The Hotel End

I know optimism is in short supply but I do honestly believe that with the correct management/tactics we have a good backbone of a squad for next season (particularly if we assume that we are in league 2).

I've listed the players I'd like to be retaining and building the squad around.

GK: O'Donnell, Coddington

Def: Moloney, Facey, Pierre, Taylor, Buchanan, Bunney (as a wing back/ left mid).

Mid: Foley, O'Toole, McWilliams, Crooks

Attack: KvV, Waters, Hoskins

I'd be looking to dispense with everyone else, with loans to go back. Release/offload: Cornell, Phillips, Hanley, Barnett, Turnbull, Powell, Kasim, Lobjoit, Bowditch, Luckassen.

I think the only loans I'd be interested in signing permanently would be Ariyibi and Poole, but the latter would likely be out of our price range.

Clearly the weak links (surprise surprise) are in respect of both width and up front so this will need some serious TLC.

 I think Coddington.Maloney.Buchanan.KvV Waters and Hoskins all need to go. Any players like that will just give a mediocre team
 

I think the last 4 you mention are all under contract for next season, so is it worth paying them off to replace them with someone no better ?

I would agree with you if we were remaining in L1, however L2 football as we know is a pretty hefty drop in quality.

Coddington should be fine as a reserve GK.

I agree that Hoskins is vastly overrated, but he's under contract until 2020 and I think he's another one who would be OK at a lower level with confidence. Even Waters scored goals at that level.

Now then, as Dean & Jon are in charge until the end of the season,that means that they will determine the retained list (and who gets the heave-ho).

That doesn't seem very logical to me.

Surely, a new man should be given the chance to put the current squad through their paces - ie, 1-2-1 interviews, training assessments, physical assessments, etc. ?

Which leads me to conclude that the next man will be through the door quicker than we think....... and we will know the answer based on the line-ups for the last 2-3 games.

Depends whether the end of the season is May 5th, after the last game, or whether it’s June 30th...when the contracts end usually.
Would agree that a new man would need at least a watching brief to see how we perform in the last few games in order to make an informed decision.

Once the loanees have gone back, and then add those who are contracted for another year or two, how many players are on contracts that expire this season? I’d guess not too many. Also I wonder how many of the ‘big players’ had relegation release clauses or similar??

Then again, certainly Austin will have seen these players both on the pitch and on the training ground, so he’d be in the best position to decide on a retained list....if allowed to do so.

Don’t forget the mighty dean bowditch who will be returning to see out the remainder of his bloated contract.  I think Barnett’s got at least another year (maybe more) as has kasim - shows what a basket case recruitment was in the summer. If we can keep hold of Ash Taylor and pair him with a fully fit Pierre with facey (again if we can keep him) at right back we’ve got the basis of a half decent defence with a decent keeper in O’Donnell behind them - they just need to be properly coached and drilled by someone who knows what he’s doing over the close season. In midfield again if they get proper coaching and fitness training then we’ve got jjot, foley, McWilliams and crooks all of whom are decent. Up front is the problem - I can’t see any way that we will get Long in league 2 and all we’ll really have is van veen. Again if we get him fit and firing I think he will be a decent second striker/number 10 - whoever the new manager is will have to identify a prolific striker if we’re to challenge at the top and they don’t come cheap/grow on trees.

A very bizarre situation, if I was the chairman I would be interviewing Rosler, Alexander and Warburton tomorrow with a view to appointing one of them by Friday. All are out of work and would apply, we would defiantly get a bounce from one these experienced managers.

What about Simon COX's Orange Pippin?   ;D

Apologies if any of those listed below arebincorrect, I've used Wiki but for what its worth, heres how I see our squad for next season.

Firstly, I wouldnt be looking to buy or reloan an of those weve got.

Goalkeepers: ROD, Coddington, Cornell, Goff
I'd  keep ROD as No1 and Goff for the future. If we're in L2, lose one of Coddington or Cornell. If we're in L1, lose them both and get someone to challenge ROD. Either way, net one out.

Defence: Maloney, Buchanan, Pierre, Taylor, Facey, Bunney, Phillips, Barnett, Hanley, Turnbull. Get rid of Hanley, regardless of division. For L2, I think there is enough there for all positions and I struggle to believe we'd attract any better. For L1, clearly we need to improve so I'd only keep, Facey, Taylor, Turnbull and believe it or not, Bunney. So basically, we'd need a replacement back four. 5 out, 4 in

Midfield: JJOT, Foley, Hoskins, Powell, Kasim, Bowditch, Bridge, Crooks, McWilliams. For L2, get rid of Kasim and Bowditch. Get a decent winger in. I'd keep Bridge for now, if only because we don't really know what he is capable of. For L1, I'd  keep JJOT, Crooks, Foley and McWilliams. Drop the rest and get two wingers, a ball winner and a no10. The nine we have need to become eight.

Strikers: Where to start... We have VV, Luckasson, Waters, Iaciofano and Lobjoit. We are so weak here I dont know where to start. But two need to go so for me its Waters and Lobjoit, regardless of division. I guess we could keep Lobjoit if he spent the season out on loan. If we're  L2 we need to get Joe back and give him game time, even if its from the bench. Either way, we need a proven goalscorer, even if its an older model. For L1, we need two. Sorry, but its obvious.

So,
3 keepers, 8 defenders, 8 midfield, 5 forwards. 24 of our own, contracted players who we would be happy to play.

As for loans, I'd use them sparingly and not (unless we can get a proven Championship player looking for game time) as a first choice. I really dont see the point in loaning players who are not as good as what we have, especially if the terms involve mandatory starting positions.

Obviously, I've not considered any outstanding contracts which might scupper some of my ramblings. I do think though that whoever we get in needs a bit of freedom to imprint their style. I just hope that means we dont have to keep Hoskins and lose JJOT, in order to do so...

From what I've seen this season... and completely my opinion:

O'Donnell
Facey
Taylor
O'Toole
These have all proved to me they are of League One quality.


Bunney
Pierre
Crooks
Grimes
Perriera
Ariyibi
Van Veen
Long
These all have good footballing CVs and have surely underperformed to varying levels in my opinion. We can all see they have talent, but have only shown it on a sporadic basis at best. If every player here was on a free transfer, you'd expect a minimum 7 of the 8 to pick up a League One side at least.


Buchs
Turnbull
Moloney
Hoskins
Foley
McWilliams
Powell
Poole
Luckassen
These will all probably be pretty effective in a top 6 League Two side. This might look harsh on McWilliams, but I really felt he needed a long term loan in League Two this season. Never know... next season might be the making of him? If we go down, a central midfield trio of him, O'Toole and Crooks will be very effective at that level.


Cornell
Kasim
Barnett
Mathis
Phillips
Hanley
These will appear in my 'All Time Forgettable Cobblers' squad in the not too distant future.


Going forward into next season, I'm pretty certain not a single loanee will be wanting to come anywhere near Northampton next season (regardless of what league we are in), so we can write these off. In League One, we'd need a pretty big clear out of all the dross and a bit of a rebuild if want something better than a third relegation battle in as many years. We'd be back looking for new wingers again and more firepower up front yet again.

In League Two? I really think we could build a team around a core of O'Donnell, Taylor, Facey, O'Toole, Crooks, McWilliams and Van Veen. Even Hoskins might look like a decent winger back in League Two.

Not a bad assessment there Wolvo!!

My thoughts would be similar.....however I wonder how many of the big earning players we'll be able to keep on. Those that were attracted here by the Hasselbaink/Chinese revolution. I've heard many rumours about the multiple thousand pound week contracts some of them are on. Crooks, Taylor, KVV, Facey and Luckasson are all "rumoured" to be on upwards of 3k a week.

If we are in League 2 then income drops......we lose 400k at a stroke from the TV and Premier League pot. We also have to comply with a tighter budget restriction...wages of 55% of income against the 60% allowed in League 1.

We may have to transfer-list one or two of our better players, to raise some income and to drop the wage bill.

A fair assessment of our players and a comprehensive view of building a squad. I am interested in what formation you would be looking to play most games. I made an assumption that you were looking at a 4231 given you want a 10. If the ball winner and no.10 you want would be starters that means you have Crooks, McWilliams, O’Toole and Foley competing for 1 place. Then you have no competition for the two wingers and 5 forwards for 1 place.

Not meant as a dig but perhaps highlights there is far more work to be done to balance the squad than we realise. As ever an interesting summer awaits

There are very few players I'd be happy to see back again next season. The more we can get rid of the better.

Id probably go 3 5 2 tbh, with the wide men in the 5 being set up either slightly attacking or slightly more defensively minded depending on the game plan.

I'd use Facey, Taylor and Turnbull at the back

Using what we've got right now in L2, I'd say you could play McWilliams/Foley as the hold, Bunney and Powell wide and Crooks and JJOT in the centre with either one slightly more advanced or taking it in turns. Hoskins could play any role bar the hold (albeit to a lesser level). Im assuming Bridge would cover in the Crooks/JJOT role but I guess if a proven option became available you could swap Bridge out. Using my L2 squad, you could still use Moloney and Buchs in the 5 if you wanted to be more defensive.

I'd still like another wide option though.

Be interested to know if my preferred 3 5 above ever actually started a game together in those positions...

Of course none of this matters with Messi and Ronaldo up top....

I'd go with the 11 that wanted it most, regardless of formation.  If they lack talent, then they have to make sure that (even if/especially if they are red-carded), the other player takes no further part in the game.

Couldn’t be any worse than what Jimmy put out!

100% agree with this. We have the most unlikable squad of players for years - Barring a few exceptions

            For what it's worth I would go for 3-5 2.

I hate this phrase. I heard it after Page, JED and now Jimmy... Please don't tempt it.

You've got to pick a team that will fight. We've survived with less talented squads in the past because of this.

In my opinion O'Donnell, Facey, Taylor, Pierre, Crooks and O'Toole would all be superb players in League 2, amongst the best in their respective positions in the division. Whilst he has not set the world alight you could argue Kevin Van Veen belongs in this category too.

If they are used effectively and managed better than by JFH, then Hoskins, Foley, Powell, Turnbull, Barnett, McWilliams and Bunney will all be more than suitable as squad players in League 2.

That's a good squad for that league. What the new manager will need to do is identify how he can use the rest of the budget to bring in quality players for the way he intends to play - most likely a quality central midfielder, a couple of wide players, and a forward that fits in with our attacking play.

I don't see it being all doom and gloom provided we get the right man in, and the right new players in!

Debatable who should be in our squad for next season but one this is for certain in my view. A smaller one might help (not in height before anyone gets the wrong idea)  ;)

But surely larger squads create competition for places on matchday(that's assuming that we have players who really want to play and not just take our money).

Lots of unhappy players unable to get any 1st team action----->bad vibe------>vibe spreads.

Fair point, but there are always going to be fringe players who would probably only get a game due to injury.

Yes, but we have enough players to field at least three totally different starting 11's, including those in on loan (and out on loan if needed/recalled). 38 listed in our squad on the offy.

Id have Iciafano as a player on the bench every week next season and starting in the cup games.

Don’t expect too much difference from Austin and Brady in the last 5 games .
They can’t radically change things over night .
I do think players will be allowed to express themselves more though .
My understanding is that Jimmy strangled players .
If we get a few wins , anything can happen .

I agree.

Yet another cliche but the spine of any team is usually the bedrock of success. Ours has been fairly average and without JJ particularly poor. Not enough leadership, experience or tenacity in there all season I’m afraid?

It'll be interesting to see if any of our players have relegation clauses in their contracts. Difficult to predict until that becomes clearer.

In the first instance return all loan players and offload Cornell, Phillips, Barnett, Hanley, Kasim, Bowditch and Lobjoit

We need a good defensive midfielder who can screen the defence, a couple of wingers and a couple of strikers

Whose that bloke with long hair waving his arm in the air?

I would prefer to use a telescope....   >:D

Through which end?

LOL!

Burger....  You've managed to completely confuse me, now that I realise that there is a choice!   ??? ??? ??? ??? ???

Based on our current squad, assuming we drop in to league 2.

1. David Cornell  - Goalkeeper Get rid
2. Brendan Moloney - Right back Keep
3. David Buchanan - Left back Keep
4. Yaser Kasim - Centre midfield Get rid
5. Leon Barnett - Centre back Get rid
6. Ash Taylor - Centre back Keep
7. Billy Waters - Forward/Winger (on loan to Cambridge United) Possibly keep
8. Sam Foley - Centre midfield Keep
10.Kevin Van Veen - Forward Possibly look to move on
11.Daniel Powell - Winger/Forward Get rid
12.Leon Lobjoit - Forward/Winger (on loan to Banbury United) Get rid
13.Richard O'Donnell - Goalkeeper Keep as number 1
14.Sam Hoskins - Winger/Forward Keep
15.Dean Bowditch - Midfield/Forward (on loan to Stevenage) Get rid
16.Aaron Pierre - Centre back Keep
17.Shaun McWilliams - Centre midfield Keep
18.Aaron Phillips - Right back Get rid
19.Chris Long - Forward (on loan from Burnley) Try and sign permanently
21.John-Joe O'Toole - Centre midfield Keep
22.Matt Crooks - Centre midfield Keep
23.Joe Iaciofano - Forward (on loan to Brackley Town) Out on loan?
24.Shay Facey - Right back/Centre back Keep
25.James Goff - Goalkeeper Keep as no.2
26.Regan Poole - Centre back/Midfield (on loan from Manchester United) Try and sign permanently -unlikely
27.Raheem Hanley - Left back/wing (on loan to FC Halifax) Release
29.Matt Grimes - Left/Centre Midfield (on loan from Swansea City) Release
30.Luke Coddington - Goalkeeper (on loan to Guiseley AFC)Release
31.James Gillard - Striker/Winger (Youth Team)
32.Cameron McWilliams - Right back/Midfield (Youth Team)
33.Sean Whaler - Midfield/Winger (Youth team)
34.Prudence Anaele - Centre back (Youth team)
36.Jack Bridge - Winger/Attacking Midfield Possibly release?
37.Jordan Turnbull - Centre back/Left back Keep
39.Joe Bunney - Left back/Midfield Keep
42.Kevin Luckassen - Forward Get rid

Just can't see the love in with Buchanan and Moloney, let them go and replace with players more mobile. Buchanan is very lucky to still be at the club.

Its not really a case of just keeping our best players is it? Crooks etc will surely want to force a move away. A la Crowe, Hughes etc did last time.

Not sure I'd sell VV, depends if he wants to play at a higher level still and/or if we can afford him still. Been injured pretty much the entire time with us and doubt we could get better at L2 level.

I'd be looking to get rid of Buchs and Moloney if possible, they are both on good wages but there best days are behind them. No time for sentiment, need younger and quicker players in these spots. Not sure on ditching Powell either, he was showing decent form before his hamstring injury and would be decent at L2 level.

We have no chance of signing Poole or Long I wouldn't have thought. Bridge hasn't even played a game, I would like to see him get at least a preseason run.

I think Lucky deserves a contract, we don't have a striker like him on the books but depends again on what we are paying him.

Keep - ODonnell, OToole, Crook, Foley, Buchs, Facey, Taylor, Moloney, Goff, Iaciofano and Turnbull

Possible keep - Waters, Van Veen, Bunney

The rest either release or flog.

(Academy players should stay if good enough)

Jordan "I'm too good to play in league 2 even though I've just got back to back relegations from league 1" Turnbull?

Waters who now can't get into Cambridges team bottom half of L2

A lot (on here) were really tipping Bury and Northampton for good seasons based on the signings made in the summer. To some extent, me included. The bottom 2! Shrewsbury, who with almost the same team as barely stayed up last year have done amazingly well. If these points don't emphasise that consistency and gradual improvements are the way to go, then I don't know what does.

Yet we'll go into next season with yet another mass clear out and managerial change. If anything, we've got to keep that nucleus of the first 8 above together, add a sprinkling of some leadership characters and tough tacklers and build from there with the young 'uns knocking on the door. We need a manager that recognises this approach is the way.

I think KT will reign in the spending and we will do a Chesterfield .

Is it just Foley, Kasim and Turnbull who are on for successive relegations? (Turnbull could have 3 relegations in 1 calendar year if you count Partick Thistle).

That's some achievement to put on your CV.

Shreswbury play a system and stick to it,
add the odd player when needed to improve......

Hi JFH Page and Edinburgh(thats what a manager does)

Especially since a calendar year is Jan 1 to December 31.

Keep JJ. And the keeper. That's it. Clean sweep needed. No chemistry between any of the other players on the pitch.

Can't see the point in keeping any of these players. Maybe One goal keeper. But I can't see what the rest have brought apart from relegation. They were not up for the fight, can't see why they would improve next year. We have too many mediocre to poor players signed up on long term contracts. The Chairman has not taken the club forward in two years, a lot of waffle but has delivered very little. Why is Melville still at the Club, apart from him being KTs mate I don't know why. Just jobs for the boys.
Don't know who is to be the next manager, but I doubt Austin is the man bearing in mind he thinks Bridge is a good player that says a lot about him. I would think we will struggle to stay up next year, it's rotten from top to bottom.

Hard to disagree with this.....I was going to say a total clean sweep, but i'll give those two the benefit of the doubt!! Being as we are going down i'd probably add Buchanan to the list...just because he cares.

Taylor also.

I'm unsure about keeping him. -36 goal difference...

Not on 6 grand a week we don't......(allegedly!)

As said....a -36 goal difference from the only player before tonight who has been ever present......a player who has been captain for a good many games yet never really showed any leadership qualities. He's been the best of a bad bunch many times....but that doesn't mean he's been good!!

I don't deal in wages Grange, though I've got to admit, if that's an accurate figure it seems a lot to me. Is that the going rate these days for a senior pro in league one?
I disagree that he's shown no leadership qualities though.
Regards Rod. If we're talking about wearing your heart on your sleeve, It's much easier to shoot your mouth off as a keeper and appear concerned. What was our goal difference when he got the job? A lot less than -36 I would guess!

A senior pro who has just come off the back of three years with Aberdeen.....playing in the Scottish Prem and European football too. Yeah I know its the Scots Prem...but the big clubs are still pretty big, certainly bigger than we are. He was tempted by a decent contract (3 years) and no doubt a decent wage!

Goalkeeper comparison this season (all competitions)

O'Donnell in the team....15 games, 3 wins, 1 clean sheet, 25 goals conceded..... (-12 goal difference)
Ingram in the team.......20 games, 5 wins, 4 clean sheets, 32 goals conceded.... (-17 goal difference)
Cornell in the team.......12 games, 1 win, 1 clean sheet, 21 goals conceded........(-12 goal difference)

Obviously the first priority is to get a new manager and hope that he's the right man. Next, I think we (i.e. hoping 'he') should keep as many of the current squad who have sufficient ability, playing in the correct formation and with enough team spirit, to be capable of being successful in league 2. No point in mass clear outs in my opinion. At the time, most of us thought that a lot of the players recruited this season were good signings. 

JJ, Mcwilliams, O'Donnell, Moloney,

Can't decide on Buchs.

The rest can just Fcuk off.

Moloney can also go...too injury prone & has lost it this season

I'm not sure the mass clear out is needed as well. A lot of these players simply are not good enough for League One, but have shown they are good enough in League Two. Pierre, O'Toole, Crooks are all former League Two player of years I think? Moloney and Buchs were great last time around. Van Veen's CV looks good enough. We'd still need a second striker and some width though... wonder what Adams and D'ath are upto  :P

He's not been any worse than Facey and he was supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread.

Facey is under contract, Moloney is not. Better right back/right wing backs available i would think

TBH, this is the least of our worries!  ;D

Some of the useless players from this year with the right attitude might be okay in the squad next year . For example Foley , Hoskins and Buchanan
Some of the useless players with a work shy attitude should be dumped . For example Powell and Turnbull.
Some of the useless players that haven’t turned up at all should be sacked off as well such as Van Veen and Bunney .
Others are not useless and it would be nice to keep them  . For example crooks , Taylor and JJOT

Giving Hoskins a new 2 and a half year contract, when he was just coming back from a serious injury, was fvcking rediculous!
We could have released him this summer...

Still, least we've got Bowditch/Kasim for another season  ::)

I think this is a bit harsh on both players. Van Veen is clearly limping through games and I think Bunney was man of the match the one time I got to see him play in his left wing back position.

Bunney was the worst player on the pitch on at least four occasions .
Van Veen doesn’t look interested and I haven’t heard he is carrying an injury from my sources i
These players were supposed to have saved the season and are on money that reflects that

We are second from bottom of League one and people are talking about keeping players, really ? No wonder NTFC are so mediocre, it's what the fans want. How the hell can anybody make a case for keeping any of those players on ??? They are spinless, gutless and a talentless bunch. Not the type of player who are going to put themselves on the line to gain promotion. Buchs and Moloney are past their best and people want them to stay. Just can't work out what people are thinking.

At this point, it's looking more and more like a season of transition is needed...yet another mass clear out, yet another new manager.

Better to finish 12th in League Two with a clear vision established or go for broke in getting back up at the first attempt. I'd much prefer the former.

Every single one of hasselbanks signings have been absolutely sh*t.
Even Facey has lost the plot .
Not one of them has done anything to warrant their wage .
It’s a gravy train and they are a bunch of charlatans

As orange juice once sang rip it up and start again how on earth do you put life in a dead corpse ?

Anyone advocating a total clear out is understandably frustrated, but clearly under estimating the importance of confidence, tactics and motivational management. All of which we've had none.

You know full well that JJOT, Crooks, Taylor, RO'D, Pierre, McWilliams and possibly Moloney, Facey, Foley and Van Veen would end up looking like world beaters in someone's else's team next season. Bear in mind KvV was playing at the top of L1 this season and last and is clearly not injury free.

We DO have half a good squad. But that isn't enough, especially when there is no strategy to our play.

The odds on Dr Frankenstein for next our next manager have just been slashed on many betting sites ;D

Even R'OD?????

Good point .
With the exception of ROD

Completely agree. I think a lot of potential managers would lick their lips at the prospect of having some of those players in L2, not to mention the wage budget!

You're right about it being a half of a good squad. Lets learn from our mistakes and go for evolution not full blown revolution.

2018/19 - Despite a ridiculous rate of player turnover, we still lack genuine width and a couple of lively forwards (maybe Lovejob & Joey Iffy will get their chance). Most of this squad have contracts for next season and I find it hard to believe any new manager will be allowed to sign players before some have left. Possibly a 2 out 1 in basis.

Despite my concerns, I am looking forward to next season. Wipe the slate clean. Give everyone a second chance and I hope I don't see Grimes back at our club.

Lobjoit will be shown the door back to the Racecourse pitch 8.
Joe might be given more of a chance in a team that has more possession .
As for giving the players a second chance , most of them haven’t come off this season and there is nothing to indicate they will next season when they don’t want to be at the club in division 2.
Anyone that wants to leave should be allowed to do so .
Hopefully we can still afford to keep Taylor , Crooks , JJOT , ROD, Pierre and MacWilliams .
The rest I can honestly take or leave .

 ;D It did cross my mind that knowing our luck we'll blow any budget on a big money contract for Grimes. I can't wait to support a team with a player that can consistently strike a dead ball.

I'm strongly supporting evolution over revolution, but I do think a total clear out of Melville, whose tenure has seen more signings of players well below the required standard than I ever imagined possible. Of course we never get to hear which signings he advocated, but still.

Several players already planning their exit. The one who is probably most desperate to depart is KVV. His agent has been working on finding his next club for some time. Would suggest he regrets coming here in the first place. Don't think too many will be sorry to see him go though.

Perhaps a Chinese team will come in for him with a £4 million offer - it happened once before after all and we could then finish the ground off 😜. Any more names?

Did his agent tell you this himself?

A certain Mr Calderwood mentioned to me today the loss of experienced players this season. he right isn't he ,a massive lack of wise heads , and we got rid of one of the wisest in Rico

Sorry, I don't believe a word of it. Most players are under contract and we paid fees for lots of them. We're not going to let them go without at least recouping our money, this won't be easy if we get relegated.

KVV the only actual name mentioned.

Hold on, didn't you say 'several players already planning their exit'. But now it's just Van Veen that's been mentioned?

Mathius are you our new man on the inside?

No. I said KVV was the only 'actual' name given.

I think this is what you said first.

Interesting insight? https://www.sc***horpetelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sc***horpe-united-could-not-compete-1152325

KVV is fcuking s***e...happy to see him leave! Frankly, fed up of hearing excuses of injury - yet again, half an hour of nothing from him on Saturday...if he was a horse in the National!  ;)

Yes, but so far all of your 'ITK' titbits have bombed. ::)

Unless they have relegation release clauses then it would be very easy for them to go and find somewhere else?

Who let's be honest has been poor all year and most people including me agreed it was the correct decision to get rid. Our issue has not been rico etc leaving it's been the quality and style if their replacements.

KVV has quality but perhaps more than most is affected by confidence.  As Alexander says in this article, “Sometimes he was a bit hard on himself as he set himself really high standards and whenever he went below that he lost faith in himself.“

It will return - it always does.  Look at JJ, who would have thought at around the time we loaned him out to Southend that he’d go on to be the first name on the team sheet...

Maybe KVV would come good in time but he's just not happy at the club. These things happen. Footballers are no different to anyone else. They can change jobs and not be happy with the move for a variety of reasons. That being the case, it's best for all concerned if he moves on in the summer, if he feels that way.

Should we go down , I am certain Van Veen would go .
We couldn’t afford to keep him and he wouldn’t want to be here .
I don’t think he wanted to be here in the first place and probably only came because of JFH.
That’s fine . Anyone that doesn’t want to be here should clear off .
No news on Lucky ..... I wonder if he too has been put into cold storage or is he really injured ?

I can believe this is true, KVV thinks he should be playing in the Championship not little old Northampton, perhaps he's been talking to KT.

Is that a true statement?

And that was by his agent? And KvV told you himself that he's unhappy right?

 ::)

Keep the little Tulip until our relegation funeral and then send him back to Holland.

Several players planning an exit -  how do you know this Mr Mathius?
Sounds like typical EoS rumours from an unreliable source?

This wouldn't surprise me, he pratically said in his interview when he joined he come for job security not the club. He never wanted to leave Scunny. Maybe if we appoint Alexander that might change..??

Couldn't say, Shadowstorm. Anything is possible. I hope so because he is a better player than he's looked so far.

Sounds like he joined for the money. He could have easily re-signed with Scunny and possibly be playing Championship football next season.

This is all rather silly (the title of this thread) because  there will be no looking ahead with our squad.

1. Wage bill - circa 3 - 3.5million p/a
2. T/over in league2 - 4 million tops.

Now that the Chinese money that was never there in the first place isn't there anymore to pay for these players, where exactly do people expect the money to come from?

Unless our director who is propping things up at the moment (after initially selling out a few months ago) has had a change of heart and fancies spending a chunk of his kids (if he has any) inheritance on the Cobblers OR we find new rich investors who will be happy to take on a large loss making concern out of pure love for NTFC, Im fully expecting a mass exodus come early May onwards!

I think that would suit everybody.

There are some players who will be out of contract plus a couple of short term/ loan players to leave. Still think we have a strong nucleus with the addition of the players coming through. Don't think we will need to add many to be successful. Of course that changes if we lose players we'd rather keep.

Only Cornell, Moloney, Phillips (?) and Luckassen are out of contract.

Plus the three loan players - Poole, Long and Grimes.

Everyone else are under contract.     

Always makes me laugh when people state "we have a strong nucleus",really ? such a strong nucleus it is third bottom of the League. Then this base of players will be good enough for promotion? How ? Who ?
 At the most there are 3 or 4 players who might do the bussiness next season. The rest are awful. As Drilling has stated, where is the money coming from to strengthen the squad ? When a team is built on loan players, there is no basis for building the squad for the following season. What money was available KT gave it to JFH to keep the club in League One. If,as it looks, that risk has failed,i doubt with reduced TV monies and lower attendences next season then success will be forthcoming. More a season where the budget is reduced, players are released and more poor quaility loan signings as the Club slowly spirals downwards.

#SKINT

Hanley also out of contract. Never may be others. Some players - out of favour - enter final year, so they might chose to cut their loses.

Oh yeah I forgot about Hanley, how could I forget such a great player  ::)

I think teams at the top of League 2 are stronger than lower League 1 teams.

The current squad would need a lot of investment to mount a Top 7 finish next season. The current squad would struggle at the wrong end of the table.

We know the blue print of what is needed to compete in League 2 however I don't know what levels of investment would be put in the team.

Don't forget we'll still have Bowditch and Waters and Smith back from their loan spells so that could be 3 more under contract that we can't get rid of. Oh and Kasim.

It doesn’t really matter who is in contract because if they want to leave the club can nullify them
If a player doesn’t want to stay , let him go
.

Not George Smith - he signed a permanent deal at Chesterfield.

Bowditch, Waters, Lobjoit, Iaciofano and Hanley all out on loan, but Hanley is out of contract at the end of the season in any case.

Add to that list Coddington.

I forgot Smith sign a permanent deal - hard to keep up the amount of players we have coming and going!!

I'm not convinced looking at the players who occupy the top 3 places. Wycombe are playing a front three of Mackail-Smith, Bayo and Tyson as an example.

The likes of O'Toole, Crooks, Pierre and Taylor will be star players at that level.

Mass clearout except Kasim

That'll leave a Kasim...  8)

With a new manager - probably in a different league - some players might find themselves back in favour. It's already happened for Buchannan. Kazim might be next! If in League two, we might regret allowing Rico to leave.

A big congrats to Daniel Powell for making the PFA League One team of the year. Vital we keep hold of him for next season, championship teams will be sniffing.  ;D


(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/480/cpsprodpb/A944/production/_100923334_l1teamofyear.png)

shame is Nick Powell of Wigan!

I can confirm it is Daniel Powell of Northampton Town

It's Nick Powell of Wigan...

Pretty sure it is Daniel.

Its Enoch, right wing and has been in the news a lot

No, it's Nick Powell...

Definitely Daniel, have you people not been watching this season?

;D

Exactly. I thought the inclusion of Mickey Bell at left back was the real surprise... No idea why our Powell is getting stick.

 ;D

Come to think about it Mulgrew was a Cobblers full back not so long ago. Didn't realize he was still playing.

Keep Daniel Powell, sack the rest.

TOTY Powell is the only one who shouldn't hang his head in shame.