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Post by dudleyhatter on May 6, 2019 11:04:16 GMT
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Post by gazz on May 6, 2019 12:40:20 GMT
Cheers for posting, Duds.
I can see us losing a few of those not yet signed up for next season, though.
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2019 13:26:48 GMT
Yeah, I agree gaz.
Not a bad statement from the club though, and I’m pleased that pretty much everyone has been offered a deal.
I expect we will probably lose Dux and Warburton, but I can probably live with that. They have both been excellent and will deserve their move if/when they go.
Of the players to be offered deals, I think it’s most important to keep Ash Palmer and Jordan Keane. I would also like to keep Minihan and Cowan. If we can keep hold of those 4, and sign Jamie Stott permanently, we will have a very strong base on which to build.
I expect we will also see Jim use the loan market for long term loan deals next season as well, rather than for just the short 3 month deals we have used the last few years.
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Post by forzablue on May 6, 2019 13:32:03 GMT
Apparently some rumours regarding Jack Mackreth now with Warrington but formerly Wrexham, Bury + Macc. Not a bad shout seeing he's only 27.
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Post by gazz on May 6, 2019 13:43:28 GMT
Apparently some rumours regarding Jack Mackreth now with Warrington but formerly Wrexham, Bury + Macc. Not a bad shout seeing he's only 27. I don't know much about him, mate, is he any good?
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Post by hatter_in_macc on May 6, 2019 13:53:01 GMT
Saw him play a few times for Macc. And, on one occasion against Dover, he played for more than a half in goal - and kept a clean sheet! - after the 'keeper had been sent off.
Fairly decent, old-fashioned centre-forward. Not sure why he dropped down a couple of levels to Warrington, mind...
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Post by hatter_in_macc on May 6, 2019 13:54:31 GMT
Of the players to be offered deals, I think it’s most important to keep Ash Palmer and Jordan Keane. Agree that retaining these two will be key. Delighted, in the meantime, to see that Hinchliffe and Walker have already committed.
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Post by forzablue on May 6, 2019 14:50:29 GMT
Saw him play a few times for Macc. And, on one occasion against Dover, he played for more than a half in goal - and kept a clean sheet! - after the 'keeper had been sent off. Fairly decent, old-fashioned centre-forward. Not sure why he dropped down a couple of levels to Warrington, mind... I think that was Jack Sampson - now at Southport. Jack Mackreth is a decent tricky winger who can run all day - good squad player - not sure how he'd manage with JG's vocals though!
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Post by gazz on May 6, 2019 16:15:30 GMT
Jack Mackreth is a decent tricky winger who can run all day - good squad player - not sure how he'd manage with JG's vocals though! Cheers for the info.
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Post by hermannsays on May 6, 2019 16:42:24 GMT
John Johnston is a similar player (and general slight stature) but only 24, and he got 14 goals and 15 assists in 39 league starts for Alty this season. I remember posting when Hampson moved their way that hopefully we might get him in return so he's certainly been doing well for a while now through non-league.
JG is obviously absorbing some of the NL playoff games and spotting what he thinks may be needed - I assume we still have the ex-Salford scout at the club as nothing was mentioned of him leaving afaik.
From the games I've seen it seems a step up in terms of physicality and mobility. Solihull, for example, looked a more physical side against Fylde, who themselves look physical against us.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on May 6, 2019 16:43:02 GMT
Ah - quite right, Forza. Getting my Macc-Jacks mixed up there!
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Post by countyfan on May 7, 2019 9:16:10 GMT
I don't know how everyone else feels but I'm slightly disappointed about this announcement! How many of the National League teams are fully full time? I 'm now seeing us struggle next season already and if we go on a bad run the part time players haven't got anything worry about as they've got their day job to fall back on if County go straight back down! I want to see a hungry squad of full time players playing for their living with passion, pride and determination.
Hope I'm proven wrong. From the full time whistle at Nuneaton until reading the announcement was so looking forward to next season and now I'm not!!
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Post by jimboslovechild on May 7, 2019 10:24:31 GMT
I know what you mean, CF, but I think it's worth a try for one season. I can't imagine full-time players train that much more than we're going to, and the group seem motivated to look after themselves. We've had full-time players who were out of shape and didn't care about the team's results. It's not a guarantee.
My main concerns are about players missing games due to work commitments, especially if we have midweek away games where they'd need to set off in the early afternoon.
If we struggle next season, there will be huge pressure to go completely full-time. Until then, I think it's worth a go. I don't expect us to challenge for back-to-back promotions, but would be happy to be proven wrong!
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2019 11:00:04 GMT
First and foremost, the ambition for next season needs to be to consolidate in the league above. A mid-table finish with no threat of relegation would suit me fine next season, and lay a good platform for the following season. Of course, if we were to do better than expected and challenge for the playoffs that would be amazing, but it’s step up for the club and the players and if non-league football has taught us anything, it is to respect the competition and the challenges that come with playing in a new league (either up or down).
I am certainly expecting next year to be a step forward in the transition to be back to a full time team, however I am more than happy to stay a part time/full time hybrid if it means we can keep the likes of Ashley Palmer and Ben Hinchliffe. The team that got us up would not struggle in the division above - they would be absolutely fine. I expect we will lose a few from last season, but it’s important to keep the core of the squad together and strengthen with a couple of key additions, rather than having a huge clear out and starting again.
Our promotion was 3 years in the making. Each summer, Jim tried to keep continuity with the playing squad, and make marginal gains each season. It eventually saw us promoted even though we lost players with the ability of Lloyd, Oswell and Montrose on the way. If it takes us 3 more years to be battling at the right end of the National League then so be it - as long as we get there!
The last squad of full time players we had were a disgrace. It was our mistake to think that purely by being full time we had a devine right to compete and that relegation was preposterous with a full time squad. Our current side is a million miles away from the team that played at Aggborough that fateful day, in terms of ability and professionalism.
Full time football must be the aim over the next 2 seasons, but for now, I want to see some more steady progress on and off the pitch, making sure that the next chapter in our history is built on proper foundations.
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2019 11:11:41 GMT
My main concerns are about players missing games due to work commitments, especially if we have midweek away games where they'd need to set off in the early afternoon. Just picking two random teams from the North (Salford and Hartlepool) and checking their fixture lists from last season, it shouldn't be too worrying. Salford had mid-week away games against Gateshead, Fylde, Barnet and Harrogate. Hartlepool had mid-week away games against Braintree, Salford, Wrexham, Ebbsfleet and Fylde. A couple of early finishes over the whole season should be enough to keep the full squad available.
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