New contract offered to keeper Ben Killip. One-year options taken up by the club for Zak Swanson and Andre Dozzell. We say goodbye to Cohen Bramall, Tom Lowery, Alexander Milošević, Anthony Scully and Kusini Yengi, all released by the club. Especially sorry to see Kusini Yengi depart. Shame things didn't work out for him this season. Adil Aouchiche, Rob Atkinson, Kaide Gordon, Isaac Hayden, Freddie Potts and Mark O’Mahony go back to their parent clubs. To those leaving, thank you all for your efforts.
John Mousinho has apparently told Christian Saydee (who is still under contract) that he is free to seek a move away from the club if he so wishes. I think he is being kind to the player, as regular first team starts are quite rare for Saydee, but what a player he is to be able to bring on as an impact substitute when needed in a game! He can hold the ball up, and is difficult for an opposition player to dispossess. Personally, he is a player I hope we can retain at Fratton Park.
I'd like us to keep Saydee for another year. Ultimately I doubt he'll ever be a starter but he could become an impact player. Pleased Yengi is going. His lack of effort has annoyed me this year. Every player, even ones who performed poorly, put in a real shift. Every time Yengi came on he just plodded about and when give a chance, fluffed it. I think he believes he is better than he actually is (i.e. League 1).
All in all a modest culling. I am not sure how much scope this leaves for new signings but when you add in the loans terminating it is perhaps significant. I cannot say that the inclusion of Kusini Yengi in the list is a total surprise. In the little championship experience he gained between injuries he did not seem able to lift to the extra pace of the games relative to division One. His first touch was perhaps a weakness and he didn't always radiate enthusiasm - all though most taller players find it difficult to display urgency. On the plus side he did display an ability to score goals in Div one and for Australia and anyone who scores goals are usually forgiven their weaknesses. I think Kusini could have good seasons ahead of him in div One or Two and, this being the case, at a personal level he might reflect that he has made good progress at Fratton Park. When he came he was not getting regular football in the Australian A league. He has since achieved international status and could reasonably be thought of as being of Div One standard now. He was unlucky to have Bishop ahead of him in the pecking order. He would have been better able to show his credentials at Div one level in the 23-24 season otherwise. I am sorry that Fratton Park has not worked out for Tom Lowry. As with Yengi and Scully his stay has been blighted by injuries. Unlike Yengi his first touch was a strong point and I thought at the beginning of the season he was a squad member who could lift to Championship level. Unfortunately he was injured in the first game against Millwall and it was all down hill from there. I am slightly surprised by the departure of Cohen Bramall who looked like a very useful squad player although I understand we are well stocked n full backs. Saydee has been retained but management have said they would not obstruct him from leaving in search of regular first team soccer. If he leaves, combined with the non retention of Yengi, great reliance will fall on Bishop, Lang, and Waddington in the striker department. Clearly there is an intention to strengthen this department in the transfer or loan markets but all clubs are looking for goal scorers - it is the hardest position to fill.
Some decent transfer activity will be needed. The early 'bookies' promotion prices' suggest that anywhere 21st or higher will again be the target. Birmingham and Wrexham will both have far higher budgets than us so JM will need to be really shrewd in the market
