Recruitment

[jacobncfc]

I would also say that, as much as it seems a simple argument, this basically all comes down to Roberts. Loads is made of losing Dennis and Thomas, but to be honest I thought that last season we were a solid but unspectacular team that looked likely to finish in the lower play-off places until we signed Roberts, who was the spark to turn that into one of the best teams in this league. This season, with Roberts injured, I think we’re pretty much back to looking how we did before Cal joined last season.

The problem is that, with the number of experienced Football League professionals NA has been allowed to sign and the money we’re presumably paying them, being completely reliant on a kid signed from Blyth Spartans isn’t really good enough.

[SwalePie]

I would also say that, as much as it seems a simple argument, this basically all comes down to Roberts. Loads is made of losing Dennis and Thomas, but to be honest I thought that last season we were a solid but unspectacular team that looked likely to finish in the lower play-off places until we signed Roberts, who was the spark to turn that into one of the best teams in this league. This season, with Roberts injured, I think we’re pretty much back to looking how we did before Cal joined last season.

The problem is that, with the number of experienced Football League professionals NA has been allowed to sign and the money we’re presumably paying them, being completely reliant on a kid signed from Blyth Spartans isn’t really good enough.

I agree that Roberts arrival was the injection of magic needed to spark our attack into a higher gear. I hope Knight can use his much vaunted pace and energy to have a similar effect soon. If that works out and then Roberts returns in decent physical and mental condition we might start firing on all cylinders. If Knight can be the pacy outlet for beating the high press and Roberts can use his glue-covered boots to feed the forward line (and Enzio and Sam can delve into their bag of worldies more frequently) we can still make a push.

When looking back a couple of months to some of the high quality footie we played for the odd half a game it is important to remember that these are the same players and they still have that capability in their lockers. I'm hoping IB can find the key and bring it back out to play.

[ancientpie]

I think that many of the squad are playing at this level for a reason, you can have all the talent & potential in the world but without the right attitude & application it counts for nothing & although recruitment has been mixed at best it must be difficult to find good pro's on the cheap.

[countygump]

I think that many of the squad are playing at this level for a reason, you can have all the talent & potential in the world but without the right attitude & application it counts for nothing & although recruitment has been mixed at best it must be difficult to find good pro's on the cheap.

Are we looking to sign players 'on the cheap' tho, Kev? I'm not sure we are. I would imagine our wages would match most of the clubs in this divvy? Personally I put it down to poor recruitment and too much reliance on older pros who were never really up to the job anyway.

[i961pie]

When looking back a couple of months to some of the high quality footie we played for the odd half a game it is important to remember that these are the same players and they still have that capability in their lockers. I'm hoping IB can find the key and bring it back out to play.

I hope he can, let's hope we get the new manager bounce. Cotterill did it, Lee Johnson is doing it at Sunderland and Ismael at Barnsley plus many others have so why not IB?

[Observerpie]

I hope he can, let's hope we get the new manager bounce. Cotterill did it, Lee Johnson is doing it at Sunderland and Ismael at Barnsley plus many others have so why not IB?

Maybe they've got more to work with, not the bunch of bottlers that we've got.