Time for the summer clearout

[* ORM *]

Quote[/b] (steveh1510 @ May 10 2004,12:27)]The problem with Nicolau as a left back (and to a certain extent Duncan Jupp also) is he is a luxury at left back. In a promotion chasing team, having a left back who can get forward and provide a team with goals is fantastic, and a luxury that can be afforded due to the strength of the rest of the team to cover. In a mid-table side (as we have been since we came here) this type of full back can be a liability.

We had no problems getting out of this division with Edinburgh as left back, but it does prove your theory. Edinburgh was a fantastic attacking left back whose defensive deficiencies were covered by others.

I'm comfortable with Nicolau at left back with all his faults, and he does still have age on his side, as long as we strengthen the defence.

 

[Barmy Army]

GK Stuart Brock has been released by Kiddy today, is he any good?

(He's 6'1" for all those who feel a keeper needs to be 6'+)

 

[Fiftyone]

If we are serious about promotion next season we need to be ruthless with the players we retain.
Forgetting who has or has not signed a contract, the following are the only players, from the present squad, who I feel could get us promoted:

Cort
Maher
Gower
Smith
Pettefer
Dudfield
Constantine

The rest are squad players at best.

Signing a good goalkeeper should be the number one priority this summer.

 

[Guest]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ May 10 2004,10:33)]It's a tricky one.  However, if Leo Roget decided to leave Rushden in the summer and come back to Roots Hall, I'd have him in favour of Leon Cort without a second's thought.

Sorry have to disagree 100%, there's no way I'd take Roget over Cort. Leo Roget and his temperament was a liability to this football club, Cort is far more dependable for Southend United.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Fiftyone @ May 10 2004,19:29)]If we are serious about promotion next season we need to be ruthless with the players we retain:

Cort
Maher
Gower
Smith
Pettefer
Dudfield
Constantine

Wow, a very harsh cull there, Fifty-one.

Not sure I agree with you about Leon Cort being the #1 defender... I'd probably rate him third behind Wozza & Hunt.  However, given his exemplary fitness record, I'd say he was an important part of a promotion-chasing squad.

I also believe that a fit Jimmy Corbett has the class & versatility to unlock defences at this level, and that he's worth persevering with.

Jupp has been retained whether we like it or not.

Nicolau has looked better than any left-sided player we've had at the club since Nathan Jones, certainly; and possibly since Sir Chrissy Powell himself.

You appear to have overlooked Mark Bentley, who I believe will prove to be one of Tilly's best signings.  Rangy, tall, quick, committed, a hard tackler, gets forward and scores... basically, he has got the lot.

And Michael Kightly has, all of a sudden, become the forgotten man.  He's just a lad; and still has enormous potential IMHO.  He should be overlooked at our peril.

So, definites on my retained list are:

Jupp
Warren
Hunt
Cort
Nicolau
Pettefer
Gower
Maher
Bentley
Smith
Kightly
Corbett
Constantine
Dudfield

That leaves us with, of the current squad:

Stuart  
McSweeney
Bramble
Broughton
Clark
Robinson
Wilson
Husbands
Odunsi
Clark
Jenkins
Flahavan

Of those, the only convincing cases for keeping them (based on this season) are, IMHO, Flavs and Husbands - the former because it would be dangerous to go into the close season with no keeper at the club (as we found to our cost last season), the latter because he must surely be cheap and definitely had promise... so may fulfil that promise in the future.

The rest... I'll shed no tears for any of 'em, bar Jenkins.  Don't know where it has gone wrong with Neil.  Looked so full of promise, but simply hasn't delivered.  Would be interested in hearing from Mr. Craven (if he's around), since he'll have seen Neil a lot more than I will have done, given the amount of reserve games covered by TLG.

As for Tes... despite last Saturday, I think he just clouds the picture in terms of team selection at the club.  One brilliant game and nine duff ones per ten games simply isn't good enough if we're to be a success.

So, my retained squad (with squad nos.) for the close season is:

1. (vacant for GK)
2. Jupp
3. Nicolau
4. Warren
5. Cort
6. Maher
7. Gower
8. Smith
9. Dudfield
10. Constantine
11. Pettefer
12. Hunt
13. Flahavan
14. Bentley
15. Corbett
16. Kightly
17. Husbands

That leaves us with space for bringing in:

1 x GK
1 x Left Back
1 x Centre Forward
1 x Central Defender

I say the latter because Lewis Hunt is very versatile and thus crucial for the squad - he can cover Jupp at right back.  We should thus think about bringing in another high-quality central defender.

Nicolau, Gower, Kightly and Husbands provide the competition for left midfield, whilst Nicolau provides cover for the new left back brought in.

In central midfield, Maher, Smith, Bentley, Pettefer and Gower all provide plenty of ability and options.

For right mid, you've got Gower (again), Corbett and Constantine being the options... possibly scope for bringing in a loanee right-winger from a Premiership club once the season has started.

Up front, Dudders, Connie, Corbett, Husbands and the new centre-forward again provide lots of choice and ability.

So, there you've got it... a squad of 20, packed with ability, and one which with a couple of high-quality loanees could fire us to promotion.

Thus spake Matt the Shrimp, at any rate...

Matt

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

Hard to fault your logic Matt (as you're a lawyer we expect no less of course!).

I agree with about 90% of what you said. Although I must admit, despite his reputation among certain parts of our supporters, I would be tempted to keep Broughton. His goalscoring record, especially in the league, has been poor. However I like his "never say die" attitude and I would think (guess) that he's a good guy to have in the squad.

If Tilly can get someone better then I will defer, however I still rate Drewe as a good 3rd Division Centre Forward, and I think him and Dudfield together had the makings of a good partnership.

Other than that I'll go with plan MTS!

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

I'm undecided about Drewe. Part of me think he's a moderately psychologically unbalanced donkey; part of me think he's a "never say die" battler with considerable physical presence...

Glad you approve of the rest of the plan, though!

Matt

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

Would you consider a "football consultant to the board" role like Eddie Gray?

 

[sufcintheprem]

Definitely agree with comments about Bentley.

Reminds me of how David Platt used to be in Champ (when he was at Arsenal) and is the ideal versatile M C. It'll be seen whether he has the mentality to defend and attack as per his midfield partner but I am confident he can.

For a player to look so solid in a team after such a short time encourages me.

Also, BBC news ticker carried the headline 'Smith open to Man Utd offer' and I couldn't help but wonder which Smith they were talking about.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Shrimpergarry @ May 11 2004,11:24)]Would you consider a "football consultant to the board" role like Eddie Gray?

Bizarre, isn't it?!  How can a group of individuals run a club so badly?  If they wanted to sack him, then sack him.  Don't move him to some random role where he feels demoralised, and where he may potentially undermine the authority of a new man coming in...

Hey ho.

Matt

 

[Firestorm]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ May 11 2004,12:06)]

Quote[/b] (Shrimpergarry @ May 11 2004,11:24)]Would you consider a "football consultant to the board" role like Eddie Gray?

Bizarre, isn't it?!  How can a group of individuals run a club so badly?  If they wanted to sack him, then sack him.  Don't move him to some random role where he feels demoralised, and where he may potentially undermine the authority of a new man coming in...

Hey ho.

Matt

Move him to a role he doesn't like he resigns

sack him and there is severance pay etc etc

And unless he went to a tribunal for Constructive dismissal on the former they save money.......

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Quote[/b] (Firestorm @ May 11 2004,14:18)]Move him to a role he doesn't like he resigns

sack him and there is severance pay etc etc

And unless he went to a tribunal for Constructive dismissal on the former they save money.......

If they always had that in mind, they shouldn't have had him signed up to a contract beyond the end of the season; alternatively, they should have had a contract which entitled them to make him redundant upon relegation...

There's never an excuse for a poorly drafted contract...

Matt

 

[Beefy]

Quote[/b] (mighty_blues @ May 10 2004,15:53)]Northampton away showed the in-experience of Nicolau in defence. No real desperate need to do anything stupid and yet he gave the guy a soft yet blatant push. He needs more experience yet going forward he looks very comfortable

He's young and he's going to make mistakes. But the boy is clearly a class act and is going to get better. Its just whether that is going to happen here or somewhere else.

I'd have him at full-back rather than left wing. A talented attacking fullback offers teams a whole new dimension to their play and gives the opposition something else to think about. As long as he's got someone ahead of him who knows to cover for him occasionally (as Pettefer was doing so well until he got injured) then full back is his best position imo.

 

[Pato the Blue]

Quote[/b] (Beefy @ May 11 2004,18:41)]

Quote[/b] (mighty_blues @ May 10 2004,15:53)]Northampton away showed the in-experience of Nicolau in defence. No real desperate need to do anything stupid and yet he gave the guy a soft yet blatant push. He needs more experience yet going forward he looks very comfortable

He's young and he's going to make mistakes. But the boy is clearly a class act and is going to get better. Its just whether that is going to happen here or somewhere else.

I'd have him at full-back rather than left wing. A talented attacking fullback offers teams a whole new dimension to their play and gives the opposition something else to think about. As long as he's got someone ahead of him who knows to cover for him occasionally (as Pettefer was doing so well until he got injured) then full back is his best position imo.

yeah i agree with beefy. i feel nicolau at left back with pettifer at left midfield. they really had something going down the left side, until he got injured.

Really hope he stays with us and develops at Southend.

PaTo

 

[mighty_blues]

Quote[/b] (Pato the Blue @ May 11 2004,18:58)]

Quote[/b] (Beefy @ May 11 2004,18:41)]

Quote[/b] (mighty_blues @ May 10 2004,15:53)]Northampton away showed the in-experience of Nicolau in defence. No real desperate need to do anything stupid and yet he gave the guy a soft yet blatant push. He needs more experience yet going forward he looks very comfortable

He's young and he's going to make mistakes. But the boy is clearly a class act and is going to get better. Its just whether that is going to happen here or somewhere else.

I'd have him at full-back rather than left wing. A talented attacking fullback offers teams a whole new dimension to their play and gives the opposition something else to think about. As long as he's got someone ahead of him who knows to cover for him occasionally (as Pettefer was doing so well until he got injured) then full back is his best position imo.

yeah i agree with beefy. i feel nicolau at left back with pettifer at left midfield. they really had something going down the left side, until he got injured.

Really hope he stays with us and develops at Southend.

PaTo

He is a class act and with experience he will only get better. Totally agree

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (BluePartridge @ May 09 2004,19:26)]I don't think Jenkins should go. I saw him at Boston he can really play football,

One swallow doesnt make a summer. He hasn't impressed on any other occasions this season and in my opinion should be released. This should be our squad next season:

Flavs
Jupp
Warren
Hunt
Nicolau
Stuart
Petterfer
Odunsi
Smith
Maher
Bentley
Gower
Corbett
Constantine
Dudfield

I know everyone on here hates Flavs, but he's a good keeper and we're not going to be able to buy much better. We just need a number 2 to challenge him, maybe this scum player will do the job. I know I've missed out Cort, IMO he's had a poor season and there a lot of better defenders than him out there. Controversial I know but there have been too many goals where he's failed to mark up properly, Torquay's second being a good example.

The rest are a waste of space get rid of them.

 

[moneypit23]

Quote[/b] (shrimpboy @ May 11 2004,20:33)]I know everyone on here hates Flavs, but he's a good keeper and we're not going to be able to buy much better.

No he isn't. He's been the cause of too many goals given away from set pieces by staying glued to his line. He has decent shot stopping ability, nothing more. Give me a keeper over 6 foot who comes out for crosses and occasionally misses the odd one and I'll be happy - and before anyone picks up on that and mentions Emberson, he's gone and is history so don't even bother.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

We need to strengthen the defence - saying bye bye to Cort (cue abuse - but I'm sorry Cort has to go. Ran ragged by a 4ft 2 forward yesterday a perfect demonstration).

I was having a trawl of threads re Kightly when I stumbled across this gem from * ORM *, in which he demonstrates that his visionary qualities remain as undimmed as ever.

:finger:

 

[chadded]

I was having a trawl of threads re Kightly when I stumbled across this gem from * ORM *, in which he demonstrates that his visionary qualities remain as undimmed as ever.

:finger:

But in earlier posts on this thread you agreed with him!

As Chris Kamara would say......


Unbelievable Jeff!!

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

But in earlier posts on this thread you agreed with him!

As Chris Kamara would say......


Unbelievable Jeff!!

B*gger. Rumbled!

:p

Actually, unlike ORM, I never advocated getting rid of him - unless Leo Roget had been available.

;)