what needs to change

[Ignored by most]

what needs to happen now?

what plans fir next season?

[ETFC2001]

In this off-season, there’s a few things that need to happen.

A clear plan on how to get back to Step 2 and how we can stay there next time.

Ways we can improve our budget and or facilities which will increase revenue for the long term.

Think personally it is time to part ways with Gavin after two stressful seasons that’s probably took a massive toll on him.

A clear rebuild is needed. A lot of these players need to go whether they’re good enough or not or understand what it means to put on the shirt.

[WXEn8]

Surely our biggest problem is going to be persuading certain players to stay who, despite obvious results based evidence, actually believe they are NLS quality?

[djwilf]

How long have you got??

[WXEn8]

1 hour ago, djwilf said:

How long have you got??

All summer...off you go 😉

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Who stays and who goes?

The Manager. I have a lot of time for Gavin and everything that he has achieved. He was certainly a step up from Andy Leese. However, I think his race is now run. Even if he were able to get us back up to Step 2, he has not shown the ability to consolidate us in that division. He kept faith with the Step 3 players who gained promotion - which was a mistake. He tried fielding a lone striker for months on end - again, a mistake. Then this season, he jettisoned any real flair and creativity to the bench (MacArthur, Davis) in favour of 'safer options'. Thats all well and good if it keeps us up, but it hasn't worked. I would've preferred to have gone down while fielding proper wingers who might try to play the ball on the floor and take on defenders! I'm not convinced that Gavin has the ability to recruit. We're certainly not going to have the biggest budget in the Isthmian (see Eastbourne, Chatham, Billericay, Dartford, St Albans, Aveley, Brentwood, Dulwich, Maldon etc), so our work is already going to be cut out next season. We need someone who can persuade the right players to buy in to ETFC at the right price.

The Players. I reckon Sam Youngs, Mickey Parcell and Oli Knight might be the only players to stay. The rest we either can't afford, have said they're likely retiring (Joe Wright), or will probably be recruited by Step 2 sides over the summer. I'd very much like to hang on to Xavier Benjamin, Henry Hawkins and Adam Thompson. Nino really should be playing in the National League. I also think Bayley Brown could do a decent job at Step 3 - if fit. Interesting to see that Marcus Wyllie was again an unused sub for Ebbsfleet on Saturday. Given that his contract with Gillingham is expiring and it seems inevitable he'll be released, I wonder whether he might have to consider a return to part-time football - perhaps even at Step 3?

We need to be prepared for a real battle in the Isthmian next season. Just look at how the likes of Welling and Weymouth have done since their relegations.

[WXEn8]

Apparently...our ETFC Walking Footballers smashed it at WSM ✊🏻

Sign 'em up I say 🫢🫢🫢

[Theodopolous]

It’s scary how our supporters have just accepted relegation as if it was a given… the manager and the board have take zero criticism in what has been an inept and quite shocking season on the pitch….you need two things in the NLS … money or a decent manager at that level… you can survive with one of them and flourish with both unfortunately we had neither…., our recruitment especially in midfield has been non existent …TCC summed it up when mentioning the distinct lack of flair concentrating solely on what the players can do going backwards… God knows how many strikers came and went in the two seasons all of them not surprisingly failing to score regularly… long balls hoofed up towards 6ft plus defenders is sunday league stuff…., i’m sorry i dont prescribe to the “Gavin took us up he had the right to take us down” approach which the majority seem to have taken…. now what… we are back to where we were but without a 35+.goal striker which got us up in the first place…. That i’m afraid was our big chance… loyalty and being too nice was our downfall… As for who comes next… i would love to see Billy Holland take a step up…..

[The Crowing Cockerel]

46 minutes ago, Theodopolous said:

It’s scary how our supporters have just accepted relegation as if it was a given… the manager and the board have take zero criticism in what has been an inept and quite shocking season on the pitch….you need two things in the NLS … money or a decent manager at that level… you can survive with one of them and flourish with both unfortunately we had neither…., our recruitment especially in midfield has been non existent …TCC summed it up when mentioning the distinct lack of flair concentrating solely on what the players can do going backwards… God knows how many strikers came and went in the two seasons all of them not surprisingly failing to score regularly… long balls hoofed up towards 6ft plus defenders is sunday league stuff…., i’m sorry i dont prescribe to the “Gavin took us up he had the right to take us down” approach which the majority seem to have taken…. now what… we are back to where we were but without a 35+.goal striker which got us up in the first place…. That i’m afraid was our big chance… loyalty and being too nice was our downfall… As for who comes next… i would love to see Billy Holland take a step up…..

The complete absence of a creative midfield was never more evident than against Chesham a few days ago - a team who came up with us, have consolidated and even pushed-on this season while playing decent football. IF Gavin stays then I really don't fancy his chances of making it till Christmas. I just don't think he has the ability to recruit competitively. Plus, there's no way we're going to accept more 'hoof ball' next season!

How about Lee Bircham? - just announced he's leaving Bedford Town.

[Andy R]

Thei, mentions Billy Holland of Waltham Abbey. He's in a position where his team coukd well playing us next year as WA are in the Ryman playoffs already. 

[lovely stuff]

Cockfosters are in the FA Vase final. Maybe take a look at one or two their best players for next season? Likewise W. Abbey's best players if they fail to go up. Thats how we got marcus Wylie, after he showed promise at the level below we were playing at. Let's scout the best local talent within a 10-15 mile radius, rather than journymen from this level who show no loyalty or spark

[Theodopolous]

14 hours ago, Andy R said:

Thei, mentions Billy Holland of Waltham Abbey. He's in a position where his team coukd well playing us next year as WA are in the Ryman playoffs already. 

If the abbey fail to go up i’m pretty sure Billy will be snapped up by a IPL club… what he has done there with the type of football they play it will attract attention…. 

Edited April 14 by Theodopolous

[lovely stuff]

On a side note: Enfield Town ladies were also relagated this season and the manager recently quit. That is two relegations for the ladies in the last two seasons.

Hopefully next season for the club can be better for both sections

Edited April 16 by lovely stuff

[The Crowing Cockerel]

A first half hat-trick against Ch*****t in the Semis of the London Senior Cup.

Can't help thinking that had he not got injured he could very well have kept us up! 

Edited April 17 by The Crowing Cockerel