Lack of player continuity

[Freeza 0]

Just flicking through our squad total appearances for the club and was a bit surprised:

• Drury (270) the only player with 200+
• Russell (141), Shackell (129) and Doherty (147) the only one''s on 100+ (and Doherty might be going)
• The only players in danger of breaking the 100+ barrier this coming season are Croft (87) and Cureton (77).

Compare that to last year''s Champions West Brom and they have Paul Robinson (201), Neil Clement (299), Johnathan Greening (184), Martin Albrechtsen (138) and they had Zoltan Gera (156) before he moved to Fulham a couple of weeks ago.

This shows that we need to build a core to our team and keep it together, consistency is the key.

We need players who are loyal to the cause but then I guess they are a rare commodity in football today.

Also I''m shocked that Doherty is our second highest appearance maker!

[bassisbest 0]

interesting facts

great post [Y]

[chicken 0]

I have said this for a good couple of seasons.Its not even appearances it is time these guys have been together. Croft has been a part of the team for what - two seasons? Chadwick is even less! So that goes to show even more how quickly this team will have to gel to start putting in decent performances. Fans getting on their case will not help them to play with more condifence either.

[canary cherub 1]

Probably has something to do with recent managerial changes but also our increasingly heavy reliance on loan players, which looks set to continue.  Not a recipe for continuity.

I agree that if we''re going to make any sustained progress a core squad is essential, otherwise it''ll be back to square one every season.

 

 

[canary cherub 1]

[quote user="Fat Prophet"]

Probably has something to do with recent managerial changes but also our increasingly heavy reliance on loan players, which looks set to continue.  Not a recipe for continuity.

I agree that if we''re going to make any sustained progress a core squad is essential, otherwise it''ll be back to square one every season.

[/quote]

I meant to add:  another reason for concern about overreliance on loan players as core squad members is that if the supply of loanees suddenly dries up - for example if the rules change - we''ll be so far up sh*t creek they''ll have to send out a search party.

 

[canary cherub 1]

There''s also the issue that most of the loanees we get now are youngsters.  The likes of Hucks, Crouch and Harper have become a rarity.  Most of them will not be ready to hold down a key position in the squad and we shouldn''t expect them to.  But they come here for experience, and however much Roeder may deny it, it''s bound to influence team selection on occasions.

And is it good for morale if young Prem loanees come here on higher wages (made up by the parent club) than some of our more experienced pros?

 

[Mello Yello 2,572]

Also, the Premiership substitutes on the bench allowance - has been increased......so, they will retain the ''quality'' fringes, rather than farm ''em out.....to the likes of us.....maybe?

[O.T.B.C 1]

[quote user="Mello Yello"]Also, the Premiership substitutes on the bench allowance - has been increased......so, they will retain the ''quality'' fringes, rather than farm ''em out.....to the likes of us.....maybe?[/quote]

Soon as I heard that I was worried too. Couple that with the fact, that in the fututr, each team may have to have 4 English youths, I can''t see many teams letting players go. But it is good for the players to go out.

[Branston Pickle 4,150]

I''d certainly agree continuity in the playing staff can be an important thing - but getting rid of underperforming players is equally important and it did seem that over the last few years we had picked up plenty.  

PG started a rather large clearout of such players, GR has gone in and continued it (including a fair number of PG''s replacements!).  It has indeed left not a lot behind in the ''experienced at NCFC'' camp, but it is what now happens that is important....see Leicester last season if you are in any doubt.  I hope (and believe) that GR is a little more discerning than Martin Allen, so hopefully we won''t fall foul of that problem, indeed, if we can get the mix right we have almost a clean slate from which to start afresh and you never know, that could be advantageous. 

 

[Freeza 0]

[quote user="Mello Yello"]Also, the Premiership substitutes on the bench allowance - has been increased......so, they will retain the ''quality'' fringes, rather than farm ''em out.....to the likes of us.....maybe?[/quote]

Thats a very good point Mello, the impact of the bigger Prem benches will almost certainly lower the general quality of loans available to Championship clubs. As Buddhaboy has said above you don''t see many loans of the quality of Crouch, Hucks and Harper happen very often anymore.

I guess Ameobi was the highest profile one last year and Stoke had to pay a stupid ammount to get him. (what a waste of money!)