There is going to be a mass exodus of players over the summer. Thanks go to all the players who have worked so hard to keep us up, but football is brutal at times. Some may think they can get better deals elsewhere and some will just be deemed surplus to requirements. So who should stay and who should go? The senior players still under contract for next season are Camp, Mattock, Belaid, Frecks, Halford, D Ward, Newell and JCH. Of them, NW clearly doesn't rate Belaid (assuming he was fit yesterday he ranked behind Frazer Richardson as a replacement left back) or JCH. We are losing G Ward and have already sent back Facey, Shinnie and Burke. So who do we retain of the others and where specifically do we need to strengthen? My opinions are: Kenny: release. Cairns: release. Collin: as good as released. Buxton: release. Richardson: release. Broadfoot: keep. Wood: release. Collins: release. Kelly: keep. Doyley: release. Smallwood: keep. Green: release. Ledesma: release. Thomas: keep. Derbyshire: release. Best: release. Becchio: release. I used to criticise Evans for his player turnover but we currently have a lot of players on the books who are simply past their best. There are some on the release side there who will be big earners by our standards so hopefully that will free some wages up, because we need to recruit some quality. It is tough because most have given us their best, and we know about budgets etc, but all season we have lacked that bit of quality that most Championship sides have in the ranks and that makes the difference.
Retained list due out very soon. It isn't ideal that the decision is being made by someone who might not be here next season. New rules banning emergency loans mean that we need the right sized squad and one or two versatile players. At the moment we have a very big squad, lots of passengers and a shortage of athleticism and quality. To my mind we need a big overhaul, and I expect a very long list of players to be released and expect it to include at least a couple who have been first team regulars for a while.
All about opinions I suppose. I strongly disagree that we should release Wood, & I'd also keep Derbyshire, Doyley & Richardson.
Im kinda with Brad on the additions to Smilers very good list. too and would add Kelly.
It all depends on out financial situation. There is going to have to be a significant amount of analysis concerning value for money and cover for all the positions.
Derbyshire and JCH both have a unique skill set and still worth a spot in a championship squad I think.
I think Kelly and Richardson have done great jobs, Its going to depend in what else is out there.
Wood has not only do barely anything wrong but he and Broadfoot stabilised and then made us difficult to beat along with Camp. I d keep him too and hope to get another in to compete with.
Im glad that others see Thomas as worth keeping too.
-- Edited by ian on Tuesday 10th of May 2016 11:23:07 AM
ok in regards best hows goals has he scored compared to jch . i would rather sell harris and re sign best so he has the summer to get proper fit then judge him
we still need to find a free kick specialist
-- Edited by hillsborough miller on Tuesday 10th of May 2016 12:28:26 PM
Fair point about set pieces. Smallwood has his qualities (I love his honesty and work rate) but the fact that he is our best bet for a right footed ball in is a sad indictment. Mattock has a decent left foot but no better than decent. We haven't had a good dead ball specialist since Tavernier. Pringle could put a decent ball in in open play but his dead ball delivery was poor. I have said this before - if we could get him I would love us to get McGugan from Wednesday. He only gets a run out when they play their reserves.
Fair point about set pieces. Smallwood has his qualities (I love his honesty and work rate) but the fact that he is our best bet for a right footed ball in is a sad indictment. Mattock has a decent left foot but no better than decent. We haven't had a good dead ball specialist since Tavernier. Pringle could put a decent ball in in open play but his dead ball delivery was poor. I have said this before - if we could get him I would love us to get McGugan from Wednesday. He only gets a run out when they play their reserves.
Anyone who thinks Richardson is worth keeping must not have gone to Hull. He was dire. In fact they must the same knowledge of Football as Tom Hanks does.
Not sure why you quoted me to respond to TTB. I have said nothing at all about keeping Richardson. For once I agree with you - he is a great pro but just isn't quick enough any more, which is a fatal shortcoming as a Championship full back.
I understand that he is our top scorer in the last two seasons and that he has his supporters, but I am just not Matt Derbyshire's greatest admirer. His strike rate with us is about one in four. Through his career that is about what he averages. I think forward players need to carry an obvious threat and I don't see what threat he carries. He isn't good in the air, he isn't quick, he isn't a clever player who drops into space and links play up. Without those assets he needs to be a ruthless finisher who scores more goals. His movement in the box is good but if he isn't scoring then I don't think he offers a lot else to the team and his conversion rate isn't good enough. I am not saying he is a bad player, but I just think he doesn't offer the threat that all decent teams at this level have up front. I don't wish him any ill will and I appreciate his efforts, but if his contract is up then I would let him find another club (I am sure he'd get fixed up) and I would spend the wages on something different. Thats football. Just my opinion.
I understand that he is our top scorer in the last two seasons and that he has his supporters, but I am just not Matt Derbyshire's greatest admirer. His strike rate with us is about one in four. Through his career that is about what he averages. I think forward players need to carry an obvious threat and I don't see what threat he carries. He isn't good in the air, he isn't quick, he isn't a clever player who drops into space and links play up. Without those assets he needs to be a ruthless finisher who scores more goals. His movement in the box is good but if he isn't scoring then I don't think he offers a lot else to the team and his conversion rate isn't good enough. I am not saying he is a bad player, but I just think he doesn't offer the threat that all decent teams at this level have up front. I don't wish him any ill will and I appreciate his efforts, but if his contract is up then I would let him find another club (I am sure he'd get fixed up) and I would spend the wages on something different. Thats football. Just my opinion.
Against Hull, Derbyshire was noticeably missing, especially down the left hand side.
In my opinion, he is a class act, leading scorer in 2 seasons, and looked like the only one likely to score under NW.
