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Post by boromike on Dec 16, 2023 20:44:47 GMT
Well it seems we know what the cryptic message was. Folivi had signed for Hemel but the deal fell through at the last moment. So, he's here at the minute. How long for? Who knows.... Spencer also said someone else is going out on loan too. Folivi goes and another out on loan we’ll be struggling to field a team! It’s crystal clear the seasons been written off, way to increase attendances Spencer 🙄
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shaun
1st team regular
Posts: 61
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Post by shaun on Dec 17, 2023 13:09:53 GMT
I'm guessing the Folivi transfer is a done deal when they sort out the paperwork and Spencer lines up another striker.
I thought when he signed for us it was with the intention of getting fit and finding his form then back to a full time club in a higher league.Like Boromike I find it strange he would choose Hemel.
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Post by northlondonboro on Dec 17, 2023 13:23:12 GMT
Just listened to Spencer’s interview. Really, really disappointing to hear we had sold Folivi to Hemel Hempstead only for the deal to fall through and that’s why he didn’t play last Saturday. Why we would even contemplate selling our most dangerous forward at this point is bizarre and confirms Spencer has written the season off! Can only assume Hemel offered Folivi a kings ransom in wages as I can’t see why otherwise he would want to move to Hemel, as it’s a backward step in my opinion. He mentioned we were going to get a loan in if the Folivi deal went through, blatantly that would have been Harry Parsons who seemingly instead was loaned to Weymouth yesterday and scored on his debut today at Chippenham. Clubs never going to grow if we can’t even keep players for a season, I was feeling quite upbeat after what was a hard earned and credible away point this afternoon, like our lead this afternoon, my upbeat mood really didn't last long. Presume the approach now is to try and pick up the 18 points or so we'll need to stay up from home games over the coming months, while building for the 2024/25 season. Not looking forward to losing loanees like Pruti and Kuhl if they go back to their parent clubs, however...
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Post by boromike on Dec 17, 2023 13:48:05 GMT
I'm guessing the Folivi transfer is a done deal when they sort out the paperwork and Spencer lines up another striker. I thought when he signed for us it was with the intention of getting fit and finding his form then back to a full time club in a higher league.Like Boromike I find it strange he would choose Hemel. If he was moving up the leagues and a decent fee was involved, like Pavey, it would be difficult to begrudge, but selling him to a struggling team below us in the table can only be about either the budget being reeled in or SD not rating him and having a replacement lined up. From what was said about bringing a forward in on loan (cough, Harry Parsons) and mentioning with few home matches where is the money coming from, reading between the lines, it’s pretty clear it’s about the budget. I don’t think Folivi has chosen Hemel as such. I think from what SD said he doesn’t believe Folivi works hard enough when we don’t have the ball, we’ve had an offer from Hemel and SD has said he can go, they’ve offered him more money and it’s a no brainer for him I.e. go to a club that wants him and are going to pay him more money!
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Post by boromike on Dec 17, 2023 14:02:38 GMT
Just listened to Spencer’s interview. Really, really disappointing to hear we had sold Folivi to Hemel Hempstead only for the deal to fall through and that’s why he didn’t play last Saturday. Why we would even contemplate selling our most dangerous forward at this point is bizarre and confirms Spencer has written the season off! Can only assume Hemel offered Folivi a kings ransom in wages as I can’t see why otherwise he would want to move to Hemel, as it’s a backward step in my opinion. He mentioned we were going to get a loan in if the Folivi deal went through, blatantly that would have been Harry Parsons who seemingly instead was loaned to Weymouth yesterday and scored on his debut today at Chippenham. Clubs never going to grow if we can’t even keep players for a season, I was feeling quite upbeat after what was a hard earned and credible away point this afternoon, like our lead this afternoon, my upbeat mood really didn't last long. Presume the approach now is to try and pick up the 18 points or so we'll need to stay up from home games over the coming months, while building for the 2024/25 season. Not looking forward to losing loanees like Pruti and Kuhl if they go back to their parent clubs, however... Yes this is the fear I have, without Pruti and Kuhl the rest of the season is going to be a really tough watch. If Hall goes back to Solihull as well, we will be down to Connor Cullen up top. As much as I like Connor, we need at least two other proven and experienced forwards at this level. He said a couple will also be going out on loan! Who!? Looking at the squad list the only candidates seem to be Perez or Nelson. I don’t want to see either go as I like both, but further still that would leave us incredibly light in terms of midfield and defensive cover! As was mentioned by Borobob, of the many things needed to grow the club, the absolute most important thing is what’s happening on the pitch. Unfortunately, it looks as though we are going to be taking a big backwards step, from a position we were not particularly happy with in the first place.
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Post by Tom Bowen on Dec 17, 2023 15:45:30 GMT
Let's think about this.
Spencer is not going to do this if he doesn't have a plan. His contacts are second-to-none in non-league. You could probably name any player and he'd know something about them.
Goalkeepers: Jack Turner is phenomenal in between the sticks and always has been. However, a backup goalkeeper never seems to appear. It would give us all a bit more reassurance I feel, rather than putting all of your eggs in one basket.
Defenders: JNW has struggled with injury this season and we seem to fallen short of right backs after Johnny O left. Kev Lokko was always going to be a difficult replacement, but once again I know Sid has spent a bit of time out. Robbo is ever-consistent.
Midfielders: Last season was an excellent season for our midfield. Page, Deering, Penders... and the overall squad gave us some of our best memories as a club. Page and Pendlebury worked well together so I think one part of the jigsaw is to bring in someone that 1) fits into the squad AND (NOT OR) 2) complements Penders' play style. Personally, I liked Jaden Davis when he came in and I think at the start of his time here he brought a fresh style of play to the team.
Forwards: Hish, Mason, Pavey and now Folivi. It's hard to accept. It demonstrates our position, quite well though, that we are attracting the attention of bigger clubs. Obviously I'd rather not lose them, but there is a definite, undisputable advantage to the move for the player and both clubs, then fair enough. I always liked Connor Hall's play with Michael Folivi, and I worry that if he goes, Connor (Hall) may not play as well. It was brilliant to welcome Connor Cullen (there's too many Connor's, imagine still having Calcutt too) back to the San Cherrio this season and I think he works very hard, as they all do, but we need another striker or two alongside. And without Folivi or Hall, I'm not quite sure what we'd do. Spencer and the magic hat, I think.
There is still reason to be positive. The comments that we've written the season off are ridiculous. Any manager that just gives up halfway through the season is in the wrong job, and Spencer isn't someone who gives up.
In short, backup keeper, right back, a holding midfielder, another midfielder that complements Penders, and a striker. Easy, right?
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Post by boromike on Dec 17, 2023 15:59:08 GMT
Let's think about this. Spencer is not going to do this if he doesn't have a plan. His contacts are second-to-none in non-league. You could probably name any player and he'd know something about them. Goalkeepers: Jack Turner is phenomenal in between the sticks and always has been. However, a backup goalkeeper never seems to appear. It would give us all a bit more reassurance I feel, rather than putting all of your eggs in one basket. Defenders: JNW has struggled with injury this season and we seem to fallen short of right backs after Johnny O left. Kev Lokko was always going to be a difficult replacement, but once again I know Sid has spent a bit of time out. Robbo is ever-consistent. Midfielders: Last season was an excellent season for our midfield. Page, Deering, Penders... and the overall squad gave us some of our best memories as a club. Page and Pendlebury worked well together so I think one part of the jigsaw is to bring in someone that 1) fits into the squad AND (NOT OR) 2) complements Penders' play style. Personally, I liked Jaden Davis when he came in and I think at the start of his time here he brought a fresh style of play to the team. Forwards: Hish, Mason, Pavey and now Folivi. It's hard to accept. It demonstrates our position, quite well though, that we are attracting the attention of bigger clubs. Obviously I'd rather not lose them, but there is a definite, undisputable advantage to the move for the player and both clubs, then fair enough. I always liked Connor Hall's play with Michael Folivi, and I worry that if he goes, Connor (Hall) may not play as well. It was brilliant to welcome Connor Cullen (there's too many Connor's, imagine still having Calcutt too) back to the San Cherrio this season and I think he works very hard, as they all do, but we need another striker or two alongside. And without Folivi or Hall, I'm not quite sure what we'd do. Spencer and the magic hat, I think. There is still reason to be positive. The comments that we've written the season off are ridiculous. Any manager that just gives up halfway through the season is in the wrong job, and Spencer isn't someone who gives up. In short, backup keeper, right back, a holding midfielder, another midfielder that complements Penders, and a striker. Easy, right? You don’t believe Spencer is trying to reduce the outgoings, even though he literally said he was? Even without him saying it, selling our top earner who happens to be our most dangerous and promising forward to a club below us, confirms the plan now is to reduce the budget. Scaling back the budget and consequently the quality of the squad at this point 100% indicates he has conceded we won’t make the play offs and is content with consolidating our NLS status. AKA writing off the season.
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Post by borobob on Dec 17, 2023 19:27:52 GMT
As was mentioned by Borobob, of the many things needed to grow the club, the absolute most important thing is what’s happening on the pitch.
And I firmly believe that!! Not sure it is believed in certain quarters though!!
I'm certainly not an advocate of busting the budget either, we've been there before and suffered terribly, but I do believe in making the best of what you have, and working with it!!
Scorch and burn, revolving door, whatever you want to call it, shrieks of indecision.
Also, there doesn't seem to be any acceptance of, sorry made a few mistakes there!! Of the four 'stellar' signings at the start of the season, for instance, two have gone, one is out on loan and the other only made fourth sub spot on Saturday!! Hardly inspiring choices were they?
Yeah, ok, hindsight is great, I know, but I wonder what the selection process was like? Ex National League?, he must be good, we'll have him!! Bet they weren't cheap either!!
Setting targets and ambitions is fine, but giving up on them half way through would be considered poor Management! You have to be looking up the table rather than settling for the middle.
If you don't look up, it's a recipe for slipping backwards, and I really don't want to see us playing H & Y, Poole, Basingstoke etc next season either!!!
Then again, we have all heard the " It's my ball, I'll do what I like, or I'm going home" situation, so I guess we have to live with it!!
Not convinced anything will change though.
Will I be there on Saturday? Of course I will. I might not have any financial input, but it's MY Club, and has been for forty years, Players, Directors and Managers have all come and gone, but the supporters will always be there.
COME ON YOU YELLOWWSSAA!!
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Post by msgribbin on Dec 17, 2023 19:54:45 GMT
I think we need to wait this out and see what comes next - not one where rush to judgement helps.
It's possible Spencer has given up on the season as folk say, personally I very much doubt it.
Controlling costs isn't only about minimising spend, it's also about value for the money. If Folivi is our highest earner, has he delivered enough on that investment ? Arguable I suppose but, for me, not really.
I like him as a player but the stats are fairly clear - he hasn't torn up any trees. Sure he was injured early season but form since then has been in and out. And the truth is he doesn't always put enough work in, Spencer isn't wrong about that. Has he got the class to come good with a very strong run is the imponderable here....yesterday's display suggests that's possible. It certainly keeps him in the shop window, if a move does remain in the offing.
In the end, judging the here and now, I think Spencer's justified in feeling we aren't getting full value for the highest wage in the squad. It might feel harsh on one level - as I say, I do like Michael - but managers have to make those tough calls.
Question then becomes whether he can get better value reinvesting all or some of that money elsewhere. That's no certainty but possible.
If Spencer's view is that we're not on a trajectory for the play-offs at the moment - and that seems the opinion of most posters on here too - then the only logical option is to change things. Maybe that works, maybe not.
But we're four points off Braintree in the last play-off spot, play them on Saturday and are plainly well placed if we can put a good run together from there. I really can't believe Spencer or anyone else is ready to give up on that possibility yet. I think he's trying to change things around to give us a better chance of getting there. But there's a combination of factors at play there too. Harder to go into the market when income stream's running dry so you need to maximise value from the playing budget. Loans are generally more affordable......I think Spencer's words just reflect those basic realities the club has to live within.
Whether it works is another question again though - the revolving door approach is also a risk.....
Saturday should be interesting !
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Post by benfrench on Dec 17, 2023 21:31:19 GMT
Top post, I pretty much agree with all you say.
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Post by benfrench on Dec 17, 2023 21:32:39 GMT
As was mentioned by Borobob, of the many things needed to grow the club, the absolute most important thing is what’s happening on the pitch.And I firmly believe that!! Not sure it is believed in certain quarters though!! I'm certainly not an advocate of busting the budget either, we've been there before and suffered terribly, but I do believe in making the best of what you have, and working with it!! Scorch and burn, revolving door, whatever you want to call it, shrieks of indecision. Also, there doesn't seem to be any acceptance of, sorry made a few mistakes there!! Of the four 'stellar' signings at the start of the season, for instance, two have gone, one is out on loan and the other only made fourth sub spot on Saturday!! Hardly inspiring choices were they? Yeah, ok, hindsight is great, I know, but I wonder what the selection process was like? Ex National League?, he must be good, we'll have him!! Bet they weren't cheap either!! Setting targets and ambitions is fine, but giving up on them half way through would be considered poor Management! You have to be looking up the table rather than settling for the middle. If you don't look up, it's a recipe for slipping backwards, and I really don't want to see us playing H & Y, Poole, Basingstoke etc next season either!!! Then again, we have all heard the " It's my ball, I'll do what I like, or I'm going home" situation, so I guess we have to live with it!! Not convinced anything will change though. Will I be there on Saturday? Of course I will. I might not have any financial input, but it's MY Club, and has been for forty years, Players, Directors and Managers have all come and gone, but the supporters will always be there. COME ON YOU YELLOWWSSAA!!
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Post by benfrench on Dec 17, 2023 21:34:07 GMT
Please shut up Borobob, your posts are embarrassing.
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Post by borobob on Dec 17, 2023 22:32:07 GMT
Opinion Ben, Opinions. It's what makes the world go round.
Merry Christmas.
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Post by betweenthesticks on Dec 17, 2023 22:56:07 GMT
Please shut up Borobob, your posts are embarrassing. Ben, I'll forgive your naivety as a relative newbie around here, but strongly suggest you wind your neck in... Bob has earned his soapbox. What have you done for the club..?
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Post by Tom Bowen on Dec 17, 2023 23:06:16 GMT
Please shut up Borobob, your posts are embarrassing. I've seen regular posts from you on here with nothing but negativity towards passionate fans and volunteers. There's no need for that.
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