CathcartSkins Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 2 hours ago, Bring Your Own Socks said: ...now the uncertain status of many of those contracts is our biggest risk. Uncertain satus? Is there something I have missed here or is it the usual end of season worry if they will be kept on for next season? If the later, then we are no different to every other club. I am certain our dip in form is due to everyone saying we had already won the league and the players focus being taken off the game in front of them. Hopefully the win last week aids a return to form and three straight wins. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuntiethumper Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 27 minutes ago, CathcartSkins said: Uncertain satus? Is there something I have missed here or is it the usual end of season worry if they will be kept on for next season? If the later, then we are no different to every other club. I am certain our dip in form is due to everyone saying we had already won the league and the players focus being taken off the game in front of them. Hopefully the win last week aids a return to form and three straight wins. I was lucky enough to be at corporate hospitality again last week and an interesting titbit from Charlie Fox who came up to speak to us was the very small size of the core squad. Apparently we only have a "core" first team squad of 14-15 players, with those being supplemented by Young Spiders. Despite us having a good record of playing youngsters, most of our small first team squad have had to play a lot of minutes in a lot of games. Given that, I would suggest that it is not surprising that they are beginning to feel it a bit jaded at this stage of the season. Some tired legs out there coupled with a bit of youthful nervousness has likely led our dip in form. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
an86 Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 21 minutes ago, Stuntiethumper said: I was lucky enough to be at corporate hospitality again last week and an interesting titbit from Charlie Fox who came up to speak to us was the very small size of the core squad. Apparently we only have a "core" first team squad of 14-15 players, with those being supplemented by Young Spiders. Despite us having a good record of playing youngsters, most of our small first team squad have had to play a lot of minutes in a lot of games. Given that, I would suggest that it is not surprising that they are beginning to feel it a bit jaded at this stage of the season. Some tired legs out there coupled with a bit of youthful nervousness has likely led our dip in form. Aye, there’s not a great deal of depth. If someone is knackered/injured/lost form, there’s very few who could be brought in as a like for like. Half of our league losses have also come since the end of January, when we lost our captain and top scorer. We’d lost five out of twenty-two league games until that point and we’ve lost five of the eleven since. I’m not sure that’s coincidence. No one thing is ever to blame, but it’s hard to argue against it being a big factor. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arachnophile Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 34 minutes ago, Stuntiethumper said: I was lucky enough to be at corporate hospitality again last week and an interesting titbit from Charlie Fox who came up to speak to us was the very small size of the core squad. Apparently we only have a "core" first team squad of 14-15 players, with those being supplemented by Young Spiders. Despite us having a good record of playing youngsters, most of our small first team squad have had to play a lot of minutes in a lot of games. Given that, I would suggest that it is not surprising that they are beginning to feel it a bit jaded at this stage of the season. Some tired legs out there coupled with a bit of youthful nervousness has likely led our dip in form. Well, hopefully Charlie will have benefited from a couple of weeks rest 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anonymous Spider Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 That squad size thing is interesting. I wonder if we might have seen some more of the youth / fringe players coming in if we weren't challenging? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol1867 Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 The problem isn't really the size of the squad but the lack of balance in how that squad is made up. In the second half of the season we have had 8 attacking midfielder/wingers vying for 3 places in the team but only 1 natural centre forward and just 2 holding midfielders. Not adding a 3rd real centre mid in January was a big mistake as we have asked way too much from Boateng and Thomson who both look a little tired now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spidersmad Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 (edited) 14 minutes ago, Skol1867 said: The problem isn't really the size of the squad but the lack of balance in how that squad is made up. In the second half of the season we have had 8 attacking midfielder/wingers vying for 3 places in the team but only 1 natural centre forward and just 2 holding midfielders. Not adding a 3rd real centre mid in January was a big mistake as we have asked way too much from Boateng and Thomson who both look a little tired now. I agree with this. I don't think we had a particularly good window in January. On my shopping list were another central defender, an energetic midfield thug, and a centre forward, preferably all "proper" signings and not loanees. And that was my list before Simon Murray left. We seem to be back in the Ellis and immediate post Ellis days with a dependency on loanees and a surfeit of "attacking midfielders" or wingers. Unfortunately not many loan players turn out to be as good as Mal Boateng. Can Owen Coyle haul our unlikely mixture over the line again? Edited April 19, 2023 by Spidersmad 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridgeofweirdo Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 Tired ?. These are young professional footballers with the best of training and at their peak age wise. It's not like we have more than one competitive game a week. My take is that (apart from Murray) as the season has progressed most of the other teams in the league know how to play/press us so it's tactics that will be the deciding factor of the outcome in the remaining 3 games and that is dependent on O.C.'s game plan. As stated previously, we know we have the ability, it's just a case of joining up the dots and doing the homework ...... 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CathcartSkins Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 The size and make up of the 1st team and Young QP was always an intentional strategy. I don't think any us realistically expected such a good start to life at this level. We will be all the stronger next season for it though. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuntiethumper Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 1 hour ago, bridgeofweirdo said: Tired ?. These are young professional footballers with the best of training and at their peak age wise. It's not like we have more than one competitive game a week. My take is that (apart from Murray) as the season has progressed most of the other teams in the league know how to play/press us so it's tactics that will be the deciding factor of the outcome in the remaining 3 games and that is dependent on O.C.'s game plan. As stated previously, we know we have the ability, it's just a case of joining up the dots and doing the homework ...... I don't disagree with you on the tactics point and yes they are fit, full-time professional athletes, but I do think some of the players have looked jaded recently. That might be for a variety of reason such as illness (e.g. Marcel), knocks (Jack & Charlie), or just plain tiredness/burn out (Mal). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
an86 Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 1 hour ago, Stuntiethumper said: I don't disagree with you on the tactics point and yes they are fit, full-time professional athletes, but I do think some of the players have looked jaded recently. That might be for a variety of reason such as illness (e.g. Marcel), knocks (Jack & Charlie), or just plain tiredness/burn out (Mal). Athletes get tired as well. They’re not robots. Mental and physical fatigue both happen even at the very top level. Rory McIlroy pulling out of the event the week after the Masters a prime example. Sport can drain anyone’s battery. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanetti Posted April 19, 2023 Share Posted April 19, 2023 I've wondered before if the decision to have a relatively thin squad was intentional, but Marijn Beuker shared the below on Instagram today which all but confirms that (I've included a screenshot rather than a link in case you're not on there). It also makes me wonder if he's perhaps reading this thread, given the timing! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuntiethumper Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 13 hours ago, Zanetti said: I've wondered before if the decision to have a relatively thin squad was intentional, but Marijn Beuker shared the below on Instagram today which all but confirms that (I've included a screenshot rather than a link in case you're not on there). It also makes me wonder if he's perhaps reading this thread, given the timing! Well it is good to know someone is reading this thread! If the strategy worked at AZ Altmar, I am pretty sure it can work for us too. My comments above are just trying to point out that it is likely there are a number of factors coming together to explain our recent dip in form. Anyway, we are still in the mix and all to play for. Gutted I can't get down for the Ayr game though. Would much rather go to that game than Cappielow, which is likely to be foul-fest. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring Your Own Socks Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 15 hours ago, Zanetti said: I've wondered before if the decision to have a relatively thin squad was intentional, but Marijn Beuker shared the below on Instagram today which all but confirms that (I've included a screenshot rather than a link in case you're not on there). It also makes me wonder if he's perhaps reading this thread, given the timing! Like the quote said, you need the “right” players. So what are all the ingredients for right? Seems to me it’s the mental strength that has been weakening and that invariably is improved by experience and knowledge. More than coincidence I think we have a lot of young men short on big game experience. Teens and early twenties who’ve been catapulted from academy teams to the brink of trying to win the tier 2 league. Big ask. Their feet still work fine, it’s the heads. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arachnophile Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 3 hours ago, Bring Your Own Socks said: Like the quote said, you need the “right” players. So what are all the ingredients for right? Seems to me it’s the mental strength that has been weakening and that invariably is improved by experience and knowledge. More than coincidence I think we have a lot of young men short on big game experience. Teens and early twenties who’ve been catapulted from academy teams to the brink of trying to win the tier 2 league. Big ask. Their feet still work fine, it’s the heads. I don't doubt you're right but maybe I'm happier with us giving younger players game time to develop that mental strength & maybe missing out on promotion than signing 2 or 3 "seasoned" pros who might get us promotion but keep the youngsters out the team. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bring Your Own Socks Posted April 20, 2023 Share Posted April 20, 2023 6 hours ago, Arachnophile said: I don't doubt you're right but maybe I'm happier with us giving younger players game time to develop that mental strength & maybe missing out on promotion than signing 2 or 3 "seasoned" pros who might get us promotion but keep the youngsters out the team. I’m with you on that. No idea how they plan to bring youngsters through if we get promoted. Unless we just build the future and suck it up if we’re straight back down. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTQP1867 Posted April 21, 2023 Share Posted April 21, 2023 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHitman Posted April 21, 2023 Share Posted April 21, 2023 Playoff place secured 🕷 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreverarover Posted April 21, 2023 Share Posted April 21, 2023 6 minutes ago, TheHitman said: Playoff place secured 🕷 That's the alternative to saying you've "hibsed it" 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EaglesandSpiders Posted April 22, 2023 Share Posted April 22, 2023 What's the post-match injury report after the Ayr game? Heard anything about Kilday and Thompson? And why was Eze missing from the match squad? Injury or suspension? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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