GK John Ruddy - July 2016 + 1 yr option GK Mark Bunn - August 2014 (+ 1 yr option) GK Carlo Nash - July 2014 RB Steven Whittaker - July 2016 RB Russell Martin - July 2016 renegotiated 3 yr contract in July 2013 LB Javier Garrido - June 2015 (+ 1 yr option) LB Martin Olsson July 2017 CB Leon Barnett - June 2014 CB Ryan Bennett - June 2015 CB Sebastian Bassong - August 2015 CB Michael Turner - July 2014 DM Bradley Johnson - July 2014 CM David Fox - June 2014 (canaries.co.uk seems to say 2013) CM Jonny Howson - June 2015 CM Alexander Tettey - August 2014 (+ 1 yr option) RM Elliott Bennett - June 2014 RM Robert Snodgrass - July 2015 LM Andrew Surman - June 2015 LM Anthony Pilkington - July 2014 (+1 yr option) AM Wesley Hoolahan - (at least) June 2015 - originally signed by Roeder in 2008 and now our longest serving player. AM Jacob Butterfield - July 2016 ST Luciano Becchio - June 2016 ST Ricky Van Wolfswinkel - July 2017 (Total of 23 players over 21 - room for 2 more now that Holty has gone). Under 21's AM Josh Murphy - June 2015 + 1 yr option AM Jacob Murphy - June 2015 + 1 yr option LM Nathan Redmond - July 2017 CB Daniel Ayala - August 2015 Loaned Out GK Declan Rudd - July 2015 contract extended in June 2013 Loaned out to Preston North End for 2013/14 season. Please let me know if I've got anything wrong above. Seems to be a few deficiencies especially at ST, LB and DM. Probably need another ST too. If the Everton game was tomorrow, how would we line-up with what we've got?
Ah, so I was being thick after all! So obvious now you say it, but not a term I've ever come across before. Thanks for enlightening me!
Potential line-up Ruddy Martin, Turner, Bassong, Garrido Tettey, Johnson Snoddy, Hoolahan, Redmond Wolfy Subs - Bunn, Whittaker, R Bennett, Pilkington, Howson, Holt, Becchio
Swap Tettey with Howson for me. Unless Tettey particularly impresses Hughton in pre-season I put Howson just ahead in the pecking order.
Howson for Tettey is a good call. Howson was playing very well at the end of the season and can push forward well. You also have to ask if Ryan Bennett deserves a shot ahead of Turner based on the end of season form.
I'd be surprised if Redmond starts the first game, I can see him being used more as an impact sub to start with and then getting more minutes as the season progresses. I can also possibly see both Howson and Tettey starting for opening game, but at the expense of little Wes who might also see a fair bit of action from off the bench this year - though he will definitely start at least 15/20 games over the season, fitness permitting of course. For the Everton game, and assuming we make no more signings (which I'm sure we will) I'd probably go with something like: Ruddy Whittaker Bassong Turner Garrido Tettey Johnson Snodgrass Howson Pilkington RVW
I think the next few signings will mean that what ever team I suggest now will be redundant by the big KO so I'll hold fire till at least August Bah!
Looking at the list again, I'm slightly surprised that Tina, Elliot and Bradley only have a year remaining. Does anyone know if they have been offered extensions? Even if CH intends to reinforce/improve in those positions surely we would need good players like them in the squad, or have some prospect of a fee in 6 to 12 months time. Bah!
Unless things have changed, the club has a standard procedure under which contracts are only reviewed once the season is over. Players with only one year left on their contract are dealt with first, so I would imagine discussion with those three is already well under way.
This was by far the best position for Howson when he was at leeds, so incredibly effective there compared to when he plays the box-to-box CM role. Its my understanding that he doesn't really ever play there for you guys does he?
He does play there, just infrequently. And when he does, we beat Man City at the Etihad and he scores a goal of the season contender.
Tettey/Howson, if it is an either/or situation, is a really difficult one. For me it's the Tettey that we saw tge 1st half of last season slightly in front of the Howson we saw right at the end of the season. It's NEITHER of them if they replicate their underachieving form.
I don't feel that that should be a discussion they play different roles. JH in a defensive role really annoys me, but it annoys me more when people criticize him for not being effective there.
