joe77
On trial
Posts: 232
|
Post by joe77 on Sept 17, 2024 10:15:06 GMT
Before deciding we're absolutely atrocious because a few smaller clubs with more money are doing okay, it's worth looking at all of the other clubs that aren't. In fairness, I didn't say that. It might be your interpretation of me being critical in a way that you may find unacceptable, but it wasn't what I said. If we are looking to kick on and implement our ambitions rather than just talk about them, then there are other clubs of similar size (or arguably smaller) who are consistently out-performing us that we could look at as an example. Clearly there are clubs below us who could probably offer examples of how not to do things, but then we could probably do the same for the likes of Stevenage. The club talked about kicking on in the summer and implied they felt they had the resources to do it and we're all debating why it hasn't happened as yet, so other clubs of similar size who have are the ones to be looking to for examples of how it can be done. However, I realise talk of kicking on can be a sensitive subject.
|
|
imp566
Cult hero
Posts: 16,702
|
Post by imp566 on Sept 17, 2024 10:38:44 GMT
I thought this thread was about Shayne Lavery......so much divergence on display!
|
|
joe77
On trial
Posts: 232
|
Post by joe77 on Sept 17, 2024 10:43:55 GMT
I thought this thread was about Shayne Lavery......so much divergence on display! Think it's just developed into the impact his injury could have on plans/prospects for the season, tbf.
|
|
joe77
On trial
Posts: 232
|
Post by joe77 on Sept 17, 2024 10:52:57 GMT
I see Stevenage as a bit of a benchmark case for how good use can be made of what must be limited resources at this level. They almost certainly have a bigger budget than us but they have a smaller fan base, so seem a fair comparison with how we've done since promotion On the verge of slipping back into the Conference, they changed their manager and were able to significantly strengthen their squad and got promoted. Their form was very good for most of last season, although they fell away a little towards the end but finished closer to the playoff's than the bottom. They have had a decent start again this time around and currently sit ninth in the table when many expected them to struggle this season. They may yet fall away, but they appear to have made far better use of their resources than we have of ours. Yes, we've had relative success staying at this level for as long as we have, but their are other clubs on limited resource who seem to be able to make better use of them and kick on, rather than simply talking about wanting to kick on. The pre-season talk coming out of the club was very positive and probably a little too ambitious and that's added to my sense of disillusionment at the start we've made. Forget Stevenage – we can talk about them in another 2 seasons' time if they're still here – it's Wycombe, Shrewsbury & Exeter we should be looking at. Wycombe have a much different model to us but have gone up to the Championship & have very much stabilised at this level; Shrewsbury have been circling the drain for the past couple of seasons but have been here 10 years; Exeter are probably the closest to us in terms of size, fanbase, budget & model & look to be making a decent fist of re-establishing themselves here, and basically do all of the things we aspire to in terms of a being decent to watch & producing players and selling them on. I still see Stevenage as a valid comparison for their recent seasons which are somewhat similar to how we found our way to L1. Exeter very much so. Northampton also, maybe Burton still despite their recent ownership change, maybe Leyton Orient also who are showing signs they could get out of the bottom four. Less so Shrewsbury, because I think this could be one season too many for them at L1. Definitely less so Wycombe due to their recent history and new ownership.
|
|
danielcufc
First team star
Posts: 9,046
Favourite CUFC player: Dion Dublin
Favourite CUFC match: Peterborough 1, Cambridge 5 London Road 3.1.1989
|
Post by danielcufc on Sept 17, 2024 10:56:14 GMT
I think they are both to blame and there seems a disconnect in what Monk wants to do and some of the players bought in. Monk decided to keeo the likes of Kachunga & KaiKai so that's down to him when I believe we could have got better value as neither will be on peanuts. He then decided to move on Lankester - which may have been right - but who could probably fit better into his system IMO than the 2 mentioned. He wanted to keep Mannion but he obviously took a better deal elsewhere. Contract extensions on the likes of Cousins and controversially maybe Morrison were out of his hands. The bigger recruitment issue - that has been highlighted on the Radio and Podcasts today - is the general stategy of signing injury prone elder players which then leads to huge turnover every summer. We have little in the way of Assets unless Barton, Jobe etc develop and are eventually sold. That is down to Strang as he is Sporting Director and the fact it has happened for a few seasons has to be questioned.
This is bull s**t with respect - I have no idea why so many fans bang on about us buying injured players all the time, I don't think we do. Posted this on FB: Lavery played 106 games for Balckpool in 3 seasons, so 35 a season which does not suggest an injury prone player. Smith 162 in 4 seasons, Gardner has been solid up to last 2 seasons (was that injury or not being picked?), Loft 79 in 2 seasons, we know Andrew, Digby & Brophy are rarely out, Morro is pretty good for an oldie, Kachunga 89 in 2 seasons. So overall I think our record is pretty good. Rossi has been out a lot but as a player with limited experience, hard to read / judge. Fejiri was a known gamble and did well when fit. Dunk struggled last season but lots of good years, and Haunstrup was a disaster. Don't think we are much better or worse than other teams, they all get injuries. But as we do have a low budget we will sign players on way down who could be slightly more prone to injury, but we can't do much about that. Watts has had injury concerns at previous clubs. So had Cousins, Thomas , Fejri, Haunstrup we sign some every year. Yes you can take a gamble on a Fejiri and it paid off when used as an impact sub. Gassan had had them at Ipswich and missed a chunk of last season. Not all signings are injury prone but it does have a knock on effect every season. By not having options up top every year we end up 'breaking' our forwards and its happend again.
|
|
|
Post by El Goodo on Sept 17, 2024 10:59:48 GMT
Forget Stevenage – we can talk about them in another 2 seasons' time if they're still here – it's Wycombe, Shrewsbury & Exeter we should be looking at. Wycombe have a much different model to us but have gone up to the Championship & have very much stabilised at this level; Shrewsbury have been circling the drain for the past couple of seasons but have been here 10 years; Exeter are probably the closest to us in terms of size, fanbase, budget & model & look to be making a decent fist of re-establishing themselves here, and basically do all of the things we aspire to in terms of a being decent to watch & producing players and selling them on. I still see Stevenage as a valid comparison for their recent seasons which are somewhat similar to how we found out way to L1. Less so Shrewsbury, because I think this could be one season too many for them at L1. Definitely less so Wycombe due to their recent history and new ownership. Wycombe's takeover was in May. Prior to that, they'd spent the past 7 seasons either in L1 or the Championship. Stevenage are 5 games into their second season back at this level. Shrewbsury are 6 games into their 10th. My point is it's too early really to judge whether Stevenage have "kicked on" or not – we'll see in a year or so's time but remember this is a team that's only finished above us in the league 3 times in the past 10 years – but regardless of their current circumstances, in terms of clubs of a roughly similar size, Wycombe & Shrewsbury are the ones that have actually done the things we're aiming to.
|
|
Brophypants
Reserve team star
What are you doing with my badge? :(
Posts: 4,391
Favourite CUFC player: Harrison Dunk
|
Post by Brophypants on Sept 17, 2024 10:59:58 GMT
Before deciding we're absolutely atrocious because a few smaller clubs with more money are doing okay, it's worth looking at all of the other clubs that aren't. In fairness, I didn't say that. It might be your interpretation of me being critical in a way that you may find unacceptable, but it wasn't what I said. If we are looking to kick on and implement our ambitions rather than just talk about them, then there are other clubs of similar size (or arguably smaller) who are consistently out-performing us that we could look at as an example. Clearly there are clubs below us who could probably offer examples of how not to do things, but then we could probably do the same for the likes of Stevenage. The club talked about kicking on in the summer and implied they felt they had the resources to do it and we're all debating why it hasn't happened as yet, so other clubs of similar size who have are the ones to be looking to for examples of how it can be done. However, I realise talk of kicking on can be a sensitive subject. No, that's right. I wasn't aiming it at you, more using your most recent post on the subject to discuss an argument I'm seeing more and more.
|
|
cambsno
Youth team star
Posts: 1,183
|
Post by cambsno on Sept 17, 2024 12:06:52 GMT
This is bull s**t with respect - I have no idea why so many fans bang on about us buying injured players all the time, I don't think we do. Posted this on FB: Lavery played 106 games for Balckpool in 3 seasons, so 35 a season which does not suggest an injury prone player. Smith 162 in 4 seasons, Gardner has been solid up to last 2 seasons (was that injury or not being picked?), Loft 79 in 2 seasons, we know Andrew, Digby & Brophy are rarely out, Morro is pretty good for an oldie, Kachunga 89 in 2 seasons. So overall I think our record is pretty good. Rossi has been out a lot but as a player with limited experience, hard to read / judge. Fejiri was a known gamble and did well when fit. Dunk struggled last season but lots of good years, and Haunstrup was a disaster. Don't think we are much better or worse than other teams, they all get injuries. But as we do have a low budget we will sign players on way down who could be slightly more prone to injury, but we can't do much about that. Watts has had injury concerns at previous clubs. So had Cousins, Thomas , Fejri, Haunstrup we sign some every year. Yes you can take a gamble on a Fejiri and it paid off when used as an impact sub. Gassan had had them at Ipswich and missed a chunk of last season. Not all signings are injury prone but it does have a knock on effect every season. By not having options up top every year we end up 'breaking' our forwards and its happend again. Cousins I think had a solid few seasons of 20 plus games - Thomas injury was one of those that can't be predicted (I imagine) Ahadme did miss a few but ultimately is a 1m player a title contender has decided.
|
|
|
Post by El Goodo on Sept 17, 2024 12:13:00 GMT
It's worth pointing out that the very reason Cousin's extension was triggered was because he was in fact available enough to play the number of games to do it. Ditto Morrison & Andrew.
Also I wonder if we now need to consider Jobe injury-prone, given he missed a few months of last season with an ankle injury & then did his ACL in training. I think injuries like that, and the ones that Thomas has had in his career & since he's been here, are less concerning than the muscular ones that Kachunga & Okenabirhie seem(ed) to constantly pick up. Okenabirhie's almost certainly stemmed from his ligament damage, which does make you concerned about Thomas's future, although he's a very different build.
|
|
danboyb
Youth team regular
Posts: 704
|
Post by danboyb on Sept 17, 2024 12:53:41 GMT
Which ever way you look at it the recruitment for this season looks a total disaster. Whether that’s bad planning, bad luck, lazy scouting or just plain poor decisions (Probably a bit of everything)
Reyes- Replacing Mannion with an inexperienced 20 year old was a risk and so far it’s looking like a bad decision. Watts- Missed the Portugal trip and has since been unavailable more than available. C O’R At least he’s fit - but he looks like he’s operating at least one division above his natural level. Richards- The worst of the lot, doubt we will see him in a Cambridge shirt again. Smith- Looked like the real deal in his early appearances but has not hit those heights since. Is a player in there but we need to see it more consistently. Gardner- Still waiting for him to make an appearance… 2 year contract at his age.. Would he be doing more to get himself fit if his contract was up in June… Loft- surprisingly long contract and we are yet to see if he’s worth it. His career so far would suggest we’ve taken a massive gamble on him. Lavery- Head and shoulders above the others signed, but the failure to add another striker meant we were always going to be screwed if he got injured. Gibbons- Fine as back up but not ideally suited to the way we’re currently trying to play. Nlundulu- Not the number 9 any of us was hoping for, limited time on the pitch, so harsh to judge.. but done himself no favours on Saturday.
Contract extensions for KaiKai and Kachunga are also looking like poor decisions, as is the one for Rossi. We’ve also got McConnell on a 3 year contract and even when available he wasn’t deemed selectable for whatever reason. While Barton has been a revelation this season it’s concerning that he was only given 1 year and that’s not yet been extended. Bennett also looks set to run his contract down.
When a team is struggling there is always a combination of reasons. We (Monk/Strang) are getting more decisions wrong than right at the moment. Is time for some of the players to come good and justify the decisions taken. But right now I think it’s perfectly understandable that people are questioning the decision making amongst other things.
|
|
malotru
Youth team star
Posts: 1,689
|
Post by malotru on Sept 17, 2024 13:07:54 GMT
Early days but I’d say Stokes and Longelo have been “successes” as have provided assists and goals. And I think Stokes will improve a lot more.
Wouldn’t say Reyes is looking a poor decision just yet. Still finding his feet (or hands) but has looked more assured with each game. True test will be when he has to make some match winning saves late on to ensure we get a result.
|
|
|
Post by addyell on Sept 17, 2024 13:18:18 GMT
Stokes has 3 assists in 3.25 games. Surprised to see people on different platforms still dubious about him.
|
|
danboyb
Youth team regular
Posts: 704
|
Post by danboyb on Sept 17, 2024 13:27:00 GMT
Early days but I’d say Stokes and Longelo have been “successes” as have provided assists and goals. And I think Stokes will improve a lot more. Wouldn’t say Reyes is looking a poor decision just yet. Still finding his feet (or hands) but has looked more assured with each game. True test will be when he has to make some match winning saves late on to ensure we get a result. Yes, that a fair point about Reyes. It’s more the GK situation as a whole. I would rather we had signed an experienced #1 mainly due to how Stevens finished last season. He’s also been done no favours by the shambles unfolding in front of him. Longelo worries me defensively but he has certainly impressed more than I thought and looks a decent signing. Stokes is also improving game by game, needs to hit the target regularly now though.
|
|
|
Post by El Goodo on Sept 17, 2024 13:31:10 GMT
I'd definitely worry about Longelo at left-back, but it looks like we've signed him to play more as a wing-back/winger than anything else.
|
|
nickpom
Reserve team regular
Posts: 3,204
|
Post by nickpom on Sept 17, 2024 13:31:20 GMT
I'm not sure how anyone can be so certain about Richards given the literal handful of minutes that he has had on the pitch? And the suggestion that Gardiner isn't working hard to get himself fit because he has a two year contract is just laughably ignorant, sorry if that sounds rude...
|
|