|
Post by bordersalopian on Oct 23, 2017 6:32:12 GMT 1
As our fantastic start to the season continues and now that Hurst and Doigy have been in post for a year, what do you think has been the biggest factor or influence on our turn around in form and fortunes?
is it the new training facilities which has help in squad togetherness, fitness and technique? Was Hurts's decision to have a pre-season in Portugal beneficial in getting a squad of players to bind so early? A very good pre-season against Championship sides fostered hope amongst us - just look where Cardiff, Wolves and Villa are in the current Championship table! (although pre-season is still pre-season). How much of an impact did LJLs 94th minute winner against Northampton in the first game of the season give the squad a sense of belief?
Our commitment, fitness and skill on the pitch has produced some fantastic footballing displays and positive results, leading to the MWM becoming a fortress again, coupled with the atmosphere at home matches (especially since the Wigan game) improving significantly...and an upturn in attendances.
PH has kept the players feet firmly on the ground, and has gone on record to suggest no-one in the squad is undroppable...as Whalley and Rodman has found out lately. Also, despite what fans of other L1 clubs think, I believe that we do have strength in depth...our bench on Saturday would've walked into MMs Town of 'League One ready players' at the start of last season.
|
|
Llanelian
Midland League Division One
Posts: 407
|
Post by Llanelian on Oct 23, 2017 8:11:37 GMT 1
You haven't mentioned the role of Brian Caldwell in all of this. As well as the on field success there is an air of security and togetherness that has been lacking in recent years, if it was ever there. Certainly in 78/79 we had that 'us and them'' mentality fostered by Richie Barker and later GT, born out of being written off. Brian has quietly gone about his job as CE, restructuring, listening and reacting to opportunity and being as transparent as possible. I would suggest that his relationship with Roland and Paul is a significant factor in influencing where we are now and where we are likely to beat the end of the season.
|
|
|
Post by bordersalopian on Oct 23, 2017 8:31:49 GMT 1
You haven't mentioned the role of Brian Caldwell in all of this. As well as the on field success there is an air of security and togetherness that has been lacking in recent years, if it was ever there. Certainly in 78/79 we had that 'us and them'' mentality fostered by Richie Barker and later GT, born out of being written off. Brian has quietly gone about his job as CE, restructuring, listening and reacting to opportunity and being as transparent as possible. I would suggest that his relationship with Roland and Paul is a significant factor in influencing where we are now and where we are likely to beat the end of the season. You're quiet right about BC and his influence on the club cannot be under-estimated. Reading between the lines and after hearing some of PHs interviews, it seems that we've re-structured the players wage bill significantly, getting rid of the high-earning 'L1 ready players' from the Mellon era and bringing in younger, hungrier players from non-league who Hurst obviously knows well. I think that the investment in the new training facilities and the LIDL money has been put to good use, with a healthier bank balance for the club. BC has made no secret about the fact he wants an average attendance of 6000+ and we are approaching that figure on the back of some extremely pleasing and attractive football.
|
|
|
Post by jamo on Oct 23, 2017 8:58:28 GMT 1
You haven't mentioned the role of Brian Caldwell in all of this. As well as the on field success there is an air of security and togetherness that has been lacking in recent years, if it was ever there. Certainly in 78/79 we had that 'us and them'' mentality fostered by Richie Barker and later GT, born out of being written off. Brian has quietly gone about his job as CE, restructuring, listening and reacting to opportunity and being as transparent as possible. I would suggest that his relationship with Roland and Paul is a significant factor in influencing where we are now and where we are likely to beat the end of the season. I thnik thats an important point to make. Caldwell appears to be going about business in an understated but very effective manner.
|
|
|
Post by Matster on Oct 23, 2017 9:14:59 GMT 1
Didn't BC admit that this summer was probably the most amount of money he's had to spend? I'm guessing not all of that was signings, but payoffs too.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2017 9:25:02 GMT 1
I remember the radio interview with Mr Jackson at the deaths door of our relegation from league 1.
When asked what does a team needed to succeed in league 1, he quickly replied 'power and Pace......Power and Pace'
That comment has stuck in my mind ever since, and whilst Mr Mellon us back up the following season, it was evident in hist first season that we lacked power and pace in the team, which became worse at the start of last season.
In my view Mr Hurst has brought power and pace in throughout the squad. Toto at the back, Payne and Morris upfront, Nolan and Godfrey in the middle. In addition he has brought in a Keeper that can come and catch a ball and relieve pressure off his defenders and immediately distribute the ball eg first goal against Bristol started with Mr Deano.
Power and Pace though also needs a vital ingredient....Fitness and focus. This is the fittest team we have had in many years and the number of last minute goals scored by this team is testament to fitness and focus....we never say die.
|
|
|
Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Oct 23, 2017 9:36:57 GMT 1
The switch to one up front has made a dramatic difference in the middle of the park and made Rodman and Whalley vital for our creativity.
Ben Godfrey has been a heck of a signing. I don't want him to go back.
|
|
|
Post by bordersalopian on Oct 23, 2017 9:44:03 GMT 1
The switch to one up front has made a dramatic difference in the middle of the park and made Rodman and Whalley vital for our creativity. Ben Godfrey has been a heck of a signing. I don't want him to go back. Extending Godfrey's loan until the end of the season should be our priority with regards to signings...and keeping hold of Nolan. We've got an extremely stable and talented 'spine' to this team, from Deano in goal, Toto & Sads in defence, Abu, Ben and Nolo in midfield and Stef and/or Carlton up front. I think that our current squad wouldn't look out of place in the Championship...
|
|
|
Post by blueboy62 on Oct 23, 2017 9:48:16 GMT 1
I agree with all the above posts but would add this; the decision to appoint Paul Hurst was inspired. Someone at our club, most likely Roland, remembered our lucky FA Cup win over a well organised Grimsby managed by the then little known Paul Hurst. With Mellon's departure, the club ignored the clamour to appoint a "big-name" manager and quietly pursued Hurst. The success that has followed is down to Paul Hurst but no manager can be successful in isolation. Hurst came here because we are a well run club and he saw potential in us just as the club recognised his potential. There is clearly a lot of trust between club and manager as they have backed him in the transfer market and giving players long-term contracts. Hurst has re-paid that trust beyond our wildest dreams.
|
|
|
Post by ssshrew on Oct 23, 2017 10:02:30 GMT 1
I agree with all the above posts but would add this; the decision to appoint Paul Hurst was inspired. Someone at our club, most likely Roland, remembered our lucky FA Cup win over a well organised Grimsby managed by the then little known Paul Hurst. With Mellon's departure, the club ignored the clamour to appoint a "big-name" manager and quietly pursued Hurst. The success that has followed is down to Paul Hurst but no manager can be successful in isolation. Hurst came here because we are a well run club and he saw potential in us just as the club recognised his potential. There is clearly a lot of trust between club and manager as they have backed him in the transfer market and giving players long-term contracts. Hurst has re-paid that trust beyond our wildest dreams. Not forgetting that he also has an excellent assistant manager with him.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2017 10:30:32 GMT 1
Lots of things....
- A plan... - Recruitment of players to fit that plan - Effective use of the loan system BUT with long-term loans - Acquisition of young players eager to learn and with something to prove at a higher level - Good man management to get the most of existing players and of course new players coming in and also those who aren't playing every week but could still be vital to us (Arthur, LJL, Dodds etc.) - Having a very fit squad - our fitness levels just look awesome - a mixture of the management team, acquisition of the right players, having good training facilities - A competitive budget - Having a leadership team who can genuinely lead - who can bring together a mixture of players, young and old, from different backgrounds, and turn them into a team - not just the starting 11 but as a squad - who all know the plan, are motivated and who work together to achieve it.
I'd also add in planning for the future. Having younger/ fringe players out on loan means they obtain/ retain match fitness and we have some potential ready made replacements already at the club.
And finally... a bit of luck...
|
|
|
Post by bordersalopian on Oct 23, 2017 10:35:16 GMT 1
I agree with all the above posts but would add this; the decision to appoint Paul Hurst was inspired. Someone at our club, most likely Roland, remembered our lucky FA Cup win over a well organised Grimsby managed by the then little known Paul Hurst. With Mellon's departure, the club ignored the clamour to appoint a "big-name" manager and quietly pursued Hurst. The success that has followed is down to Paul Hurst but no manager can be successful in isolation. Hurst came here because we are a well run club and he saw potential in us just as the club recognised his potential. There is clearly a lot of trust between club and manager as they have backed him in the transfer market and giving players long-term contracts. Hurst has re-paid that trust beyond our wildest dreams. Don't forget that when BC spoke about money spent since he came to the club included a sizeable pay-off to Grimsby for us to obtain the services of Hurts & Doigy...I believe that this was the stumbling block and why it almost 6 weeks for them to sign with us. Rumour that I've heard is that the settlement figure was close to £250k...which at the time I thought was pretty steep - but come May, they could have conceivably paid that back to the club tenfold if we achieve promotion! Fantastic bit of business by RW & BC...if Hurst & Doig remain with us for a couple of seasons, they have the potential to become Shrewsbury legends. Also, a by-product is the influence the senior pros have had on the squad (Abu, Sads, Whalley and Junior) 0 any chance one or two of them are doing their coaching badges? I certainly think that Abu and Sads would make decent coaches. One thing I have notice at the home games this season is that the subs have a bit of a kick about with the mascots pre-match when the 1st eleven go back into the dressing room...just a small thing, but lends itself to the club and the coaching & playing staff doing the right things and making it feel more and more like a community club.
|
|
|
Post by martinshrew on Oct 23, 2017 10:42:13 GMT 1
Lots of things.... - A plan... - Recruitment of players to fit that plan - Effective use of the loan system BUT with long-term loans - Acquisition of young players eager to learn and with something to prove at a higher level - Good man management to get the most of existing players and of course new players coming in and also those who aren't playing every week but could still be vital to us (Arthur, LJL, Dodds etc.) - Having a very fit squad - our fitness levels just look awesome - a mixture of the management team, acquisition of the right players, having good training facilities - A competitive budget - Having a leadership team who can genuinely lead - who can bring together a mixture of players, young and old, from different backgrounds, and turn them into a team - not just the starting 11 but as a squad - who all know the plan, are motivated and who work together to achieve it. I'd also add in planning for the future. Having younger/ fringe players out on loan means they obtain/ retain match fitness and we have some potential ready made replacements already at the club. And finally... a bit of luck... The only thing i'd say in response to this is that Mellon also had the budget, was within the top 10 in the league.
|
|
|
Post by shrewder on Oct 23, 2017 10:50:36 GMT 1
I remember the radio interview with Mr Jackson at the deaths door of our relegation from league 1. When asked what does a team needed to succeed in league 1, he quickly replied 'power and Pace......Power and Pace' That comment has stuck in my mind ever since, and whilst Mr Mellon us back up the following season, it was evident in hist first season that we lacked power and pace in the team, which became worse at the start of last season. In my view Mr Hurst has brought power and pace in throughout the squad. Toto at the back, Payne and Morris upfront, Nolan and Godfrey in the middle. In addition he has brought in a Keeper that can come and catch a ball and relieve pressure off his defenders and immediately distribute the ball eg first goal against Bristol started with Mr Deano. Power and Pace though also needs a vital ingredient....Fitness and focus. This is the fittest team we have had in many years and the number of last minute goals scored by this team is testament to fitness and focus....we never say die. So in a roundabout way you are suggesting that if Mr Jackson had been appointed manager then, success may have come a lot earlier 😈
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2017 11:09:58 GMT 1
There are a lot of factors but ultimately Paul Hurst has managed to taken a bunch of young pro's and lower league journeyman and turn them into a very effective team. Games like Bristol will obviously get people excited but grinding out wins on Saturday and rescuing points when we play poorly, that is what makes the turnaround from last season so remakable
|
|
|
Post by sussexshrew on Oct 23, 2017 17:23:26 GMT 1
The switch to one up front has made a dramatic difference in the middle of the park and made Rodman and Whalley vital for our creativity. Ben Godfrey has been a heck of a signing. I don't want him to go back. Extending Godfrey's loan until the end of the season should be our priority with regards to signings...and keeping hold of Nolan. We've got an extremely stable and talented 'spine' to this team, from Deano in goal, Toto & Sads in defence, Abu, Ben and Nolo in midfield and Stef and/or Carlton up front. I think that our current squad wouldn't look out of place in the Championship... But as ThrobsBlackhat says, the importance of the wide men Whalley and Rodman cannot be underestimated. Both fast and supremely fit, they give such support to the full backs in defence, while their creative and fluid attacking play is essential with one striker up front. The whole balance of the side is looking better and better. And I loved Hurst's jibe at Rossler's remarks about us not being good at holding the ball. Over the last two games I have thought how comfortable we are individually with the ball... good first touches, clever passes, nimble feet, everybody wanting the ball... Just keep it going lads... many are finally coming to the conclusion that this Shrewsbury Town are a very good team.
|
|
|
Post by Mark_Blakes_sling on Oct 26, 2017 8:45:58 GMT 1
I agree with all the above posts but would add this; the decision to appoint Paul Hurst was inspired. Someone at our club, most likely Roland, remembered our lucky FA Cup win over a well organised Grimsby managed by the then little known Paul Hurst. With Mellon's departure, the club ignored the clamour to appoint a "big-name" manager and quietly pursued Hurst. The success that has followed is down to Paul Hurst but no manager can be successful in isolation. Hurst came here because we are a well run club and he saw potential in us just as the club recognised his potential. There is clearly a lot of trust between club and manager as they have backed him in the transfer market and giving players long-term contracts. Hurst has re-paid that trust beyond our wildest dreams. I agree with this. The chairman gets called out for his faults often enough, it's only right he gets praised also. RW appointed Caldwell and Hurst. I think it's also worth noting that every manager I can remember, both during and after their tenure, has said the chairman backed them financially to the hilt. We just now have a manager who spends it wisely, instead of signing players then paying the off in the next transfer window, or panic buying the likes of Elder or Madjo. Or, as seems increasingly likely was the case with GT, having the money available but choosing not to spend it.
|
|
|
Post by filmcrewshrew on Oct 30, 2017 13:24:00 GMT 1
A lot of factors could be go either way.....look at Bury & Plymouth, both teams should really be in the top 10 at least.
I think all the things Ant said but I still think momentum is the the big formula....if 'The Shop' hasn't scored that injury time winner on opening day then possibly, who knows!!!
|
|