Exactly, replacing someone like Chaplow, who knows the other players, and the system, and is on relatively low wages, would be more expensive than it is worth. He's a perfectly adequate backup in a position we don't really need to strengthen.
Speaking of Aaron Martin - what is he doing these days? I thought he was on loan at Crystal Palace? He's not in their squad and if he's playing for the U21s they're getting murdered lately. A loan to a league 1 or 2 club might give him some game time - doesn't look like a future player.
Or replace him with youth, who would be on even less wages and have far more potential instead of a average player makes even more sense. I don't get people that say keep him as he is ok back up. If we want to become the force that Cortese wants us to we can't have players like Chaplow as back up to our first team.
Forming an impressive partnership with Jordan Turnbull for our U21s. Mutually agreed we have him back in January.
It's all about the youth and that pathway Hammond and Harding were let go to allow Ward-Prowse & Shaw respectively to be higher up the pecking order. JWP looks to be 4th choice centre mid and has been picked as sub ahead of Chaplow in recent games. I don't know how well the other youngsters are doing but Stephens looked decent so you'd expect Seaborne & Martin to make way and possibly Hooiveld. Likewise Chambers may have progressed enough for us to let Chaplow depart. Some have mentioned Targett who could step up to replace Fox. Then Gazzaniga and Cropper could be enough for us to sell Davies if Boruc signs.
Says in the Echo that Punch has said he wants to stay...good. I wasn't sure if he was just wanting to see out his contract. NC may well have spoken to him for all we know, but let's get it sorted. On a brighter note, Forecast's contract is finishing...what a bad signing that was!!
Yes, but we won't become that force overnight. I'm not saying keep him for good but why the rush to get rid of him? If we have a good replacement in the youth team then sure, let him go, but do we have good replacements ready to go for all 9 players mentioned by the OP? I doubt it.
It's simple, you replace Chaplow, who realistically isn't good enough to challenge for a first team place, with somebody who is better than, or on par with what we have in the first team, adding competition for places and improving the quality of the squad. You say its expensive, but its not cheap becoming a top side.
I doubt it as well I just think Chaplow adds nothing at all to our team, yes he can run and hassle but that's it. He gets a yellow near enough every game he plays so doesn't fit in with our fair play team .
It's not as simple as just drawing up a list ... which fringe players are moved on depends on a) who we sign and b) which fringe players have clubs that are interested in them. Yes the obvious idea is to sign better players, so that the current first teamers become backup and the current backup is moved on ... but it amazes me how many people think that signing players better than what we have is easy. We need to wait and see who is available, willing to come here and within our financial reach in terms of transfer fee and wage demands. We then move players on to balance the squad depending on who has clubs interested in them that they are happy to sign for.
Why is Chaplow on the bench not Chambers then? Chambers clearly has more potential but is he a better option right now? The coaching staff clearly think not.
Right, so there's some value in keeping these guys around. I'm sure they provide a stabilising influence off the pitch as well.
Sometimes its good to have these fringe players in the dressing room, didn't I hear that Butterfield was the funniest bloke in the club? I do think we will focus on one or two main signings in the summer and then focus on increasing our strength in depth though.
I don't think our squad is too big. Of course it will need additions to improve it but I don't think we will actively try and sell or release players unless they are already not considered part of the squad and out on loan already. Chaplow and Forecast may leave as their contracts are up but I can see Guly, Lee and Richardson being involved for the near future. Guly when fit has played quite a bit this season.
