Playing the Game

[Alan Southstand]

Its certainly got round to that time of the year when everyone and anyone starts speculating about what's round the corner, or more specifically, what the close season will bring.

Without going into names of players and who and who isn't leaving/coming, I strongly believe that the Club's/SOD's stategy this summer will be to try and keep the bulk of the team together for next season without bringing in too many new faces. Let me explain:

IF you consider all the loanees that we've had this last season, you have to think that they have all been success stories, to a greater or lesser degree. Gillet? I'd take him now; Shackell? in the blink of an eye; Sharp? must have; Mutch? yes please, for another season-long loan; JET? absolutely, and preferably another season-long loanee. Even Ward wouldn't be out of the question, as he fitted into our style of play beautifully.

SOD hardly need look any further than to have these lads return again, in some form or other next season. The question needs asking - just where would we have been at the end of the season, IF we'd had the services of Sharp, Shackell, Gillet and JET from the start of the season to the finish? Answer - we'd have been damn close to automatic!

Of the 10 lads who've been offered new deals, we may lose the odd one or two, I hope not but it may happen, but those disappointments would be miniscule at the side of us not getting the services of a large percentage of our last season's loan players.

I wait with baited breath!

[CusworthRovers]

Or and also, as Sean has stated in the Free Press, had we kept Mills and Wellens.........and then did what we did this season with the loanees, additions, then we would have made the play offs at least.

[RobTheRover]

I agree, and it can be no secret that Sharp and Shacks are on SOD's shopping list.  Is it better to make these players ours rather than loan them?  Of course it is, so we need to see whether we can get those 2 in first before looking at what else we need.  The exception to that, for me, is JET and Mutch.  Both of them blossomed as their stay with us went on, and I feel a full season with us (including the pre-season) will benefit both of them, their parent clubs and us no end.

[Alan Southstand]

I ought to add to the above post, re last season's performance, that when you also consider we were without the services of both Stock and Woods (from our midfield 'engine room') for a biggish proportion of the season, then it is mind-blowing to think that if all those things had come together, we could have mounted a much stiffer challenge.

Our weakness last season was with the squad, not the first team. There were quite a few games, that I remember, where we could have done with someone, on the bench, who could come on and make the difference. The reality, of course, was that we had very little substance behind the main first teamers. We've been 'fire-fighters', if you like, responding to injuries to major players by bringing in loanees, rather than setting out a plan of action to make things happen from the off - reaction rather than pro-action.

I realise it comes down to funds/budgets, etc and we probably can't afford to put the ideal SOD/ROK plan together, but if we did seriously want it, I think we have nouse, within the management team, to get us there.

[Surrey Rover]

Alan Southstand wrote:

 but if we did seriously want it, I think we have nouse, within the management team, to get us there.

We have all the attributes Alan with one major exception; the support through the turnstiles, which continues to fall well short of what JR,SOD and the club as a whole deserve on the basis of what has been achieved in recent times.

[Jonathan]

Where JET and Mutch are concerned, I think we would have to be prepared for them to spend pre-season with their parent clubs as is often the protocol for loaning youngsters. If we could get them just before the season starts then that would be fine in my opinion, we don't need to 'induct them' as such as they are already familiar with the club.

Bringing in established players like Shackell and Sharp, while retaining the service of existing players has to be the absolute priority.

Of the out of contract players, Oster has made himself practically irreplaceable and is surely the priority. Also crucially important are Hayter, Roberts and Sullivan, not least because they have been brilliant and consistent players and would be costly to replace. Wilson has also played his way into an extra year.

Having let a number of players go, I would imagine we will need to bolster the squad with some additional quality, and the likes of Gillet, Pitman etc. would enhance our overall strength.

After last summer, I have no expectations, so we'll see what happens.....

[crossydrfc]

i heard that billy sharp has been offered a contract by JR but hes gone on holiday to think about his offer and think what he wants to do
and also iv heard that SOD and JR are letting JET go back but then trying to get him on a season long loan next season  

[Alan Southstand]

the support through the turnstiles

A very good point, but the Club have not exactly bent over backwards in finding new ways to get people in, in the first place. When you think back at what we've had, the crowd numbers are very encouraging, presently, given that the choices by which one could take a seat at the KMS are fairly limited (Hobson's comes to mind).

We need to reach out to the fans in a different way and I believe the days have gone when you could just say - look, we're in the CCC, how could you not come? Its obviously not the standard or style of football that's keeping people away, so what is it and have the Club gone to any length to find out?

Cost is a major factor (obviously), but the need to be flexible with people comes a very close 2nd, arguably. Presently, there's not much of the latter about.

The factors have been covered in numerous threads in the past and, to date, the Club have taken little or no action.

Then, when you think of the summer we had last season, it was hardly inspiring stuff to any budding new supporter. Constantly being bombarded with we can't afford this, that and the other and then the season panned out a little bit differently, I think you'll agree.

[crossydrfc]

i agree with you totally the thing we need is a big name here at the KMS but all the bord are scared about is goign into administration but we are a very finacally stable club soo in the summer they need to either bring in a good proven goal socrer and even if its on loan we need a big name to bring people here coz atm our support to the lads could be alot better :/

[mushRTID]

crossydrfc wrote:

i agree with you totally the thing we need is a big name here at the KMS but all the bord are scared about is goign into administration but we are a very finacally stable club soo in the summer they need to either bring in a good proven goal socrer and even if its on loan we need a big name to bring people here coz atm our support to the lads could be alot better :/

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

[crossydrfc]

i crnt spell but the point is right tho

[Drover]

Tickled me how you could spell Administration but not Board?

Hope you not our old friend Carling in Disguise