Retained List Announced

Here’s me trying to be a smart arse but maybe he is.

 

It's fine, we can't all have a reasonable understanding of football.

I mean, who wants defenders that can keep the ball out of the net these days when you can have someone that can ping it 70 yards into the third row.

 

Kicking someone's legs from under them, in plain sight, while the ball is out of play and not getting a red card is a rare attribute.

 

A few comments about Pennington, Leigh, Humphrys and Swan possibly leaving to make squad space for new arrivals but no talk of Lapslie.

He started just 5 league games last season, mainly due to the Bobby Injury and the dud signings of Sibley and White. Clearly wasnt in GA's plans as we didnt see him for months on end.

Id say very possible he could go this summer in search of 1st team football.

 

Would be weird having him model the kits if he was to then leave. Know it doesn't mean much, but you'd just pick the lads who are nailed on to stay.

Quite sad to see Kelly go. He never let us down, worked hard and would always put himself between anything and the goal. Not the most refined player, but he will be an asset wherever he goes.

 

What stood out this season was our lack of technical players. We badly missed players who are press-resistant, capable of keeping possession, and able to calm things down when the game is being played at 100 miles an hour. Metcalfe is probably the only one in the squad who really fits that profile.

We could do with a few more players like that, alongside some genuinely explosive wingers who can carry us up the pitch. And we need a new starting centre-back with real quality.

 

We'd have to change the way we play if we had wingers, as this doesn't seem to be in GA's portfolio to play that way. Agree about the technically gifted players with nous, and adding pace though. All teams fear players with pace unless they have someone equally as fast up against them.

 

Im sure GA doesnt care about who has modelled the kits. If a deal is to be done and it improves the team its a non issue for the gaffer.

 

I don't doubt that, but I reckon he stays. He is obviously impressed with the lads as a person and his work ethic. He won't be expensive either and he's a GA player who we paid money for. I know Tommy Leigh is the same, but the difference here i think is attitudes.

Plus it is still odd to have him modelling kits if they know he will be off. So if he does go it'll be a late move IMO. Just a hunch. Could be wrong.

 

I would be surprised if Kelly does not find a new club fairly soon,but probably in league 2.

 

I have little doubt that it will see him as back up to an upcoming younger keeper of the “ new school” , type. One unafraid to play sweeper keeper etc. He isn’t getting younger and won’t improve any further and only go in the opposite direction. A great servant , not knocking him, but we have to be realistic Park.

 

Fairly certain Jake Young modelled the 24/25 kit then was sold weeks after it was released. Seem to remember photos of Kelly and Lewis Richards in last season shirts holding big flags, neither really had an impact in the season just gone, Kav Halliday and Cook modelled them too int he summer and weren't/barely used and were gone by Jan.

It's probably more a thing of it the players are free and under contract, rather than "these lads are 100% in my team".

 

League 1 was a step too far for Kelly. He could do a good job for someone in league 2 as you say. I reckon though he will go back to Ireland.

 

It might be tough for him to join an Irish team and get his career back on track straight away. Technically he wont be allowed to play for another club until July 1st, and hasn't really been a part of the City squad for months so there's not a chance he will be fit to go for anyone. But the Irish leagues run Feb to late October too, so even by the time he'd be fit to go, he's got maybe 8-10 games at best he could play in before taking another end of season break.

I guess he thought he might be able to make a claim in the team, but leaving for Ireland is far more beneficial in Jan windows than the summer for the player. Wouldn't be surprised if he was a York target.

 

I think Lapslie is an interesting one and probably depends on what his thoughts are. With his performances since coming into the side he deserves a chance in pre-season to fight for a place. If he is happy at having a similar role I think he stays as it will be very hard to find a player who will accept playing as little as he did but continue to work hard and then be in a position to play 90 minutes back to back.

 

I think he's down the bottom of Baildon way. Only say this as my dad who knows pretty much nothing about football knows of him because he sees Kelly walk his dog by his place in a City tracksuit pretty much every day to the point he wondered why a 6'3ft+ broad lad is always in City gear, googled the squad and noticed his photo.

Yeah might well be settled here and want to stay, reckon he'll have a few clubs that take a look at him, i mean the Grimsby link with all the other old City boys will be there again.

 

Why go to Ireland unless he has a desire to return. Plenty of L2 clubs need defenders . If it’s defenders they want , he’d fit the bill easily , if they want a John Stones type , they need to look in the CC.

 

Ive no issues if he sticks around but we need better than Lapslie to fill in and push the current statting 11. Capable squad player when we have a few out. He has 12 months left so I dont see his long term future here....

TBH we are better getting players in the door to replace those who have departed before we start shifting contracted players on. When they come in, then you can see where Pennington, Lapslie etc fit.

 

York would have to change the way they play to accommodate him,they play out from the back,although they will have to speed it up a bit,they were quite pedestrian at times.