[Exharboroughspireite]

Goku, on 10 March 2025 - 09:07 AM, said:

What some of our fans will want: almost every player out of contract released

What will happen: there will be a clear out of sorts, but not to the extent desired. If you shift almost an entire squad out you risk significant dysfunction and team chemistry issues. I strongly suspect several players who a significant portion of our fan base would like to see leave will be offered a deal. Personally, I'd keep both Banks and Oldaker as long as the financial side of things is right for our club. People complain about Oldaker way too much imo, he's a deep-lying playmaker whose job is to retain possession and play between the lines when the opportunity presents itself. He does this to a decent standard for this league. He isn't a physical beast who can burst from midfield so expecting this from him as some do is nonsensical, he is usually deployed as part of a midfield 2 where his partner is expected to do the shuttle box-to-box runs (Naylor). He's had some stinkers this season and he's had some blinders, he is a perfectly acceptable squad player for League 2. Teams focus on him and cut him off as a passing option when our centre halves have the ball which contributes to nullifying us. Yes, we'd often like him to move the ball forward more quickly but there's a reason he's at this level. Technically he is fantastic, as is Banks. As long as they're not breaking the bank, I'd be happy to see them both get another year.

100% agree with Oldaker. However with banks I think he will be looking for a 2 year deal somewhere for security and I can see him leaving.

[h again]

Goku, on 10 March 2025 - 09:07 AM, said:

What some of our fans will want: almost every player out of contract released

What will happen: there will be a clear out of sorts, but not to the extent desired. If you shift almost an entire squad out you risk significant dysfunction and team chemistry issues. I strongly suspect several players who a significant portion of our fan base would like to see leave will be offered a deal. Personally, I'd keep both Banks and Oldaker as long as the financial side of things is right for our club. People complain about Oldaker way too much imo, he's a deep-lying playmaker whose job is to retain possession and play between the lines when the opportunity presents itself. He does this to a decent standard for this league. He isn't a physical beast who can burst from midfield so expecting this from him as some do is nonsensical, he is usually deployed as part of a midfield 2 where his partner is expected to do the shuttle box-to-box runs (Naylor). He's had some stinkers this season and he's had some blinders, he is a perfectly acceptable squad player for League 2. Teams focus on him and cut him off as a passing option when our centre halves have the ball which contributes to nullifying us. Yes, we'd often like him to move the ball forward more quickly but there's a reason he's at this level. Technically he is fantastic, as is Banks. As long as they're not breaking the bank, I'd be happy to see them both get another year.

You don't have to be a 'big beast' to burst forward from midfield, you just need the nous to know when to turn and do it rather than play the negative short pass back or sideways. Oldaker doesn't get out of his comfort zone enough.
The value of the burst forward is in putting the opposition under pressure to think quickly - just the threat he might do it would be a bonus, instead of the opposition having time to get organised.

[Goku]

h again, on 10 March 2025 - 01:29 PM, said:

You don't have to be a 'big beast' to burst forward from midfield, you just need the nous to know when to turn and do it rather than play the negative short pass back or sideways. Oldaker doesn't get out of his comfort zone enough.
The value of the burst forward is in putting the opposition under pressure to think quickly - just the threat he might do it would be a bonus, instead of the opposition having time to get organised.

No but you typically need some sort of physical attribute - strength, acceleration etc. he doesn't have those.

[hilly81]

The best way to get the best out of Oldaker is to find someone perfect to play alongside him. He could form a really solid partnership with the right player.

[danblue]

hilly81, on 10 March 2025 - 01:46 PM, said:

The best way to get the best out of Oldaker is to find someone perfect to play alongside him. He could form a really solid partnership with the right player.

I can't see him changing tbh.
I think his laid back style has done for him.
His 'get out of jail card' was the odd good game/odd good pass and couple of decent free kicks.

My Dad mentioned this and I've just seen Pete O'Rourke (don't know how reliable) on X saying L1, L2 and Scot Prem teams interested in Oldaker.

This post has been edited by danblue: 10 March 2025 - 05:42 PM

[Trigger]

danblue, on 10 March 2025 - 04:13 PM, said:

I can't see him changing tbh.
I think his laid back style has done for him.
His 'get out of jail card' was the odd good game/odd good pass and couple of decent free kicks.

My Dad mentioned this and I've just seen Pete O'Rourke (don't know how reliable) on X saying L1, L2 and Scot Prem teams interested in Oldaker.

Pete O'Rourke is reliable but the teams could be Cambridge, Harrogate and Ross county.

[DPCFC]

Trigger, on 10 March 2025 - 05:53 PM, said:

Pete O'Rourke is reliable but the teams could be Cambridge, Harrogate and Ross county.

I?m sure Dj?s partner has a business established in Chesterfield (could be wrong)

But that may be a factor on where he chooses to go next season if he isn?t offered anything further with us.

[Zigsuk]

Really don't get what people see in Oldaker. I am willing to give any playeer the benefit of the doubt but ultimately, apart from his free kicks, I just don't rate him. If we want to progress he'd be a squad player at best. Remember in the televised game at Gateshead either last year or the year before (the one where Colclough scored a very late winner) their commentators were raving over Oldaker who as far as I could see wasn't really pulling any trees up. However they were a pair of fruit loops who constantly pronouced Colclough incorrectly and didn't even attempt one of the harder names to get their tongues around - think it might have been Akinola.
As for Banks, although I've always preferred him to Oldaker he's also inconsistent and the references to non league Pirlo when he came back were ott to say the least. It must be remembered that in his first spell here he was very much a squad player and with Ryan and Morsy around he often didn't get a look in. At his age Banks is unlilkely to improve, whilst Oldaker still could, although I very much doubt it. We need much better quality in those positions if we are to do anything. Naylor and Fleck, although better players than Banks and DJ, are too old.

This post has been edited by Zigsuk: 10 March 2025 - 07:20 PM

[azul]

Zigsuk, on 10 March 2025 - 07:18 PM, said:

Really don't get what people see in Oldaker. I am willing to give any playeer the benefit of the doubt but ultimately, apart from his free kicks, I just don't rate him. If we want to progress he'd be a squad player at best. Remember in the televised game at Gateshead either last year or the year before (the one where Colclough scored a very late winner) their commentators were raving over Oldaker who as far as I could see wasn't really pulling any trees up. However they were a pair of fruit loops who constantly pronouced Colclough incorrectly and didn't even attempt one of the harder names to get their tongues around - think it might have been Akinola.
As for Banks, although I've always preferred him to Oldaker he's also inconsistent and the references to non league Pirlo when he came back were ott to say the least. It must be remembered that in his first spell here he was very much a squad player and with Ryan and Morsy around he often didn't get a look in. At his age Banks is unlilkely to improve, whilst Oldaker still could, although I very much doubt it. We need much better quality in those positions if we are to do anything. Naylor and Fleck, although better players than Banks and DJ, are too old.

By people do you mean Cook as he is the one that tends to pick him on a regular basis and he'll the one to offer him another contract?

[tomjoad]

azul, on 10 March 2025 - 07:24 PM, said:

By people do you mean Cook as he is the one that tends to pick him on a regular basis and he'll the one to offer him another contract?

Or if the odd muttering bears fruit he wont?

[MrTall]

Zigsuk, on 10 March 2025 - 07:18 PM, said:

Really don't get what people see in Oldaker. I am willing to give any playeer the benefit of the doubt but ultimately, apart from his free kicks, I just don't rate him. If we want to progress he'd be a squad player at best. Remember in the televised game at Gateshead either last year or the year before (the one where Colclough scored a very late winner) their commentators were raving over Oldaker who as far as I could see wasn't really pulling any trees up. However they were a pair of fruit loops who constantly pronouced Colclough incorrectly and didn't even attempt one of the harder names to get their tongues around - think it might have been Akinola.
As for Banks, although I've always preferred him to Oldaker he's also inconsistent and the references to non league Pirlo when he came back were ott to say the least. It must be remembered that in his first spell here he was very much a squad player and with Ryan and Morsy around he often didn't get a look in. At his age Banks is unlilkely to improve, whilst Oldaker still could, although I very much doubt it. We need much better quality in those positions if we are to do anything. Naylor and Fleck, although better players than Banks and DJ, are too old.

Completely agree. If we're going to progress we need better players than we have now and there simply must be players out there (that we can attract) who'd contribute far more than Oldaker. In my opinion a midfielder has to be either a playmaker, a ball winner or preferably both. Oldaker is none.

I prefer Banks to Oldaker because at least he likes to pass the ball forward and tries to tackle, but if he stays I'd like to think he'd be a squad player and not a regular starter because we've signed better players.

This post has been edited by MrTall: 10 March 2025 - 08:06 PM

[jack bauer]

Goku, on 10 March 2025 - 09:07 AM, said:

What some of our fans will want: almost every player out of contract released

What will happen: there will be a clear out of sorts, but not to the extent desired. If you shift almost an entire squad out you risk significant dysfunction and team chemistry issues. I strongly suspect several players who a significant portion of our fan base would like to see leave will be offered a deal. Personally, I'd keep both Banks and Oldaker as long as the financial side of things is right for our club. People complain about Oldaker way too much imo, he's a deep-lying playmaker whose job is to retain possession and play between the lines when the opportunity presents itself. He does this to a decent standard for this league. He isn't a physical beast who can burst from midfield so expecting this from him as some do is nonsensical, he is usually deployed as part of a midfield 2 where his partner is expected to do the shuttle box-to-box runs (Naylor). He's had some stinkers this season and he's had some blinders, he is a perfectly acceptable squad player for League 2. Teams focus on him and cut him off as a passing option when our centre halves have the ball which contributes to nullifying us. Yes, we'd often like him to move the ball forward more quickly but there's a reason he's at this level. Technically he is fantastic, as is Banks. As long as they're not breaking the bank, I'd be happy to see them both get another year.

that's a very good summary of Oldaker, i think if he is to improve, he has to answer (on the pitch) the point you make about when teams target him, if he can't find the answer to that he will not progress because teams will do that, for me he can often go missing and hide, he has the attributes to be a very decent player but has to get topside of this in that position, a reasonable comparison in that position i watched last night James ward prowse, similar player, not physically strong or blessed with pace but when you watch him, he is constantly on the move to recieve the next pass and uses his body position so well to manouvere himself into space and has the awareness to play it first time if under pressure, now i know i'm comparing to a player in the top league but it's relative to level of opponent.