[Trigger]

It has been mentioned that the training ground wasn't usable over the time we went on that horrendous run. Now that's been sorted you'd think it wouldn't happen again.

[metallilad]

For as much as I'd like to see another striker I agree with what you say. Cookie said himself that the squad didn't need too much changes and he knows more than anybody about winning promotions.

[frearsghost]

I'm pretty confident we will win this season. I tell myself that in just ten months time we will be a league club again.

[Wooden Spoon]

Quaker, on 25 July 2023 - 08:22 AM, said:

I remember walking out of Wembley after last seasons playoff final and discussing with the group I went with how far off we are from a promotion winning team. My view at the time that was if we don't manage to keep Dallas we need to bring another quality forward. I also said another decent midfielder who can defend and a decent keeper. I only saw small tweaks required to the team to get us up.

We have what I wanted and I'm confident we have what it takes to win the league this seaon. Last season we had a torrid run of nine games where we were awful. I have no idea why that happened, it wasn't expected nor I doubt, will it be repeated. Notts County and Wrexham were the best two team to ever play in this league and we didn't have what it takes to compete with them although when we played them, they definitely knew they were in a game.

Our squad are a close knit bunch of lads who are more than capable, individually, of providing league winning performances week in, week out. If some folk on here had their way we would have completely overhauled the squad and started again, something, in my opinion we didn't need to do. The new lads seem to have fitted in well, the young lads who came up from the acadamy seem to be bursting with confidence and hungry to play. With some decent coaching they all have the potential to do well and contribute.

I am really optimistic we can win this league with what we have, we were not a million miles away last season and as the skipper says, they have a lot to prove to the fans. They themselves believe they are capable and we should jump on board with them instead of moaning about who we didn't sign.

Less than two weeks to kick off, over 4000 season tickets sold and a solid pre-season. Whats not to look forward too?

I felt similar, and almost a sense of relief in a wierd way that with Notts and Wrexham gone it wouldn’t take a lot for us to be the best in the division for the coming season

[Close but no prawn sarnies]

We have great cause to be optimistic, looking forward to the season.

The only certainty will be the knee jerk reaction on a game by game basis of some of our fan base/professional wind up merchants!

The consistency last year of Notts and Wrexham was incredible and set the bar very high. Can we emulate it? who else will come good? will there be a surprise package?

Roll on Dorking!

[stainlessstephen]

I agree with what is said above.

As I've said I ain't bothered in the slightest about Dallas, it wasn't going to happen anyway. He wants to play at the highest level possible. Good luck to him and watch this space. I'd wager its more likely Aidan Keena will sign for us than Dallas will, and IMHO Keena is better.

We do need to sort the more immediate concerns where goals are coming from up top. We all know JQ is a honest grafter but the end product isn't there.

Other than that all good with the pud.

[DIFH]

I watched us at Accrington and we looked the part in that first half. Hopefully full fitness will see us control the second half of games in a similar manner. I will be looking for a bit more patience in games and more killing the games towards the end even though the fans want to see goals goals goals. We need to keep the ball more and make our opponents come out of their defensive set up at our place, for sure we are the big scalp in this league and I can’t see many teams trying to go toe to toe with us.

[Wooden Spoon]

Quaker, on 25 July 2023 - 04:05 PM, said:

Our top scorer last season was a midfielder. I see goals coming from all over but I think Grigg will be the man to score up top, that’s what Cookie brought him in for.

That’s always been cookies way. It’s one striker but really it’s a front four.


Doyle wasn’t prolific when we won the L2 title, he got his fair share but so did robbo, so did clucas and the rest chipped in.


If you don’t have a 20 goal a season striker as such but have three players getting 15 each it’s still a decent return.


I just feel last season was an absolute freak of a season - two teams scoring over 100 points! I doubt that’s ever happened ever in uk football and will ever happen again. One team getting 100 points is a rarity. Two in the same division in the same season unheard of



We’ll be ok this season. It’s back to a normal season of normal sides being competitive and we will be the best of them.

[SpireRam]

stainlessstephen, on 25 July 2023 - 03:20 PM, said:

I agree with what is said above.

As I've said I ain't bothered in the slightest about Dallas, it wasn't going to happen anyway. He wants to play at the highest level possible. Good luck to him and watch this space. I'd wager its more likely Aidan Keena will sign for us than Dallas will, and IMHO Keena is better.

We do need to sort the more immediate concerns where goals are coming from up top. We all know JQ is a honest grafter but the end product isn't there.

Other than that all good with the pud.

Keena is a random name there. On paper would be a very good addition.

[metallilad]

SpireRam, on 25 July 2023 - 09:30 PM, said:

Keena is a random name there. On paper would be a very good addition.

Would Cheltenham get rid of both strikers?

[60s 70s Spireite]

SpireRam, on 25 July 2023 - 09:30 PM, said:

Keena is a random name there. On paper would be a very good addition.

Should think he’s not on our agenda.
Per the Irish Mirror, he cost Cheltenham €110k plus add ons in January signing on a 3 year contract.
Is he mentioned cos he once paid for Sligo? But seems to fail on any sensibility of happening test.

[60s 70s Spireite]

Quaker timestamp=, on 25 July 2023 - 09:45 PM, said:

So you don’t think we will be ok with what we have?

Three weeks ago, Cook said we had an offer on the table for redacted, when we already had Grigg. I can’t think he’s happy that Curtis and Grigg is the same as redacted and Grigg.

But is there anyone out there good enough, available, and willing to come?

[Westbars Spireite]

Wooden Spoon, on 25 July 2023 - 08:20 PM, said:

That’s always been cookies way. It’s one striker but really it’s a front four.


Doyle wasn’t prolific when we won the L2 title, he got his fair share but so did robbo, so did clucas and the rest chipped in.


If you don’t have a 20 goal a season striker as such but have three players getting 15 each it’s still a decent return.


I just feel last season was an absolute freak of a season - two teams scoring over 100 points! I doubt that’s ever happened ever in uk football and will ever happen again. One team getting 100 points is a rarity. Two in the same division in the same season unheard of



We’ll be ok this season. It’s back to a normal season of normal sides being competitive and we will be the best of them.

Clucas didn't score any as he didn't sign until he following season.

[Wooden Spoon]

Westbars Spireite, on 26 July 2023 - 05:45 AM, said:

Clucas didn't score any as he didn't sign until he following season.

Your right, that was the season after wasn’t it.



Forget his name now, the ex Northampton striker wasn’t it.

[JonB]

Wooden Spoon, on 26 July 2023 - 02:03 PM, said:

Forget his name now, the ex Northampton striker wasn’t it.

Marc Richards?

[Wooden Spoon]

JonB, on 26 July 2023 - 02:06 PM, said:

Marc Richards?

That’s the fella