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Squad for next season
Here's how we are shaping up for next season:
Players currently in or around the senior squad:
GK
Phillips
CB
Nelson
McGuiness
WB/FB
Ng
Bagan
CM
Wintle
Sang
Bowen
AM
Colwill
Evans
FW
Moore
Harris
Collins
Davies
Watters
Then there are a few in the u23s who could make the step up
GK
Ratcliffe
CB
Denham
Connoly (although I think he's also out of contract)
Bakare
WB
Semenyo
CM
Patten
King
D'Almeida
CF
Zimba
Well we have a LOT to do.
I'd say we need:
1 Gk
2 CB
2 WB/FB
1 CM
1 AM
possibly less depending on if any of the other youngsters can step up.
thats a massive transition, you'd expect we would be looking at a couple of loans again, and frees and good prospects in the lower leagues.
I see some teams have started picking over the bones of Derby already - I wonder how much they'd accept for Bird, Sibley or Knight
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Re: Squad for next season
If anything, I’d say you are underestimating the number of new players to come in, I think we may need as much as ten newcomers.
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Re: Squad for next season
One rather sobering thought - if we let the contracts of Morrison, Flint, Bacuna, Pack, Vaulks and Smithies all run down, we'll have paid over £20m in transfer fees for those 6 alone and have got not a penny back in transfer fees.
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Re: Squad for next season
And when you consider all those extra matches in the Papa John’s Trophy it’s looking even bleaker.
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Re: Squad for next season
I think dropping down a division could be the making of these young lads. Could be a case of one step back, two steps forward.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
J R Hartley
I think dropping down a division could be the making of these young lads. Could be a case of one step back, two steps forward.
i don't agree
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Re: Squad for next season
1 new central midfielder? We'll be losing 4 and there's no guarantee that Bowen or Sang are good enough
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eric the Half a Bee
One rather sobering thought - if we let the contracts of Morrison, Flint, Bacuna, Pack, Vaulks and Smithies all run down, we'll have paid over £20m in transfer fees for those 6 alone and have got not a penny back in transfer fees.
The alternative is to renew their contracts…
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
City123
1 new central midfielder? We'll be losing 4 and there's no guarantee that Bowen or Sang are good enough
Well we won’t know if they are not given an opportunity will we. Bowen has been arguably City’s best player in 2 of the 4 games he’s started - Brighton in the cup and Reading the last league game before he got injured.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rjk
i don't agree
I don’t expect many to as people want instant results but if this summer is going to be another window of austerity and we have to go into another season with the youngsters I think it would be more beneficial long term if they were winning some games, which we are more likely to in League 1.
Even if we survive this season, another relegation fight beckons next year. We are fortunate this year Reading and Derbyhave had points deducted. No good for their development being in a relegation scrap constatnly losing games imo. We need to be giving this group 2/3 years of football experience to make them ready for Championship football. That may need to take place in league one for a season or two.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
J R Hartley
Well we won’t know if they are not given an opportunity will we. Bowen has been arguably City’s best player in 2 of the 4 games he’s started - Brighton in the cup and Reading the last league game before he got injured.
I agree, but they should be tested now and regardless 4 midfielders probably isn't enough for a full season. Has Sang ever started a game for us in midfield?
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
City123
I agree, but they should be tested now and regardless 4 midfielders probably isn't enough for a full season. Has Sang ever started a game for us in midfield?
Well it doesn’t help we are bringing someone else’s youngsters in on loan at the expense of our own. And yet Morison talked about clear pathways when he first took the job.
It didnt take him long to go into Neil Harris mode. Talk is cheap.
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Re: Squad for next season
Probably a good thing especially in midfield which has been an issue for so long. I would try and keep Ralls but let the rest go.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Hooded Claw
The alternative is to renew their contracts…
Morrison has been a good servant to the club and has been worth his transfer fee. Can't say the same about the others, Smithies has been ok at best.
Yes, what a mess. I notice the five other players in that list were signed by the same man...
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
J R Hartley
I don’t expect many to as people want instant results but if this summer is going to be another window of austerity and we have to go into another season with the youngsters I think it would be more beneficial long term if they were winning some games, which we are more likely to in League 1.
Even if we survive this season, another relegation fight beckons next year. We are fortunate this year Reading and Derbyhave had points deducted. No good for their development being in a relegation scrap constatnly losing games imo. We need to be giving this group 2/3 years of football experience to make them ready for Championship football. That may need to take place in league one for a season or two.
I don't have much of a problem with us going down. I would hope the drop in income might bring about a reality check for Tan. Relegation didn't work out too badly for Norwich, Southampton, Leicester etc. It's true that Bolton and Portsmouth struggled and there is a fear we could end up as we did in the mid 80s, but we're not a club in huge trouble like those. It took Slade to sort out the mess from Solskjaer and it's taken 3 managers to sort out the mess from Warnock. Sometimes you need to take a step backwards to make bigger steps forward.
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Re: Squad for next season
I missed this from a few days ago in WOL about George Ratcliffe:
Smithies: Ratcliffe 'needs to be playing'
Cardiff's Alex Smithies believes youngster George Ratcliffe is getting to the stage of his career when he needs to start playing first-team games.
The 21-year-old is yet to make his first-team debut, but is a fully-fledged member of the senior setup.
With two top stoppers in front of him in Smithies and Dillon Phillips, chances are few and far between. However, with Smithies' contract up in the summer, the Wales under-21s keeper might get his shot next term.
"For George, he’s getting to that stage where he’ll need to be playing games, stepping up when he gets the opportunity," Smithies said.
"He has been working hard with me and Dillon, which I’d like to think is helping in bringing him along in his development as a young player with potential.”
It's a bit of a surprise to me that Ratcliffe hasn't at least been given a cup game, we may need to rely on him as second choice next season
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Re: Squad for next season
I hope the club re-sign Smithies, Morrison and Ralls.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jon1959
I hope the club re-sign Smithies, Morrison and Ralls.
depending on wages, I can see the merit in that
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Re: Squad for next season
Face it folks, if we don't get relegated this year, we're nailed on certs for next. Unless of course Uncle Vinny gets his mojo back.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
az city
Face it folks, if we don't get relegated this year, we're nailed on certs for next. Unless of course Uncle Vinny gets his mojo back.
there will be plenty of good frees available, we could be good, or absolutely terrible
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eric the Half a Bee
I don't have much of a problem with us going down. I would hope the drop in income might bring about a reality check for Tan. Relegation didn't work out too badly for Norwich, Southampton, Leicester etc. It's true that Bolton and Portsmouth struggled and there is a fear we could end up as we did in the mid 80s, but we're not a club in huge trouble like those. It took Slade to sort out the mess from Solskjaer and it's taken 3 managers to sort out the mess from Warnock. Sometimes you need to take a step backwards to make bigger steps forward.
I honestly can't believe you can find any positives in relegation. It would be an unmitigated disaster. For one we do not produce home-grown players of the calibre that Southampton in particular do. Even a club far bigger than ourselves such as Sunderland are not finding it easy to bounce back. As for Portsmouth and Bolton, both similar size clubs to us, well they won't be getting promoted any time soon.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
az city
Face it folks, if we don't get relegated this year, we're nailed on certs for next. Unless of course Uncle Vinny gets his mojo back.
I think if we survive weve every chance of doing much better next season.
A lot of players on big wages gone. Weve some good young players , some decent recruitment and we can do well.
Staying up though im not sure we will.
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Re: Squad for next season
I think a mass clear out will be a tonic for the club, and we need to focus on bringing in fresh faces to mesh with our current crop of youngsters.
Since we dropped back from the Premier last time the club has been in free fall on and off the field. If we don't make radical changes soon we will continue to drift.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Moodybluebird
I honestly can't believe you can find any positives in relegation. It would be an unmitigated disaster. For one we do not produce home-grown players of the calibre that Southampton in particular do. Even a club far bigger than ourselves such as Sunderland are not finding it easy to bounce back. As for Portsmouth and Bolton, both similar size clubs to us, well they won't be getting promoted any time soon.
Few points. We could field a starting eleven with a majority of u-23 players. We are starting, as a club, to realise the importance of this.
Portsmouth and Bolton were in shit street when they went down to League 1. We're not. Sunderland were a total mess when they suffered two successive relegations. They clung on to life in the top flight when they should have gone down sooner and their problems just mounted.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dorcus
I think a mass clear out will be a tonic for the club, and we need to focus on bringing in fresh faces to mesh with our current crop of youngsters.
Since we dropped back from the Premier last time the club has been in free fall on and off the field. If we don't make radical changes soon we will continue to drift.
Completely agree. In order to be self supporting we have to make bringing players through from the academy our focus. Some of the daft wages, transfer fees and contracts we've thrown around should be reserved for really special players or gaps we can't fill from home grown talent.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dorcus
I think a mass clear out will be a tonic for the club, and we need to focus on bringing in fresh faces to mesh with our current crop of youngsters.
Since we dropped back from the Premier last time the club has been in free fall on and off the field. If we don't make radical changes soon we will continue to drift.
Agree I'd let all of the out of contracts go .
Doubt any would take a wage cut .
Many are ageing.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jon1959
I hope the club re-sign Smithies, Morrison and Ralls.
Ralls, Smithies and one of Morrison/Flint. I'd probably lean towards Morrison cos he's Morrison, if that makes sense. He's a leader, captain, keeps everyone in line, is well liked. They don't grow on trees. However, we can't keep someone cos he's a good bloke, so he needs to get back to his best sooner rather than later.
The rest, hard pass. We could be freeing up about 150k a week.
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Re: Squad for next season
It looks to me like Morrison's body has succumbed to the many knocks and injuries he has sustained over his career. He's not as imposing as he once was, which was a massive part of his game. He was always slow but a decent athlete for a big man, i don't think that he can play in the manner he once did, and he knows it judging on the way he plays now. I wouldn't keep him.
Ralls is a tricky one for me, he does offer more than the rest but that isn't really saying much. It could be argued that what Ralls does well could be enhanced with players around him who can create space which may give him more options and more time. Who knows!
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pedro de la Rosa
Ralls, Smithies and one of Morrison/Flint. I'd probably lean towards Morrison cos he's Morrison, if that makes sense. He's a leader, captain, keeps everyone in line, is well liked. They don't grow on trees. However, we can't keep someone cos he's a good bloke, so he needs to get back to his best sooner rather than later.
The rest, hard pass. We could be freeing up about 150k a week.
I'd settle for Morrison getting back to his average. He's been absolutely terrible this season.
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Re: Squad for next season
Based on this season’s form, I’d only be looking to get Ralls on a new deal, but I would consider offering a contract to Gavin Whyte and maybe Ciaron Brown if we went down.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
Based on this season’s form, I’d only be looking to get Ralls on a new deal, but I would consider offering a contract to Gavin Whyte and maybe Ciaron Brown if we went down.
What about Smithies.?
Or do you think Ratcliffe can step up? Ive never seen him.
Id keep Smithies but I think hes likely to reject a contract with us as he is one who will definitely get a better offer.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hilts
What about Smithies.?
Or do you think Ratcliffe can step up? Ive never seen him.
Id keep Smithies but I think hes likely to reject a contract with us as he is one who will definitely get a better offer.
No, I don’t think I would, I believe Ratcliffe can definitely be a back up at this stage of his career and I wouldn’t say there’s a great deal of difference between Phillips and Smithies.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Hooded Claw
The alternative is to renew their contracts…
That’s a lot of wages and I dont think we need them anymore. Morrison and smithies have been here quite a while and have served the club pretty well….did we pay money for vaulks?
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goats
That’s a lot of wages and I dont think we need them anymore. Morrison and smithies have been here quite a while and have served the club pretty well….did we pay money for vaulks?
Yep, about £2m
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
Based on this season’s form, I’d only be looking to get Ralls on a new deal, but I would consider offering a contract to Gavin Whyte and maybe Ciaron Brown if we went down.
Whyte is already under contract with us next season.
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Re: Squad for next season
Have we mentioned Josh Murphy?
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Eric the Half a Bee
Have we mentioned Josh Murphy?
never heard of him
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
If anything, I’d say you are underestimating the number of new players to come in, I think we may need as much as ten newcomers.
If all of the out of contract players leave we will need at least 10 new ones. Our loanee will also go, so that’s 11, plus Tomlin gone and we were already thin in the ground.
Think we should try to keep at least Ralls, and one of Flint/Morrison, one of Vaulks/ Pack depending on what they will accept and of course what is offered elsewhere. Maybe Smithies too depending on what he will accept.
The squad is paper thin and although we’ve been poor this year I wouldn’t put all the blame on these guys - there have been a lot of background problems this season… same players got us to 2 decent finishes last 2 seasons.
Not as easy as many think to bring in better, although there should be a fair bit of budget released to bring in some quality additions
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lawnmower
If all of the out of contract players leave we will need at least 10 new ones. Our loanee will also go, so that’s 11, plus Tomlin gone and we were already thin in the ground.
Think we should try to keep at least Ralls, and one of Flint/Morrison, one of Vaulks/ Pack depending on what they will accept and of course what is offered elsewhere. Maybe Smithies too depending on what he will accept.
The squad is paper thin and although we’ve been poor this year I wouldn’t put all the blame on these guys - there have been a lot of background problems this season… same players got us to 2 decent finishes last 2 seasons.
Not as easy as many think to bring in better, although there should be a fair bit of budget released to bring in some quality additions
I would say it’s more an unbalanced squad than paper thin.
If people want going to have their chance you have to include them in the squad and can’t have a huge squad of experienced pros.
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Re: Squad for next season
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
Based on this season’s form, I’d only be looking to get Ralls on a new deal, but I would consider offering a contract to Gavin Whyte and maybe Ciaron Brown if we went down.
Brown has done nothing. Sorry to disagree but the sooner he's playing somewhere else the better.