We will face issues every offseason - targets will be missed, players will be sold. Enough with the excuses.

 

[SuperRonnieP]

You cant look at last season as a whole. We had no pre-season, a transfer embargo, and lost 2 key players in August, and took 27 points from 23 games.

We then bring in 2 or 3 players, and pick up 41 points from the next 23. Losing only 4 league games, to Barnet, York, Maidenhead and Solihull.

Even with the same squad we would be around 10-12 points better off next season than this season based on the 2nd half of this season with no embargo's etc.

We don't need mass rebuilding unless loads leave. We need 3 or 4 better players in key positions, then if needed a couple of loans during the season to cover.

I understand all of that, and I'm not in any way belittling the achievement of the squad in reaching the play off final. But, we do need a much better squad, and probably a bigger one, if Justin is expecting an attempt at the very top of the table.

 

[Holy Joe]

If we had 41 points from both halves of the season, we are still a long way off promotion. Maybe we get a bye into the playoff semi-finals, which clearly helped York and FGR. We need to be 30 points better off and not rationalizing losses to the likes of ****ing Maidenhead and Solihull. We will face issues every offseason - targets will be missed, players will be sold. Enough with the excuses.

If COSU want top 1 finish how much more cash are they willing to put in?

 

[geoffmundo]

Lots of good comments so far (even a few rubbish ones!)

However, we need to take a step back at look at things holistically. Getting promoted is a bit like doing a complex jigsaw puzzle. This season we had a lot of the pieces and did the best with what we had but fell short of completing.

Next season, many important pieces need to come in to play, most importantly GOALS! On goals scored we ranked joint 12th. Even Daggers scored more than us. Barnet scored nearly 40 more than us. Having a CB that contributes (whether Goodliffe or someone else) is vital. As is a midfield that know where the net is. GSM has done phenomenally well this season, but will he repeat this feat again? Goals conceded, room for improvement particularly in the Keeper department. Hayes has a lot of attributes but I find his reactions or anticipations are slow.

Other aspects where we need to be better are (in no particular order):

Game management including having ‘nous’ with ref & officials.
Substitutions
Recruitment
Tactics
Fitness
Pre season (a given)
In fact every facet of the game and preparation for a game. This doesn’t mean to say we are not doing any of the above well, it’s just that we need to do everything better, some by fractions others by bigger margins.

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

You seem to be ignoring the fact that we are still losing upwards of £2m a year. With your magic wand who would (realistically) be in your Management team? Who would be your number 1 target, presumably a Manager out of work (Phil Brown?). 12 new players so a huge squad (assuming new Manager can’t offload all the unwanted contracted players). With all your ‘suggestions’ up to what increase in annual losses would you be happy to accept….?

How much revenue would be generated by achieving promotion to the EFL? I seem to recall a number of 2 million quid being bandied around.

I'm sure Phil Brown isn't the only manager available.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

If we had 41 points from both halves of the season, we are still a long way off promotion. Maybe we get a bye into the playoff semi-finals, which clearly helped York and FGR. We need to be 30 points better off and not rationalizing losses to the likes of ****ing Maidenhead and Solihull. We will face issues every offseason - targets will be missed, players will be sold. Enough with the excuses.

I agree, and I am not saying that 82 points would be enough, but its less of a full drastic rebuild to get 10-20 more points than the 30+ we would need looking at the 68 we actually got.

Yes we need improving, everyone knows that, but we don't want to be throwing the baby out with the bathwater and Discussing in October that the 15 new players we got aren't gelling as a team.

 

[cerbera45]

Not one to dwell on the past so where do we go for next season?

What do we need to make us a force at the top of the league?

depends what sort of playing budget we've got available

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

I agree, and I am not saying that 82 points would be enough, but its less of a full drastic rebuild to get 10-20 more points than the 30+ we would need looking at the 68 we actually got.

Yes we need improving, everyone knows that, but we don't want to be throwing the baby out with the bathwater and Discussing in October that the 15 new players we got aren't gelling as a team.

I'm just concerned that we will start slowly again and that more excuses will be found. I can't take more than another year of this non-league ****.

 

[The Company]

You cant look at last season as a whole. We had no pre-season, a transfer embargo, and lost 2 key players in August, and took 27 points from 23 games.

We then bring in 2 or 3 players, and pick up 41 points from the next 23. Losing only 4 league games, to Barnet, York, Maidenhead and Solihull.

Even with the same squad we would be around 10-12 points better off next season than this season based on the 2nd half of this season with no embargo's etc.

We don't need mass rebuilding unless loads leave. We need 3 or 4 better players in key positions, then if needed a couple of loans during the season to cover.

some good points in there to be honest and the nail hit on the head, a few new faces in key positions is a must
one thing that cost us last season was 16 wins but 17 draws, these draws need to be converted as they come back and can cost you at the end of the season.

 

[ColinMorrisWalksOnWater]

Stand by, because this is not going to be a popular post in some areas, but just my thoughts.

All season myself and a fair few others have said we need both a more creative midfield, with more attacking intent and to be more combative also.

On that basis I cannot agree, but I appreciate their views, with those on here who are keeping the majority of our midfield from this season.

For me from our current midfield I would only keep :

LCP, KAF and Husin.

There is possible a case for keeping Coker, but for me in a title challenging team, if that's what we are going to be, he is not an automatic first pick.


Husin as the base/cover for the defence and link between the midfield and defence. Further up, his continuous turn back on himself and then pass backward takes all the steam out of any attack we are trying to mount.

At Wembley, Husin was superb in the base role and spreading and switching the ball, but lacked the forward drive. With a more forward thinking central midfielder we can keep Husin and benefit from what he brings to the team and not have to change his game.

I'd be searching for three midfielders.

A ball winner further up the pitch, another creative midfielder and another KAF type Duracell bunny

From my wish list and those who want to keep all our current midfield, I think the answer will be somewhere in-between in reality.

I'd love us to get Cashman up front with some pace to make the runs into the channel, but who can also drop deep and drive forward, putting defenders on the back foot, oh and finish.

For me though, it's the midfield that will be key of the four areas i.e Goalkeepers, Defence, Midfield and Attack.
I am NOT saying the other three areas are not important and do not need improving, they do.

But get the Midfield right, both defensively and attackwise and the other three areas will benefit. On the back of that, as well as directly improving the midfield, the other three areas develop on the back of the improvement of the midfield as well. Defence gets more cover and attack gets more support and supply.

Just my thought and as always not expecting everyone to agree.

 

[tommy tucker]

York had a strong squad last season .And they midded out in the playoffs .Im sure they will build a stronger squad this summer .If COSU really want promotion next season yhey really must give kevin a much larger budget to sign sone quality . Now im not spending someone elses money .But we all know if you really want to challenge to be top dogs that costs money and a lot of it .

 

[Shrimper83]

Talking about Next Season is there any news on North Bank?

 

[kentblues]

Some quotes from the BBC.

As I said earlier if he is really targeting top 1 finish then he needs to give Kev and Co the tools to do it, otherwise it's really not fair on the mgmt team.

View attachment 37358

Exactly. And again my concern. If expectations like this are set without the commensurate budget many supporters will very much remember the expectation but obstinately and repeatedly overlook the fact that we still couldn’t compete with at least 3 or 4 teams financially, and one of them again will go up automatically. We are more than capable further to this of having a Kev out thread whilst 4th in the table because somehow that’s failing…

Of course, we may very much be looking to up the budget materially. Even so external expectation setting around the target being the playoffs as a minimum would just work a little better IMHO…

However let’s see how the recruiting goes over the next 3 weeks

 

[SuperRonnieP]

I agree, and I am not saying that 82 points would be enough, but its less of a full drastic rebuild to get 10-20 more points than the 30+ we would need looking at the 68 we actually got.

Yes we need improving, everyone knows that, but we don't want to be throwing the baby out with the bathwater and Discussing in October that the 15 new players we got aren't gelling as a team.

But that's sort of how Kev will earn his corn next season, integrating new faces into an existing play off squad. I've no doubt he can do that. Far better done pre-season rather than during, which is what circumstances forced us to do last year.

Leaving aside Goodliffe, the first year pros and the keeper coach we have a squad of 21 (happy to be corrected if that's wrong). That's already too small but I would release Waldron, Wood and Bonne and look to move Walker and Crowther on leaving 16 pros.

We should be aiming for a bigger squad anyway, at least 25 in my view, so that gives us plenty of capacity to bring in the extra quality we need.

All of the above obviously caveated by budgetary constraints.

 

[Shrimper]

Nice to see them say they want to target auto promotion but will be difficult with the money York are going to chuck at it