Players released....

hahahaah funny that

 

Wondering if Oates was looking for something more, for example to feature in more regular starts rather than develop in the squad. I was surprised to see his name but maybe better for him to move on. Also we don't know who LJ has lined up, which will perhaps limit Rhys' appearances

 

I think we are going to preserve Berry

 

I'm worried we'll jam up midfield.

 

Alternatively we could spread ourselves too thinly

 

I have just asked my Mate here at work who is a OAFC Fan.. Rates him highly and will be disappointed if he goes.

 

Cranie's gone, and it's probably for the best. Not that he wasn't more than good enough for this league, but we could find a similar centre half, who will be on half his salary.

 

No real surprises. The thing with Oates is that he's been playing regularly in the reserves along with Nana. If they've not impressed LJ enough to warrant a new contract then that's fine with me, because regular first team football is one hell of a step up from the reserves. Oates has looked decent in his few cameos, and could maybe have benefitted from another season with the club or out on loan; I do feel Lee decided a while ago that he wasn't going to keep him on, and his few appearances in the side have come because of the absence of others.

Happy Nyatanga has been offered a new deal, different player to the one that started the season. Sadly I think it is time for Cranie to move on. Been a good servant but he's played a key part in the sides that kept us in a rut for so long, it's time to finally leave that behind us. Only Nyatanga, Jennings and Digby have been here for the past 2 full seasons now.

 

Surprised Oates has been released. Not because I rate him but because why would you give him half an hour on Sunday if you were going to release him anyway? He played well so it can't have been that LJ was undecided and off the back of that performance decided to release him.

Not surprised about Cranie, but disappointed. I don't think we'll be able to bring in a better replacement and I don't think Holgate has the experience to play an entire season at centre half consistently yet. It could be a disaster if Nyatanga doesn't sign, although I think he will.

Jennings is lucky to get another chance and not be transfer listed ahead of Lalkovic. Lalkovic had a better season than Jennings but it's obviously Jenning's pedigree and past performances that have earned him another chance. It's going to a be a big pre season for him, he probably needs to start it now. I'd set him a target of completing a 10k in 40 minutes and if he can't manage it by the time the season starts he'll have to spend it in the reserves.

I'm not surprised Bailey has been transfer listed. Obviously not LJ's type of player and he under performed last season. If LJ does bring in someone like Kelly, that will push him further down the pecking order. He'll end up behind Hourihane, Scowen, Berry, Digby, Pearson/Kelly. We don't need him, particularly on what is likely to be a decent wedge.

 

And he started WWI, killed all the Chinese river dolphins and caused the earthquake in Nepal.

 

The lovely person.

 

If Gooda and Templeton have been offered third year scholarship contracts, what has happened to the other second years such as Cowgill and Holgate?

 

They're on pro terms already.

 

Thanks for that Whitey. I guessed that Holgate had been offered but I hadn't heard about Cowgill. When do their contracts expire?

 

"the Club"
"Academy Players"
"Third Year Scholarship"

Proper nouns? Really?

 

Would have kept Oates and released Phenix

 

I won't pretend that I'm not disappointed that Cranie is going. He's got his fair amount of critics on here, but I've always rated him. Fair to assume it's down to money, and if him going frees us up to sign two or three players, then I suppose it's a bit of a no-brainer. Happy to see the back of Lita, Hemmings and M'voto, and I'll trust Johnson's judgement on keeping Maris but letting Nana and Oates leave.

I hope that Lalkovic being made available means that Jennings is going to be pushed in pre-season, in the hope of getting into (some form of) shape for next season. If we can get him firing again, we've got a major asset for this division.

 

Indeed. I'm a little surprised we had to pay him "top dollar" (his injury record was not the best either). It will be interesting to see where he ends up.