I thought a thread on the what we think of current 'soon to be' out of contract and loan players would be a good idea. Who should we keep and who should we get shot of Martin: [Leave] On his wages I can't see him being value for money and I hope MM will bring in a suitable replacement for less weekly wage Drury: [Keep] is never consistent enough to hold a 1st team place but on his day is certainly capable (Squad player) ALB: [Keep] Loves the club and seems like a model pro. Certainly a handy squad player (unless Mick signs some new keepers) Stearman [Sign] has been a handy addition and offers cover for RB and CB so worth signing if the money is right Tabb [Sign] Same as Stearman and his experience and professionalism will be vital next season. McGold [Sign] Obvioulsy a bit of Hoo Har about his loan spell but has done enough to show he's worth a shirt Murphy [Sign] The biggest bone of contention for me, I like the guy but he isn't the answer, good pro & worth a squad place if money is right N'Diaw [Leave] Controversially I wouldn't sign him. On big wages (reportedly) struggles to pass the ball and better options around IMO McLean [Leave] Not good enough Kisnorbo [Leave] Not been able to impact and therefore should look elsewhere for younger cover R. Brown [Sign] Free transfer, still young. a short contract to see if he can kick on and covers RB and CB Any other thoughts? I hope Mick can sign a minimum of 4 new players over the summer so I think the fate of those above will depend on Mick's success in the market
Agree 100% with your comments with the loan players we have. As for the players out of contract, agree that Martin should go (or at least take a huge drop in wages) Drury, i'd get rid of. Is not up to a good championship level, so if we need to push on next season, we need to be signing a better class of player. ALB - Tricky one. As a 3rd choice keeper, definitely keep him. Not good enough IMO to be number 1 (or number 2). For his sake, needs to drop down a division or two to get regular football. Will never be number 1 or 2. As for additions, i think a reseve keeper (unless Brown turns out to be decent) A CB to have as cover for Smith n Chambers And 3 midfield. Even though they havn't been firing at all lately, i'm relatively content with our forward line. There's a decent blend of attacking styles in McGoldrick, Chopra, Nouble, Murphy and Taylor. I'd like to see McG and Nouble be our first choice pairing.
Can't really add to this, definately agree with who we should let go and keep. I would like to see a younger, cheaper option to replace Martin.
Why should we keep Drury? He is gash and too lightweight to be a decent CM! Apart from that I pretty much agree with everyone else.
He isn't consistent enough to play week in week out but I think he's a very handy squad player as he can cover the whole midfield.. Also when he has played well he has been very good at this level. Our good spell under PJ was with him and Hyam in the middle! He is a league 1 standard player but I'd keep him as he's a cheap(ish) option and is settled within the squad.. Also we haven't got an embarrassment of riches in the centre of the park and I don't think MM will want to bring in another whole team... ala every summer for the past 5 seasons
Have to say I think Drury has the talent to be a good player at this level but I'm not sure he's got the mentality to dominate teams. He's probably one of the best passers we've got in the squad if not the best, he's tenacious and fairly mobile for a CM, if only he had the authority Jim had to dominate a game, i think he'd be a player at this level. And looking at it when he's been in our team the past 2 seasons our form has picked up, when he hasn't our form has dropped, he must have the best win % out of our whole squad. Shame he doesn't step up to the plate enough though!! I'd keep Martin if the wages are right and if he isn't seen as a LM. I'd also keep N'Daw if I though we were going to play a 5 man midfield but because Micks a 442 I don't think he fits in there. I'd definitely sign Tabb, primarily as a CM though. Definitely need at least 1 more CM on top of that, a play maker IMO and also a proper LW and a RW if Martin won't be played there. I actually don't think we've got a great deal of deadwood left, apart from Edwards, unless he suddenly finds some sort of attacking prowess there's noone in that squad who I overly think we should get rid of!! Definitely sign Stearman although I would like that to be primarily as a CB!!
I would keep Martin, and I'm pretty sure Mick will, as long as we can get his wages down. Realistically he isn't going to get offered the money he is on anywhere else so we should be in a strong position. I'm not a massive fan of his, only because his final ball or shot is cack. but, he does work harder than anyone else and I think he could still be of some use to us. ptc, you say Edwards is deadwood, he's scored 2 really important goals recently and if he can continue that he still has a lot to offer. for his age, his energy is amazing! its only his end product which disappoints but he's shown that recently so keep him I say.
When you think about it, our current squad is already good enough for the top six. Mick has done wonders since he arrived so I'm not sure how much we need to change. I'm certainly not interested in wholesale changes but two effective wingers would be welcome additions. We obviously still need to get the wage bill down and Martin is a big part of that. I feel that if we can get the wingers then we have enough midfielders already on the books to cover the centre of the park. The strikers would be more effective with better service. My take on it.... N'Daw.....good at breaking up play but not passing...leave Tabb.......could go either way on him, not overly bothered Drury......low wage back up...keep Stearman....solid at the back and wouldn't need to get forward if we get the wingers...sign Murphy....save the wages for the wingers or new striker...leave McLean....can go back to Hull R.Brown...young enough to be developed...sign Martin....save his wages for a new winger.....leave Edwards....triggered his one year extension but would prefer to have as a sub than a starter We have Wordsworth to come back into the picture and if Taylor remains out of the clink then that will be like having a new player. We've got Hewitt and Mings as young FB back up so we actually don't look too bad. New wingers to add flair to our solid line up.
Martin: [Keep] Renegotiate the wages! A valuable squad member and wide option. Drury: [Keep] Has been involved in some good team performances this seasons without a doubt. ALB: [Keep] Never will we find someone so capable willing to play third fiddle for his hometown club. Stearman [Sign] Pivotal in so many clean sheets. Tabb [Sign] Impressed since he's been with us. McGold [Sign] Strike rate just hasn't been at it, although McCarthy has already offered him a deal which he now has to answer. Murphy [Sign] Has been our most consistent attacking player for several years. Formed a deadly partnership with Campbell. N'Daw [Leave] Hyam has won the battle and the war on this slot. McLean [Leave] Hull don't want him, we don't want him... Kisnorbo [?] Simply can't judge. R. Brown [?] Ditto.
Portmanpaul yes Edwards has scored 2 vital goals for us recently and his energy levels for a 34 year old are incredible but considering how good he was going forwards from RB, he's been terrible on the RW, people complain about Martin because he flatters to decieve but at least he does that, often Edwards just doesn't do alot at all, he shows a lack of intent!!! SD although I was one of those defending our squad at the start of the season more than most I think it's a little overboard to say we already have a top 6 team, we have some good players just not enough or enough of a mix. Mick has got the results for us to be a top six team but there are still areas of the team that really need strengthening. GK could be better, defence is decent although pretty much need cover in every position. Priority for me is a dominant CM and then we still don't have any real out and out wingers, considering this is a focal point of attack under Mick this is a problem and I'm not convinced by our strikers. I look at our squad and apart from the odd player (Cresswell, Smith, Hewitt, JET, Taylor) I think we have a fairly average team and I'm not overly confident Mick will bring in many quality players, he brings in good players but often they're limited. What makes us a good team, potentially top 4 for me isn't overly the squad but the fact Mick gets players organised and also his man management is superb, for the first time in the ME era we really seem to have a great team spirit. I'd love for us to sign Stearman as he's a great defender at this level, although I hope he's not seen as a long term RB, for me you defend and attack as a team and he isn't great at attacking. Even if we have a great winger infront of him for me it'd be far more balanced to have someone more copetant at attacking.
We have FB cover in Mings and Elliott and CB cover if we can sign Stearman and Brown. Stearman could well be one for the long term as he is only 25 and I wouldn't have a problem with that. Gone are the days when you will have top quality cover in every position because the wage bill needs to be kept under control so youth will make up a lot of the bench in the future for many teams. I've already noted that two wingers are needed to suit Micks style of play and we may have one already in Taylor. If Tabb joins then we will have him, Drury, Hyam and Wordy to cover the middle. A solid midfield is crucial if you're going to utilize the wings more. I do think we should be looking for a new striker though. You are basing your views of each players performances on what they are being asked to do at the moment in terms of defending, being hard to break down etc but that could all change after pre season when the orders may be different. We are fighting relegation currently and doing a damn fine job of it. Micks points return average would have us in fourth if the league had started when he arrived, hence my comment of having a top six squad. We do need to score more goals but now is not the time for expansive, attacking football but I hope to see a change in philosophy after we are mathematically safe and next season. Summary... Effective wingers New striker Leave the defence alone Loach to continue and improve, he has the shot stopping ability just needs to build confidence on coming to claim high balls, something a run in the team and knowing he is first choice may help with.
SD I don't think Tabb and Taylor are really wingers. Micks teams always tend to attack through the winger and I'm not sure they'd be good enough for this, for me Tabb is a CM primarily and Taylor is a striker, so really I think we rearly need a playmaker to dominate the midfield as we really haven't got one atm and we haven't really had one since Garvan left. I think if Mick re-signs Martin and he'll be decent enough on the RW (not left) and then we'd need a very good LW, unless Carson suddenly steps up to the mark. I agree that our style atm isn't the best but we are trying to stay up by hook or crook. I think we may be a bit more attacking/free flowing next season but I wouldn't expect a massive change in style.
I've already noted that two wingers are needed to suit Micks style of play and we may have one already in Taylor. If Tabb joins then we will have him, Drury, Hyam and Wordy to cover the middle. Never said Tabb was a winger and only said we may have a winger in Taylor. For somebody who writes long posts you rarely read other peoples properly.
Edwards seems to have taken a very long time to re-adapt to RM/W but hopefully his recent 'resurgence' can carry across into next season. I certainly don't see replacing him as an urgent priority. Defence should be left alone as much as possible Tabb we should try and keep. Martin we should keep only on the right terms. In fact thats pretty much my feelings on all the squad, keep on the right terms, at various points they have all proven themselves to be valuable members of the squad. Priority over the summer would be finding a player who can reliably knock in the chances we do create, question marks still hang over chopras reliability. I agree that we have a squad, if managed rightly, that can comfortably finish top half, I've said that since the start of the season (yes, i was "pro-jewell" but i always had faith in the squad he was trying to build, not necessarily his management) so I don't feel there's whole sale changes needed, the right players at the right price on the right terms are what is needed. If I was manager Id be looking to get in a striker and an attacking midfielder to partner Hyam.
I wouldnt plan next season until you are safe from relegation. Two teams with 50+ points will be relegated from the Championship this season which is a bit unusual but some clubs will be disappointed. If you lose all 4 then you will go down. Simples.
No need to worry my old buttercup. Neither Norwich or Ipswich will be relegated this season. Norwich will have no debt next season and will be recruiting some very exciting players in all areas. McCarthy is rebuilding his reputation with you boys and is waiting for something better to come along. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
treacletown, Isn't that exactly what Lambert did? If Mick does get a big job it means he's done well with us, not bad news to me!
If you look at the premier league table, villa have one point less and have 2 home and 3 away games left. One of them against man utd. Norwich have 3 home games against reading, villa and wba and then stoke and man city away. I would hardly say a move to a debt ridden club and underachieving like villa is a step up and improvement. They did win a trophy donkey years ago so I can understand where you are coming from on this.
