SUFC: The Future Next season

[Smiffy]

What's his problem with us, jealousy?.

Gave it the big one before our game with Gateshead. He was hoping along with Nouble that they would beat us and stop us making the play offs. The SUFC admin then made a mug of him after we won and it’s continued from there, with him and Nouble both taking great delight in our Wembley defeat. Ex Col U so says it all.

 

[leeblue]

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.

And this is exactly the attitude to take.
COSU will have to give a few quid for players though. Need upgrades.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

Gave it the big one before our game with Gateshead. He was hoping along with Nouble that they would beat us and stop us making the play offs. The SUFC admin then made a mug of him after we won and it’s continued from there, with him and Nouble both taking great delight in our Wembley defeat. Ex Col U so says it all.

How pathetic and immature?. But hey-ho boys will be boys?. Shame that their small minds have nothing more important to focus on?.
This time next year, I sincerely hope that we are in a better position moving forward than their fading careers are.

 

[Barnet Bee]

I'd agree with this. I've seen posts suggesting we don't change midfield drastically, Leon should be the main man etc - or that we just need 1 striker. We need a substantial injection of quality into this squad. Look these players have heart, they did wonders getting to Wembley, but it's way off a title challenging squad so you're right .. if Justin is saying we are going for top spot I'd expect some very decisive moves in the transfer market over the coming weeks. We cannot afford to be second or third in the queue for players and I don't mean big money players - players who fit the mould - hungry players who can hit the ground running and take us up a notch. This is where COSU, the scouting team and the football department really need to move as one.

You've nailed it bang on. We finished 2nd to Chesterfield and then got a proper face slap in the Play Offs.. It hurts after such a long season but it's a case of go again and use what you already built. Being 10 mins away last week from EFL football hurt at the time but it's those moments that define where you are heading. Finding another 25 points over the course of a season won't be easy but it can be done. Whatever the budget constraints are for next season, it's going to require very shrewd recruitment over the next few weeks. It starts with a solid back five, then a midfield core, a ball winner and a ball player. Same upfront.. It wasn't really until we got Owen Evans in that it clicked defensively.. We were solid and the clean sheets were as important as the goals at the other end. Getting in Lee Ndlouv to add a bit of beef to the attack allowed Callum Stead to roam freely, incidentally he was an improver 2 years ago and ended the season on 19 goals ( No Penalties) included. Anthony Hartigan bossing the midfield. Your players showed great heart to achieve the almost impossible last week and almost pulled it off. There's proper hope, as long as the recruitment is bang on during the next few weeks, that next season will be a step up and therefore I say there's lots to be excited about heading in to the next league campaign.. Come on you Shrimpers..

 

[Strykr]

Chances are we won't get top spot next year-- we have only won two titles in our entire history--but we'll have a good chance again the play offs. Got to factor both into our planning.

agree, i keep seeing people say we must win the league next year and we've only ever won it a couple of times and that was with absolutely superb squads.

High spot in the play offs and roll the dice again.

 

[Medway Blue]

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.

It can't all be on Maher, though.

If COSU require more, then they must give him the tools to do more. That would include a bit of extra budget, and trusting his judgement so that early and decisive moves can be made on his targets.

 

[The Original Tribal Chief]

It can't all be on Maher, though.

If COSU require more, then they must give him the tools to do more. That would include a bit of extra budget, and trusting his judgement so that early and decisive moves can be made on his targets.

I agree. And I believe they know that.

 

[Medway Blue]

I agree. And I believe they know that.

We're simply not going to have a York, FGR or Carlisle budget. We're probably looking at 4th biggest, best case scenario, but the above-named three will be a decent chunk ahead of whoever has the 4th biggest.

The club will try and is trying to make up the difference in other ways. Quality of recruitment/value for money, quality of coaching, improvements to facilities, club culture, etc. Those are all intangibles and variables, though, so I personally won't be EXPECTING us to make up the deficit and be consistently competitive with those top 3 budgets. Cash will remain King. We certainly have a solid chance, though.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

I think Kev’s success has been creating that underdog, siege mentality amongst the players and so it won’t worry him that other teams have bigger budgets. York and FGR for all their cash couldn’t get to Wembley, FGR even nicked our best striker. We’re capable of improving the squad by bringing in quality without spending huge amounts. We’ve got lots to offer players who are ambitious.
Regards Carlisle it’s very rare that teams bounce straight back from NL. They’ll need to adjust and might get a rude shock, like we did.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

We're simply not going to have a York, FGR or Carlisle budget. We're probably looking at 4th biggest, best case scenario, but the above-named three will be a decent chunk ahead of whoever has the 4th biggest.

All 3 clubs mentioned have very big squads, especially Carlisle. They must have bigger budgets simply to pay the contracts of the numbers of (non) playing, previous manager's recruitments. Didnt the manager before Hughes sign a dozen (ish) players in the mid season window?

What we have is all usefull for squad/cup etc, with only a few in contract who might be loaned to off set some of their salary.

For sure it is a balancing/juggling accounting conundrum.

 

[graingerroad54]

I think Kev’s success has been creating that underdog, siege mentality amongst the players and so it won’t worry him that other teams have bigger budgets. York and FGR for all their cash couldn’t get to Wembley, FGR even nicked our best striker. We’re capable of improving the squad by bringing in quality without spending huge amounts. We’ve got lots to offer players who are ambitious.
Regards Carlisle it’s very rare that teams bounce straight back from NL. They’ll need to adjust and might get a rude shock, like we did.

Carlisle BBC story. 3 bosses, 42 players, one hell of a mess.

 

[tommy tucker]

We know it wont happen but its now time to get rid of the out dated 1 up the rest to fight for 1 more place .If the chairman of the national leauge goit booed by every side of the ground did not take the hint that its time for change .But i dont think its all to do with the national leauge .The EFL will probable have to agree to it as well .there lies the problem .The 2 leauges will have to afree to the change .

 

[Ailsa Road Shrimper]

Despite having money to spend I think Carlisle will be in for a rude awakening when they begin their time in the NL, hopefully they’ll need at least a couple of years to get their act together, similar to Oldham. I also don’t think Mark Hughes is the right man to take them forward, he doesn’t have any experience at this level and is a has been like Phil Brown.

 

[Liam AAS]

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.

Genuine Q: Would the regular season have been hugely disappointing if we'd held on for 10 more mins?

 

[Liam AAS]

The bar has been set, anything less that playoffs will generate some serious questions. Only 1 team in the last 5 years has hit 70 points and not made the top 7 (Daggers lol) so that has to be the bare minimum.

To win it, we'd need pretty much a perfect season. Average points total of NL champions in the last 4 years has been 101.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

The bar has been set, anything less that playoffs will generate some serious questions. Only 1 team in the last 5 years has hit 70 points and not made the top 7 (Daggers lol) so that has to be the bare minimum.

To win it, we'd need pretty much a perfect season. Average points total of NL champions in the last 4 years has been 101.

It is our HOME form on 3pm Saturdays that is the kicker; maybe we can get more games moved to a Friday but with our known Saturday failings that is perhaps unlikely.
KM and team must find a way to turn possession into results; and that, too obviously, is the toughie: for sure with the draw to Braintree and the loss to Moors as classic examples/reminders of the pitfalls of not making or taking enough chances.

 

[Holy Joe]

The bar has been set, anything less that playoffs will generate some serious questions. Only 1 team in the last 5 years has hit 70 points and not made the top 7 (Daggers lol) so that has to be the bare minimum.

To win it, we'd need pretty much a perfect season. Average points total of NL champions in the last 4 years has been 101.

I think I read in the final programme that only 4 teams have got over 100pts in the NL. So normally champions don't need over 100.

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

I think I read in the final programme that only 4 teams have got over 100pts in the NL. So normally champions don't need over 100.

In the 17 completed seasons since the National League was expanded to 24 teams in 2006/07 (2019/20 was decided on points per game and 2020/21 saw Macclesfield Town fold and Dover Athletic fail to complete the season), 7 champions have exceeded 100 points, plus Notts County (107 in 2022/23) as runners-up:
Aldershot Town (101, 2007/08), Crawley Town (105, 2010/11), Fleetwood Town (103, 2011/12), Luton Town (101, 2013/14), Cheltenham Town (101, 2015/16), Wrexham (111, 2022/23), Barnet (102, 2024/25).

Twice (Leyton Orient, 89 in 2018/19 and Burton Albion, 88 in 2008/09) during the same period the champions required less than 90 points.

 

[Holy Joe]

In the 17 completed seasons since the National League was expanded to 24 teams in 2006/07 (2019/20 was decided on points per game and 2020/21 saw Macclesfield Town fold and Dover Athletic fail to complete the season), 7 champions have exceeded 100 points, plus Notts County (107 in 2022/23) as runners-up:
Aldershot Town (101, 2007/08), Crawley Town (105, 2010/11), Fleetwood Town (103, 2011/12), Luton Town (101, 2013/14), Cheltenham Town (101, 2015/16), Wrexham (111, 2022/23), Barnet (102, 2024/25).

Twice (Leyton Orient, 89 in 2018/19 and Burton Albion, 88 in 2008/09) during the same period the champions required less than 90 points.

You should write the programme!

 

[Exiled Shrimper]

You should write the programme!

View attachment 37391

I can only think they've confused reaching 100 points with Barnet securing the fourth highest amount of points for a champion club.