Rock Bottom - so how do we get out of it?

[SuperDaleWatkins]

Been a fan since before Cotts had us. From Jimmy Wrong to Kevin Amankwah, from Grayson to Brayson... I think this is the lowest I've been as a Cheltenham Town fan.

There's too much to list that we don't have. Board, Manager, Dof, Kit man, Players with ability, enough room in the squad for all the loans...

But what do we have? Where can we build with the right manager?

IMO - I'd be looking to ship out some of the loans (if we can). Bickerstaff, Maizonis, Archer, Taylor. Try to get some money back & look at some fresh faces on free transfers.

I personally was saddened to see Tustin leave on loan - he & Wilcox should be given the opportunity to build a future for us.

[Robin]

A January clear and a lot of new players in inevitable but we need a Director of Football and should have had one in as priority to plan everything then we go from there. It's early but it already looks like it's two from three for the drop this season.

[Horteng]

Iv no idea how to turn this around but boy oh boy Michael Garlick has a job on his hands

[HamTown]

Seen some comments along the lines of "worst Cheltenham team ever" so thought I'd take a look at our relegation squad, it looks way worse than our current squad. We were relegated 4 points adrift at 23rd.

Goalkeepers
Trevor Carson
Matt Gould
Harry Reynolds

Defenders
Pablo Mills
Troy Brown
Will Packwood
Matt Taylor
Steve Elliott
Lloyd Jones
Jack Deaman
Paul Black
Craig Braham-Barrett
Danny Reynolds
James Bowen
Lee Vaughan
Durrell Berry

Midfielders
Kevin Stewart
Jordan Wynter
Matt Richards
Matt Sparrow
Kane Ferdinand
Asa Hall
Jason Taylor
Eliot Richards
Jake Gray
Joe Hanks
Andy Haworth
Wes Burns
Omari Sterling-James
Zack Kotwica
Koby Arthur
Harry Williams

Attackers
Raffaele De Vita
Eusébio Bancessi
Jack Dunn
Danny Haynes
Mathieu Manset
John Marquis
Shaun Harrad
Terry Gornell
Denny Johnstone
Byron Harrison
Shaquille McDonald
Bobbie Dale
Jamal Lawrence

[Basildon Robin]

Seen some comments along the lines of "worst Cheltenham team ever" so thought I'd take a look at our relegation squad, it looks way worse than our current squad. We were relegated 4 points adrift at 23rd.

Goalkeepers
Trevor Carson
Matt Gould
Harry Reynolds

Defenders
Pablo Mills
Troy Brown
Will Packwood
Matt Taylor
Steve Elliott
Lloyd Jones
Jack Deaman
Paul Black
Craig Braham-Barrett
Danny Reynolds
James Bowen
Lee Vaughan
Durrell Berry

Midfielders
Kevin Stewart
Jordan Wynter
Matt Richards
Matt Sparrow
Kane Ferdinand
Asa Hall
Jason Taylor
Eliot Richards
Jake Gray
Joe Hanks
Andy Haworth
Wes Burns
Omari Sterling-James
Zack Kotwica
Koby Arthur
Harry Williams

Attackers
Raffaele De Vita
Eusébio Bancessi
Jack Dunn
Danny Haynes
Mathieu Manset
John Marquis
Shaun Harrad
Terry Gornell
Denny Johnstone
Byron Harrison
Shaquille McDonald
Bobbie Dale
Jamal Lawrence

John Marquis and Wes Burns are for me the stand out names. Which might mean there are a couple of gems in the current squad yet to achieve their full potential. Step up to the plate Thomas and Archer!

[Shade]

Well, one thing that is obvious is that Thomas can't get fit and up to speed quick enough. The only player who can create anything regularly.

[Robin]

When I Jordan due back around end of October?

[TheTownClub]

Whoever it is needs to pick up form quickly. If we can say 48 points is usually enough for safety, then the new manager is going to have to start picking up around 1.2 points per game as an average, sharpish.

For context, 1.2 ppg game is around upper-lower-third form over a 46 game season, so we have to start playing like a 15/16/17th team now to finish 22nd.

[Fuller]

Whoever it is needs to pick up form quickly. If we can say 48 points is usually enough for safety, then the new manager is going to have to start picking up around 1.2 points per game as an average, sharpish.

For context, 1.2 ppg game is around upper-lower-third form over a 46 game season, so we have to start playing like a 15/16/17th team now to finish 22nd.

Not with these players we won’t.

[Ralph]

There needs to be a clear out as much as there can be. Pay off some contracts. See if any National league clubs may want to take a chance on some. Yeah probably not

[Robin]

There needs to be a clear out as much as there can be. Pay off some contracts. See if any National league clubs may want to take a chance on some. Yeah probably not

There will definitely be a clear out as the squad is too big but I can't see much more than maybe 6-7 players going (Sohna, Mazionus, Taylor, Bickerstaff, Cundy, Archer and maybe Bakare). Hopefully in come two strikers (we need power and pace), hopefully Callum Morton is one as are desperate short term. A proper quality central midfielder and a defender with pace and a left foot.

I do wonder if we see Liam Sercombe back here in January until the end of the season.

[everyman]

I`d hoped for a new manager/coach for a fresh start from this bebacle but anyone with ambition would look at the whole club (board,staff,players) and consider the risk to high to ones future in football.

[Robin]

I`d hoped for a new manager/coach for a fresh start from this bebacle but anyone with ambition would look at the whole club (board,staff,players) and consider the risk to high to ones future in football.

I'm not sure on that anyone coming in will have financial support that much is clear, we are also two points off. We are in a dire situation but it's salvageable. I also would expect some board depatures before the summer and new blood added.

[Si Robin]

There needs to be a clear out as much as there can be. Pay off some contracts. See if any National league clubs may want to take a chance on some. Yeah probably not

There will definitely be a clear out as the squad is too big but I can't see much more than maybe 6-7 players going (Sohna, Mazionus, Taylor, Bickerstaff, Cundy, Archer and maybe Bakare). Hopefully in come two strikers (we need power and pace), hopefully Callum Morton is one as are desperate short term. A proper quality central midfielder and a defender with pace and a left foot.

I do wonder if we see Liam Sercombe back here in January until the end of the season.

You keep pushing Callum Morton and I really don't understand why. He hasn't played since October last year and has hardly set the World alight since playing well against us in the Playoffs.

[Jerry St Clair]

A condition known as Goodwinitis:

“An uncontrollable urgency to sign a player who played well in one game against you”

[horlickfanclub]

Been a fan since before Cotts had us. From Jimmy Wrong to Kevin Amankwah, from Grayson to Brayson... I think this is the lowest I've been as a Cheltenham Town fan.

There's too much to list that we don't have. Board, Manager, Dof, Kit man, Players with ability, enough room in the squad for all the loans...

But what do we have? Where can we build with the right manager?

IMO - I'd be looking to ship out some of the loans (if we can). Bickerstaff, Maizonis, Archer, Taylor. Try to get some money back & look at some fresh faces on free transfers.

I personally was saddened to see Tustin leave on loan - he & Wilcox should be given the opportunity to build a future for us.

New kit man was there yesterday.

[Robin]

There needs to be a clear out as much as there can be. Pay off some contracts. See if any National league clubs may want to take a chance on some. Yeah probably not

There will definitely be a clear out as the squad is too big but I can't see much more than maybe 6-7 players going (Sohna, Mazionus, Taylor, Bickerstaff, Cundy, Archer and maybe Bakare). Hopefully in come two strikers (we need power and pace), hopefully Callum Morton is one as are desperate short term. A proper quality central midfielder and a defender with pace and a left foot.

I do wonder if we see Liam Sercombe back here in January until the end of the season.

You keep pushing Callum Morton and I really don't understand why. He hasn't played since October last year and has hardly set the World alight since playing well against us in the Playoffs.

I know it's a risk but there are not many other realistic options out there with some pace and work rate. Unless anyone wants Christian Norton back

Edit there is also Christ Martin who was released by Bristol Rovers this summer, he's 35 years old but maybe could be a stop gap option until January, I can't imagine he can run but likely better than Angol.

[CS85]

There needs to be a clear out as much as there can be. Pay off some contracts. See if any National league clubs may want to take a chance on some. Yeah probably not

There will definitely be a clear out as the squad is too big but I can't see much more than maybe 6-7 players going (Sohna, Mazionus, Taylor, Bickerstaff, Cundy, Archer and maybe Bakare). Hopefully in come two strikers (we need power and pace), hopefully Callum Morton is one as are desperate short term. A proper quality central midfielder and a defender with pace and a left foot.

I do wonder if we see Liam Sercombe back here in January until the end of the season.

You keep pushing Callum Morton and I really don't understand why. He hasn't played since October last year and has hardly set the World alight since playing well against us in the Playoffs.

Robin has a thing for gingers.

[Robin]

One more potential name Tyler Smith aged 26, released by Bradford was awful at Barrow last season on loan but has some pace. Ex-Oxford and grew up around this way so might be a potential stop gap too.

[ctfc-fan]

One more potential name Tyler Smith aged 26, released by Bradford was awful at Barrow last season on loan but has some pace. Ex-Oxford and grew up around this way so might be a potential stop gap too.

‘Was awful but got some pace’. If anyone else suggested him you’d be down their throat.

[Robin]

I'm not really suggesting him only he's about the only alternative to Callum Morton. We can't continue with only two strikers whilst Miller is out.

[Benny Profane]

Also, from the squad list above Joe Hanks was never given a fair crack in my opinion especially as that astute judge Gary Johnson never fancied him. Our current squad looks thinner, but it's only September. We're redeemable, but the next appointment is VITAL.

[Robin]

I'd say we have better players in this squad than the one which got relegated, Jordan Thomas, Ethon Archer, Hutchinson, Sherring, AJB all very capable players.

[Fuller]

Also, from the squad list above Joe Hanks was never given a fair crack in my opinion especially as that astute judge Gary Johnson never fancied him. Our current squad looks thinner, but it's only September. We're redeemable, but the next appointment is VITAL.

The turnover of players in 2014/15 was laughable. We signed loads of players in the January window, some of them clearly unfit. What a complete shambles that season was.
We don’t want to see a repeat thank you very much.

[Robin]

Transfer window then was in March and I recall Sparrow and Pablo Mills coming in and Paul Baker lauding them as favours that Russ Milton was able to call in.

[Si Robin]

No it wasn't - the transfer window was still in January. Free agents were until March, as it still is now.

[Fuller]

Transfer window then was in March and I recall Sparrow and Pablo Mills coming in and Paul Baker lauding them as favours that Russ Milton was able to call in.

Pablo Mills was straight out the door when GJ came in. Along with Mathieu Manset.
Matt Sparrow and Shaun Harrad were decent late signings but both had hardly played for their clubs that season.
It was all a bit of a mess.

[Robin]

No it wasn't - the transfer window was still in January. Free agents were until March, as it still is now.

Pablo Mills joined Cheltenham Town on a loan deal from Bury on February 26, 2015, and the loan spell lasted until April 2015. He returned to Bury when his loan deal ended, as all loan players were assessed by the manager to be unlikely to feature in the remaining games of the season.

Were loans allowed outside the window then?

[Si Robin]

Short term loans continued until relatively recently (maximum 3 months)

[Fuller]

No it wasn't - the transfer window was still in January. Free agents were until March, as it still is now.

Pablo Mills joined Cheltenham Town on a loan deal from Bury on February 26, 2015, and the loan spell lasted until April 2015. He returned to Bury when his loan deal ended, as all loan players were assessed by the manager to be unlikely to feature in the remaining games of the season.

Were loans allowed outside the window then?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31637526
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32073642