What to do with players..

What do we do with players like Dallas, Shepherd and Kopata. Do we bring them back to Oakwell. Shepherd's loan to Bradford was extended in January but if they rate him as highly as some would have us believe surely the way our defence has performed he could do a job here. Giverney has not covered himself in glory since Christmas and Mccarthy is out of contract anyway. Not sure Lopata is as good a potential prospect as Shepherd. Dallas I feel is not League1 standard as is Aiden Marsh.

 

Bradford might win promotion, although they are making hard work of it at the moment.
Would that temp them to want to keep Shepherd.
And if I had to choose, I'd definitely want to see Lopata given a chance, if the only other option is Mdg!.

 

Marsh is out of contract so I’d let him leave. Dallas has a year left, if someone wants him I’d let him go if not I’d loan him out so he’s not taking up a wage we can use elsewhere.

Sheperd and Lopata are interesting. I’d get both back over the summer and let the head coach (whoever that is) assess them. Lopata is doing well in the SPL and that’s arguably a better level than what Shepherd is playing at in Lg2. I’d say both are better than Pines and McCarthy who both can leave for me in the summer.

I would caveat that by saying Lofthouse got great reviews on loan to MK Dons last season in Lg2 and flopped with us this year so just because their loan clubs like them doesn’t mean they’ll cut it with us. Playing against Bromley and Tranmere is worlds apart from Birmingham and Huddersfield for example.

 

20000+ crowds and probably a higher wage.

Maybe depends on the transfer fee if Bradford do want him permanently.

 

Lofthouse is getting good reviews because he’s getting a run of games, in more or less his right position.

Unlike with us, when he was pissed about with 10 minutes here, a game up front there, 20 mins left back here. Massively p****d about by us this season.

 

Yeah we keep saying it, that Bradford (and Notts County who they played tonight) should be playing higher up than Lg Two.
Whether its Conor then or whoever else, I reckon he will be giving all of our player options, the chance of a 'clean slate'.

 

Need to come.back and let new coach have a look - should be their decision then.

 

Would love to see Lopata and Shepherd both in the side next season, both deserve a chance, both a good age with plenty of potential. Roberts and Mael as back up if we are sticking with back 4, with James and maybe another loanee to cover. Though I suspect Roberts will start, but Mael needs to earn his way back in as he has been dreadful for last couple of months.

 

No point buying potential if you never see it.

Anyone still under contract should get games in pre-season to see how they perform in whatever our coach’s preferred system.

We need 20-24 first team players for our squad and to use the funds available to maximise their quality. No more passengers, give the youth a chance when we need them accordingly.

 

Lofthouse has 2 loan periods and does well in both but flops back here, maybe says more about us than him. get him, Shepard and Lopata back and play in the correct position. Sell Dallas..Pines and McCarthy out and MDG sold, loaned or on the bench till his contracts up. Pick up season loan experienced Goalkeeper and build round Robbo as captain. Keep all midfield. Watters and Humphrys out plus anybody whos contracts up, leaves lots of wage money for a striker to support DKD and Jalo. return all loanees..cut squad to 24 at most.

 

I would like to see more of James in the first team.
Very good player imo .

 

I'd keep Humphrys, he seems to have got a new impetus under Hourihane. On the other hand, Watters is simply not good enough.

 

I thought that at the start of last season too but he seems to have disappeared now. I wonder if he’s not progressed quite as much as we’d hoped? I also wonder if a loan to a league 2 club might benefit him like it has Shepherd.

 

Contracted here. Last season he got pelters on here drops a league and turns great. Reminds me of kyran Lofthouse he had a great season in league 2 on loan came back here and it didn't end well.

 

https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=123219

2 goals in 26 games at that level, nobody should be wanting to keep Marsh. He was sent out on loan with a chance to prove he could have a future at Oakwell and he hasn't done it.

 

I guess there will be a loaf of sub appearances in there but more yellow cards than goals says a lot.

I didn’t think we should’ve extended him last time so I would be very surprised if we did it this time.

Hopefully he can drop down the leagues a bit and work his way back up.

 

I can see Shepherd and Lopata being regulars in central defence in a back four next season. Roberts may need to be phased out, given his age, but his experience will help the youngsters, who have by now been well blooded into league football. Dallas won't make it here in my opinion. Will change of shape to 433 mean that we are short in any area? I can see Lofthouse coming back to do a job in that formation on the right hand side either of midfield, or up front. Earl is probably as good at left back in a back four as a wing back in a back five.

 

Very harsh to say Lofthouse flopped with us.

More a victim of our poor recruitment that he played up front & on the left.

Has he even played a game in his preferred position of right wing back?

 

He as started one game , and as come on for 5 to 10 minutes.
Hardly given a chance .

 

They’ve got a massive decision to make over the system the club plays. As we all know everything is set up to play 3 centre backs & 2 wing backs.

As far as I’m aware we have Roberts, De Gevigney, Earl, Shepherd, Lopata as well as Barrett, James & the highly rated Wilkinson still on the books.

At wing back, we’ve got O’Keeffe, Cotter, Lofthouse, Gent & Farrugia.

We’ve also got young Bland who looks like he could end up as more of a full back / wing back than a midfielder.

The club needs to decide whether they’re going to allow Hourihane to come away from a back 3 or is it just a temporary thing due to the injuries to Gent & Farrugia.

I think it’s safe to say Pines & McCarthy will be leaving. Unfortunately neither have done enough & we need to make some space for the returning loanees & younger players coming through.

I’ve no idea what they do with the wing backs if they go a back 4. There’s a lot of wages there & I don’t see any of them as being better defensively than offensively. They’ll all take a lot of coaching to get them playing in a back 4.

Marsh will leave. With Dallas it depends if anyone’s willing to pay a transfer fee for him. If they’re do I imagine he leaves. If not then another loan is likely until his deal is up.