Anthony O’Connor wants to stay next season

But he threw down the captain's armband!!!

 

That's a very bizarre comparison.

 

But strange, think it’s called having an opinion. We won’t always agree with the ‘headteacher’ Sparks and the management team in this case, but I don’t think we’ll see fans protesting out side Valley Parade trying to drive him out. He’s a very average player who can play a number of positions, if he takes drastically reduced terms from being one of the highest earners which I’m not sure anyone can say he’s been good value for money on that score, then he might be worth keeping as a squad player.

Personally I don’t rate him, he runs like he’s in treacle at times the Forest Green penalty sending off was one of the slowest I’ve ever seen a professional footballer move and that’s saying something. But as a cheap back up we could do much worse so wouldn’t complain if the wage is right.

We need someone with much more pace and who is much more a natural RB next season though.

 

Money wasn't orignally mentioned. Every player has a price and O'Connor is no different.

 

I won't be outside VP protesting; because he ain't worth the effort. Neither do I have an axe to grind about arm-band-gate.
I just think we've been watching so many average and dross players for far too long that we're now discussing which average players to keep.
If we've the ambition Ryan spoke about last night then AOC needs to be one of those heading out the door come the summer. That's no disrespect to him but I think there are better players out there and that we can recruit better now that we've got our sh!t together.

 

That's a point I've been making time and again. The side we've got is average. And every player we've got is average. If people think we've got the basis of a promotion winning side they're deluded. To win promotion we need to improve on every position and be absolutely ruthless in who we recruit and who we let go. This is how clubs progress, but it's completely against the approach we've had as a club for most of the sixty plus years I've supported them. If Sparks and the management team realise this then they'll have my complete support. If not they'll just go the way of every other administration before them.

 

I'm order to get promotion you need balance in a system that works and back up in key areas.

You don't need the 11 best players in the division.

 

I'm guessing then he doesn't want minimum wage so I'd bin him off.

 

I've watched 60 years of that kind of thinking with a few glorious years in between.

 

My point exactly, plus as someone says it's all about opinions.

 

I've got a very bizarre sense of humour and also like to throw in points of view as a form of wind up.

 

Consistently at the top of the appearances charts so value for money imo. If freeing up budget is the concern I'd be looking at someone like Ismail or Pritchard.

 

I mean, AOC staying sort of divides opinion, I don't think anyone would be offering a deal to Ismail or Pritchard.

Nothing against Pritchard, I'm sure he'll get another crack at L2 football, but Ismail would be best retiring.

 

With the exception of Doyle and Vaughan, how many players have gone from our club to clubs in a higher league? Wood and O’Connor are league 2 standard in my opinion. Wood lacks the attacking intent and fails to stop the ball coming in to the box, has poor distribution and gives possession away in dangerous areas. O’Connor lacks aerial ability to be a good centre half and the pace to be an attacking right back. Would either be happy sitting on the bench next season, probably not. If one or both are starters, we’ll have had a poor transfer window.

 

Neither Doyle nor Vaughan went to clubs in a higher league.

 

Not sure about AOC, if he was good enough he'd be starting in CB position, I think all signs point toward an exit for him. He'll get another league two contract no doubt about it. I know we can do better, all reliant on Turnbulls list I think.

 

Definitely won’t struggle to improve on Wood, he’s not that special in my opinion. We’ve had so much dross in recent seasons he’s stood out as a better player.

 

A full back he ain’t and a below average central defender

 

True but it helps?

 

Don’t most players say they want to stay unless they already have something lined up? It gives them a gal back position and if not offered anything they can leave saying they always wanted to stay