I think your first sentence is a bit of a stretch. At the moment, from our matchday squad, we have had 2 loans that have been recalled / cancelled (Boyes & Breckin) and released Keogh while we have signed 2 loan signings (Campbell and Kodua) as well as Kone on a contract. So basically, one in, one out, just not in the positions that we need to look at!
Maybe these loans are for less money but I wouldn't look at our business and say we've had to cut our budget, not yet anyways. If a few more first team players were to leave then you might have a point.
I think we’ve massively cut the budget. With TJ and Keogh gone, is that 15 players out of possible 22 in the squad?
U21s being exempt from the list but I didn’t check everyone.
I suspect that’s the lowest we’ve ever had. The loanees are also somewhat unproven in men’s football.
I think this is one of the weakest squads we’ve had since our return to league one.
Vokes, McCleary, JJ, Wheeler are also not the players they were two seasons ago.
I don’t think Bloomfield is doing an unreasonable job given the experience in terms of league games of the overall squad and the fall off in performance of some of our more experienced pros.
We better be adding a center mid and a Vokes back up in the next four days or we may well be doomed.
As I understand it, Bloomfield has made a conscious decision to cut the squad, fearing team spirit wasn’t the best with many players not getting a look in. Not budget related.
That makes sense. Cutting 2 (or 3) players that you signed in the summer on loan plus one permanent signing made in the summer. It endorses what I felt in the last transfer window that we were signing good players just not good players for the team he wants.
My point was more that since the introduction of the squad size cap, I don’t believe we’ve had so few over 21s on the books, regardless of injuries.
I think this is causing us more issues than anything. We need some more experience. Particularly as are very experienced players don’t seem to be able to play a full 90 anymore.
Blooms bought them in and now seems to throw them out , not a great look and clubs and players unlikely to want to deals with us , seems all the amazing work that GA did is being undid
I think some may be overestimating what the expectations of academy loanees actually are. For every Eze or Potts there is always going to be a procession of players who are still learning to cope with the level, and I think that is why a Phillips or a Taylor can seem a little uneven in their performances.
On the West Ham forum a while back, they were commenting about how Potts was their only loanee (at the time) who was getting meaningful minutes and doing well. It is no coincidence that they were happy to hand us Kodua, another great asset, as a result - but it shows that youth players are unlikely to walk into a senior side and dominate unless they are something absolutely special.
I can remember plenty of loanees under GA who hardly set the world alight - Luke Bolton, Charlie lad from QPR who barely even played, and so on. I think at L1 and L2 level the PL clubs are simply hoping for forward progress, and the receiving club are hoping to plug a gap and perhaps get lucky with an undoubtedly talented young player hitting their stride more quickly than expected.
GA had one incredible academy loanee (Eze) that I can think of in ten years, while Blooms has already had one in Potts. Obviously I am not counting experienced loanees coming from a division above like Fred or McCarthy.
Comments
I think your first sentence is a bit of a stretch. At the moment, from our matchday squad, we have had 2 loans that have been recalled / cancelled (Boyes & Breckin) and released Keogh while we have signed 2 loan signings (Campbell and Kodua) as well as Kone on a contract. So basically, one in, one out, just not in the positions that we need to look at!
Maybe these loans are for less money but I wouldn't look at our business and say we've had to cut our budget, not yet anyways. If a few more first team players were to leave then you might have a point.
Access Motorway? Surely a 'Freeway' with the current ownership? There again, far more likely to be a Toll Road.
As you can see from this photo of the Legends Lounge, the future has been quite hard
I think we’ve massively cut the budget. With TJ and Keogh gone, is that 15 players out of possible 22 in the squad?
U21s being exempt from the list but I didn’t check everyone.
I suspect that’s the lowest we’ve ever had. The loanees are also somewhat unproven in men’s football.
I think this is one of the weakest squads we’ve had since our return to league one.
Vokes, McCleary, JJ, Wheeler are also not the players they were two seasons ago.
I don’t think Bloomfield is doing an unreasonable job given the experience in terms of league games of the overall squad and the fall off in performance of some of our more experienced pros.
We better be adding a center mid and a Vokes back up in the next four days or we may well be doomed.
As I understand it, Bloomfield has made a conscious decision to cut the squad, fearing team spirit wasn’t the best with many players not getting a look in. Not budget related.
So have we established yet whether Phillips has gone?
For this time on a Friday afternoon the M40 is relatively quiet.
more excuses by the main man blooms.
That makes sense. Cutting 2 (or 3) players that you signed in the summer on loan plus one permanent signing made in the summer. It endorses what I felt in the last transfer window that we were signing good players just not good players for the team he wants.
Better start reeling them in Matt, not long left now.
Plenty of players didn't get a look in under Gaz and we didn't lack team spirit then 🤔
As we saw in the play off final against Oxford all the subs were cheering us on and Gaz mentioned it in his interview after the game.
Unless the guys we've offloaded this month were bad eggs, who knows.
If the rest of the team showed the heart and desire that Philips did while he was here I reckon we'd be in the promotion slots.
Has Phillips actually gone?
When talking of heart, camaraderie, spirit the role of Bayo on and off the pitch can not be underestimated.
Who knows, but someone doesn’t approve of us asking?!
ha ha thanks Rob!
Don't forget Phillips, as per the thread we're in!
It can't be the lowest ever. Do you not remember the Southend play off season where we often couldn't fill a bench?
Plus had a middle aged staff member as sub keeper, Danny Rowe's mate who Gaz refused to play and a couple of other cheap as chips merchants too.
We were basically operating an effective 14-15man squad at times
We've not come close to not having 7 on the bench and a couple of others knocking about beyond that this season.
Have you seen him anywhere near the pitch, or mentioned by the club recently?
100% mirrors Boyes' departure which they eventually confirmed.
Until the club confirm it, this is just a rumor at this stage
Or apples!
My point was more that since the introduction of the squad size cap, I don’t believe we’ve had so few over 21s on the books, regardless of injuries.
I think this is causing us more issues than anything. We need some more experience. Particularly as are very experienced players don’t seem to be able to play a full 90 anymore.
Blooms bought them in and now seems to throw them out , not a great look and clubs and players unlikely to want to deals with us , seems all the amazing work that GA did is being undid
It will certainly make the PowerPoint presentation about improving young players harder to use. Maybe make the last slide Anis.
Is undid a New Zealand zombie?
Take a bow
I think some may be overestimating what the expectations of academy loanees actually are. For every Eze or Potts there is always going to be a procession of players who are still learning to cope with the level, and I think that is why a Phillips or a Taylor can seem a little uneven in their performances.
On the West Ham forum a while back, they were commenting about how Potts was their only loanee (at the time) who was getting meaningful minutes and doing well. It is no coincidence that they were happy to hand us Kodua, another great asset, as a result - but it shows that youth players are unlikely to walk into a senior side and dominate unless they are something absolutely special.
I can remember plenty of loanees under GA who hardly set the world alight - Luke Bolton, Charlie lad from QPR who barely even played, and so on. I think at L1 and L2 level the PL clubs are simply hoping for forward progress, and the receiving club are hoping to plug a gap and perhaps get lucky with an undoubtedly talented young player hitting their stride more quickly than expected.
GA had one incredible academy loanee (Eze) that I can think of in ten years, while Blooms has already had one in Potts. Obviously I am not counting experienced loanees coming from a division above like Fred or McCarthy.
GA also had Mawson loaned in who should be on the list as incredible even tho he was an unknown when he arrived