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Retained list announced

Discussion in 'Bristol Rovers' started by Stollie, Jun 15, 2020.

  1. Stollie

    Stollie Active Member

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    The Club is now in a position to release details of the retained list for the 2020/21 season.

    The following players will be departing the football Club on the expiry of their current contracts this summer;

    Tony Craig, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Liam Sercombe, Sam Matthews, Tom Nichols, Gavin Reilly, Ben Morgan, Josh Bailey, Lewis Clutton, Rhys Kavanagh and Theo Widdrington.

    The Club is still negotiating deals with the following players, with the view of extending their current contracts;

    Ollie Clarke, Liam Armstrong, Lucas Tomlinson and Harry Warwick.

    The following players are under contract for the 2020/2021 season;

    Anssi Jaakkola, Jordi van Stappershoef, Alexis Andre Jr, Josh Hare, Mark Little, Luca Hoole, Alex Rodman, Michael Kelly, Luke Leahy, Alfie Kilgour, Tom Davies, Rollin Menayese, Cian Harries, Ed Upson, Abu Ogogo, Tom Mehew, Luke Russe, Cameron Hargreaves, Josh Barrett, Kyle Bennett, James Daly, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Zain Walker and Kieran Phillips.

    The following loan players have returned to their parent clubs:
    Jamal Blackman, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, Josh Ginnelly and Timmy Abraham.

    On the announcement of the retained list, Manager Ben Garner said, "I would like to thank all of those players who are leaving the club for their contribution during their time with us and wish them the very best of luck with their future careers.

    "We are pleased to retain a strong nucleus to the squad and to have agreed new contracts with a number of players. We have also begun our recruitment process in order to strengthen the team. Coupled with the development of the new training ground we are all looking forward to the season ahead."
     
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  2. old timer

    old timer Well-Known Member

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    Would like to see Mitchel Lawson and Ginnelly back. Bit light upfront. was also hoping to see the back of Bennett
     
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  3. Delsy

    Delsy Active Member

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    I think Sercs could of still done a job for us next season { Whenever next season will be ! } but not really too cheesed off about the remainder of the leavers, Craig was good at times but generally he was agricultural and I never really saw a lot of the others listed apart from perhaps Reilly who I think didn't really get a fair crack of the whip at Rovers.
     
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  4. Captain Jack Sparrow

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    My take on the players leaving....

    Tony Craig will be missed because he was a leader and leaders are hard to come by. But I am not surprised he has gone. Age is not on his side and would be a high earner too and rumour has it is that he wants to move back to or close to London. Plus Garner has said a few times that he wants youth with bags of potential so he can then improve them and then sell them off to make the club a lot of profit. Craig, although is a leader, just wouldn't fit his criteria. Will be missed but I think it's the right decision to let him go.

    Tareiq Holmes-Dennis is a very good player at our level and would be another high earner. He looks far more dangerous going forward and would make a very good left winger. But how much longer can we support him on a high wage and get nothing from him, as he is very injury prone. He has missed so many games since his arrival. I think its the right call to cut ties with him.

    Liam Sercombe will be missed. As a attacking midfielder, I think he was the best we've had since Craig Disley in that position. 'Apparently' he wanted to stay with us but new terms couldn't be agreed as he wanted more than what we were prepared to offer, bare in mind we have a wage budget to adhere to. But now I guess this will free up a space for Cameron Hargreaves who plays in a similar role and who fits Garners criteria of being young with potential and with more game time he could be worth a bit in the future. Letting Sercombe go 'could' be a mistake and he will be missed. But over paying players leaves less funds available to improve the squad. So may be the right thing to let him go and start the rebuild process.

    Sam Matthews won't be missed. Gamble was taken on this injury prone player without any rewards. Happy to see him go.

    Tom Nichols leaving is great news for the club. Would be a high earner as well. A lot of money was spent on him and we got nothing in return. Hard working player but his confidence is gone. He has had so many games with so many chances to get goals but failed to take them. He scored just 9 goals in 3 years with us and its not as if he hardly played. He has played 117 games. He only got a handful of assists too. For a striker who cant score and cant help other score, he is just a waste of money, resources and seemed like we were playing with 10 men every time he was on the pitch. I didn't like the treatment fans gave him while he played because we should be getting behind the team. Leave the trash talk for the forums. But his treatment effected his performances as well which didn't help him. Him leaving will be a big weight lifted off the club shoulders and I bet 99% of fans will be glad to see him go. So its best for all parties to see him go. Great decision.

    Gavin Reilly never really had a chance. If he had the same game time than Nichols, he could have achieved something with us. But lack of game time and with JCH in the team and Garner likes the 1 striker, Reilly will probably not get a chance so best to let him go so he can rebuild his career.

    I don't know a lot about Ben Morgan, Josh Bailey, Lewis Clutton, Rhys Kavanagh and Theo Widdrington. But I heard good things about Morgan but I doubt he would make the grade to force his way in to the 1st team squad. So I would go along with letting these go.

    Our loanee's Jamal Blackman, Jayden Mitchell-Lawson, Josh Ginnelly and Timmy Abraham, Didn't see a lot of Abraham to say if I would have him back or not. Ginnelly and Mitchell-Lawson were very hot and cold but I suppose you could argue they were still trying to fit in and were not regulars either. I would say try and get better with the bags of wages we have now freed up with Sercombe, Nichols, Holmes-Dennis and Craigs wages now being available. Blackman was a great keeper but he signed him because we didn't have Jaakkola available. I would love Blackman to come back but do we need both Blackman and Jaakkola?
     
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  5. Captain Jack Sparrow

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    From those who have been offered a new contract.... Ollie Clarke, Liam Armstrong, Lucas Tomlinson and Harry Warwick...

    Clarke staying would be good. Not his best season but he has shown he could be a bigger player for us. I trust Garner would get the best out of him. But I don't want to break our budget for him. Armstrong has potential but get him out on loan to learn his trade as we have 3 Keepers above him in the pecking order. Tomlinson is another with potential and has already broke through to the first team. Maybe loan out to learn his trade but could be a player used here and there. I don't know much about Warwick.
     
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  6. Captain Jack Sparrow

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    From the players we have currently under contract, I would let Jordi van Stappershoef and Kyle Bennett go. I would like to see Alexis become our number 2 keeper. He has been patient. And Bennett is another player who hasn't really impressed. I would imagine he would be another high earner.
     
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  7. old timer

    old timer Well-Known Member

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    Would like to have seen Reilly given a run in the team good touch scored with both feet in Scotland before he joined us and good in the air, also thought he had a good touch.
    Tom Nichols had the highest assists in the division at one point last season 2018 / 19 with 14 assists and he had struck the woodwork more than any other player in the 4 main divisions according to an article in the press with our near neighbours having hit the woodwork the most as a team.I firmly believe that Nichols should have been played as an attacking M / F as he was at Exeter where he was played when Peterborough signed him
     
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  8. Captain Jack Sparrow

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    This is what we currently have, in their positions. What do we now need?

    Keepers:
    Anssi Jaakkola
    Jordi van Stappershoef
    Alexis Andre
    Liam Armstrong

    Right Back:
    Josh Hare
    Mark Little
    Luca Hoole

    Centre Back:
    Alfie Kilgour
    Tom Davies
    Rollin Menayese
    Cian Harries

    Left Back:
    Michael Kelly
    Luke Leahy

    Right Wing:
    Alex Rodman
    Kyle Bennett

    Centre Mid:
    Ed Upson
    Abu Ogogo
    Luke Russe
    Tom Mehew

    Left Wing:
    Zain Walker
    Lucas Tomlinson

    Attacking Mid:
    Josh Barrett
    Cameron Hargreaves

    Forwards:
    Jonson Clarke-Harris
    James Daly
    Kieran Phillips
    Harry Warwick
     
    #8
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
  9. Captain Jack Sparrow

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    14 assist from Nichols in one season?????????? No chance. Got to be a different Tom Nichols.

    Edit:

    Here is his full Rovers stats - games played, goals scored and assists made.

    2017/18: 45 games, 2 goals and 2 assists
    2018/19: 44 games, 3 goals (2 were pens) and 7 assists
    2019/20: 28 games, 4 goals and 2 assists.

    Total: 117 games, 9 goals (2 were pens) and 11 assists.
     
    #9
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2020
  10. old timer

    old timer Well-Known Member

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    That's what comes from reading and believing the press CJS
     
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  11. Captain Jack Sparrow

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    If he had 14 assists in a season, I think a lot of fans wouldn't have been so hard on him as that's a great return <ok>
     
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  12. old timer

    old timer Well-Known Member

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    According to Coventry press Rovers are linked to Hiwula who has been released by Coventry, he started life at Manchester City. He has scored goals for Fleetwood, Bradford and 13 for Coventry in his first season at the club. He is available on a free as he is 25 years old
    Just looked at the list of released players Peterborough have released Marcus Maddison I thought they sold him in the January transfer window and loaned him back until the end of the season.
    He does appear according to Wiki to be a free agent A M scoring a goal in 25% of his matches 62 in 240 games and only 26 years old
     
    #12
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2020
  13. Captain Jack Sparrow

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    Both would be great signings but Maddison will end up in the championship. We got no chance. Hiwula however, I think we hot a great chance, especially if he is mates with Ogogo, JCH and Davies.
     
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  14. Captain Jack Sparrow

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    You should set up a new thread dedicated for transfer rumours etc as between now and the new season, we will be linked to a lot of players <ok>
     
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  15. old timer

    old timer Well-Known Member

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    CJS I did that where I found out about Maddison, would be a great signing if half of what I read is true, think he played against us in our home fixture this season and looked good
     
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  16. Gastronomic

    Gastronomic Well-Known Member

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    That looks a strong squad already. Daly came with quite a reputation, so it will be good to see if he can kick on to the next level. We probably need a couple of midfielders and a striker, but for once no wholesale changes which is good.
     
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  17. Captain Jack Sparrow

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    Unless others leave like JCH for example. Bennett may still go.

    I think we need 2 more strikers. 1 who is similar to JCH, a big guy and the other who is fast and can play out wide too.
    2 wingers who can play both sides.
    A creative CM.

    These are a must I feel. Maybe another CM if Ollie doesn't stay.
     
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  18. Captain Jack Sparrow

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    Sam Matthews has already found a new club. He's joined Crawley on a 2 year deal.
     
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  19. old timer

    old timer Well-Known Member

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    Pleased for him didn't work out for him here
     
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  20. old timer

    old timer Well-Known Member

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    Zain Walker has signed his first professional contract with the Rovers.He joined the academy at Rovers aged 16 having been released by Fulham and scouted at exit trials.
    He became the first Rovers player born this century to make his Rovers debut when in November 2018 when he played in the EFL Trophy against Exeter
     
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