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Sam_Parker Offline Jan 23 2008, 15:19 PM

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Hello,

Lincoln City writer Leigh Curtis and football writer Mark Whiley will be in the chair from noon to 2pm on Friday, January 25.

Ask them anything football-related, or otherwise.

All posts will be moderated for foul and abusive language and inappropriate content.
ncfcimp Offline Jan 24 2008, 23:10 PM

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who is better at football?
jonathanricketts Offline Jan 25 2008, 11:06 AM

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Any inditcation as to why, yet again, we have not signed a decent player in the transfer window?
It is a little concerning and I think there is a real fear amongst the fans that this may be the year we slip into the Conference
FrintonImp Offline Jan 25 2008, 11:42 AM

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Hello chaps,

If Lincoln stay up this season, will it be because they are too good to go down or are there just other sides who are far worse?

mark_whiley Offline Jan 25 2008, 12:08 PM

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Quote:
ncfcimp at Jan 24 2008, 23:10 PM wrote
who is better at football?


Hi ncfcimp, thanks for your question.

I'm the better player without doubt. I'm an all-action, box-to-box player.
Curtis is the biggest goal-hanger I've ever seen. You know how some defenders get a nose bleed when they go forward - well Curtis gets one when he goes back!
That said, he's got a decent touch for a big lad and can hold the ball up well.
Although he can get a bit mardy if things aren't going his way. I've dubbed him 'Le Sulk'.

Leigh_Curtis Offline Jan 25 2008, 12:10 PM

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Last Edit: 25 Jan 2008, 12:29
Quote:
ncfcimp at Jan 24 2008, 23:10 PM wrote
who is better at football?


Ooooh, that's a good question, but I let the stats speak for themselves. We played on Tuesday night, I scored two and set-up two. One of those assists led to Mark scoring the winner.

He will say he is far better than me, because that's how he likes to come across. But everybody knows deep down that I just exude the sort of quality that Mark can only really dream about.

This is proven in the fact that he likes to rig the sides, when we are not on the same team. He's very competitive and I am too, so it can get a little feisty at times.

But he's got good energy and can get forward and back in equal measure. He's dubbed me "Le Sulk", but I only get mardy when we are not winning. My anger isn't helped by a goalkeeper who refuses to pick the ball up with his hands.

Perhaps he thinks the ball has got a bomb inside it.
mark_whiley Offline Jan 25 2008, 12:14 PM

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Quote:
jonathanricketts at Jan 25 2008, 11:06 AM wrote
Any inditcation as to why, yet again, we have not signed a decent player in the transfer window?
It is a little concerning and I think there is a real fear amongst the fans that this may be the year we slip into the Conference


Hi jonathan

I suspect we won't see another player added to the squad this month. If there is, it will be one at the most.
The reason? The squad is very big - although short on quality - and good players would rather not sign for a club fighting relegation.
Also, have the necessary funds been made available?
Like you I find that concerning because the current lot have under-achieved all season.
I think the squad is good enough to stay up, but I'm not 100 per cent sure on that.



Leigh_Curtis Offline Jan 25 2008, 12:20 PM

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Last Edit: 25 Jan 2008, 12:25
Quote:
jonathanricketts at Jan 25 2008, 11:06 AM wrote
Any inditcation as to why, yet again, we have not signed a decent player in the transfer window?
It is a little concerning and I think there is a real fear amongst the fans that this may be the year we slip into the Conference


I can understand your concerns. But let's look at the facts. The squad consists of 27 players and you can only have 16 in your squad. Too much money is already being wasted on players, who can't even make the bench.

All I keep hearing is that there is a lack of money, but I don't agree. There has been money, it's just been poorly spent. A lot of it has been spent on signings who simply were not needed. Steve Torpey being the prime example.

Unfortunately, it's had a knock-on effect and Jacko is left to pick up the pieces. If Jacko is to make any signings, then he will have to ship some players out first and with a week left of the window, there isn't a lot of time left.

I still have confidence in the current team, but having spoken to Peter, he's got some interesting opinions on the size of the squad and just how much rebuilding he has got to do in the summer.

It doesn't take a genius to work out that the smaller squad you have, you can fill it with better quality.

Look at Rotherham, their squad is 23 players and it is full of excellent players.
mark_whiley Offline Jan 25 2008, 12:28 PM

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Quote:
FrintonImp at Jan 25 2008, 11:42 AM wrote
Hello chaps,

If Lincoln stay up this season, will it be because they are too good to go down or are there just other sides who are far worse?


Hello FrintonImp

The evidence of the season so far says to me that they not too good to go down, but I hope I am proved wrong.
That said, I think there are at least two poorer teams in the division than Lincoln, Mansfield certainly and I would have said Wrexham until recently. But they are more difficult to assess after signing all those players.
City should have too much for the likes of Dagenham too.
It frustrates me that the likes of Morecambe and Accrington are comfortably in mid-table - and in Morecambe's case going for the play-offs - while Lincoln are near the bottom. That is not right.


Leigh_Curtis Offline Jan 25 2008, 12:29 PM

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Quote:
FrintonImp at Jan 25 2008, 11:42 AM wrote
Hello chaps,

If Lincoln stay up this season, will it be because they are too good to go down or are there just other sides who are far worse?


If Lincoln go down, then there is no argument, they will have not been good enough. The table doesn't lie and defensively they have been a shambles. But I have to say Mansfield and Wrexham have been poor this season as have Dagenham.
jonathanricketts Offline Jan 25 2008, 12:38 PM

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In which case he should have shifted the dead wood early doors. It seems to always come back round to JS being to blame, a popular school of thought it would seem. He must share some of the blame but there has been time to work with players who got us to the playoffs last season, and also the chance to clear out ready for bringing players in. There must be some money, somewhere, that would allow us to bring in a couple of players? Maybe even someone on loan just to tighten things up at the back.

Leigh_Curtis Offline Jan 25 2008, 13:04 PM

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Quote:
jonathanricketts at Jan 25 2008, 12:38 PM wrote
In which case he should have shifted the dead wood early doors. It seems to always come back round to JS being to blame, a popular school of thought it would seem. He must share some of the blame but there has been time to work with players who got us to the playoffs last season, and also the chance to clear out ready for bringing players in. There must be some money, somewhere, that would allow us to bring in a couple of players? Maybe even someone on loan just to tighten things up at the back.


I understand what you are trying to say, but the transfer window doesn't allow it. And secondly it's OK saying shifting out the dead wood, but who wants players from a team who are fourth from bottom in League Two? If I was a manager, I certainly wouldn't. There is hardly going to be a big queue for them. You could offer severance deals to contracted players, but that would just cost more money and eat into the budget, which just makes no sense either.

It's the same when you try to attract players, do you think the chances of signing Lewis Emanuel would have been boosted by sitting near the play-offs? Of course they would.

I wouldn't panic because the loan window is still open until March anyway.

jonathanricketts Offline Jan 25 2008, 13:24 PM

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But if we are committed to getting out of trouble we might need to spend a bit of money in showing two people the door and getting two in. I can see what you are saying it terms of finance. If we were in the playoffs maybe we could have got players in, but Wrexham have done okay with it.
Also Torpey is regarded as the worst player of all time by some and he managed to bag a new job so the others could be sorted out. I just think on the general lack of transfers where there is a will there is a way
Leigh_Curtis Offline Jan 25 2008, 13:28 PM

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Last Edit: 25 Jan 2008, 14:08
Quote:
jonathanricketts at Jan 25 2008, 13:24 PM wrote
But if we are committed to getting out of trouble we might need to spend a bit of money in showing two people the door and getting two in. I can see what you are saying it terms of finance. If we were in the playoffs maybe we could have got players in, but Wrexham have done okay with it.
Also Torpey is regarded as the worst player of all time by some and he managed to bag a new job so the others could be sorted out. I just think on the general lack of transfers where there is a will there is a way


But what would be the point of signing players for the sake of it?
jonathanricketts Offline Jan 25 2008, 13:37 PM

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It wouldn't be, would need to identify two decent central defenders. I know that it is hard to lure them away but there must be someone out there like Guy Branston who would be willing to come. I take your points though, just providing a different view on things. To me the lack of activity is a real concern because there are key positions where we are really struggling. It makes it more concerning to see another team getting in a large number of new players when they are in a worse position.
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