Although those players are a year older it’s worth noting we still have good players of a young age - Arthur’s, Idris, Deji, Ifill, Ilunga. Although I wouldn’t call them the stand outs in the team they still have a long way to go in their development. Holding them will be key.
Dare I say Byron Webster retires or goes into a coaching role at the end of the season. Is there a captain with the character to match him ? Smith ? Arthur’s ?
I still like the idea of Regan Linney but no doubt there will be more equipped interest around him. Jamey Osbourne if Solihull stay down is still only 32.
Two quality midfielders, a striker to run along side Cheek that has different qualities and a vastly experience CB would do nicely
For me Idris has to start and whatever formation we play McKirdy has to play , he adds pace , creativity and goals . Midfield definitely needs an upgrade next season amongst other things . We have done very well and i still believe we will finish in top 12 , when bookies and experts had us as relegation threatened . Probably the biggest rebuild in years needed in summer if we are looking to improve league position.
Scary to think that all we needed was someone to chip in with goals behind Cheek and Bromley would've been a play-off certainty. MC cannot carry-on bailing Bromley out, the sorcerer needs an apprentice to make his job easier in 2025/26.
Danny Imray just doesn't have the shooting boots to match all his other considerable talents.
Opportunities to grab place in next seasons squad are up for grabs...
I'm with you Mach, I thought we played pretty well for the most part, and in the early throws really threatened to blow Salford away.
I'm not too disheartened with the result, though. That's football, and we've done it *plenty* to sides over the past few years. A few boos in the North Stand, and while I'd never police anyone's response to a football match, I do wonder if people are losing sight a little of what we are given how well we've done...
As for the team, I think missing out on the playoffs might be a blessing. If we were aiming for post-season football then the experience of Webser, Cheek, Omar, Whitely etc would be crucial, but now I wonder if we'll start to see Andy having a look at some of the younger lads.
As you said, we'll lose Imray, Grant, Mayor, Congreve, Kacurri in the summer at the very least, so is now a chance for the likes of Ilunga, Idris, Deji etc to really stake a claim to be starting every week as we head into the summer?
I wanted to give a shoutout to Andy, as well. I've been critical in the past in his seeming lack of trust in the bench but, aside from maybe not making changes at HT, I thought he got them all spot on vs Salford.
Idris, Ashley, and Nicke were all exceptional when they came on, and Ilunga really shone with Idris bombing outside of him. Nicke offers something different to Cheek, too. His build-up is a little better, and he's happy to spin and ask for the ball over the top. Is there a world where he and Cheek start together, rather than with Thompson as a 10?
Although those players are a year older it’s worth noting we still have good players of a young age - Arthur’s, Idris, Deji, Ifill, Ilunga. Although I wouldn’t call them the stand outs in the team they still have a long way to go in their development. Holding them will be key.
Dare I say Byron Webster retires or goes into a coaching role at the end of the season. Is there a captain with the character to match him ? Smith ? Arthur’s ?
I still like the idea of Regan Linney but no doubt there will be more equipped interest around him. Jamey Osbourne if Solihull stay down is still only 32.
Two quality midfielders, a striker to run along side Cheek that has different qualities and a vastly experience CB would do nicely
For me Idris has to start and whatever formation we play McKirdy has to play , he adds pace , creativity and goals . Midfield definitely needs an upgrade next season amongst other things . We have done very well and i still believe we will finish in top 12 , when bookies and experts had us as relegation threatened . Probably the biggest rebuild in years needed in summer if we are looking to improve league position.
Scary to think that all we needed was someone to chip in with goals behind Cheek and Bromley would've been a play-off certainty. MC cannot carry-on bailing Bromley out, the sorcerer needs an apprentice to make his job easier in 2025/26.
Danny Imray just doesn't have the shooting boots to match all his other considerable talents.
Opportunities to grab place in next seasons squad are up for grabs...
Smith, Cheek and then the rest
I'm with you Mach, I thought we played pretty well for the most part, and in the early throws really threatened to blow Salford away.
I'm not too disheartened with the result, though. That's football, and we've done it *plenty* to sides over the past few years. A few boos in the North Stand, and while I'd never police anyone's response to a football match, I do wonder if people are losing sight a little of what we are given how well we've done...
As for the team, I think missing out on the playoffs might be a blessing. If we were aiming for post-season football then the experience of Webser, Cheek, Omar, Whitely etc would be crucial, but now I wonder if we'll start to see Andy having a look at some of the younger lads.
As you said, we'll lose Imray, Grant, Mayor, Congreve, Kacurri in the summer at the very least, so is now a chance for the likes of Ilunga, Idris, Deji etc to really stake a claim to be starting every week as we head into the summer?
I wanted to give a shoutout to Andy, as well. I've been critical in the past in his seeming lack of trust in the bench but, aside from maybe not making changes at HT, I thought he got them all spot on vs Salford.
Idris, Ashley, and Nicke were all exceptional when they came on, and Ilunga really shone with Idris bombing outside of him. Nicke offers something different to Cheek, too. His build-up is a little better, and he's happy to spin and ask for the ball over the top. Is there a world where he and Cheek start together, rather than with Thompson as a 10?
I would go for solidifying the defence at Newport:
Smith
Grant Elerewe, Webster, Sowunmi, Odutayo
McKirdy Whitely Arthurs Thompson
Cheek
Could be a busy summer for Andy. We have had an incredible season, but you have to improve to just maintain status in football each summer.