Jonathan North Departs

[Curtis]

‘We can confirm that we have today mutually agreed for Jonathan North to leave the club, writes Neil Baker.

It was agreed that 'Northy' at this stage of his career wants to be playing first team football, and at present we can’t guarantee this.

He is a great guy and a very good keeper, and we would like to thank him for his service to the club and wish him the best for the future.’

[Stuntman Mark]

I was wondering earlier today if this may happen. Although goals conceded are not entirely the responsibility of a gk, Rhys is currently conceding 0.5 goals per game, with Northy conceding 2.5. 

I like what I've seen from Rhys and being a bit younger than Northy, might have a better upside and may attract a fee in the future (although I thought that about Edon Pruti!)

 

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

hopefully we are now looking for another keeper too keep Rhys on his toes don't want him to be too comfortable ? 

[Reading Rebel]

13 minutes ago, Stuntman Mark said:

I was wondering earlier today if this may happen. Although goals conceded are not entirely the responsibility of a gk, Rhys is currently conceding 0.5 goals per game, with Northy conceding 2.5. 

I like what I've seen from Rhys and being a bit younger than Northy, might have a better upside and may attract a fee in the future (although I thought that about Edon Pruti!)

 

As we've seen never bank on a fee for a player.

[Ian g f]

54 minutes ago, HEAVY TRUCKER said:

hopefully we are now looking for another keeper too keep Rhys on his toes don't want him to be too comfortable ? 

Isn't Michael Egbe still on our squad???

[SloughFlyer]

Not going to be disingenuous at all, im very pleased to see this news for a few reasons;

- Rhys looks to be an excellent young goalkeeper and in the games thus far hasn't put a foot wrong.

- it seems clear to me that the defence trusts him completely.

- with North im sure commanding a fairly decent wage, moving him on may allow us to develop the squad in other areas.

- North has conseeded 16 goals in 7 games this season so far and I'm pretty sure only kept 7-8 clean sheets in his entire Slough career, which is very poor, considering Rhys has already kept 2 in 4 games.

I'm not sure what some of the people on FB have been watching but the numbers don't back up North being a "great goalkeeper" or in "great form". I take on board what I've been told about him being a really nice guy to have around the squad and dressing room, but that doesn't win us football matches.

Not going to trample on a player that's left any more than that as my feelings towards him as a keeper are well known, except to say, another excellent decision made by the managers and an improvement to the team.

22 minutes ago, Ian g f said:

Isn't Michael Egbe still on our squad???

Edgebe is on loan at Southall for the full season as far as I'm aware Ian. I seem to remember a conversation on here a while ago where Neil or Jon confirmed they wouldn't be recalling him regardless to allow him the stability to develop for a full season.

Edited September 28, 2022 by SloughFlyer

[GlenSTFC]

Surprised Jon didn’t give a bit longer to try and win his place back. I thought he was decent but was prone to the odd error and although I’ve not seen Rhys play yet from reports he sounds solid and has played well. So I’m not too fussed about this decision.

[Irishadrian]

Nice farewell tweet from Jon  Says he will  miss the lagers and the flags and the dustbin drum!

[GlenSTFC]

Be interesting to see what level JN goes to. He’s still has a few years left but feel he’d have more offers at step 3.

[3spirit]

I would think Jonathan North was on more money than Rhys Forster, so to me this is to save a few bob to put towards recruiting another striker. Same as with Dobbo leaving. Money is obviously getting tight after the FA Cup exit.

I wish Jon North all the best. I still think he's a good goalkeeper, and will soon get snapped up. Prone to the odd gaffe but on the whole worth his place.

Rhys Forster looks promising,though.   

[GlenSTFC]

58 minutes ago, 3spirit said:

I would think Jonathan North was on more money than Rhys Forster, so to me this is to save a few bob to put towards recruiting another striker. Same as with Dobbo leaving. Money is obviously getting tight after the FA Cup exit.

I wish Jon North all the best. I still think he's a good goalkeeper, and will soon get snapped up. Prone to the odd gaffe but on the whole worth his place.

Rhys Forster looks promising,though.   

Hopefully any saved wages from Dobbo and North’s departure means we can either extend Roberts loan (if he impresses enough) or if he goes back to Dartford we bring in another striker ideally permanent, proven at a decent level. 

[Reading Rebel]

I think comparing Northy to Rhys on how many goals they've let in is a bit of an unfair comparison.

In earlier league games with Northy in goal we were not defending very well with defensive errors all over the place.

I think it's fair to say in recent weeks we've tightened up defensively and mistakes by our defenders have been a lot less.

A keeper can only do so much if the players in front of him are not defending properly.

Certainly so far I like the look of Rhys but it's early day's and compared to Northy he's a young and relatively inexperienced keeper who is still learning.

We'll certainly learn more in the coming months if this was a good move for the club.

Edited September 30, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Ian g f]

1 hour ago, Reading Rebel said:

I think comparing Northy to Rhys on how many goals they've let in is a bit of an unfair comparison.

In earlier league games with Northy in goal we were not defending very well with defensive errors all over the place.

I think it's fair to say in recent weeks we've tightened up defensively and mistakes by our defenders have been a lot less.

Keepers can only do so much if the players in front of him are not defending properly.

Certainly so far I like the look of Rhys but it's early day's and compared to Northy he's a young and relatively inexperienced keeper who is still learning.

We'll certainly learn more in the coming months if this was a good move for the club.

Get him on a contract oh no don't bother 

[Reading Rebel]

55 minutes ago, Ian g f said:

Get him on a contract oh no don't bother 

Pretty certain we've put Rhys on a contract.

You never know some clubs will do the decent thing and pay an upfront fee.

[GlenSTFC]

31 minutes ago, Reading Rebel said:

Pretty certain we've put Rhys on a contract.

You never know some clubs will do the decent thing and pay an upfront fee.

Why you so certain? He’s only played a few games and for all we know he could have an absolute mare in the next 10 games! I would say he’d need to earn a contract first instead of just being handed one. Problem is if he does develop into a top keeper and higher level clubs want him, what’s to say they won’t use the same tactics as Brentford? Plus the player would no doubt want to go and say well you let Edon go…

Edited September 29, 2022 by GlenSTFC

[SloughFlyer]

22 minutes ago, GlenSTFC said:

Why you so certain? He’s only played a few games and for all we know he could have an absolute mare in the next 10 games! I would say he’d need to earn a contract first instead of just being handed one. Problem is if he does develop into a top keeper and higher level clubs want him, what’s to say they won’t use the same tactics as Brentford? Plus the player would no doubt want to go and say well you let Edon go…

And if that's the case I'm sure the club would do everything possible to keep him but how can you stand in his way? Same as Edon, I'd wish Rhys the best and be upset with whatever club took him and didn't do the "right" thing, as I am about Brentford.

[GlenSTFC]

1 minute ago, SloughFlyer said:

And if that's the case I'm sure the club would do everything possible to keep him but how can you stand in his way? Same as Edon, I'd wish Rhys the best and be upset with whatever club took him and didn't do the "right" thing, as I am about Brentford.

How do the countless other clubs go about it then as I’m sure the vast majority wouldn’t let a contracted player go for the deal we got. Let’s hope next time the club stand firm and get a decent upfront fee first. If the player is that good and the buying club really want him then they’d come back with a proper offer. The player needs to understand the clubs side too.

[Reading Rebel]

2 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

Why you so certain? He’s only played a few games and for all we know he could have an absolute mare in the next 10 games! I would say he’d need to earn a contract first instead of just being handed one. Problem is if he does develop into a top keeper and higher level clubs want him, what’s to say they won’t use the same tactics as Brentford? Plus the player would no doubt want to go and say well you let Edon go…

If we rate him that highly and being he's only 23 then my guess is that we've put him on a contract.

Of course there's always the chance that a higher up club will try to get him for nothing but then that's up to the club to decide what to do.

In the case of Pruti we had plenty of cover, it might be different with Rhys being he's our only keeper.  

2 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

Why you so certain? He’s only played a few games and for all we know he could have an absolute mare in the next 10 games! I would say he’d need to earn a contract first instead of just being handed one. Problem is if he does develop into a top keeper and higher level clubs want him, what’s to say they won’t use the same tactics as Brentford? Plus the player would no doubt want to go and say well you let Edon go…

Having a nightmare in the next 10 games is the gamble we've taken.

[Irishadrian]

I do wonder if Jon shot himself in the foot On several occasions he declared himself unavailable giving Rhys the opportunities he took so well. If you're  number 1 then imo absolute commitment is a given.

[SloughFlyer]

3 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

How do the countless other clubs go about it then as I’m sure the vast majority wouldn’t let a contracted player go for the deal we got. Let’s hope next time the club stand firm and get a decent upfront fee first. If the player is that good and the buying club really want him then they’d come back with a proper offer. The player needs to understand the clubs side too.

The problem is Glen, if the club that comes in for a young player that is trying to make a go of football and "turns his head" how on earth can we as a club stand firm? You end up with a few problems from that;

- an unhappy player that at best isn't going to perform brilliantly for you.

- the squad potentially having unrest in it.

- word getting around that we as a club won't support the development of young players / stand in the way of players moving up etc.

All in all its a very difficult and beyond ideal situation if/when it happens.

With regards to Rhys specifically there are a few differences between him and Edon not least of which is his age (19 to 23). It us fairly unlikely that a prem team are going to come in for a 23 year old goalkeeper regardless of how well he plays for Slough in the Conference South (sorry to Rhys if he is reading that and bursts his bubble, I didnt mean it).

Besides, let's look on the bright side, we have an very good thus far young goalkeeper in place and the team is performing better than it has for a while. I'm sure the club has protected itself as best as possible, specifically around Rhys and if he leaves to go to Man City, good luck to him and we as a club will have to cross that bridge when we come to it.