We already know the retained list don't we?

Wilson announced it on Saturday with his team selection. Those who were in that 17 man squad will be retained, those who were not will be released.

All the youngsters plus all the contracted players in that squad (Steele, Kennedy, Cranie, M'Voto, Jennings, and O'Grady) will still be here next season unless a bid comes in from another club which we accept. Ramage, on loan, will return to Palace, while Dawson Cywka and O'Brien will be offered contracts. I guess the only question mark is over Bobby Hassell and whether or not he'll be offered any type of role.

I believe, youngsters aside, the only player not in that squad still under contract is Nyatanga, so the same rules apply to him as they do to Steele et al.

Which means Turner, Woods, Lawrence, Frimpong, Mellis, Etuhu, McCourt, Cofie and Jones will all be released.

That's not 100% guaranteed of course, but I think it gives us a fair guide. Maybe Lawrence will be offered a contract, but Cywka won't. Maybe Turner will be offered an extension if he's willing to play back-up to Steele. Whatever news is released this week, I can't imagine it'll be a lot different from the above.

Personally, I have few real problems with that. In my opinion our best players, Kennedy aside, are those still under contract. I'd definitely offer Jim O'Brien a new contract, although I'm less sure about Cywka. Dawson, I wouldn't. I'm not his greatest fan, but maybe he could do a job in League 1, however, as far as I'm aware, he still hasn't cleared his name for his alleged role in the spread betting scandal. It's not a case of innocent until proven guilty, he hasn't even been charged so we're nowhere near that, but I wouldn't take the risk of the club becoming embroiled in that investigation in the future. While ever he was under contract the club made the right moves by standing by him. I hope he was not involved and goes on to clear his name. I wish him every success in the future. But I wouldn't offer a new contract to a player still involved in that investigation. Particularly one with such limited ability.

Of the players to be released, with the possible exception of Lawrence, it's those that haven't been good enough or haven't shown the required effort. I don't think I'll be sorry to see any of them leave, even taking in to account that I loved to watch McCourt play.

Should it pan out like this, we'll have a much smaller squad (we've already released 4 loan players) but in my opinion it will be a better squad, much leaner and more cohesive than what we had before, hopefully containing individuals willing to run their blood to water for the cause. If some of the younger players are able to step up and command a starting place (Rose, Digby, RNL) then we won't need dozens of new signings. We've already got the basis of a very decent League 1 team. 5 or 6 well chosen signings could be all we need.

 

It would be great if we could sign Ramage.I would make him captain and build my back four around him.On paper he would seem to be way out of our price range but Danny keeps bigging him up and there's an air about how much he rates him and you never know what might happen.I feel he could be Dannys main target.

 

I think that he is definitely near the top Danny's shopping list.

 

I'm surprised they aren't interested in keeping Lawrence if this is the case, of all the players signed in January he seemed to be the only one who improved the team. I know he's had some fitness problems but I think this just came from a lack of playing for a period before joining us, surely with a full pre-season under his belt he would be fine for next season. It could be that he's a relatively large earner though I suppose.

Having a much smaller squad should be a benefit, Flitcroft got a bit giddy by retaining players who shouldn't have been retained and then when they inevitably didn't seem up to the job he signed other players who were no improvement at all, and to some extent Wilson did this as well.

I'd still expect us to be dipping into the loan market next season, although that could work out better for us if we can get experienced Championship players who for whatever reason aren't breaking into the top sides as opposed to taking a bigger gamble on youngsters from Premier League clubs. I think there is a reluctance for Championship clubs to loan to other Championship clubs (not surprising given the O'Grady scenario last season) but obviously that won't be a factor now.

 

I really can't see Ramage wanting to play in League One, but like you say Wilson's constant talk about him gives off the impression it's a possibility.

I really hope Dawson goes, but I can see him staying. I'd look to keep Lawrence. He's looked a lot better in more recent performances and has vast experience, but I suppose it could boil down to financial demands.

 

I'd be happy with Ramage and M'Voto as the main two centre backs, assuming we lose Cranie.

Not sure Cranie will be in massive demand though, it sounds like the only reason he stayed is because he couldn't find another club last Summer and with another relegation on his CV I can't see demand being any bigger. He's a tidy player but possibly a bit overrated.

 

Lawrence is the one player who wasn't in the squad on Saturday that I would be looking to keep. But, like you said, we don't know how much money he is on or how much he is able to demand.

 

I have it on pretty good authority that JOB will be off despite being offered a new contract. Sounds like he already has some better offers on the table. So we should plan for life without him.

Of the players you've listed there as leaving I'd only like to see Lawrence stay. I think his experience could bring players like Digby along. He might not be the player he used to be, but he doesn't give the ball away or find himself out of position all that often unlike Captain Calamity Dawson. Again, I'm against the majority when it comes to Dawson. He won't be any better in league one. No-one can question the effort but lack of first touch and ability are there for all to see.

It'll be a shame to see paddy go as although he is the most work shy player I've ever seen (barring Mellis) he'd have far too much class for league one. He'd be worth about 12-15 points on his own next season.

I'm happy Mellis won't be retained. If he was 1/10 as good as he thinks he is, he'd be playing for a Premier League club. His poor attitude is only made worse by a lack of heart. It's a shame really as he has all the tools but just doesn't use them. It's all well and good saying 'remember that pass in that game' or 'what about the goal against Hull'. He's had chance after chance and blown it.

Kennedy being retained is a joke. Contact or no contract he should be bombed out of the club this week. It's been a long whole since we had suck a limited, spineless player who had cost us so many goals this season. I've was never a Wiseman fan but Kennedy makes him look like Cafu!

Moving forward we need (and these could come from the academy(

2 fullbacks
An experienced,set piece taking centre mid
Two wingers who are lightning quick and can cross (I think Jennings will be sold)
Two strikers. On this score I'd be happy with Ishmail Miller or Connar Sammon. A big ugly git who'll get about and let Rose and COG if he stayed put the ball in the net.

 

You never know tbh. He may have been giving some of them another chance, whilst resting ones that he already kows he wants to keep and not playing them.

Also you contradict yourself there bud by saying Cywka will be offered a contract, then won't further down. Did you mean someone else?

We will all know on Wednesday.

 

I don't think so somehow, they're as bad as each other.

 

Massive shame, if true. We've missed his energy while he's been injured, and the fact he's the only player we have that makes a forward run.

 

Don't understand why people are clamouring for us to keep JOB. He's exactly the kind of player people have been complaining about all season (all effort no skill).

Showed it again with his much anticipated return on saturday. The amount of times he gives the ball away is poor and his threat is minimal.

He tries.

But I don't understand why people are calling for him to be retained but constantly slagging off Dawson who is a similar mould of player.

 

I was in the executive box for Saturdays game and mansford made a speech saying "it won't be a suprise to anyone when I say most of these players starting the game today won't be here next season" and said again "we expect to bring in a minimum of 20 players this summer" mansford And Barry murphy both went on to say how much a clear out was needed, poor players, poor commitment and Danny is the man to build a squad based on character most of all,he did state that skill and quality were obvious attributes they were after but character was the main thing (probably cos the current crop have none!). The mandate is also that any signing must move And live within 25 minutes of oakwell.

If mansfords ideas/plan to buy 20 players then we won't be seeing most the players jay has on his retained list.

Either way it's going to be interesting, jays theory seems more plausible and workable than a full 20+ players coming in

 

If we cannot get Ramage we should try for Peter Clarke from Huddersfield Town

 

not a hope in hell of signing anyone from HT whilst Robins is manager. The price will be 20 times more than we would expect to pay.

 

I agree wi that, He's proberbly no chance of getting anywhere near the Palace first team, and we do have a good relationship with Tony Pulis(sp). Is Ramage a greedy player and want to milk his last year of contract? could anyone blame him if he did?...I think if he wanted to be released from his Place contract, im sure they wouldn't stand in his way. Am sure we could sort out a deal to bring him back as our player next season. I like BMW, I think he could well be back sooner rather than later..

 

Out of contract and due to leave, I believe.

 

Will be almost glad to see the back of Frimpong and Mellis who has caused so much frustration over the last two seasons. No doubt Mellis will go elsewhere and preform.

The only player who wasn't involved on Saturday who I'd like to see retained is Kelvin Etuhu but I understand why he could be released but for me when he's played he ha splayed well and with abit of passion that most of the other lacked. Lack the quality going forward but at full back he has been quality.

 

Ah, didn't know that, thanks. Then we won't be "signing" him from HT then