Very true. At one point we had Blooms, JJ, Bayo, Stewart and Gape with a ridiculous number of appearances between them (I am probably forgetting someone else too).
I’m not sure I agree with this.
Whilst there will always be your Mehmeti’s/Kone’s who go on to better things, Udoh, Harvie, Norris, Berry could quite easily be here for another five years.
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5 I think
Very few Wycombe players go on to AND RETAIN higher league positions in recent years.
This reflects ten years of very little money; no academy; and Gaz and Dobbo’s brilliance working with the players we could afford.
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Although it’s nice to have some long serving players I also think there’s a certain pleasure in watching young, talented players move on to better things.
The likes of Low and Kone are young guys trying to better themselves and clearly see the club as a nurturing environment in which they can thrive. Provided they give their all for the team whilst they’re here I’m happy to root for players that are hoping to prosper in their career and move on to bigger and better things.
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Indeed! One pleasing subplot of GA & Dobbo ending up at Gillingham is that for the first time, they should have money to spend compared to the rest of their division (top quarter, I’d imagine) whereas even the best times under Couhig were still probably midtable funds, and the less said about QPR and Shrewsbury money-wise the better.
I have often wondered what GA could do with some actual seriously competitive funding, and he finally has it. As a result, I think Gillingham are going to smash it next season.
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Over in the Gillingham forum:
They are suggesting that GA is expecting to focus on building a small squad for next season.
Not sure whether that means “small but high quality” or “small out of necessity”.
Obviously small but high quality is good in terms of a tight-knit squad and less bloat/disgruntled players not getting any playing time.
But it’s obviously a risk from a strength in depth perspective - I don’t recall the injury record under GA being too bad in general, and we also carefully used players who were injury prone - Charles, and Akinfenwa in the final season.
In the same thread above they are talking about Taf as a potential signing - love it from the perspective of re-signing former players, but I think that would be a poor signing from an injury record standpoint if you know you’re going for a small squad.
I would certainly back GA & RD to do very well there however if they are given time and space to build things in their own image.
A recent statement from the owner implies that they will be, but of course what else is he going to say at this stage.
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It’s been interesting to see how some players have developed since they have had a loan or period of time at the club. People like Steven Taylor & Alfie Mawson & Eze who were could see was different gravy when they first joined.
However the growth of players like Roger Johnson, Russell Martin moving themselves on up through to the Premier League.
I wonder who would be the player(s) that got away? They looked amazing for us and if they stayed, could have been here for a long time. However they then left (either at end of loan or transfer) to then stagnate or disappear from the footballing world. Someone like Frank Fielding or Blackman could have easily stayed and become the new Martin Taylor
We are in entirely new territory now, I don"t think we can possibly have any certainty about how to the squad will look like. Dan Rice said they went into the January window with 2 strategies, depending on our league for next season. Which signing fitted into which? One assumes the Danes were for the championship, Bradley for league 1, and so on. The reality is they will decide what is needed and sign up accordingly with not too much concern about cost. Players will leave, we have 8 out on loan, how many will come back? It could be a roller-coaster of a transfer window!
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My considered opinion after today is that every single one of them can find a new club for all I care.
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Would expect all the Dev Squad players to be kept on especially if the new academy enters any U23/U21 or U19/U18 leagues next season.
Really? You write off an entire squad which has amassed a total of 84 points, guaranteed a playoff place at worst and can still be promoted automatically, all based on one result? The word overreaction doesn’t begin to do justice to your post.
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Overreaction is my prerogative. If we win on Saturday I’ll want to name my grandchildren after them.
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Great response, made me smile.
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So what departures are we expecting?
I think we can expect all of our loaned out players will be moved on - Taff, Butcher & Halan (are they all out of contract?)
If we don’t go up, I suspect that Low & Kone will go, they might go even if we do go up!
McCleary & Vokes will be out of contract and will prob retire?
I only have one strong opinion. McCleary won’t be retiring. He’s still regularly starting games. He’s regularly talked about how he wants to match Bayo in playing professionally until he’s 40 years old. I think his future depends on us getting promoted or not. If we get promoted he goes to League 2 on decent wedge. If we don’t get promoted he may stay with us in a Vokes sort of role next season.
If we don’t get promoted and lose Kone, shall we sign Vardy (whose just announced that he’s leaving Leicester)?
Don’t want a racist playing for us.
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Talking of which, how utterly depressing to see Danny Hylton take the field on Monday
A bad end to a terrible afternoon
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Hylton appears to have had a thatch, as last time i saw him play, his hair was receeding at an alarming rate.
But when he came on, it was a full head of a lighter coloured hair, or maybe it was a Syrup ?