Lack of quality holds up Lincoln City's talent search

“In a word even he will understand NO”

“The players he inherited are good enough just not managed right, we need a manager with these skills and then see them get out of the mess we are in. Has GS these skills?”

“saw Mansfield and Wrexham neither had a dodgy keeper this is the benchmark trying to hold the ball in midfield building an attack. up the imps”

“saw Wrexham and thought this the benchmark same with Mansfield neither had a dodgy keeper and tried to hold on to the ball in midfield. up the imps”

“Normally a manager's job is to build the best squad of players he can and use them to win football matches by getting the very best out of the players. He does this by building confidence, coaching and tactics. However, when you take over a club that constantly says it has no money, why would anyone think they could bring in players that are better than what we already have? It seems to me that seeking to change the squad at this point is very dangerous. Aren't we told at the beginning of the season that the players need time to 'gel'! Does GS not realise that we don't have that time? So are we going to find players for little or no money who are skilful enough to slot straight in and not need time to gel? If we don't stay up the excuse is already being prepared. The players were t good enough, we had no budget and I didn't have enough time. IMO the manager should spend what little time we have laying down a battle plan with the players we have rather than making it public that he feels many aren't good enough. Worry about that, if and when we are safe.”

“Lack of quality? Yet more excuses before the battle has even been lost. Sutton excuses. Tilson Excuses. Holdsworth excuses. Now, already now, Gary excuses. Protecting oneself from personal harm with false excuses is a sure way to the hands of Shaytan.

"The believer seeks excuses for their brethren, while the hypocrite seeks out the faults of their brethren." [Sulami, Adab al-Suhba]”

“I think Simmo has made some managerial mistakes since being back at Lincoln - namely his team selection and substitutional choices. Lincoln still have the players that can make a 9 match unbeaten run and a couple of the new faces (Jones and Jordan) that most fans recently would agree have been good additions. What surprises me most is that Smith still gets chances despite ineffective outcomes and players like Nicalou, Gilbert and Gray struggle to get their feet in the door. I am hoping Simpson might have realised now he has to work with what he is stuck with, charge those players with the responsibility of winning matches and take whatever they can from any game they play in.”

“That's not a saying that I'm familiar with Eatmygoal, and doesn't exactly roll off the tongue either, but, I bow to your superior knowledge of old sayings.

It may have escaped your notice, but the club is staring relegation in the face yet again, with just 9 games to go. Whilst I would agree with you that some individuals that GS has inherited, are not good enough for this league, the squad collectively is. It wasn't that long ago, that we were "hammering" a top side like Wrexham away, beating Kidderminster, knocking a league 1 side out of the FA Cup, (who themselves are pushing for a play off spot), and talking about being involved in the play offs, all pretty much with the current squad of players that he has at his disposal. For me a clear indication that they are good enough as a group.

With the right style of man management, and style of play, this group can easily get us out of the danger area.

By trying to introduce new players now, with just 9 games to go, is risky, especially with the ones from much lower leagues, as you are going to have to throw them in at the deep end straight away, in order to see what they bring to the table, and if they can make the step up.

Not an ideal situation to put them in is it, and if I was manager at this stage of the season, not one I would feel comfortable with.

No, in the middle of a relegation battle, is not the time to be trying out unknown new players, especially ones from lower leagues, unless of course they are "world beaters" that have somehow missed the net :)”

“There is another saying as well "people on the end of sarcasm without a decent retort tend to fall back on a boring, oft repeated saying that isn't really true".

I don't agree with him not wanting to get players in. Surely a part of our issue is the players there are causing issues and are not good enough. Therefore he has shipped out some and looking to replace them with better quality. To suggest he should tie a hand behind his back is wrong. He knew what he was coming in for and knew that he could make changes, and is doing.

I am sure he is able to take flack from people such as yourself, just a shame that people are already getting on is back. He has lost two games to flipping games to two of the best teams in the league and narrowly. Have faith in him.”

“Eatmygoal, there is an old saying, and that is, "sarcasm is the lowest form of wit".

Anyway onto all things football. Gary may be a small man in stature, but I'm sure he is big enough to take criticism from sites like this, if indeed he reads them.

As I said earlier, and I fully appreciate it's not his fault, however with only 9 games left this season, I don't think now is the right time to start building a squad of his own. He knew what he was taking on, and the squad at his disposal, which had already proved that it was good enough to be in this league.

For me, instead of wasting time looking for more players, he should be concentrating his efforts on how to get the best out of what we he has at his disposal, and get them playing football again.

There is no time, Eatmygoal, for the "honeymoon" period.”