2019/20 Retained List.

[John William]

At the risk of sounding like a cracked record, we have needed a specialist defensive-focused right back, to allow us to play a proper 4 at the back formation as an alternative to 3-5-2, for at least the last two seasons. Maybe someone on loan from a Championship or L1 team, but a better defender than Richardson (who was never really tried there, in fairness). A back 3 with Sweeney leaves us vulnerable: Williams plays too far forward and Jake has been too central.

Whether we can afford to sign anyone is a different matter, as I have argued elsewhere.

Time to revert to 4-3-3? Maxted, New FB, new CH, Parkes, Sparkes; Taylor, Atangana, Collins; Williams, Bowman, Law. Some of the lads on the bench: Ward, Sweeney, Hartridge or Dyer, Jay, Kite or Randall, Ajose and Seymour.

 

[ryancooper327]

Are all the youngsters contracted then? Usually see one or two of them leave. I know we saw the scholars article but I am meaning Dodd, Dyer etc.

 

[Red Devon]

At the risk of sounding like a cracked record, we have needed a specialist defensive-focused right back, to allow us to play a proper 4 at the back formation as an alternative to 3-5-2, for at least the last two seasons. Maybe someone on loan from a Championship or L1 team, but a better defender than Richardson (who was never really tried there, in fairness). A back 3 with Sweeney leaves us vulnerable: Williams plays too far forward and Jake has been too central.

Whether we can afford to sign anyone is a different matter, as I have argued elsewhere.

Time to revert to 4-3-3? Maxted, New FB, new CH, Parkes, Sparkes; Taylor, Atangana, Collins; Williams, Bowman, Law. Some of the lads on the bench: Ward, Sweeney, Hartridge or Dyer, Jay, Kite or Randall, Ajose and Seymour.

The preliminary budget must suggest we can afford to sign one or two otherwise Matt wouldn’t have said it.

 

[andrew p long]

The preliminary budget must suggest we can afford to sign one or two otherwise Matt wouldn’t have said it.

That’s right, but the preliminary budget will have been based on guesswork as to when fans will be allowed into grounds.And MT said the figure hadn’t been finalised. ECFC, like many clubs, face a fight for survival.

 

[crocks]

I would like to have seen A Martin stay but I got the sense that he wasn't one of Matt Taylor's favourites.

Btw - I see that A Martin has already got a new career in Swindon. Seen on the back of a Transit this afternoon "A Martin - Painter & decorator" !!

 

[Red Devon]

That’s right, but the preliminary budget will have been based on guesswork as to when fans will be allowed into grounds.And MT said the figure hadn’t been finalised. ECFC, like many clubs, face a fight for survival.

There has been numerous interviews from Taggy and Matt throughout lockdown telling supporters that the club are not in the high risk category (words to the effect) of going to the wall like some other clubs..I for one would rather believe the little bit of positivity that comes from within the club to give hope for the future!

 

[Alistair20000]

That’s right, but the preliminary budget will have been based on guesswork as to when fans will be allowed into grounds.And MT said the figure hadn’t been finalised. ECFC, like many clubs, face a fight for survival.

Impossible to construct a budget at present with the income stream from the gate so uncertain.

 

[Rosencrantz]

Are all the youngsters contracted then? Usually see one or two of them leave. I know we saw the scholars article but I am meaning Dodd, Dyer etc.

I think it was only Dodd that would have had question marks but with his injury it might be that we are rolling his contract over. If any of them was to be released it would have been announced at the same time today I think. The only one who might be different would be Alex Hartridge as I presume he is going to be involved in Bath City's play off games.

With regards to new signings, I would think the one or two signings Matt will be looking for as priority would definitely be defenders, either a CB and RB or two CB's. You can tell he wants a younger, fitter version of Gary Warren.

GK - sorted although interesting that he mentioned that Thompson could possibly stay if a right deal with a non league team is found. Otherwise we will go with what we have as we did this season with Jack Arthur (a year older) as emergency bench filling until we can get an out of contract GK in.

RB - Sweeney but otherwise only players who can be/is being converted like Josh Key or Jake Taylor, Archie, Harry Kite who can at a pinch cover. In other words, we could really do with a new right back.

LB - Sparkes (converted) and Hartridge are now the only choices.

CB - Parkes, Sweeney, Dyer, Hartridge, Dean, Diabate - this is top priority whether we play a back four or three - at least one to come in.

RWB - Williams (if he stays), Josh Key, Joel Randall - I think Williams might be on his way which would certainly then free up budget. Whoever the RB we get in is needs to be a RB/RWB type (Kane Wilsonish if you like).

LWB - Sparkes, Williams, Randell. Again if Williams goes, the new RB/RWB being able to play on the left as well will help. I think we might be going back to a back four.

CM - Collins, Atangana, Taylor, Law, MJ, Kite, Dean, Morrison, Chrisene (wishful maybe), Dodd (if and when fit). I think we are well stocked for all types of DCM, MC and ACM.

RW - Williams, Randall, Key - even if Williams goes, I am not unhappy with that. I like both the youngsters and feel that they can both step up.

LW - Williams, Sparkes, Randall - see above. We also have Taylor, Law and MJ who can go wide on either side if needed. Look out for Nelson Iseguen coming through as well, might well see him involved in the U23 or FLT if those competitions go ahead.

CF - Bowman, Ajose, Fisher, Seymour, Wilson - I know many will want another striker but unless finances get a considerable boost (Ollie) or we get a striker out of the door it's not likely to happen.

Overall it is only the defenders I can see as an absolute priority to sign (CB + RB) for the seemingly current one or two in. Obviously if Williams goes (or Matt can shift anyone else if that is what he is hinting at) then things will change. Obviously we would all like to be able to sign (or keep) more players but with the budget taking the hit it currently is we have to be realistic. It makes the signings we do make even more important than usual in terms of fit and performance. It also puts the onus on the more experienced players to really stand up and support the more inexperienced squad we are going to have.

I can fully understand the club not wanting to risk anymore money than we are already committed to until we have more of an idea of the new season and finances available. We cannot afford to commit money we do not have and that means being prudent with the reserves we have left. I would think with the players that we have released we have possibly gone back to base, and possibly below, budget. That obviously makes us less competitive when put alongside those clubs whose owners could well see this as an opportunity (Mansfield, Salford) or those with owners that will cover the losses but freeze their budgets rather that cut. We all want to see us fighting at the top of the table, but we might have to be more patient and wait and see how the season starts to pan out for all the clubs and where we sit in it.

 

[John William]

Impossible to construct a budget at present with the income stream from the gate so uncertain.

No, but you can do modelling and scenario planning, and worst / low / medium / higher cash flow forecasts. Build in fixed long term / fixed short term / variable cash commitments, a hierarchy of essential and discretionary spending requirements, and the rest of the stuff a business needs to do.

Outline income predictions under various reopening date / attendance limit / relaxation profiles can also be modelled, though we may not even know who will be joining us in L2 until August.

I am sure all this is going on. (But thank the Lord we are not in the middle of the SJP rebuilding)

Anything more can be filed under "fiction".

 

[Red Devon]

I think it was only Dodd that would have had question marks but with his injury it might be that we are rolling his contract over. If any of them was to be released it would have been announced at the same time today I think. The only one who might be different would be Alex Hartridge as I presume he is going to be involved in Bath City's play off games.

With regards to new signings, I would think the one or two signings Matt will be looking for as priority would definitely be defenders, either a CB and RB or two CB's. You can tell he wants a younger, fitter version of Gary Warren.

GK - sorted although interesting that he mentioned that Thompson could possibly stay if a right deal with a non league team is found. Otherwise we will go with what we have as we did this season with Jack Arthur (a year older) as emergency bench filling until we can get an out of contract GK in.

RB - Sweeney but otherwise only players who can be/is being converted like Josh Key or Jake Taylor, Archie, Harry Kite who can at a pinch cover. In other words, we could really do with a new right back.

LB - Sparkes (converted) and Hartridge are now the only choices.

CB - Parkes, Sweeney, Dyer, Hartridge, Dean, Diabate - this is top priority whether we play a back four or three - at least one to come in.

RWB - Williams (if he stays), Josh Key, Joel Randall - I think Williams might be on his way which would certainly then free up budget. Whoever the RB we get in is needs to be a RB/RWB type (Kane Wilsonish if you like).

LWB - Sparkes, Williams, Randell. Again if Williams goes, the new RB/RWB being able to play on the left as well will help. I think we might be going back to a back four.

CM - Collins, Atangana, Taylor, Law, MJ, Kite, Dean, Morrison, Chrisene (wishful maybe), Dodd (if and when fit). I think we are well stocked for all types of DCM, MC and ACM.

RW - Williams, Randall, Key - even if Williams goes, I am not unhappy with that. I like both the youngsters and feel that they can both step up.

LW - Williams, Sparkes, Randall - see above. We also have Taylor, Law and MJ who can go wide on either side if needed. Look out for Nelson Iseguen coming through as well, might well see him involved in the U23 or FLT if those competitions go ahead.

CF - Bowman, Ajose, Fisher, Seymour, Wilson - I know many will want another striker but unless finances get a considerable boost (Ollie) or we get a striker out of the door it's not likely to happen.

Overall it is only the defenders I can see as an absolute priority to sign (CB + RB) for the seemingly current one or two in. Obviously if Williams goes (or Matt can shift anyone else if that is what he is hinting at) then things will change. Obviously we would all like to be able to sign (or keep) more players but with the budget taking the hit it currently is we have to be realistic. It makes the signings we do make even more important than usual in terms of fit and performance. It also puts the onus on the more experienced players to really stand up and support the more inexperienced squad we are going to have.

I can fully understand the club not wanting to risk anymore money than we are already committed to until we have more of an idea of the new season and finances available. We cannot afford to commit money we do not have and that means being prudent with the reserves we have left. I would think with the players that we have released we have possibly gone back to base, and possibly below, budget. That obviously makes us less competitive when put alongside those clubs whose owners could well see this as an opportunity (Mansfield, Salford) or those with owners that will cover the losses but freeze their budgets rather that cut. We all want to see us fighting at the top of the table, but we might have to be more patient and wait and see how the season starts to pan out for all the clubs and where we sit in it.

Maybe Ajose is the one MT is looking to free up some space with.