Success and Failure

[MSB]

Being less than 10 days away from the start of the new season it'd be interesting to hear what people regard success and failure for the 2024/25 season.

Realistically, we're probably as much in the dark about our prospects as our National League season considering the ins and outs are pretty much comparable, so it may be tough to make such statements, but there's nothing coming out of the club at the moment to discuss

I don't expect us to be fighting for automatics, but it's League 2, so you never know! Playoffs are always a possibility, I'd say anywhere in the top 12 with something to play for at the tail end of the season would be a success. Anywhere lower than 18th and I'd see it as a failure. Not contesting for the playoffs, nor looking over our shoulders in that mid-table are will be judged depending on our performances and how exciting the games pan out to be. Plus an idea of our identity as a team, to be attacking and using what looks to be a skillful few younger players who may light up games will be key. Or an idea of where we're aiming to be in the next couple of seasons - It'd be interesting to hear what the board/management team's aims are.

More Goals/Chance Creations. Not much more to say on this that was stated last season. We just didn't create enough chances and as such, lack of goals cost us. From the 2 pre-season games I've seen, we look like we could be pretty decent attacking, but defence is very much a concern. I'll take some 3-2/4-3 victories though

[asl]

Pretty much agree with that. Given our uninspiring recruitment and wholesale changes, I'd see mid-table mediocrity and safety as a success - if we challenge for more, I'd say that we're over-achieving. Failure would be a relegation scrap. You're right, too, about creating more chances.

[Fuller]

I’ve had a number of conversations with Robins fans around town over the last couple of weeks.
Like myself many think survival will be an achievement this season in view of the huge turnover of staff and players.
However two or three quality signings before the window shuts in a month’s time might get some to reconsider. But quality depends on the finances, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we announce another loss for the latest financial year, which obviously hampers what we can do on the pitch.
We’ll see.

[Ihearye]

As we seemed to have sourced from non league standard, I expect us to struggle

[Horteng]

Given the woeful recruitment and players in's/outs id say success is staying up and failure is relegation. Pretty simple

[CTFCfan99]

Given the woeful recruitment and players in's/outs id say success is staying up and failure is relegation. Pretty simple

How can you possibly label the recruitment 'woeful' when they haven't played a competitive match yet

Like others I'm not expecting to challenge this season, a year of consolidation will do.

[Shade]

As we seemed to have sourced from non league standard, I expect us to struggle

How many players have we signed from non league, or have shown that they're non league standard? And yet it's those players that were playing non league last season that have garnered the most excitement from fans so far, as far as I've seen.

I'll plump for 14th, as a standard CTFC League Two placing. But Doncaster last season proved that even a far from uninspiring first 4/5 months of a League Two season can be turned around.

[Nesty]

I am going for GJ taking us up again

[Robin]

Being less than 10 days away from the start of the new season it'd be interesting to hear what people regard success and failure for the 2024/25 season.

Realistically, we're probably as much in the dark about our prospects as our National League season considering the ins and outs are pretty much comparable, so it may be tough to make such statements, but there's nothing coming out of the club at the moment to discuss

I don't expect us to be fighting for automatics, but it's League 2, so you never know! Playoffs are always a possibility, I'd say anywhere in the top 12 with something to play for at the tail end of the season would be a success. Anywhere lower than 18th and I'd see it as a failure. Not contesting for the playoffs, nor looking over our shoulders in that mid-table are will be judged depending on our performances and how exciting the games pan out to be. Plus an idea of our identity as a team, to be attacking and using what looks to be a skillful few younger players who may light up games will be key. Or an idea of where we're aiming to be in the next couple of seasons - It'd be interesting to hear what the board/management team's aims are.

More Goals/Chance Creations. Not much more to say on this that was stated last season. We just didn't create enough chances and as such, lack of goals cost us. From the 2 pre-season games I've seen, we look like we could be pretty decent attacking, but defence is very much a concern. I'll take some 3-2/4-3 victories though

In league two you need a solid well organised side as a base, John Ward famously did that and as soon as we added a bit of quality we got promoted. The problem for me is we look far from organised and in fact I can see us shipping a lot of goals so we are more likely to be near the bottom than the promotion places. I agree we look better going forward but Bobby Gould tried that and it was exciting for a while but then we dropped like a stone and almost ended up in a relegation battle. The one thing you rarely get with Gary Johnson is stability and that's what is needed if we want to build a base to get promoted.

[Si Robin]

As we seemed to have sourced from non league standard, I expect us to struggle

How many players have we signed from non league, or have shown that they're non league standard? And yet it's those players that were playing non league last season that have garnered the most excitement from fans so far, as far as I've seen.

I'll plump for 14th, as a standard CTFC League Two placing. But Doncaster last season proved that even a far from uninspiring first 4/5 months of a League Two season can be turned around.

Of the 13 signings, 4 played in non-league last season (Joe Day, Arkell Jude-Boyd, Ethon Archer and Liam Dulson). 2 of those 4 (Day and AJB) were actually registered with EFL clubs though with Archer (Torquay) and Dulson (Bedford Town) not being linked to any EFL clubs. You could argue that only AJB has been brought in as first choice given his squad number of 2. I suspect Dulson may be a secret weapon though.

For what it's worth, I agree we're likely to be anywhere between 8th and 16th and that would be success. A relegation battle would be underachievement and a playoff/promotion push overachieving.

[Robin]

I’ve had a number of conversations with Robins fans around town over the last couple of weeks.
Like myself many think survival will be an achievement this season in view of the huge turnover of staff and players.
However two or three quality signings before the window shuts in a month’s time might get some to reconsider. But quality depends on the finances, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we announce another loss for the latest financial year, which obviously hampers what we can do on the pitch.
We’ll see.

A big loss is almost guaranteed after relegation the only question will be how much. The sale of Goodwin will have off set some of it but surely going to be bigger than last years loss.

[Robin]

As we seemed to have sourced from non league standard, I expect us to struggle

From what I have seen teh kid from Torquay might struggle to break into the team but the other one, Dulson, looks a real find so I would be cautiously optimistic there we have way bigger issues with the defense in terms of signings, lack of, and coaching.

[Garby74]

Mix bag all round.
'The Cheltenham way...(churn)'
Continues.
I don't think our board has stability in its mission statement!

From the few games of new players I've seen...I'm very worried and very excited.

If MF gives youth a chance and plays players on merit rather than reputation we have the makings of a side that can compete and grow as the season progresses.

If he is not brave and not flexible we might mirror our friends on the Hill!

Which will rip the club/board/fans apart....

[Ihearye]

As we seemed to have sourced from non league standard, I expect us to struggle

How many players have we signed from non league, or have shown that they're non league standard? And yet it's those players that were playing non league last season that have garnered the most excitement from fans so far, as far as I've seen.

I'll plump for 14th, as a standard CTFC League Two placing. But Doncaster last season proved that even a far from uninspiring first 4/5 months of a League Two season can be turned around.

"non league STANDARD"

[CS85]

The signing that baffles me abit is luke young,he's been described a great capture for little old ctfc.
As far as i can tell he's played 20 odd FL games in the last 10 seasons,what makes him a great signing?.
Over all I think the standard of player in our squad isn't great,midfield there's zero creativity, the defence is slow and going from pre season has very little organisation.....and I've seen enough of Owen evans over my time as a ctfc fan.

12th I'd be delighted with....but I see a 18th/19th placed finish unfortunately.

[art vandalay]

It’s a relegation battle for me unless we make a couple of really good signings soon. Success will be staying outside the bottom 6 or 7, and going into the following season with some form of continuity on & off the pitch, the lack of which IMO has been our downfall since Duff left.

[London Exile]

I don’t see beyond a season of struggle and looking over our shoulders.
I think off the field the club is rudderless. Nothing has changed at boardroom level, even after all that fuss when the Trust document was released, I don’t think the seats have had a clean in the CF or away end judging by the comments from people I’ve spoken to who have sat in there for PSFs. If the club can’t even do things like that, then for me it highlights a lack of focus and professionalism. Contempt for the supporters and a rotten mentality set in that’s tough to snap out of.

On the pitch Flynn is the key for me to keeping us away from the drop zone. A solid manager for this level

[Shade]

As we seemed to have sourced from non league standard, I expect us to struggle

How many players have we signed from non league, or have shown that they're non league standard? And yet it's those players that were playing non league last season that have garnered the most excitement from fans so far, as far as I've seen.

I'll plump for 14th, as a standard CTFC League Two placing. But Doncaster last season proved that even a far from uninspiring first 4/5 months of a League Two season can be turned around.

"non league STANDARD"

Yes...read it again, I included that very phrase. How many?

[shevates]

Have to wait and see how they gell, we could be pleasantly surprised, but like most I'm not expecting much. I was happy with Flynns appointment, experienced what I'd call a steady Eddie, but then very disappointed with the Torquay connections joining.
The signings havnt brought much enthusiasm to write home about, in defence we've look nothing short of abysmal. It's not all doom and gloom, going forward we've looked good at times.
My concern is the future, in 12 months we have received around a million pounds for the sale of May, Goodwin, and Street, and add ons for May. The wage bill has been dramatically cut with the massive clear out of players, yet no money as such has been reinvested in the squad. Let's hope MF has a magic wand like DC nearly had

[longmover]

we're going to struggle, somewhere between 19-22. Eyes on the board this season as well, I would like to think they haven't forgotten what a complete shambles the back end of last season was.

[Warwickshire Robin]

The big concern for me is that here we are eight days from the season kicking off and I still couldn't tell you what formation we will be playing let alone what our best eleven is. We seem to still want to play five at the back but only have six players listed as defenders and one of those (Bennett) seems to potentially be better as a holding midfielder.

Then we have nine midfielders listed, a couple of which I would assume go out on loan, and the only two 'creative' midfielders are both young and untested at this level. The only X factor player I think we have is Thomas but where does he fit in if we play 3-5-2? Upfront MF has stated he prefers to play with a two so does that mean 4-3-3 is out of the question, a formation Thomas may fit into?

I am sure a lot will happen in the next week but it will mean the team will be pretty much thrown together for the opening game and that could go one of two ways. With all this in mind and the off the pitch goings on over the summer, success for me will be staying up and rebuilding some sort of connection between the staff, players, fans and board.

[Ihearye]

How many players have we signed from non league, or have shown that they're non league standard? And yet it's those players that were playing non league last season that have garnered the most excitement from fans so far, as far as I've seen.

I'll plump for 14th, as a standard CTFC League Two placing. But Doncaster last season proved that even a far from uninspiring first 4/5 months of a League Two season can be turned around.

"non league STANDARD"

Yes...read it again, I included that very phrase. How many?

As you ask
I would have a question mark to greater and lesser extents about being L2 ready against, Lewis Payne, Harrison Sohna, Liam Dulson, Ryan Haynes, scott bennett, owen evans, ethon archer, arkell j-b and Joe Day

[Si Robin]

Ryan Haynes who was in League 1 last season and has never played lower than League 2 level.

[HamTown]

Lewis Payne had 40+ appearances for Newport and Scot Benett 56 last season

[paperboy]

Opportunity here for a Nester to help the club even though it might mean a drop in pay.

https://www.ctfc.com/news/2024/august/0 ... e-analyst/

[asl]

£22k ?? That's a long list of requirements and responsibilities for £13k below the 2023 UK average salary. Think I'll pass...

[Fuller]

£22k ?? That's a long list of requirements and responsibilities for £13k below the 2023 UK average salary. Think I'll pass...

Hence one of the reasons why we have such a high turnover of staff.

[Robin]

The big concern for me is that here we are eight days from the season kicking off and I still couldn't tell you what formation we will be playing let alone what our best eleven is. We seem to still want to play five at the back but only have six players listed as defenders and one of those (Bennett) seems to potentially be better as a holding midfielder.

Then we have nine midfielders listed, a couple of which I would assume go out on loan, and the only two 'creative' midfielders are both young and untested at this level. The only X factor player I think we have is Thomas but where does he fit in if we play 3-5-2? Upfront MF has stated he prefers to play with a two so does that mean 4-3-3 is out of the question, a formation Thomas may fit into?

I am sure a lot will happen in the next week but it will mean the team will be pretty much thrown together for the opening game and that could go one of two ways. With all this in mind and the off the pitch goings on over the summer, success for me will be staying up and rebuilding some sort of connection between the staff, players, fans and board.

We've spent all summer recruiting for 3-5-2 its the formation Flynn wants to play yet our DIrector of Football hasn't signed any defenders apart from the youngster who has arrived at the end of pre-season. Also we've signed wing backs who clearly love to go forward in Haynes and Jude-Boyd they would not be the right fit in a back four. It's a shambles.

[shevates]

The big concern for me is that here we are eight days from the season kicking off and I still couldn't tell you what formation we will be playing let alone what our best eleven is. We seem to still want to play five at the back but only have six players listed as defenders and one of those (Bennett) seems to potentially be better as a holding midfielder.

Then we have nine midfielders listed, a couple of which I would assume go out on loan, and the only two 'creative' midfielders are both young and untested at this level. The only X factor player I think we have is Thomas but where does he fit in if we play 3-5-2? Upfront MF has stated he prefers to play with a two so does that mean 4-3-3 is out of the question, a formation Thomas may fit into?

I am sure a lot will happen in the next week but it will mean the team will be pretty much thrown together for the opening game and that could go one of two ways. With all this in mind and the off the pitch goings on over the summer, success for me will be staying up and rebuilding some sort of connection between the staff, players, fans and board.

We've spent all summer recruiting for 3-5-2 its the formation Flynn wants to play yet our DIrector of Football hasn't signed any defenders apart from the youngster who has arrived at the end of pre-season. Also we've signed wing backs who clearly love to go forward in Haynes and Jude-Boyd they would not be the right fit in a back four. It's a shambles.

Didn't watch the Bristol City game but your points stood out like a sore thumb against Plymouth, Robin

[Garby74]

I too share everyone's concern.

However Bristol City were a very good side. Pleasing on the eye with crisp passing and intelligent through balls. Which is style I would love us to replicate. But to do that you need quality in at least 6 or 7 positions.

Today will be a better marker for us.

The defence is the biggest concern

[51/84]

failure is less than 51
success is more than 84
COYR

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

failure is less than 51
success is more than 84
COYR

To quote the great Bobby Gould?

[Ihearye]

As we seemed to have sourced from non league standard, I expect us to struggle

Seen nothing to change my view, to date

[Shade]

As we seemed to have sourced from non league standard, I expect us to struggle

Seen nothing to change my view, to date

Is that genuine, or are you choosing not to? From what I've seen, we have a few good young players who should only get better as they play more games. Our defence is improving, having conceded3 in 3 games as opposed to 3 times that in a few games. Even when playing poorly, we haven't yet been beaten by more than 1 goal. The manager just needs to find the right balance. I see plenty of green shoots. It's frustrating waiting for them then to grow and bloom, but WE ALWAYS KNEW IT WOULD TAKE TIME.

Imagine being a Morecambe or Accrington fan at the moment.

[HamTown]

In terms of "non league standard" the players we signed from non league yesterday:

Archer - best player for ctfc, tenacious, constantly involved

Bakare - quick, strong, brave he's been at least a 7 out if 10 every time I've seen him

AJB - couldn't get in to the game but showed great pace and composure to get the goal

Dulson - was an improvement over Matty Taylor with his extra strength and pace

So think your statement is a bit off the mark.