[Wooden Spoon]

 Siberian Spireite, on 17 May 2025 - 10:39 PM, said:

Well,stealing the out-of-contract list from the pinned thread:

Bailey Hobson
Darren Oldaker
Ryan Colclough
Jamie Grimes
Tyrone Williams
Mike Jones
Ryan Boot (GK)
Ollie Banks
Ash Palmer
Michael Jacobs
Kane Drummond
Connor Cook
Lewis Gordon (+ an option)
Vontae Daley-Campbell (+ an option)
Liam Jessop
Ashton Rinaldo (GK)
Ali Mohiuddin
John Fleck
Janoi Donasien
Kyle McFadzean

I’d favour offering Gordon, Banks (if interested) and Boot new deals/extensions, probably McFadzean too if not too expensive on wages.

Naylor and Madden are finished, I fear, but their contracts are not.

Naylor will be ok for a season if used wisely, maybe more appearances from the bench than starting but I’m not overly worried about him.


Madden never even got going.

Banks again ok for a year if used sensibly, limited starts and from the bench.

Fadz is good for a year IMO.

Boot is keep, even if it’s a capable No2 but I don’t think the keeper position is as critical as other positions.

I don’t think there will be many offered deals - and i doubt there will be many surprises either.

[lindo-spireite]

 Wooden Spoon, on 18 May 2025 - 12:50 PM, said:

Naylor will be ok for a season if used wisely, maybe more appearances from the bench than starting but I’m not overly worried about him.


Madden never even got going.

Banks again ok for a year if used sensibly, limited starts and from the bench.

Fadz is good for a year IMO.

Boot is keep, even if it’s a capable No2 but I don’t think the keeper position is as critical as other positions.

I don’t think there will be many offered deals - and i doubt there will be many surprises either.

Really don’t see the point in banks taking a wage and more importantly a squad place when we can just get rid. He’s done nothing this season.

[gordon_brittas]

At the end of the day the club needs to think about finances and progression and establishing itself as at least long term self supporting League 1 club. There is no point offering contracts to players who have shown they don’t have the ability to compete at that level.

Either only offer contracts to Boot and Colclough, reduced 1 year tends to Palmer and McFadzean. The rest can go.

[Osborne again]

 dim view, on 18 May 2025 - 07:03 AM, said:

Well, imo Gordon is becoming a bit of a scapegoat. He's done nowt wrong defensively, and he put the best cross of the day in at Walsall. Sparkes, on the other hand, was found wanting defensively for both goals. Sparkes is a wingback who should be viewed as competition for Colclough and Duffy. Gordon is a very good fullback.

Totally agree mate, Lewis Gordon is the best left back we've had for a good while. He's so cool and calm he makes the Fonz look flustered.

[dan.25]

I also think it's important to note that Gordon is used in a different way by Cook.

He inverts into a third centre back in possession a lot of the time. There's a lot of value to that as it actually allows the midfield two to push up a bit more with extra support behind them (rather than the 2 x 2 box Cook likes so much). It's different ways of playing, and that can be useful.

Obviously, we're used to Cook liking his two flying wingbacks but he's more flexible than people give him credit for. Gordon offers a different tactical option as a result.

The issue is that we tend to lack attacking penetration elsewhere, meaning we notice the lack of a marauding wing back. If you can get the balance of the team right, getting penetration from further up, having a sitting back three in possession as Cook is wont to do with Gordon is a very useful basis for attacking football.

(That said, given this, I can see Cookie getting rid for exactly that reason)

This post has been edited by dan.25: 18 May 2025 - 02:12 PM

[Osborne again]

 dan.25, on 18 May 2025 - 02:07 PM, said:

I also think it's important to note that Gordon is used in a different way by Cook.

He inverts into a third centre back in possession a lot of the time. There's a lot of value to that as it actually allows the midfield two to push up a bit more with extra support behind them (rather than the 2 x 2 box Cook likes so much). It's different ways of playing, and that can be useful.

Obviously, we're used to Cook liking his two flying wingbacks but he's more flexible than people give him credit for. Gordon offers a different tactical option as a result.

The issue is that we tend to lack attacking penetration elsewhere, meaning we notice the lack of a marauding wing back. If you can get the balance of the team right, getting penetration from further up, having a sitting back three in possession as Cook is wont to do with Gordon is a very useful basis for attacking football.

(That said, given this, I can see Cookie getting rid for exactly that reason)

He tried Araujo there recently trying to do exactly that, but it worked so well, he reverted back to Gordon. Lewis Gordon is one of those players I hope to see here for a few years yet.

[Tha Knows...]

Araujo got bullied too much

[Osborne again]

 Tha Knows..., on 18 May 2025 - 02:29 PM, said:

Araujo got bullied too much

He'll make a decent centre back eventually, but he needs some more Weetabix.

[Wooden Spoon]

 lindo-spireite, on 18 May 2025 - 01:11 PM, said:

Really don’t see the point in banks taking a wage and more importantly a squad place when we can just get rid. He’s done nothing this season.

Useful for injury cover and from the bench?

[Walton Spireite]

 Tha Knows..., on 18 May 2025 - 02:29 PM, said:

Araujo got bullied too much

He's no left back

[CFC91]

Those clamouring for a mass exodus I feel are going to be left slightly underwhelmed.

[s42blue]

 CFC91, on 18 May 2025 - 05:29 PM, said:

Those clamouring for a mass exodus I feel are going to be left slightly underwhelmed.

I don’t.

[rodney]

 CFC91, on 18 May 2025 - 05:29 PM, said:

Those clamouring for a mass exodus I feel are going to be left slightly underwhelmed.

I would agree with you…

[Blue5]

 Mr_Pleasant, on 18 May 2025 - 09:45 AM, said:

Our template should be the Walsall full backs. I think they are closer to how Cook would like to play than either Gordon or Sparkes.

Precisely.

[Trigger]

 CFC91, on 18 May 2025 - 05:29 PM, said:

Those clamouring for a mass exodus I feel are going to be left slightly underwhelmed.

I feel we'll offer a year to 7-9 players. From reading your posts in the past you seem to be itk. Would I be underestimating it at that?

Fwiw, they are:
McFadzean
Fleck
Palmer
Boot
Grimes
Cook
Colclough
Banks
Gordon

Maybe JD too and Williams to stay through his rehab.

I think it's nailed on these to leave:
Bailey Hobson
Darren Oldaker
Mike Jones
Michael Jacobs
Kane Drummond
Vontae Daley-Campbell
Liam Jessop
Ashton Rinaldo (GK)
Ali Mohiuddin

I'm normally miles out with these things but I only included banks and Grimes because they are in the shop window with next seasons kit on.

[prolurker]

 CFC91, on 18 May 2025 - 05:29 PM, said:

Those clamouring for a mass exodus I feel are going to be left slightly underwhelmed.

Surprising given all we’ve heard.

Based on that I’ll go with

Boot
McFaz
Palmer
Gordon
Fleck
Banks

[Mr Mercury]

 CFC91, on 18 May 2025 - 05:29 PM, said:

Those clamouring for a mass exodus I feel are going to be left slightly underwhelmed.

Can I ask why?

[BlueRodneyFern]

 Walton Spireite, on 18 May 2025 - 04:57 PM, said:

He's no left back

Correct he is a centre back and played a couple if times at left back at Fulham to fill in

[CFC91]

 Mr Mercury, on 18 May 2025 - 07:36 PM, said:

Can I ask why?

We have not far off 20 players OOC + 4/5 loanees to we will definitely be without a good proportion obviously but wouldn’t be suprised if 10+ have triggered a new deal, or been offered one.
If all sign what they have been offered is another thing, as some will be reduced terms, short term extensions etc. Just foresee potentially a couple of suprises at very least

[Fit as a Nelson]

 CFC91, on 18 May 2025 - 05:29 PM, said:

Those clamouring for a mass exodus I feel are going to be left slightly underwhelmed.

I’ll be more than slightly underwhelmed. It’s time to say thanks but goodbye to a lot of our players.