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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: He’s one of own ...
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on: April 29, 2021, 20:58:26 pm
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Well, Edmonson has missed at least 2, 1 on 1s. Hoskins has chosen to shoot on numerous occasions when a pass to someone in a much better position would have been a much better option. Watson's sitter at Portsmouth, I know he's not a striker, but still a bad miss all the same, several shots which were no more than back passes, several headers where it was easier to score, Rose completely missing the ball in front of an open goal a couple of weeks ago and several other easyish chances, numerous Harry Smith misses and BAS falling over whenever the ball goes anywhere near him. I'm sure there's more. Also, how many goals have our so called strikers scored between them? About 12 maybe and people think it's all down to the keeper!! Get a grip.
Fair enough for the examples given. Maintain that Mitchell has cost us far too many points (as well as the misfiring forwards you point to) and certainly shouldn’t be kept after his loan comes to an end. Not sure “get a grip” is needed either?
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163
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: He’s one of own ...
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on: April 29, 2021, 14:44:03 pm
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Always hard to compare as you might be correct that they havent missed many easy opportunities, but how many times have they not been where they should, or ran the wrong channel, or had a heavy touch etc. With a keeper if you get it wrong you tend to get punished. I do think that Mitchell is at best a back up but think in L2 he would provide sufficient cover for a new 1st choice.
A fair point well made. I’m not sure Mitchell is good enough to be a football league goalkeeper and I think there are probably lots of better options even as backup - also would he accept signing as backup in L2 after being first choice in L1? We do have an awful lot of players in this squad that don’t look capable of playing at L1 level. For me this reinforces the necessity of keeping the talented players that we do have
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164
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: He’s one of own ...
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on: April 29, 2021, 14:12:05 pm
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Yes, but if the strikers had done what they were meant to, his blunders wouldn't have cost us quite so dearly.
Other than Alex Jones’ miss against Gills last week which absolute sitters have strikers missed? Compare that to the Mitchell clangers against Burton, Swindon and other sides?
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165
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: What, no Peter bog horror thread yet.
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on: April 28, 2021, 22:06:26 pm
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They could yet blow their auto promotion chance despite being 8 clear of Lincoln. They play Lincoln on Saturday, so defeat would close the gap to 5. Lincoln then play their game in hand on Tuesday and if they win reduces the defecit to just 2 points. Then it would all be down to their last games. Stranger things have happened.
That would be incredible, it would add new levels to the Bottlejob FC nickname Even better if they then go on and bottle the playoff final - McAnthony then changes his ‘El Presidente’ title to something even more ridiculous!
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166
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: He’s one of own ...
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on: April 28, 2021, 21:47:54 pm
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If the 3 said players were offered substantial increases to stay and play in division 2 how many would stay if offered similar terms from a division 1 club?. I don't see Watson going for a large future transfer fee as he is now 27. Should we get relegated I doubt that next seasons budget will be higher than this seasons and rightly we would be offering new signings division 2 levels of pay. I doubt that any increases to keep existing players are likely to be substantial and if they were it would limit the managers remaining budget for new signings. Then certain posters would be complaining about those incoming. Posters have also recently said we should be offering Alex Jones terms for next season but since his miss at Gillingham it has not been mentioned. He should also have been in every starting 11 for the past several games but some who have put forward which strikers should start against Blackpool do not pick him. How fickle we are and what a difference 1 miss can make.
RE your first point, I think I’ve said it 3 times already that the point of offering terms now is to avoid being gazumped by League One sides, who can only offer terms starting one month before the player’s current contract expires. The pragmatic thing to do is to offer new terms now and set a deadline before that point! I also didn’t mention Watson going for a fee (but why not if he has another strong season?), but why should that matter if he has a successful few years with us? From your second paragraph I assume that your preference is for a vastly different squad? Or playing devil’s advocate for the sake of it?
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: He’s one of own ...
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on: April 28, 2021, 18:05:44 pm
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Agreed and I've never 'played it' either Agree with your proposal but there are so many variables and choices that would/could take it completely from the clubs hands. We can offer whatever we want, but we cannot guarantee to be successful. The Oliver transfer last season is a case in point, where he was indicating that he was intending to stay until a club assessed to be a better option in League One (rightly) offered him their opportunity up against the transfer deadline. The blame for that still being attached to KT/KC was unfair and unwarranted. I'm led to believe, that they offered him a salary and contract commensurate with only scoring four goals in thirty appearances all season! The fact that he has gone on to score many at his new club wasn't a prediction we would have made. As I said before, in situations like that, the power remains with the player. I'd argue that if the the salary was commensurate as you say to the 4 goals scored then KC certainly misjudged how important Oliver was to the way his side played. Effective target men forwards become rarer and rarer and most fans would have told him that Harry Smith had very little chance of replicating Oliver's role! I think that when offering new deals, other than the player's importance to the team, it's important to consider the player's ceiling. I think McWilliams and L Jones are both well capable of playing in the Championship in the not too distant future, with Jones the closer of the two to that standard. I think it's a big mistake if the club doesn't offer them, and Watson, considerably improved terms to entice them to commit to a longer term deal - at least 2 years, but 3 if possible. Then when interest comes in we are in a position to profit a la Charlie Goode. Effectively what I'm trying to say is we take away the power from the player by offering them contracts they can't reasonably refuse before their heads can be turned!
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168
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: He’s one of own ...
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on: April 28, 2021, 17:21:16 pm
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Does that work on Football Manager? 30-40% increase to play in a lower division? If they get an offer from a League One or higher club, you won't see them for dust. Only McWilliams has the home town loyalty but I would guess that he'd prefer to be playing higher, if the opportunity rises, rather than going back to the bottom rung, irrespective of the money offered. He is good enough to not be playing in the basement again.
It's an arbitrary figure for the sake of my point - RE the football manager video game I wouldn't know, you'll have to let me know! Of course L. Jones, McWilliams and Watson are likely to receive attention from League One and absolutely they are good enough to stay in the division. My point is we should try to tie them down before it gets to the stage (1 month remaining of contract) where they can discuss contract terms elsewhere. If a sizeable pay increase for our 3 best players keeps them here but means we can't afford 1 or 2 new high-earners, wouldn't you say that is still a favourable outcome?
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169
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: He’s one of own ...
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on: April 28, 2021, 17:13:31 pm
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not sure any player this year has earned themselves a pay increase at all - let alone one as ridiculous as suggested here.
madness.
Since the start of January only 3 sides in League One have conceded less goals than Northampton have. Lloyd Jones and Horsfall have played virtually every one of those games. Both have impressed, but Jones has been particularly impressive. It's naïve to think that top end League One clubs won't be interested. Why is it ridiculous to try to keep hold of your best players, and why is it ridiculous to suggest that the player who has probably been our player of the season deserves a pay increase? I think you are being clouded by emotions about our probable relegation.
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: He’s one of own ...
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on: April 28, 2021, 16:06:21 pm
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It would be nice though for the club with players like L Jones & Watson who have been some of our better players to come out and say because of the level of performance we have offered them contract extensions now. If they don’t sign they don’t sign but just show you are being proactive. The uncertainty about the manager probably puts a spanner in it this time but our contract extensions always seem a bit shambolic and left to the very last minute.
Exactly. Both seem to be enjoying their football under Brady. And at the end of the day money talks - if we offer them 30-40% increases on what they currently earn, I can't see them turning it down. Smaller, high quality squads are the answer. Depth can come from the youth team and loans!
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: He’s one of own ...
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on: April 28, 2021, 14:44:59 pm
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Do you know we havent? I 'm clearly in a cynical mood this morning... I hope this is an honest statement but could also be the club warning interested clubs he wont be cheap and pushing the price up.
Clubs can approach players over 24 and over (could be 25, don't hold me to that) as soon as they enter the final month of their current contract. If they agree a new contract with them, the player will move on at the end of their current deal, and no fee is required to be paid. Put simply, if we don't have an extension clause and bigger clubs come calling, it will be our own fault for not extending his deal before the final month of his deal. His agent, who the clubs will approach him through, certainly won't hold the clubs bluff about whether or not there is a clause - they will tell the club he is free to move, if that is the case. For once it would be nice for the club to be proactive in protecting its assets. In Lloyd Jones, Horsfall, McWilliams, Watson, and arguably a couple of others, we have the basis of a really good League Two side in my opinion. I really hope that as soon as our fate for this season is sealed, the manager outcome (contract signed, done) is made within one week, no more! Then get L. Jones, McWilliams and Watson all signed up. Yes they might want a sizeable pay increase but they have earned it and proved that they are capable of thriving in League One and we could certainly rely of them to perform strongly next year. If KT lets things drag on and important players go, well can anyone say he isn't to blame if we start next season poorly? And how many of recent years have we started well? I'd say it's more frequent that we start badly?
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172
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: He’s one of own ...
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on: April 27, 2021, 17:40:30 pm
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Brilliant news! Shaun is one of our most important players - perhaps only behind Lloyd Jones who has been a level above the rest since Brady started in my opinion.
Let’s hope that we have similar options in the contracts for Lloyd and Ryan Watson. I’d also hope that we are trying to tie Chuck to a professional deal. His talent merits a solid first team salary and that coupled with regular starting game time next season could secure his future here
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173
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Relegation Watch 20/21
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on: April 27, 2021, 17:33:42 pm
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Do we want a draw or a win for either tonight? Or doesn't it really matter because we still have to fulfil our part of our escape plan?
I’d say it’s preferable if Wimbledon win as they only really need 1 point from 3 games to make it too much of an ask to catch them (due to goal difference). Imagine how much of a sh1tter it would be if we overtake Wigan only for Rochdale to win all their remaining games and we stay in the relegation zone?
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174
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Gills away Saturday 24.04.21
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on: April 26, 2021, 19:30:58 pm
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Without the advantage of UEFA badges, on Saturday I would have started with Jones and Chuk up front with a midfield of Miller Marshall/Hoskins Morris/McWilliams Watson. Next game I'd start with the same front six but that's without knowing what the current position is on injuries. I wasnt for a second suggesting we start with three strikers only two. If we then went two up swap a striker for a midfielder and if we went 2 down the reverse. My initial post was in response to Bungle saying that we went for it and took the game to Gillingham. Did we, from the off?
You’re right to say they didn’t take the game to Gillingham from the off. I think the concern was that Gills would overpower with the bombarding direct style that has been working so well for them since January, and that we would be chasing too much of a deficit - as we inflicted on Cheltenham and Exeter in the playoffs. I think the extra bodies in the midfield / defence probably helped to stem that and in fact the opening goal came from a bit of really poor organisation from a corner. I’m with you though that I’d like to see us start more offensively next game with 2 up top but I hope it doesn’t play to our detriment.
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175
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Gills away Saturday 24.04.21
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on: April 26, 2021, 17:42:09 pm
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very good. It was more that we started with one striker (imo) and only went with two once we were playing catch up. Ie a change of game plan rather than the change of player. We would not have thrown 3 additional forwards on if we were 2-0 with 15 to go. To be serious, if I were taking one of these badges, whilst I would listen to the received wisdom regards what tactics to apply to a given situation, I would be doing so to pass the exam in order to ply my trade. I would only listen beyond that if the teacher convinced me that his methodology was superior to the alternatives and my own experiences within the game. Do they teach tactics on these UEFA qualified courses that managers are then expected to employ, is that what the game has come to, or is it so that these students can show that they have an understanding of the types of tactic more generally, and the game itself? I think what Larry meant was that playing 3 out and out forwards in Rose, Edmondson and Chuck - as well as wingers - from the start probably would not have gone the same way as it did in the last 15/20 minutes for us. Doing this left us very stretched and going like this from the off would have probably lead to us conceding at least a couple on the counter attack, given the Gillingham forwards would have been still fresh. I agree that it would be nice to see us start with 2 up top in the next game. I'd go for Edmondson (off the back of scoring) and Chuck (to give us a spark and to drop deeper and use his technical ability). Miller on the left and either Marshall or Hoskins on the right and that would be attacking yet no overly so, and we would have the option of bringing Rose on from the bench later on if we need a goal?
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178
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Gills away Saturday 24.04.21
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on: April 24, 2021, 14:59:55 pm
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I suspect Miller has been preferred to Chuks due to his slightly superior defensive/pressing qualities. He's done OK so far and has managed to get a decent shot away.
At some point Brady will need to go for it though. My first step would be take off Hoskins (who has contributed little today) and bring on Marshall. If we still didn't get any joy then I would take off Morris and bring on Chuck and go for an attacking 4-4-2.
If Hoskins is fit he plays - that's the rule of the secret guild, Brother Bungle!
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180
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The Hotel End / Cobblers Corner / Re: Jon Brady
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on: April 23, 2021, 11:24:46 am
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I haven't looked to see who is about since JB was appointed. I have to say, even at that stage, it is the first time ever that I've looked at available managers and been totally unenthused. Though I wouldn't mind poaching Michael Duff. Brilliant young manager yes but I don’t think we have any chance with him; would imagine he’ll get a shot at a top League One club or even Championship club before long. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go to Barnsley when Valerian Ismael is inevitably given a bigger job. Also I can agree with you that there is a real lack of exciting available managers out there, which makes me more keen for the club to allow Brady the chance to continue.
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