Which players do we think Mark Hughes will want to keep for next season?

There's absolutely no question Paudie will sign on for another term, I've already placed the BUB, so that's that.

 

Assuming we are going down some variation in midfield with one up front and four at the back as seems most likely based on the MH formations we have seen so far, I would either keep or re-sign the following:

Bass
Hendrie
Cousin-Dawson
O'Connor
Staunton
Ridehalgh
Foulds
Sutton
Watt
Gilliead
Periera
Walker
Vernam
Cooke
Scales
Cook

I would let the others go and try to offload Threlkeld, Songo'o, Eisa and Kelleher.

If this is all successful I think we would then need:
GK
CBx2
Defensive CM
LW
Striker x2 (at least one with pace)

That gets us to a squad of 23, two for each position with a spare striker to enable us to go two up top when necessary.

 

Hughes' latest interview suggests he is planning on getting a higher quality of loan player in. This is my list:

Contracted but we should try and move on:
Threlkeld
Kelleher

Out of contract and released or returned to loaning club:
O'Donnell
Robinson
Elliott
Daly
Delfouneso
Lavery
Angol

Re-sign or sign from loaning club:

Vernam
Cooke
Walker
Bass
Foulds
Evans
Watt
Pereira

Possibly sign:
Hendrie
Sutton

Unknowns:
Sukiennicki (on trial at Hull?)
Wood (on loan at Ossett)

 

Unlikely to offload Eisa when he has been out of action for a season.

 

MH says he has a more serious problem with his knee, seeing a specialist in the next few days. So he may get signed off sick?

 

I know Elliott has a potentially serious knee injury. I thought Eisa was back training now?

 

Apologies I must have misheard.

 

I would not push the boat out for any of our current squad, even the few I'd think maybe worth keeping are only good enough as squad players. The players in contract for next season we don't want I'd definitely try strike a deal to get shut because despite costing us money to get shut the budget would be better over all. Sutton I'd try keep if cheap enough he's got a few critics on here but i like him and thin he's just a bit of a rough diamond and could thrive with a better level of layer around him, Foulds I'd keep around he's certainly not good enough for starting 11 every week but can't be on much relatively young and arguably improved while being here so could come good, Vernham would be worth keeping but I suspect he's as god as gone, POC I'm not fussed either way if he stays hes back up but if rumours are true then he's gone too. Can't be bothered going through the lot so there just a few of top of my head.

 

Paudie
Vernan
Andy Cook
Sutton

Everyone else is very expendable for me.

 

Firstly thinking “who can make a significant impact on a promotion challenging team”? Then for me the below are those I’d be trying to resign:

Cooke
Watt
Vernam

After this the below is who I think can play part in a successful squad, however I’d like to see better signed ahead of them as a starting XI:

O’Conner
Sutton
Foulds
Hendrie
Angol - on the fence about him but on his day has shown he’s someone that opposition can struggle to play against.

Loans:
Pereira - the only tricky creative player we currently have.

The rest would not be a priority for me and can go.

Walker - I cannot decide but don’t see what he brings that Pereira or Cooke don’t, and therefore would be a luxury.
Bass - I’d be happy with him as our no.1 but for some reason don’t see it happening.

 

We are still awaiting the arrival of a major signing coming into the club.
The individual tasked with overseeing our summer recruitment drive needs to be experienced and of an high calibre to successfully conduct the wholesale changes required within our club.
The fans deserve better after another season of poor appointments.
They support and follow the club in numbers and demand an upturn in overall fortune something we hope will happen once the release and retained list is made public.
This close season we have to get it right,no more injury prone journey men would be a good starting point.

 

O'Connor, Songo, Foulds, Watt and Vernam. The rest can go

 

Why Sutton?

Does Andy Cook really fit into the way Hughes wants to play?

 

wouldn't mind if every single player left, even the better ones, don't really like any of them at all. I don't think we would particularly struggle replacing anyone in terms of quality.

have a slight soft spot for sutton but too technically limited to play the wya hughes wants so wouldnt mind overly if he left. i used to like andy cook but he looks unfit and has been a bag of shite up front for weeks and weeks now.

I would drive gilliead to the job centre myself

 

We've enough mediocre stuff still contracted to 2023, without trying to re-sign the 2022 lot

 

Watt has looked better under Hughes and usually dictates play for us. He is rather slow though but I think there is a player in there.

I think if Hughes wants us to dominate possession then Cooke is a tidy player to have. He created by far the most chances in the division earlier on in the season and wasn't even starting every game. He's slow too though.

I think if we're going to keep either of those two then we need to play with wingers. They're not going to do anything with all of our attacking players within 5 yards of each other and none out wide.

Sutton is the only one with pace and ability to drive forward with the ball, but he's not one to thread a pass and sometimes looks like a red card waiting to happen. Could be a good auxiliary back up but I wouldn't sign him as a starter.

Vernam is a no brainer and must sign, but I don't know if he would. The only true threat on this team.

Andy Cook I wouldn't keep...I think he has been hung out to dry by himself this season as what seemed to be the only attacking player on the pitch (when Vernam is injured). It could be a different story with wingers pinging balls in to the box all game but you'd think most strikers would do well with that

As for the rest, they can all leave and I wish them the best.

 

You wish them the best.....I wish the pox upon most of the useless, spineless wtats.

 

They try but they aren't good enough. I wish them the best but they won't be competing at a higher division than this

 

As much as Angol and Vernam are good on their day, they spend too much time off the pitch than on it. I don’t think we can carry any sick notes next season. Time to build a consistent, winning team, that play with each other week in week out.

 

Im sorry but I just don’t get the love in with Paudie. He can’t pass wind, his decision making is erratic, he’s extremely hot headed and therefore a disciplinary risk.

His only attribute…….he wears his heart on his sleeve?

Is that enough to be one of our “ first on the team sheet” defenders.

Not for me

And I don’t care if anyone thinks it’s a “ broken record”. Remember crap records don’t become classics.

Back up only.