We can only have a 25 man squad plus “kids”. We’ve bought/loaned 5 and none are kids. We’ve loaned out Woodman and Hendrick and so need 3 more to be dropped. Talk seems to suggest Clark will be one with a second potentially being Lewis. For me I’d be binning Clark, Ritchie and Hayden. Clark was given a chance to be loaned out. Refused. Should face the consequences. Ritchie for me his legs have gone. Good player in the past but now past it. Hayden. Well he never was a real footballer so why take up a slot especially as he’s injured and out until March anyway.
I would drop Clark, Kraft and Gayle. We never played him against Cambridge when we had no strikers - No point what so ever keeping him in the squad.
I’d drop Clark, Ritchie and after that I think it has to be a left back. We have Targett, so only need one of Dummett and Lewis because Burn provides an additional option. Dummett has the added advantage of giving additional cover at centre back. I’d feel sorry for Lewis but it’s about balance for the squad rather than sentimentality.
How many do we actually need to cull though? I get confused with the 'homegrown' rule making some exempt from the 25 that need registering. Clark clearly needs to be dropped from the squad.
That doesn't really take effect for the league - 21 or under at start of season don't need registered. I could see Fed being dropped - Howe doesn't seem to rate him at all. I would ditch Longstaff before him like. He's been utter gash all year.
Aye but balance is the key. We don’t need 20 left backs in Targett, Lewis, Dummett, Burn, Ritchie, Clark, Manquillo, Trippier. Anyone else? I like Fed but it does worry me this Covid situ has impacted him more than others, then an injury. Clark is done. I think Lewis is with Targett signing. Personally for me Ritchie is the one. We don’t really seem to need him. A squad containing Burn, Dummett, Manquillo, Trippier, Targett is enough left backs. Ritchie does offer more forward options but his legs are gone.
I'd really like to keep Lewis as backup LB and was hoping he'd grow into the lb so can take over if/when Targets leaves. However if he's not willing to go on loan for 5 months then you have to question his attitude with regards to improving
Where the hell do you 'stumble upon' a thumbnail like THAT?? Actually, don't answer that, I don't want to know.
Does it not get easier if one of them is Darlow or Gillespie and we rely on Langley? Maybe that would allow us to keep Lewis involved. Gillespie, Clark and Ritchie. I think it might be Lewis instead of Ritchie though. Ritchie has been involved under Howe and he’s a known quantity to him.
I struggle to see what Lewis or Clark would seek to gain from sitting around outside of the squad rather than going out on loan? I presume at a push we would have covered all of their wages etc to try to retain some value in them. It's just an odd one. I'd have gone out on loan no worries as I'd like to play football.
Sorry, I don’t want to come across as the Board’s “grammar nazi” but it’s not “loan you out” it’s “return you “.
Lewis has already been excluded from what I hear. Turned down a loan move so it's his own fault tbh. Obviously Clarke as well, Guy's been a nightmare this season. ****ing Gayle too. I don't care if we've got a striker crisis, we can never rely on this ****, he's injured 95% of the time and **** the other 5%, exclude him to make a statement of how much we don't want him. If Bruno hits the ground running, then Hayden as well is gonna be a casualty.
Good point. I was actually seeing it as more of a mutual swap deal, where the Mackems get ACS and we get... rid of ACS.
Its weird I thought Lewis looked alright under Howe and I still believe he could come good where as Clark, Gayle and Hayden are never gonna improve.
