Players out of contract in June 2023 including Retained List

A bit harsh. He has done well at times. MH clearly likes him. He's a good allrounder.
He's missing the assists and goals though.
Presumably MH wants them to come from other parts of the team.

 

I'm asking a question. What does he do well?

I've asked it before and everyone tells me I'm "scapegoating" or being harsh, like you did but the telling point is that no one wants to actually ever answer the question.

 

I agree. This season was the one where we really had to go for it. However, I've lost count the amount of times I've heard Sparks or whoever was "CEO", say "We've sat down with the manager and chairman, and looked at those coming up and those coming down, and think that this is the season where we will really go for it due to the lack of quality in the league". And here we are, still in League Two. This time, they can use soundbites of "building for the future" (aka, the league is stronger than last year and we don't think we'll get out of it) and palm us off by signing young ex Premiership/Championship academy players. I'm not hopeful at all, but very happy to be proved wrong. I'm convincing myself that Gilliead has been offered a new contract, because he's not on big money, and they can use that saving towards bringing in some superstars!

 

This idea that he is bad at tackling is a myth. How often do CM's compete for high balls. His job is to win the ball and give it to the better players which he doesn't and often players who do that role go unnoticed. A lot questioned Josh Cullen who did a similar type of role but a lot of good is simple but needed.

 

Hes a player who any L2 manager would have in the squad. Hence the offer of a new deal. To suggest he’s added no contribution is utter tosh in this instance. Wrong club, wrong division mate!

 

Strengths -
Complements the style of play
Consistent
Very rarely misses a game
Neat and tidy on the ball
Works hard
Wins his share of tackles
Technically good

Weaknesses -
Speed
End product, goals & assists
(if he could do these as well as the above he wouldn't be playing for Bradford City)

 

Thanks I had no idea

 

No doubt an Evans or a Whellens would have got us promoted this season. That’s not a dig at Hughes but I believe that’s the case.

MH has to learn from this season and go into next doing things slightly different.

It is about the spend because we lack quality in all areas. I agree it’s about spending well. Players like Oliver on a 3 contract isn’t spending money well.

Gillihead being given a contract offer isn’t spending money well.

 

Complements the style of play - I agree - BORING!

As a midfielder you expect more assists and goals. He doesn’t produce. Scared to shoot or get involved in attacking situations.

He’s poor! We need better!

 

Again, no explanation of what he does well, just the age old "the good stuff he does goes unnoticed".

Comparing him to Josh Cullen is a bit daft though. EVERYONE noticed Josh Cullen and he was praised very highly during his spell.

 

Not really Steve. He’s too slow nowadays and is restricted to just that one lone position , sat in front of the back four. He’s too immobile to be anything else?

 

I'm on the fence but to say he contributed 'Nothing' is just not right.

 

He's the attack minded midfielder in the partnership with Smallwood. Sure he's not requited to hit the output that the number 10 is but he is absolutely expected to add to the team in an attacking sense and he isn't capable of it.

 

There may be a lot of assumptions being made around Gilly and Ridehalgh. I have a feeling they won’t be no1 choices for their position and as a result backup? Who knows , we shall have to see assuming the club offers are accepted?

 

How on earth can you judge a player on his goal assists?

Some of the best midfielders in the world in the past 40 years didn't have a goal assist in their whole career!

 

He would not be a starter for any of the other sides who finished in the top 7 this year. At most he'd be a squad player with limited game time which is what he should be here.

 

I think Gilliead will be on decent money. He was Scunthorpe's POY when he left.
Not sure we'd have that wage tied up in a bench warmer.

 

Sounds like a great player, we should sign him up!

Seriously though, apart from working hard (which I already conceded although should just be a given?) and rarely injured I think you're exaggerating his abilities somewhat.

 

I'm on the fence. I can see that if we want to do better next season we need to change some of the players.
Maybe we've just got used to the merry-go-round we've had for the last few seasons with wholesale changes every summer.

 

I'd have been happy with Clayton OR Smallwood but we absolutely can't build a team mobile enough compensate for having both in there. Especially when at least one of our centre halves is even slower than the two.