Retained List...

Big decisions for LJ to make re Nyatanga and Cranie and I suppose re BJF. And is he interested in signing Ramage seeing as he is now a free agent?

Personally, I'd only keep Ramage at a push.

Hemmings - get shut
Lita - Get shut

Who else is out of contract?

 

Hemmings, Oates, George Smith I think unless I`ve missed a contract extension.

 

I'd keep Smith and probably Oates as I've not seen enough of him to decide if he will be up to it.

 

Dibble, Abbott, Nana and Maris.

Digby.

 

Keep all the young 'uns.

Will get a fee, even if they don't feature.

Lose Hemings, Lita & Cranie, if he doesn't accept a big pay cut.

If Rambo will sign at a reasonable wage, get him in. A promotion push always needs a couple of old heads.

 

I'd get shut of them all, look to offload Jennings if at all possible and really start again.

Not sure Ramage gives us what we need but wouldn't be against him staying - can't imagine he's cheap, mind.

 

I'd keep both Cranie and Nyatanga but doubt Cranie would only stay if he gets offered Championship wages. Big Jean isn't good enough for a play off battle next season and would get rid.

 

I'd keep Oates but next season he has to show he's capable of playing League 1 football. He's now 20 and isn't a regular so needs to get his head down in pre season or be gone

 

Originally I was all for signing Ramage but injuries and his age are worrying factors so I think we need to look elsewhere and we need a couple of centre backs because I'd let Crainie and BFJ go.

Jennings, Hemmings and Lita to go too for me.

 

Keep all the young fellas.

Get rid of Cranie and BFJ. I'd keep Lewin if the terms were right. No contract for Ramage great lad but too injury prone.

Lita I presume is already gone in all but name. Hemmings not shown enough to get another contract. Jennings we will be stuck with who would want him in his current state.

 

All this talk of letting Cranie go. Is that because you think he's not good enough or because his wages would be too much?

Arguably the best player at the club. Can't think of anyone is be more disappointed to lose, possibly Scowen and Winnall apart.

 

Retain LJ until Christmas then sack him.

 

I imagine we'd get far, far more value for money from a couple of lads at this level than just him.

 

I'd keep M'Voto, and i think Johnson will. We will come up against teams in this league who will look to lump it forward and he is the perfect fit for that. Yes, he'll make mistakes but he's someone i believe who could benefit the squad.

I'd probably only let Hemmings and Lita go, and possibly Jennings if anyone will take him off our hands. We need to add some quality to the squad we already have. A centre half, central midfielder, 2 wingers and a couple of strikers. Maybe some of the young lads can fill some of those voids once Johnson has had the summer with them (Bree, Abbott, Digby, Nana etc).

 

Ross Turnbull - 2016
Adam Davies - 2016
Christian Dibble - 2015
Joe Wildsmith - Loan expires 2015

Lewin Nyatanga - 2015
Martin Cranie - 2015
Jean-Yves M'Voto - 2015
Jack Cowgill - 2016
James Bree - 2017
Mason Holgate - 2016
George Smith - 2016
George Williams - 2016
Peter Ramage - Loan expires 2015
Declan John - Loan expires 2015

Luke Berry - 2017
Conor Hourihane - 2017
Dale Jennings - 2016
Paul Digby - 2017
Brad Abbott - 2016
James Bailey - 2016
Josh Scowen - 2017
Ben Pearson - Loan expires 2015
Cameron Stewart - Loan expires 2015

Milan Lalkovic - 2016
Sam Winnall - 2017
Leroy Lita - 2015
Nana - 2015
Rhys Oates - 2015
George Maris - 2015
Mike Phenix - 2016
Kane Hemmings - 2015
Jabo Ibehre - Loan expires 2015
George Waring - Loan expires 2015



There are doubts over a couple of kids. I'm not sure if Darren McKnight or Dominic McHale still exist, but both did sign contracts last summer. I'm assuming they've been moved on on the quiet as I don't recall seeing their names on any recent reserve teamsheets etc.




So, from all of that, if I was gaffer these are the lads I'd retain/keep.



Turnbull, Davies, Dibble;

Bree, Holgate, Cowgill, Smith, Williams, Nyatanga;

Bailey, Berry, Hourihane, Digby, Scowen;

Winnall, Lalkovic;



I think it's clear we'd need at least three wingers. I think we all know the one winger we'd like. He'd make a huge difference. I'd not be against retaining Abbott, and he does have a year left on his deal, but I don't think he's got owt on Scowen and he's no better than Berry. He's playing for a Chester side who haven't won in two months, two levels below us. I still believe in Digby. But aye, that's a midfield without a winger, partly because I don't want us to continue kidding ourselves with Jennings. If we can find a club interested, I'd let him go for nowt. Seen plenty of wingers I like at this level this season. I'd fancy that Marshall from Port Vale. Massey yesterday looked rapid too. Give me average L1 wingers, journeymen, whatever, over an unfit and uninterested Dale Jennings. I'd rather we'd kept Reuben.

Defensively, we'd be well stocked, albeit with little experience as I'd be unwilling to retain Cranie or M'Voto who I don't feel offer value for money. I would like to see Holgate at centre half with Nyatanga next season. Still in need of a left back to compete with Smith, but both Bree and Williams have a pre season to convince LJ we don't need another right back. The lad Darikwa at Chesterfield would be perfect. So long as they stay down with us.

And up front we've **** all really after Winnall. I'm not convinced that Lalkovic offers much, but he's worth sticking with I reckon. If he can be taught to do the simple things, you never know. I'd like us to sign both Ibehre and Waring permanently, which would leave a space or two for a bit of pace up top. BigLil's suggestion of Jon Forte is a good one, and I'd be going all out for Izale McLeod too (I suggested him last summer, and Akinfenwa... but we signed Lita and Hemmings).


As it stands, you're looking at a minimum of six new lads, and a couple will have to be key players.


Just got to get these games over with now. Sooner we're mathematically out of playoff contention, sooner LJ can try things out ahead of the summer rebuild (another one). Yes, it won't be as big an operation as the one Danny had to perform, but there's still much to do. I hope the board back him with some financial clout.

 

Craine is going to be pushing the 8k a week figure. . .

 

cant see cranie suffering a pay cut - he'l be off to the highest bidder imho

 

Reckon we will start next season with totally new centre back pairing.

 

Harsh on Player of the Year, Lewin Nyatanga.