Just thought I would bring people back to reality.
This time last season we had lost 5 players: Barry Ashby, Rob Owen, Lee Gledhill, Darren Ibrahim and James Pinnock. We didnt sign anyone until June 19th! The stats say everything.
So give the bloke a chance, enough with the negative stuff. We only finished the season a few weeks back and before a ball has even been kicked its all doom and gloom!
Please before posting think about what your writing. You'd think we have been relegated and deducted 10 points from the way you lot talk.
I remember last year and the posts on here were all about being really worried and who were going to sign. I remember posting to say I would thought we could be facing a relegation battle. It worked out ok in the end. The difference is that last year we had a settled mangement team - now we have a new guy on a steep learning curve. Last year Keds and Jamie were staying, this year they have gone. They were probably our two best players last year. From what I have read of Neil Smith, he looks like a guy with a lot of potential and he could well take the club forward. However we need to be at least re-signing some of our players who are known to us - Perks, Mooro, Bruce at the minimum. Would help to settle some nerves and stop other teams getting in there first. These guys will want some security and we don't want them going to the first club that comes along. Is this why Ben Lewis left?
Can't agree with your version of reality on several counts I'm afraid.
Firstly, we had a management team in place and unless Neil is going it alone that we still do not have.
Secondly, unless information in the local press was wrong the core of the squad were contracted before the season ended - Day, Kedwell, Turner, Solomon and Guest.
Thirdly, to compare the loss of what were probably 3 of the best 5 players last season with the 5 players you quote is naive to say the least, particularly when you have to work to such a tight budget. To cite Darren Ibrahim's contribution shows just how deserately you are trying to paint a more rosy picture - his contribution all season was 4 County Cup games in which he let in 13 goals.
Fourthly, off the pitch we had Graham who is sadly no longer with us and Barrie. With all due respect to young Barry his contribution cannot realistically be anywhere near as much. Agree with what Graham said and did or not his as the case may be his immense contribution to Welling United's success with his knowledge and experience was undeniable.
I agree that beyond the five players quoted above we made no further signings till 18 June when we signed Paul Hyde, Joe Vines and Des Boateng.
At this time last year as stated above we had a full management team and 5 contracted players and off the pitch the knowledge and experience of Graham - as at today from what is available in the public domain we have a Manager, a physio and no players signed. Hardly comparable situations and in my book the concerns being expressed are valid.
All is not lost but as I said in an earlier post a baptism by fire for Neil Smith.
Lets hope we get some positive news in the very near future.
-- Edited by bruno at 10:10, 2007-05-24
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YOUTH are the future
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"The worst thing you can do is make a committment and not meet it and I understand that." Barrie Hobbins 14 August 2010
I would hope that come the first league game of next season we will have a squad of players raring to go. But how do we replace Keds, Daisy, Lewis? Also rumours that Leon and JT are on their way. Talk about losing the spine of the team or what. Neil Smith is going to have to go some to find players to match those mentioned. He will have to look up the leagues not down. I wish him luck for his sake and for the Welling fans sake. The last couple of years have been pretty good. I for one don`t want to go back to watching a struggling team.
It'll be fine - as said just be positive - I think Neil Smith will do a great job and there's no use speculating on transfers as anything could happen between now and the start of the season
I'd sooner be speculating on transfers than inactivity personally!
How about a little fund raiser then?
Everyone who thinks we are heading towards a rocky season next year contributes a fiver for every point over 55 we get next year, everyone who reckons we are going to be fine contributes a fiver for every point below 55.
As I have said before, he may do a first class job, I also think he wants to prove a point, however he has a starting position with a bit of lead in the saddle compared with a lot of other teams in the league.
I'd not forget as well that Pennock had half a season to assess his first squad, albeit changing it enough to save us from relegation. Or is that too real?
