|
|
Post by richardg on Aug 3, 2024 20:38:08 GMT
I’m not overly concerned about today’s result but the squad depth already looks light and 2 of our new signings haven’t kicked a ball yet. Up front we are a Lavery injury away from disaster like last Christmas with no strikers. I still believe we are a CB light as well. Before Portugal with the flurry of new signings I was optimistic but not having added since is a concern. Yes we’ve the whole of August left but pre season is about integrating players into the squad/club..Big 7 days ahead for Mr Strang but then we’ve (I’ve) been saying that for years. It’s the one part of the club that hasn’t seen change in years. Every year we have massive injury concerns. I get we don’t have huge budget, but we also prefer to gamble on older players with poor injury records rather than non league players. We don’t do trialists ? Peterborough had a few today. We always seem to say we have missed out on a few targets. Last year we had a forward crisis, we have previously the season before had a Centre back crisis. When players are interviewed it’s normally the manager that is mentioned not Ben. We don’t sell on players they normally leave on an feee and have given loft a four year contract whose record is very questionable. As you say managers have been and gone but Ben strang has kept his job it’s a big season for him I would say as his record is average at best. |
|
danboyb
Youth team regular
Posts: 899
Member is Online
|
Post by danboyb on Aug 3, 2024 20:47:41 GMT
It’s looking likely that the team who started last night will be very close to the one that begins the new season. No real problem with that but right now it’s slightly worrying that the team picks itself. That’s not a healthy position to be starting a season with.
Bennett is the interesting one. Seems strange that he was the only first choice (bar Morrison but I’m guessing he wasn’t available last night either) that didn’t play yesterday.There has to be doubt as to whether he’ll be here come the end of the month.
I’ve no problem with the signing of Loft, although it’s far from ideal that he’ll be missing for a short while. But I was hoping we’d have added another striker by now. It’s not a time for panic, but we looked better prepared for the season 2 weeks ago than we currently do now.
Certain things look promising on paper but we need to get them on the pitch for that to come to fruition. Influence from the bench has helped us massively in the last couple of seasons, as has a good start, I’m a little worried we’re not going to get either. Still time though and a couple of reinforcements change that.
|
|
danielcufc
First team star
Posts: 9,479
Favourite CUFC player: Dion Dublin
Favourite CUFC match: Peterborough 1, Cambridge 5 London Road 3.1.1989
|
Post by danielcufc on Aug 3, 2024 21:09:43 GMT
Bennett is the interesting one. Seems strange that he was the only first choice (bar Morrison but I’m guessing he wasn’t available last night either) that didn’t play yesterday.There has to be doubt as to whether he’ll be here come the end of the month. Iquote] Seen a few comments that his head has been turned by interest from other clubs. I imagine we have tried to extend his career contract but he has refused. |
|
Brophypants
Reserve team star
What are you doing with my badge? :(
Posts: 4,538
Favourite CUFC player: Harrison Dunk
|
Post by Brophypants on Aug 3, 2024 21:17:48 GMT
I’m not overly concerned about today’s result but the squad depth already looks light and 2 of our new signings haven’t kicked a ball yet. Up front we are a Lavery injury away from disaster like last Christmas with no strikers. I still believe we are a CB light as well. Before Portugal with the flurry of new signings I was optimistic but not having added since is a concern. Yes we’ve the whole of August left but pre season is about integrating players into the squad/club..Big 7 days ahead for Mr Strang but then we’ve (I’ve) been saying that for years. It’s the one part of the club that hasn’t seen change in years. Every year we have massive injury concerns. I get we don’t have huge budget, but we also prefer to gamble on older players with poor injury records rather than non league players. We don’t do trialists ? Peterborough had a few today. We always seem to say we have missed out on a few targets. Last year we had a forward crisis, we have previously the season before had a Centre back crisis. When players are interviewed it’s normally the manager that is mentioned not Ben. We don’t sell on players they normally leave on an feee and have given loft a four year contract whose record is very questionable. As you say managers have been and gone but Ben strang has kept his job it’s a big season for him I would say as his record is average at best. Nahh, Ben gets mentioned plenty in player interviews. Often something along the lines of "what made you decide in the end this was the club for you?" "yeah well I was speaking with Ben and the gaff and it all kind of lined up and err" etc |
|
|
|
Post by Tom Shaw's Fist of Rage on Aug 3, 2024 21:21:26 GMT
While I see your concerns, I take this as a positive not a negative. We've ultimately been successful 4 seasons in a row - that is incredibly rare. While I want to keep growing I also fear that if we get rid of everything that made us successful we end up with a Trigger's Broom situation where we have a bad year, fall back to where we were before Bonner and don't have anyone left who was part of the success in the first place so are none the wiser on how or why. Sporting directors are never going to be popular with fans but he seems to be liked and respected from those who matter. Barry and co were ruthless with Bonner when it mattered so I believe there's a good reason Strang is still here. What is that good reason then do you believe why he is still here then out of interest ? I’m genuinely intrigued! We’ve sacked 2 promotion winning managers in his time here. We’ve changed CEO’s, club secretaries, sports science yet the ‘recruitment’ side stays the same. I know we aren’t the highest in terms of budget yet it seems each season we are short particularly in forward areas The owners were ruthless with Bonner but keep the kingmaker each year. I just feel it’s an area that needs looking at. Hopefully we sign a few more and I eat my words! I don't know the reason but if I were to guess they'd say his record overall in recruitment is pretty good and has identified talent that has been deemed surplus to requirements elsewhere but have done a good job here. Digby, Iredale, Mullin and Ironside spring to mind (as do most the Conference promotion team if we are including his first spell). I'd agree with the poster who said we've not particularly impressed with young talent bar maybe Smith. Ultimately as I said previously we've succeeded year on year with our targets so unlike a manager who it makes sense to change mid year for a bump in results, there's no reason to change him. Don't see him as a kingmaker, Bonner was almost universally liked and they were happy to make that change. People are mildly positive about Strang at best and quite a lot seem to be strongly against him which to me seems harsh but he's hardly unavailable which suggests that the board believe he's getting value from the budget and helping us hit our targets. |
|
|
|
Post by svh on Aug 3, 2024 21:22:48 GMT
I think we’ll line up like this next week.
Reyes
Ibsen-Rossi Morro Watts
Bennett KaiKai Smith Brophy Andrew
Kachunga
Lavery
|
|
|
|
Post by Tom Shaw's Fist of Rage on Aug 3, 2024 21:38:48 GMT
Something I've not really considered until just now is say we did bin off Strang at the end of the season (presumably only if we are relegated) what would the process be to get a new one? Surely we are towards if not at the bottom end of clubs that it's a viable structure to have one so it's not like we can pluck an up and coming one from somewhere else, do they move around much at this level, is there a market for out of work former failures? I know we could bin off the whole structure but I can't see that happening and anyway I imagine most managers are used to it these days, whereas in the past it might have been unusual.
|
|
|
|
Post by stevo501 on Aug 3, 2024 21:49:36 GMT
Why is Strang being blamed. These are some amazing transfers this summer and he’s done some good ones for the past few seasons. Mullin, smith, joe, knibbs, Wes, iredale, jones, gassan, mitov (i think), mannion, jubril, may, digby, Williams, lennet, gibbo and probably a few more I’ve forgotten. All of these are players who either played lots of times for us or players who we’ve had for not long but have gone to bigger and better teams
|
|
|
|
Post by The Abbey Stalker on Aug 3, 2024 22:19:39 GMT
Think Strang has managed to get a lot out of whatever budget is available for quite a few seasons now. However the sale of players is an area it feels like we’ve underperformed in. Letting players run out contracts and leave for free when we maybe needed to be a little bit braver in the previous transfer windows. Appreciate players, their agents and the board have added influence but we don’t seem setup to cash out where we can.
Bennett may be a turning point. He’s clearly not interested in a new contract and the decision to field him in today’s friendly instead of last night might be a bit of statement from the club. If he doesn’t accept a move now he might be out in the cold, his replacement has already been signed and we have a promising youngster on the way up.
Intrigued to see how this one plays out.
|
|
|
|
Post by fatherjhackett on Aug 3, 2024 22:26:29 GMT
How was Sheep Head received by his adoring fans? Actually very well. Lyle went off at half time and spent the second half chatting to our stewards and also to our fans, happily giving out hugs and selfies. No animosity from either side whatsoever. Spiffing. I've always admired him. As a Christianist that's exactly what I was hoping to hear. I am held together by God's love. |
|
danielcufc
First team star
Posts: 9,479
Favourite CUFC player: Dion Dublin
Favourite CUFC match: Peterborough 1, Cambridge 5 London Road 3.1.1989
|
Post by danielcufc on Aug 3, 2024 23:53:36 GMT
Why is Strang being blamed. These are some amazing transfers this summer and he’s done some good ones for the past few seasons. Mullin, smith, joe, knibbs, Wes, iredale, jones, gassan, mitov (i think), mannion, jubril, may, digby, Williams, lennet, gibbo and probably a few more I’ve forgotten. All of these are players who either played lots of times for us or players who we’ve had for not long but have gone to bigger and better teams Must get the DVD out on this last weekend before the season starts and watch the Strang highlights reel. Haunstrup. Azeez Lambe, Tolaj , Janneh, Bonne, Cousins & Stevens if we are name dropping. Deegan, Ibhere & McGurk and a few more I’ve (glady) forgotten. |
|
Andrewlang
Cult hero
Posts: 18,143
Member is Online
|
Post by Andrewlang on Aug 4, 2024 0:34:32 GMT
McGurk'd've been a Derry signing fwiw.
Strang came back in October 2016 so his first window would've been Jake Carroll, Liam O'Neil and Paul Lewis...
Andrew
|
|
TallPaddy
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,099
Favourite CUFC player: tom finney
Favourite CUFC match: Arsenal away Fa cup
|
Post by TallPaddy on Aug 4, 2024 0:54:35 GMT
A cufc under 18s team lost 2-1 to Histon u18s on Tuesday night. Histon had 2 disallowed goals as well. I was very conflicted being the father of one of the Histon CBs!
I really never thought I'd want any team to beat any united team!
|
|
madmarvin
Reserve team substitute
Posts: 2,088
|
Post by madmarvin on Aug 4, 2024 7:31:25 GMT
This silly two games in two days needs a rethink next summer. Ridiculous. Absolutely this. It's not about the result as we all know that pre-season results are, to a large extent, meaningless but having watched almost every single pre-season friendly over the last 25 years that we have been allowed to attend, I have never seen such an embarrassing mismatch as I did yesterday. A game that gave some minutes to just three first team players but will have done very little for our young players. A consequence of the Friday-Saturday-Friday-Saturday routine is that should you pick up the inevitable knocks during pre-season it gives a lightweight squad no chance of being able to compensate for those losses. A Tuesday-Saturday schedule might at least give you the option of being able to replace the injured players with those of similar experience to help the young players along. Obviously you wouldn't want to be giving two 90 minute matches to players in four days but it's possible that they could have managed 30 minutes here or there to aid tiring legs and minds. As I said it's not about losing a pre-season friendly, it's about devising a schedule that hopefully means we can avoid any repetition of what happened yesterday and protects our younger players. |
|
pepe
On trial
Posts: 229
|
Post by pepe on Aug 4, 2024 7:34:42 GMT
Why is Strang being blamed. These are some amazing transfers this summer and he’s done some good ones for the past few seasons. Mullin, smith, joe, knibbs, Wes, iredale, jones, gassan, mitov (i think), mannion, jubril, may, digby, Williams, lennet, gibbo and probably a few more I’ve forgotten. All of these are players who either played lots of times for us or players who we’ve had for not long but have gone to bigger and better teams Hi Ben, pull your finger out. |
|
