The clear out

[Piledriver]

That’s not what people were saying last year when we were relegated to it, so you may have to have experienced it to know that.

ps The division isn’t fully professional - there are a handful of semi-pro sides. Not sure what the situation will be with the 4 promoted sides.

Or have watched a fair amount of football all the way down the levels and also remember the farce of the old 4th division re-election and bogus ground not up to standard!
I would take a guess that the number of fully professional and the alternative professionally run national league nth & sth has never been higher.
The major problem and causes of initial failures with relagated teams is their Total lack of respect given to their new division, this was clearly evident in Phil Brown signings and preparations this time last year, to busy with his tan management ?

 

[Strykr]

Really sad to see Lewis Gard go but not surprised. Maher seemingly has little time for attacking midfielders and with Wood, Coker and Benton we had four players all competing for the occasional unused sub spot on the bench. That he couldn’t get into the side ahead of the husk of Will Atkinson always meant he was on borrowed time.

That said I’m not sure it’s the wrong decision. Injuries robbed him of two years of development and Covid cut short his season when he looked like he was about to establish himself as the pick of the next wave of youngsters. Like Sam Barratt he’ll be a big what if.

It’ll be interesting to see what he does next. A drop into part-time football seems likely but whether he bounces back will depend on whether his heart is still in it after this latest setback. He can knuckle down and get to the best fitness of his life (I was disappointed that he couldn’t play much more than an hour on his final appearance) or he can move onto the next stage of his life and start a new career that will last longer than the next decade and just play for fun. And if he does the latter he’s a fun player to watch, one who’ll make whatever team lucky enough to grab him a much, much better passing team with his movement opening up space and making his teammates consequently look better. Much like he would have improved us had he been given more opportunities alongside Neal instead of the shadows of Dunne and Atkinson.

He won’t be the only flair player to depart but if we want to play a more defensive midfield then we badly need to upgrade that position, particularly with the excellent Neal returning to his parent club. Stories of Dunne’s deal being dependent on matches played (it was very much announced as a two year deal) means we have a very real opportunity to reshape that midfield. Dunne and Ogogo are likely on decent contracts, Atkinson less so but releasing those three should free up wages to invest in a younger, quicker and better on the ball midfield.

I think its a bit early to say maher doesnt like attacking midfielders, he has largely been shoehorned with the squad he inherited and the players available to sign/loan.

I still hold out hope that he will try to emulate some of the things that worked when he played under tilly, attacking with pacy wingers, and a midfield pair of a battling midfielder and an attacking playmaker etc.

 

[rigsby]

It would be no surprise to me if Gard goes. Nothing against him, neat and tidy but needs something extra if he wants a good career at NL level or above.

Obviously he has been really unlucky with injuries and at that crucial age for any footballer. Very few end up better, most do well to get back what they had when it happens so young.

Its certainly not because Mayer doesn't like attacking footballers. The signing of Wood, Hussin and Powell prove that.

What is an absolute fact is Maher will have to work within a budget. Its only us fans who have a bottomless war chest. So if Stan and his crew have good options lined up then others have to go.

So don't write "taxi for Maher" on the flip side of your "Can i have your shirt" piece of cardboard.....Well at least wait and see who arrives this summer.

 

[Tilson_Blues]

Neal aside, he hasn’t had good defensive midfielders either but that hasn’t stopped him picking them….

That’s surely not saying much!

I support the current management team but that doesn’t mean I’m going to agree with every decision they make. They’re not going to get every decision right (much like us fans won’t get every decision right - but it’s usually harder for us to be proved wrong) and I’m not going to like every decision they make but expressing disagreement with decisions doesn’t mean I don’t support them. It’s been such a divisive time the last few years that we need to move past that so every decision doesn’t feel like a referendum on the management. It’s fine to debate a decision and that doesn’t mean you are calling for their head. They need time to implement their vision but it’s also fine to flag what we’d have done differently in their shoes.

I get that they are working off more information than I have (although I don’t think you are right when you say u23 games as I don’t believe Gard actually ever lined-up for the u23s in the Maher era, although he played (and scored) in the B team game v Brentford) but as we’ve been safe for months I’d have liked to have seen more of Gard, more of Wood and these last few weeks more of Benton and Coker, particularly alongside Neal.

Ofc you can disagree with decisions they make that’s football and life. I personally liked when Atkinson played. Rated hard but didn’t seem to do much at first team level unfortunately .

 

[OldBlueLady]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1526481506331512832

 

[BoyWonder2]

John White is gone I’m hearing. His social media posts reflect that also.

Massively unsurprising, and a bit of a shame he ultimately stayed a bit too long, but has been an unsung hero and very rarely let us down over the years.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

And feel for @Suffolk Shrimper In Dorset, his phone bill and time will take a hammering signing all these guys up!

 

[Jai]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1526481506331512832

Absolutely. Just as fans demand unswerving loyalty from players to the badge at all times, when players are losing their livelihoods they deserve to be treated with some loyalty back, at least in the way of thanks or well wishes.

 

[Shrimper]

John White is gone I’m hearing. His social media posts reflect that also.

Massively unsurprising, and a bit of a shame he ultimately stayed a bit too long, but has been an unsung hero and very rarely let us down over the years.

Reckon he'll retire?

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

@Shrimper I would expect him to be pulling his boots on for Woodbridge, Billericay or similar non league next season. Fair money, a few training sessions and get on with his "day" job selling cars or what ever.

 

[shrimperjon]

John White is gone I’m hearing. His social media posts reflect that also.

Massively unsurprising, and a bit of a shame he ultimately stayed a bit too long, but has been an unsung hero and very rarely let us down over the years.

Was really hoping that he would be involved at the club still and may still be (ambassador maybe), but he has business interests away from football so maybe thats where his path will take him. Either way is defo one player that will always be welcomed back to RH and rightly so

 

[JAL]

John White is gone I’m hearing. His social media posts reflect that also.

Massively unsurprising, and a bit of a shame he ultimately stayed a bit too long, but has been an unsung hero and very rarely let us down over the years.

I listened to him on BBC Essex after the match on Sunday and he sounded very much like he wanted to stay playing football for a bit, he said he is accessing his options first.

He also said he didn't really see himself in the coaching aspect but never knows,

Said he has a lot of holidays to get through first!

 

[Murkey_Mouse]

If we are to push for a playoff space we need to do the following in my opinion:

Retain:
Arnold
Ralph
Hobson
Bridge
Atkinson
Andeng Ndi
Davies

Keep or replace with better :
Ogogo
Akinola
ANG
Demi

Gamble on a couple of the youth players and release the rest

Get rid of Ogogo, Akinola, Ang & Demi (unless we offer him an coaching role) as there are younger & more athletic players in NL (especially Dagenham/Boreham/Woking players that we can snap up on similar wages than the 4!).

 

[Murkey_Mouse]

John White still have lots to offer in football, I hope he join an ambitious Essex non league side who is looking to try and win promotion to NL.

 

[amsemp]

Would actually like to see us hang on to Matt Rush. I still think there’s a player in there and I don’t think we should give up on him just yet. Think he’s worth a one year deal with an option of another year and a full season loan to the National League South.

 

[danbowen]

Would actually like to see us hang on to Matt Rush. I still think there’s a player in there and I don’t think we should give up on him just yet. Think he’s worth a one year deal with an option of another year and a full season loan to the National League South.

I haven’t seen much of him to suggest he is going to be anywhere near what we need and is never going to get near what we already have or what we would be looking to sign if a new striker is needed. He is far too small and lightweight for this level in my opinion too. I get the impression from alot of comments on here that fans, rightly, want the youth players to do well however we have to accept when they aren’t to the standard we need and move them on for the clubs sake. It’s all very nice sticking by them but ultimately football is a results business and players know this when they sign up to it.

 

[hlane17]

I haven’t seen much of him to suggest he is going to be anywhere near what we need and is never going to get near what we already have or what we would be looking to sign if a new striker is needed. He is far too small and lightweight for this level in my opinion too. I get the impression from alot of comments on here that fans, rightly, want the youth players to do well however we have to accept when they aren’t to the standard we need and move them on for the clubs sake. It’s all very nice sticking by them but ultimately football is a results business and players know this when they sign up to it.

Agreed. Perhaps Matt will do it the 'hard way' by getting released, joining a NLS club and upping his game.

Also just an observation, it does appear that it's been a common theme that our academy might be producing players with decent technical ability but they often lack the physicality to go with it.

 

[sufc4life21]

John White still have lots to offer in football, I hope he join an ambitious Essex non league side who is looking to try and win promotion to NL.

Chelmsford wouldn't be bad move for white to see out his footballing career.

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

Would actually like to see us hang on to Matt Rush. I still think there’s a player in there and I don’t think we should give up on him just yet. Think he’s worth a one year deal with an option of another year and a full season loan to the National League South.

Personally think Rush will need to leave if he's to further his career. I watched him the other week for Chelmsford and whilst it's hard to gauge as he was playing right mid in a team that just about survived relegation, he didn't stand out as a player from a higher level. I was lead to believe he had another year on his deal but perhaps not. He'll also potentially be a casualty of the new B Team

 

[Tilson_Blues]

Wonder if we will hear today if players had meetings yesterday