2023/24 RETAINED LIST

I actually think that most of the players did genuinely care. A combination of ability and questionable coaching is the reason we finished were we did. As much as I respect and thank Gav for his contribution to the GTFC cause we need better if we don’t want to be circling the relegation drain next season.

Quoted from chipsandgravy

Now the dust has settled a little I can honestly say that the only departure that has disappointed me is Gav. Anyone at Morecambe away, when he missed a sitter that would have won us the game, saw what it meant to him at the final whistle. He was distraught and left the field almost immediately. Its not very often you get players that care that much for his club and team mates.
Sentimentality can't come into it when budgets are tight and you need to build a newish squad and I fully get that. I'm sure it wasn't easy either not offering him a contract. I think he will be missed on and off the field and thank him for some memorable moments.

I think both Gav and Harry have both struggled this season, that doesn’t mean they are not good enough but as our position in the league shows we need players who can perform consistently and neither of these two have although they have both been committed to trying their best.

There's no(t much) room for sentiment in the professional game.

Holohan has done a good job for us and scored some important goals, but his race is run after this season. Not involved enough when we aren't in possession and has just missed too many chances this season which could have made up for that. He'll do a decent job somewhere else for a few seasons yet, though possibly not in the League.

It will interesting to see which way we go this summer. Young, up and comers or a bit more experience? A mixture of both is probably best, but it would be nice to have a young loanee or two from a higher division club who really kicked on and made themselves indispensable. A Paterson-type to play alongside Rose would be amazing. Yes, I know, probably too much to hope for.

Quoted from Maringer

There's no(t much) room for sentiment in the professional game.

Holohan has done a good job for us and scored some important goals, but his race is run after this season. Not involved enough when we aren't in possession and has just missed too many chances this season which could have made up for that. He'll do a decent job somewhere else for a few seasons yet, though possibly not in the League.

It will interesting to see which way we go this summer. Young, up and comers or a bit more experience? A mixture of both is probably best, but it would be nice to have a young loanee or two from a higher division club who really kicked on and made themselves indispensable. A Paterson-type to play alongside Rose would be amazing. Yes, I know, probably too much to hope for.

Still got the most assists in the entire side though.

Quoted from Hagrid

Still got the most assists in the entire side though.

Yeah, but worked out at assists per minute he’s behind both Glennon (assist every 306 minutes) and Green (assist every 408.5 minutes). Gav had an assist every 416.3 minutes).

*technicaly Callum Ainley is top but he only played 96 minutes all season.

Nice to see all departing players got their legends certificate before leaving.
The club have a positive ethos about the place, despite nasty social media

In reality, there wasn’t much flex available in the decision-making. As per DA on DN35 we are already having to bring in 11 or 12. I agree with the decisions made. Maher is a bit unlucky but had to be released if we want to bring in a first choice CB. I suspect the data supported Hume being offered over Glennon. Glennon’s level of fitness has looked poor right from the start at Mansfield, whilst I’m not yet fully convinced by Hume he looks the better athlete. Gav has his own thread because he’s been an outstanding Mariner, but time is right for him to move on - perhaps York, maybe back to Pools or even Boston if they beat Brackley. Eisa a no brainer.

So that really just leaves the Green and Clifton decisions. If we think about formation options in basic terms - 5-3-2, 4-3-3 and 4-4-2, both have a key squad role in 2 out of 3 of these. Harry as a WB in the 5 or as a wide player shoring up one side in a 4-4-2. Green on the bench or starter if we have injuries in both the 3s in midfield. Retention of either doesn’t prejudice bringing a first choice WB, winger or CM, we’d only have recruit more players for squad depth if they were released.

It's strange to think that at the end of the season there's no disagreement about Eisa leaving. Again, we cite the need for goals and creativity yet the guy who's our second top goalscorer is released to much fanfare.

If I were the manager, and knowing how I like to play I would have kept him as he'd suit what I like. Obviously DA doesn't think he'll suit and I think that became evident in how he seemed to do little when we were out of possession. When the team is doing well that kind of player is ok, when you're having to dig in you can't afford passengers and I think that's what we've all seen and base our conclusion on.

There's something almost humorous in that if you'd have said in October that we'll be releasing Eisa in the summer there'd have been riots. Skip 6 months and no-one really cares much for him. Certainly shows how quickly things can change in football.....

Quoted from gtfc_chris

It's strange to think that at the end of the season there's no disagreement about Eisa leaving. Again, we cite the need for goals and creativity yet the guy who's our second top goalscorer is released to much fanfare.

If I were the manager, and knowing how I like to play I would have kept him as he'd suit what I like. Obviously DA doesn't think he'll suit and I think that became evident in how he seemed to do little when we were out of possession. When the team is doing well that kind of player is ok, when you're having to dig in you can't afford passengers and I think that's what we've all seen and base our conclusion on.

There's something almost humorous in that if you'd have said in October that we'll be releasing Eisa in the summer there'd have been riots. Skip 6 months and no-one really cares much for him. Certainly shows how quickly things can change in football.....

A bit of basic research by opposition coaching has all that has been required to close off his only real contribution the 20 yarders. He’s a passenger when we are out of possession, in possession he doesn’t work hard enough to find space or anticipate where to make to the right runs into space. Since the early games he’s only been anything like effective against the schoolboy defending of Notts.

Someone mentioned sending young players to Scunthorpe for game time. I think that is  a good idea. NLN is a higher standard of football then you would get at Clee Town or GY Borough, and the Scunts will probably need players once their budget is slashed. So it is an arrangement that possibly could suit both clubs.