Thoughts on the season.

[west stand oap]

They say if you win your home games and get a point from the away games you will be promoted, despite finishing 19th we were oh so close. We got the 23 points from our 23 away games but our horrendous home form means we will be slumming it in division 1 again next season with the likes of Luton, Cardiff, Plymouth etc. Get the home form sorted next season and Championship here we come.

Only Barnsley and the 4 relegated clubs gained fewer home points than us and with only 24 goals (same as away) from the 23 games only Wigan and Shrewsbury scored less. This is where we need to see a major improvement next season as in 10 of the games we failed to score a goal and only won 7 home games. In too many games we have not threatened the opposition goal enough through lack of creativity and have had too few shots at goal, on Saturday Wigan had 12 shots to our 3 and twice as many touches in our box as we had in theirs this should not be happening when we are playing at home. A total of 48 goals in the season 99 less than last season) is not enough. Injuries to Morton and Eaves played a part as we had to play Roberts and occasionally Hoskins as our striker until Costelloe arrived. 66 goals conceded was the same as last season and again injuries played a part as we hardly ever started with the same defence.

The midfield improved with the signings of Shaw and Taylor and last minute signing Perry, who had no EFL experience was forced to play rather more than KN had anticipated due to Shaw's injury and he didn't let us down. Costelloe also was an improvement and in many ways reminds me of Appere as he will run all game, the difference being is that he is more of a goal threat and although Appere has missed a chunk of the season due to injury he hasn't scored for Stevenage. Costelloe's return of 6 goals was decent given the few chances we created and with better service could be another 20 goal a season player. It is hoped that we can get most of these 4 back for next season.

Despite finishing 5 places lower than last season we actually lost 1 less game but only won 12 compared to the previous seasons 17, we had 6 more draws as we became harder to beat. With only 7 players contracted for next season and Burge who has triggered his option the squad will undergo major surgery so it is hoped KN gets the budget to convince his targets to come here, some may be a bit reluctant as we finished a lowly 19th.

Have a good summer everybody and come back in good voice in August.

[CobblerForever]

We've done well to maintain our status, hopefully at not too great a cost (financially).

A season decimated by injuries, poor initial recruitment, change of management and the completion of the refurbishment of the East Stand.

Nolan has his work cut out in the Summer, not least as a number of key players appear to be likely to struggle to get back to fitness for the new season.

Television coverage of so many games is transforming the game.

[Horsham Cobbler]

We've done well to maintain our status, hopefully at not too great a cost (financially).

A season decimated by injuries, poor initial recruitment, change of management and the completion of the refurbishment of the East Stand.

Nolan has his work cut out in the Summer, not least as a number of key players appear to be likely to struggle to get back to fitness for the new season.

Television coverage of so many games is transforming the game.

Not forgetting the lightweight pre-season campaign.

[Risdene]

Not forgetting the lightweight pre-season campaign.

I forgot that!
😁

[Michael Walker]

Some interesting observations in the post above.

Despite sitting through many of the dreadful home games I never thought about the bigger picture of how few goals we were scoring or how many games we failed to win..

I also manged to go to 7 of the away games that we lost and missed Peterborough..

An immediate thought, which I know is counter intuitive, is generally how happy most supporters are at the moment and how well they stayed with the manager(s), players and owners.

Attendances are very slightly down on last season, but are on an upward trajectory from the beginning to the end of the season, and we are pushing towards 80%+ of capacity even when we're close to the bottom.

So if we ever reach the position of getting to the championship I think this season may be a good indication that the atmosphere might not become totally miserable and toxic even if we do a 'Southampton' in our first season.

It would be incredibly difficult to stay up, initially,  but my fear has always been that if we were at the bottom of the championship we would quickly lose the manager that got us there, crowds would plummet, we'd lose multi-millions and come down in a much worse state than when we went up.

But if were to get a few notable scalps in a championship season and win a few games at home, perhaps we'd be in a much stronger position to build a more sustainable club for another go and then learn from our 'Southampton' experience..

I know these are random thoughts but my wife showed even less interest in them than most of you will..

[Terryfenwickatemyhamster]

Once something ceases to be enjoyable, stop doing it. Would be the obvious thing to say. Football, whether it be the game, or the what surrounds it, rarely stands up to any rational scrutiny. As a supporter of any club, you have very little influence over anything to do with the end product. But I am still enjoying the Cobblers. And quite excited by at what Kev puts together for us for next season.

[Manwork04]

Once something ceases to be enjoyable, stop doing it. Would be the obvious thing to say. Football, whether it be the game, or the what surrounds it, rarely stands up to any rational scrutiny. As a supporter of any club, you have very little influence over anything to do with the end product. But I am still enjoying the Cobblers. And quite excited by at what Kev puts together for us for next season.

Agree Tel, less Wilson’s and more Shaws please.

[Omega]

Football, whether it be the game, or the what surrounds it, rarely stands up to any rational scrutiny.

.....absolutely, and there in lies the beauty.

[Shoemaker]

I think we went backwards on the field this season.
I still don’t feel as if we have established ourselves as a league one club but are one just hanging on in there until the inevitable happens.
I hope next season the permanent signings are those of a league one club with the intention/ambition of being a permanent fixture at this level where we can have a squad that looks league one standard compared to some of the clubs coming up.
We should be attracting higher level permanent transfers to lay the foundations that let rivals know we can now be competitive at league one level rather than league two,
We’ve got extra investment (maybe we will get more before the season starts)
If we try we may be able to emulate orient and get in the play offs or at least top half.
Here’s hoping.

[Larry]

Once something ceases to be enjoyable, stop doing it. Would be the obvious thing to say. Football, whether it be the game, or the what surrounds it, rarely stands up to any rational scrutiny. As a supporter of any club, you have very little influence over anything to do with the end product. But I am still enjoying the Cobblers. And quite excited by at what Kev puts together for us for next season.

Very little? I suggest none, and that's the beauty of being a supporter. Ok, we pay for our tickets each season, but that's the limit to my contribution; the rest is up to the club.

[cobbler151]

We definitely went backwards a bit on the pitch.
I feel partly not having Leonard and Bowie in the team, who I feel we're big big players contributed to that.
Also Sowerby loss of form and injuries, as the previous two seasons we were better with him and we're far more solid was another factor.
Recruitment in attacking department was poor, signing two crocks like Morton and Eaves was a gamble that didn't pay off, although Morton looked good at the start of season.

Wilson....I'd put him as bad as Hylton but at least he didn't come with the hype. I wish him all the best, but glad he's off the wage bill.

On the + Shaw and Taylor....... absolutely loved seeing both in a cobblers shirt.

[Winslow Lee]

I think we went backwards on the field this season.
I still don’t feel as if we have established ourselves as a league one club but are one just hanging on in there until the inevitable happens.
I hope next season the permanent signings are those of a league one club with the intention/ambition of being a permanent fixture at this level where we can have a squad that looks league one standard compared to some of the clubs coming up.
We should be attracting higher level permanent transfers to lay the foundations that let rivals know we can now be competitive at league one level rather than league two,
We’ve got extra investment (maybe we will get more before the season starts)
If we try we may be able to emulate orient and get in the play offs or at least top half.
Here’s hoping.

I don’t understand the term ‘establishing yourself as a league 1 club’ and what relevance it has to a clubs success in the future?. Shrewsbury had been in the division 10 years before being relegated, Luton have been flying up and down the leagues for years now. A club is only as good as their last few transfer windows, management and youth system.
With the size of our club unless we get a rich owner willing to spunk away a fortune we will be at the lower end of the food chain in league one. We’ve seen in the past with the Chinese money extra investment doesn’t necessarily push the needle and guarantees you nothing.
In terms of recruitment of course like every other club in the division we will be trying to bring in the best players that are the right fit for the club. This doesn’t necessarily have to be someone like Hylton who was almost universally regarded as a coup, it could be a player at a rival club deemed not good enough and derided by their fans like Ricky Holmes. At the start of the season if I was offered Fosu and Roberts or Shaw and Taylor, I would have chosen the former and been completely wrong.
On a side note the season curve this year ended better than the last when we went on an awful run which we can take as a positive going into the new season.

[606 Parklands_Cobbler]

Also Rochdale, 6-7 years in L1 recently and look at them now

[Melbourne Cobbler]

Agree Tel, less Wilson’s and more Shaws please.

Dibley Dias for Leonard wasn’t a step up.

[U.T.C]

A strange season, all turned out reasonably well in the end, doing the double over the poo and holding the “mighty” Brum  home and away were highlights. Losing to Kettering live on TV was the low point.

[U.T.C]

Our esteemed Chairman has done a review of the season on the official site.

[Manwork04]

Our esteemed Chairman has done a review of the season on the official site.

Yeah no

[TPFKA Marvo]

Pictures have been pretty good with SKY, and the instant replays are a big improvement, as is the highlights at half-time. Its all come on leaps and bounds since the early days of Ifollow. The sofa was comfortable but the wife has been hinting at a new one so hopefully we'll get one of those recliners this time, maybe with a cup holder. All gets a thumbs-up from me.

[Bingers]

Pictures have been pretty good with SKY, and the instant replays are a big improvement, as is the highlights at half-time. Its all come on leaps and bounds since the early days of Ifollow. The sofa was comfortable but the wife has been hinting at a new one so hopefully we'll get one of those recliners this time, maybe with a cup holder. All gets a thumbs-up from me.

Yeah, but what about the pre-match banter with your mates, the atmosphere and your undoubted ability to influence the game in our favour with your unwavering support?

[SC Cobbler]

Before the season, I said it'd be great to stay up and get 6 points over Peterborough. So I've been a fairly happy Cobbler in that regard. Just a shame some of the football was so dull for a couple months towards the back end of Bradys tenure.