This is interesting, it shows NP is going about his work nice and early. I'd personally have kept Duke as cover and only signed 1 keeper, based on the logic we have a tight budget and can't afford to buy a new player in every position we need one. I'd also have kept ***an as a decent option on the right wing, based on the logic we have a tight budget and can't afford to buy a new player in every position we need one. Gardner is ****e but we probably havent seen enough of Belaid to comment, I'll agree with Nigel on this one I suppose. So getting rid of these players we could have for free on low wages, when we have hardly anyone else to play in this position, suggetss to me we're going to spend a fair bit more than we've expected so far. Duke would be a perfectly good number 2, but he's choosing to instead pay money for 2 keepers, one of which will play 2 or 3 games all year. Sounds like what someone with a bit of cash would do.
Fryatt is offside 3 or 4 times every match. There's nothing wrong with it, like I say he is our best striker. The thing is they're all strikers that like to get in behind, being offside often is just a byproduct of that. But for that you also get a one-on-one with the keeper now and then. Thing with Folan was that he was utter ****e, no just offside. Cullen is not utter ****e, he's just a kid who hasn't made the grade yet.
What worries me about Cullen is he's only onside 3 or 4 times a game, he's 19, he's been with us for years, how long does he need before he learns how to stay onside?
Perhaps the decision on Belaid may not be an ability issue but an attitude one? We don't know how NP sees tham on the training ground..
Meh. Gardner - Expected. ***an - Again, expected, I reckon he could've done a job, but for whatever reason the management don't agree. From what I've heard about him not watching games whilst injured and what not meant he was probably unhappy and didn't want to stay. Belaid - A surprise, but one I agree with. Never showed what he could do, somebody on here called him "the next Ghilas" and they were right. The Duke - Expected, but for some reason gives me an uneasy feeling, maybe it's because we now have no keepers, or that he just deserved a bit more respect IMO.
I personally am dancing around in underwear at the thought of duke leaving. Although he probably was my scapegoat . Eilhoff and guzan for me please i reckon ***an should have been given another year. He's a decent winger who troubles the oppositions defense. He was never a striker. Hopefully we'll also see cullen and atkinson depart too as I doubt they'll ever make the grade at this level
Eilhoff is out of contract so assuming he's one of the two he won't come for a fee. Duke will probably have been on the same wages our new first choice keeper will be on (unless we're shocked by a biggish name) so it makes financial sense.
Perhaps Atkinson is going to be given an opportunity on week to week terms in July/Aug to show he has improved and gained experience at Rochdale? He could still find a club as a non-contracted free agent from September couldn't he, or may be I am mistaken
Atkinson has been given chances in the first team, he's been involved in training and I'm sure he's been watched at Rochdale, I can't see that another few weeks of pre-season will make any difference. I'm sure a decision on him has been made, we just don't know what it is yet. It will probably be announced at the same time as Amoo, Akpan, Ajala and the confirmation of the youth team releases.
Cullen's crap. Fryatt scores goals. I can put up with him being offside 3/4 times in a 90 minutes (is it really that many?) if he can score every other game.
I'm sure someone said a while back that Ajala had already been released. http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/39530-Cooper-s-back?highlight=ajala
I think many of us see Belaid as a talented individual, but does he fit into a typical NP side? And does he really suit the English game? I would say no to both, in this day and age you need to have a bit of versatility, where as Belaid really has only one position and that is the VDV role at Spurs, playing behind a striker, any deeper and he loses his creativity and on the wings he just not involved enough. Their is no doubt their is talent there but the system NP employs it just does not work. Tbh NP did the right thing, he gave him a chance to see if he could fit in, he didn't, we don't lose out as he's not tied in, he's not lost out on being at a club and not playing. If only our club learned this earlier!
