Clarke seems to be fairly forthright in indicating that players will be on their way out in January. subject to there being any takers, who do you think he’s on about?
Cotter Marsh Yoganathan (loan) Craig return to Spurs to be loaned somewhere he’s going to get played. Benson McCarthy or Pines one of the two depending Earl or Robbos injury Cosgrove if anyone will take him
I'd hope it would be Slonina and Craig as a start. I'd then look to get rid of 2 centre halves. Having Roberts, Pines, Earl, DeGevigney, McCarthy, Lopata and Shepherd is insane. 2 of our right wing backs, bring one good one in. Forwards, we're screaming out for quality. Yet we've Marsh, Jalo, Watters, Humphreys and Cosgrove, again, I'd probably ship two out and bring 2 in, one on loan. Midfield. I'd retire Hourihane and ensure he's on a basic coaches wage and I'd sell Phillips. If a choice, I'd sell Dunn and keep Phillips but thats not going to happen. I'd really like Benson to be fit and remind us of his quality, because when he first arrived, he looked really good at times and that was in the Championship. But sadly I don't think thats going to happen, and given we've got Nwakali, Benson is likely not going to get through and is likely to be released generating another whopping loss on a player we bought for a fee. I also think we've got to be less squeamish about giving academy kids a go. Smaller squad, more opportunity for them.
Hopefully a few of our 45 midfielders and centre backs could be replaced by someone with a left foot.
Said he’s ruthless and he’s got no time for players who don’t want progress in this team and become championship players. Will move those ones on who hes decided aren’t up to it
As the two loan players are not being selected, you'd think their return was inevitable. As for anyone else, that depends firstly on if any other club wants them, and perhaps more crucially, if any other club is prepared to meet their wage expectations. No one failing to improve our team, who we'd be happy to see leave, is going to be interesting a club who pay higher wages than Barnsley. It will be smaller clubs offering lower wages and as much as we might want to get rid, a player may not want to leave to earn less money.
I think we have to be really strict and just clear out players who we don’t think will feature. Slonina and Craig can both return to their clubs in January. Both Pines and Cosgrove’s contracts are up in the summer so I’d try and sell in January and if not I wouldn’t take up the options to extend in the summer. McCarthy, Marsh and Benson can be sold or loaned out in January and again released when their contracts are up in the summer. While they’ve shown potential any of Cotter, Lofthouse, Shepperd, Lopata and Dallas can also be sold or moved on too. That’s 12 wages we can free up and we’d need to sign a quality striker, LWB, RWB, GK and maybe another consistent CB.
Send the two loanees back, both been a waste of space & not good enough at this level. Get rid of Lopata, McCarthy, Pines (loan), MDG, Phillips, Russell, Cotter, Lofthouse, Cosgrove, Benson, Watters, Jalo (loan), O’keefe & Marsh. Realistically the above isn’t going to happen in one transfer window, & the January one at that, which proves a point that Clarke needs time to build his own team with his own players & not with the above deadwood.
Yes that’s the other aspect, I don’t trust our recruitment team to bring in any better players, probably more duds
I'd lose Slonina & Craig. I actually like Craig but he ain't gonna play as long as Connell's got a hole in his ar5e. I'd also question those in power who thought we needed the 2 above. In defence we require a total re-jig. I'd actually keep Lopata. Or McCarthy. But not both. Pines can go (not been a fan but I thought yesterday was one of his better games). Cotter can go, or re-train him as an attacker in the 21s for the rest of the campaign. There's a footballer in there somewhere, but there is no sign of a defender. Lose O'Keeffe probably, though he's not the worst. Phillips one of my favourites but time to cut the cord. Benson can go and probably kick-on and become someone's Brownhill. Am undecided on Russell. Maybe another season. Cosgrove, Marsh and some of the fringe strikers can go. I'd take a feefor DKD but still think he might be good in a 2nd season. Keep Lofthouse but decide WTF we actually want to do with him. Robbo has been great but I honestly only see him playing one more season, so am happy for him, MDG and Earl to stick together and help integrate Shep or Lopata now and again for continuity. Some big decisions to be made and I hope the CEO and DOF get it right. Of the current batch of 'punts' there is no Brown, Mads, Morris, Kitching type golden goose so even by making savings on deadwood, there won't be massive fees for any of our 'prize assets' so January's decision making is critical.
Easier said than done. Tbf to the players, if they’re not good enough they’re not good enough. I’m sure every single one of them wants to play at the highest level. Shipping players out is fine, but it’s as only as good as the quality that replaces them. Alfie ‘one season wonder’ May and Jay Stansfield are a level we simply can’t afford.
I'd be looking to recall Sheperd back from Bradford, especially if we're going to be without Earl & Roberts for the foreseeable.
I think he’s right. But I always find it easier to take something apart than put them back together. I wonder whether we can afford to back him in this?
This approach rarely works these days imo. Players are that pampered and so far removed from the reality of life, that if you criticise them in public then it does no good whatsoever. He did it to the younger players following a game earlier in the season - pointless exercise that just hangs them out to dry. I can't remember another manager being so critical in public, then players pulling their socks up and improving. Gone are the days of Clough, Ferguson and Redknapp.
As it is the Forwards are under achieving, the Midfielders are under achieving an the Defenders are no better, oh nearly forgot the Keepers are 5hite too, Keep the faith C,O,Y,R.
Upon keeping warm and out of the grimmest of weather , and upon reading this thread, it seems easier and speedier to compile a fairy dairy land list of players who ought to stay rather than go. Keep: Killick and Smith (never seen him play so hasn’t yet disappointed) Roberts Earl MDG Pines and Shepherd Connell Nwakali Yoga and DKD Humphrys Jalo and Watters (yep I know). That’s 14 to keep out of 42 listed on Soccerbase. I know that this is neither realistic nor possible, and stupid to even contemplate for a January window. Plus it relies upon trusting our hierarchy to adequately replace those departed, and I cannot. Is it too early for a hot toddy?