Salford v Barrow match thread

[blumooncrab]

We really need to be planning for the National League and identifying managers now.. Once relegation is confirmed, have them already be looking at players THEY want

In a way, for the sake of our future the sooner relegation is confirmed the better.

Don’t worry- Mr Wood has got a list . Whing 7 defeats and a draw in his manager bounce at Brackley. We should have stuck with Gallagher. It couldn’t have ended worse .

[saltcellar]

Stanway.

Much better than Farman and destined for higher leagues - £1-2 million at least .

Or

Let’s save money on a novice . ?

Discuss.

It’s not just recruitment. It’s also about retention. Emile Acqua anyone ? Not brilliant but Scored more goals last year than the whole bunch of this seasons cohort combined . Every decision this board has made in the last 2 seasons has been catastrophic.

We couldn't turn down the six figure fee Dundee offered for Acqua.

[HenneysKnee]

Probably needs a separate thread but ideally out of that squad I would keep the Goalkeepers, Raglan, Smith, MJ Williams, McCann, Whitfield and Rose; maybe Fletcher and Newby; and that’s for a national league campaign, there’s even less I’d want anywhere near a League Two side again if we somehow do produce the miracle of all miracles

[jeff1966]

Better than the majority of games this season. McCann, earing and the scramble change the game at 1-0. In theory still in our hands. Players coming back. Seen enough last 2 games to keep the faith…just

[blumooncrab]

Much better than Farman and destined for higher leagues - £1-2 million at least .

Or

Let’s save money on a novice . ?

Discuss.

It’s not just recruitment. It’s also about retention. Emile Acqua anyone ? Not brilliant but Scored more goals last year than the whole bunch of this seasons cohort combined . Every decision this board has made in the last 2 seasons has been catastrophic.

We couldn't turn down the six figure fee Dundee offered for Acqua.

Yes but we should have recruited better or kept him .

[blue nige]

Looking at the squad we will have in the National League as most of these are with us until 2027.

I think we need an experienced National League manager - ideally someone who's been promoted and knows what it takes

Freddie Anderson (on loan from Stoke City to summer 2026)
Joe Anderson (to summer 2027)
Tom Barkhuizen (to summer 2027)
Killian Barrett (to summer 2027 plus one year option)
Niall Canavan (to summer 2026)
Innes Cameron (to summer 2027, on loan to Raith Rovers until summer 2026)
Jack Earing (to summer 2026 plus one year option)
Isaac Fletcher (to summer 2027)
Sam Foley (to summer 2026)
Josh Gordon (on loan from Walsall until summer 2026)
Rekeem Harper (to summer 2027)
Kane Hemmings (to summer 2026)
Ben Jackson (to summer 2027)
Katia Kouyaté (to summer 2027, on loan to Warrington Town until February 8th 2026)
Connor Mahoney (to summer 2026)
Jovan Malcolm (on loan from Stevenage to summer 2026)
Charlie McCann (to summer 2027 plus one year option)
Elliott Newby (to summer 2027)
Brandon Powell (on loan from Blackburn Rovers to summer 2026)
Charlie Raglan (to summer 2027)
Danny Rose ( to summer 2027)
Lewis Shipley (to summer 2027 plus one year option)
Scott Smith (to summer 2027)
Wyll Stanway (to summer 2026 plus further option)
Jack Thompson (on-loan from Nottingham Forest until summer 2026)
Tyler Walker (to summer 2026 plus one year option)
MJ Williams (to summer 2027)
Ben Winterbottom (to summer 2027 plus one year option)

I wonder if any of those have relegation release clauses.

Yes Hornby mentioned it on Friday 17 have options written into their contracts!

[Leo]

We couldn't turn down the six figure fee Dundee offered for Acqua.

Yes but we should have recruited better or kept him .

Silly statement. Barely anyone was critical of that deal at the time - most on here would have been happy if we released him

[blue nige]

Probably needs a separate thread but ideally out of that squad I would keep the Goalkeepers, Raglan, Smith, MJ Williams, McCann, Whitfield and Rose; maybe Fletcher and Newby; and that’s for a national league campaign, there’s even less I’d want anywhere near a League Two side again if we somehow do produce the miracle of all miracles

Unfortunately they've all got relegation opt outs!

[Jonty]

Better than the majority of games this season. McCann, earing and the scramble change the game at 1-0. In theory still in our hands. Players coming back. Seen enough last 2 games to keep the faith…just

How many seasons across all leagues does the final outcome go to the last game. Most of them do.

Never give up. If we are still on with a chance last game- then that will decide the fate. Not now

[blue nige]

We really need to be planning for the National League and identifying managers now.. Once relegation is confirmed, have them already be looking at players THEY want

In a way, for the sake of our future the sooner relegation is confirmed the better.

Don’t worry- Mr Wood has got a list . Whing 7 defeats and a draw in his manager bounce at Brackley. We should have stuck with Gallagher. It couldn’t have ended worse .

It's down to Gallagher we didn't recruit better in January!

[Bigfathoss]

Yes Hornby mentioned it on Friday 17 have options written into their contracts!

I misheard that then. I thought he said there were wage reduction clauses, not relegation release clauses. I need to pay closer attention.

[LCBAFC40]

Yes Hornby mentioned it on Friday 17 have options written into their contracts!

I misheard that then. I thought he said there were wage reduction clauses, not relegation release clauses. I need to pay closer attention.

If 17 have release clauses if we go down thats a massive worry !

[Methuselah]

just on my way back on the coach and that was a hard watch.After we scored I thought,here we go and maybe grab a scond.How wrong was I whenen Stanway threw the ball out to their player to score.I,m afraid he needs to be dropped ,he is making too many mistakes.Yes he does make some good saves but then he goes and does something like that.It,s time to give Ben Winterbottom a chance.

[WalneyOne]

Probably needs a separate thread but ideally out of that squad I would keep the Goalkeepers, Raglan, Smith, MJ Williams, McCann, Whitfield and Rose; maybe Fletcher and Newby; and that’s for a national league campaign, there’s even less I’d want anywhere near a League Two side again if we somehow do produce the miracle of all miracles

Unfortunately they've all got relegation opt outs!

Says the man who has access to the confidential details of players contracts.
Now who's the clown?

[blumooncrab]

Don’t worry- Mr Wood has got a list . Whing 7 defeats and a draw in his manager bounce at Brackley. We should have stuck with Gallagher. It couldn’t have ended worse .

It's down to Gallagher we didn't recruit better in January!

No - most of those players haven’t featured since - if they had we could not be in a worse position than we are now