Most liked posts in thread: Out of contract players

He lived a few doors down from me until the back end of last year and he's moved over Baildon way. When I last spoke to him before he was moved he said his side and the club had already have brief chats about a new deal but that was maybe Nov/Dec-ish before his injury? Might have changed since. He has a 1 year option though and he said he loves it here. He was selling his house in Edinburgh at the time, and said the family really like it round here and the kids are settled, sounded like they were selling up in Scotland to move here permanently if anything. If he moves on, I don't think it would be back up north unless somethings gone really wrong. But there's plenty of clubs within an hour or so of Bradford. I think the injuries really cloud Walker. He's only played 51% of the possible L2 minutes this season, but has our teams second best G+A per 90 ratio only behind Cook. When he plays, his numbers back up the reason for having him, he just doesn't play enough. If he stays I think we should have a better worked out deal, maybe more appearance based than straight salary.

One thing for him, he seems to be the type of guy you want representing your club. He's always there when a player is asked to help out for the charity bits we do or some shoot for a campaign, he's been an ambassador for things like Her Game Too. Always has time for fans, think he's the type of character you want, but the reliability on the pitch isn't there. I swear he doesn't own any clothes that aren't City related either. In the 2 years or so he lived by me, if he was walking the dog in Saltaire or out in the shops or cutting the grass, he was always in Citys training gear. Saw him out with some mates from back home one Saturday night and his mates had some branded clobber on and he went to the pub in Macron gear with a City gilet on.

 

Not for me. Central midfield needs a complete overhaul and we also need a new captain. Neither of those things will happen if Smallwood is still here.

 

I would keep Platt over Stubbs, the rest I agree with.

That said I still think we need a couple of central defenders to improve us in that department.

Doubt it will happen, but would like to see Oyegoke sign. Since he came back after injury and playing in a 3 at the back, he has looked very impressive to me

 

Jamie Walker has publicly declared today that he is hoping the club offer him a new contract as he wants to stay. He confirmed his family are well settled in the area and want to remain here.

I hope that he and Halliday are offered and accept new contracts.

The rest can go for me

 

We need a serious, serious overhaul in the summer. And notwithstanding the fact that I don’t really trust anyone at the club to do it properly, or have faith in this ‘promise of investment’ from Rupp, just for sh*ts and giggles I’d want to see us preparing for next season by doing something along the lines of:

First of all, building a genuinely, leaner and meaner squad. Focus on quality over quantity, a squad size of around 22, with 15 or 16 first choice level players, 4 or 5 reliable squad players and a couple of young players, possibly on loan.

I’d also like to see us shape a squad that’s suited to a more fluid 433 system.

Goalkeeper: Walker is fine as first choice, if he’s up for it, Doyle having another year as player-coach and backup, with Richardson as 3rd choice, is all fine.

Right Back: No-brainer. A new contract for Halliday. Release Hendrie, and don’t even think about bringing Ogeyoke back. Bring in a backup right back, probably one who can cover a couple of other positions.

Left Back: Release Ridehalgh. Bring in a quality left back and have Richards as a backup.

CB: If possible, sign Tomkinson. I’d retain one of Stubbs or Platt, probably Platt, but we need to be in the market for a quality Centre back, with pace. A starting pair of Tomkinson and a more experienced but mobile partner would allow us to defend higher up the pitch. Release/Settle out Taylor. Bring in a backup centre back.

Central Midfield: Release Smallwood. Have McDonald as the backup option for they holding midfield spot, and sign the best deep lying midfielder we can. 26 or under, mobile and decent technically. Someone who the side can be built around. Then I’d play with 2 number 8s who can each push on. Pointon and Pattison could be an excellent pair, keep Gillead for depth, and bring in another quality option. Release Walker - too hit and miss, and misses too many games with injuries.

Forwards: A mobile front 3 who can interchange, 2 of which should be Young and Kavanagh. Odour as a backup, send Cook on his way, try and do the same with Smith. I’m 50/50 on Chapman. Derbyshire needs to retire, possibly joining the coaching staff. Bring in at least 2 quality front players to add to what we’ve got.

Basically, of the 10 out of contract players, the only ones to keep are Halliday, Pointon, Platt and possibly Chapman. Of what’s left, try and shift Cook, Smith, Taylor, Wilson.

Which gives a platform of Walker, Halliday, hopefully Tomkinson, Pointon, Pattison, Kavangh, Young as the starting quality group, McDonald, Lewis, Kelly, Platt, Odour, Gillead and possibly Chapman as squaddies, and 7 or 8 quality new signings to come in.

That’s the level of rebuild needed, but I don’t for one second expect it.

 

Have to say them players mentioned are completely uninspiring to me and thankfully I don’t think they’ll be coming here anyway. Madden and Sarcevic are getting on now, older than Smallwood when he joined. Time to move away from has beens and look at up and coming talent that may cost but could potentially bring us an even better return. I want more pace and mobility in midfield and up front, signing 30+ players who their clubs no longer want isn’t the way to go we’ve done it too many times.

 

Agree with needing a couple of central defenders Idle.
Platt and Kelly are a couple of big units but to me, they've very little football ability.
Good at hoofing but no idea where the ball will go.
Need better if we are to progress.

 

12 months on from the last time I said it and it still remains the same
“If Smallwood and Gilliead play the majority of our games together in midfield we are going nowhere.”

 

I'd release anyone out of contract and listen to offers for anyone else, huge clean sweep.

 

Walker gets clattered because of his ability, drive and passion (something that far too many of our squad lack).
The opposition know this and take him out - as per Doncaster.
How can a broken bone in his foot after such tackles be Walkers fault???
Hell, he's the most talented player we've got, or have had for a long time.
The lad needs another contract.

 

He has been a poor captain and disappointment, but abuse is uncalled for whether it’s to him personally or his family. I don’t think he’d have reacted the way he did if it was criticism. As poor as he’s been we as fans don’t help ourselves when we give dogs abuse to players during the match, instead of booing after it (if that’s your thing). It’s no surprise there’s a disconnect between players and fans. Just imagine how Gilliead must feel after what he’s been through at the club.

 

2 promotions in 3 seasons for both sides says to me 'well run'.

Wrexham put the right people in charge, to help them learn the ropes and do the things they don't have time for. Don't know too much about Stockport but looks like they doing ok.

Would you trust Rupp, Sparks and Gent to throw £2m into the playing budget and spend it wiseley in an attempt to guarantee promotion? We must have spent close to £2m paying off Vaughan, McCall, Trueman/Sellers, Adams, Hughes.

 

As you know I was reluctant to buy a ST this season due to the dire way our club is being run. However, what Rupp said and the appointment of Sharpe we ended up giving in. We gave them the benefit of the doubt. My misgivings like yours have not disappeared. We shall have to wait and see what happens but so far we as a club have done nothing to earn this high level of loyalty.

 

Platt ?? He's our best centre half by a long way. There's no way we should be ditching him, he would walk into most L2 teams. If it's a straight choice between Platt and Stubbs then we keep Platt all week long and twice on Sundays.

 

Smallwood has been shocking and definitely needs to go.

 

I think I'd be genuinely disappointed if we offered Smallwood another contract.

 

Agreed. Send him on his way, if only so we dont have to see those floated set pieces ever again

 

He was a legend at Rochdale, but probably considered a bit above average L2. The stars were aligned when he came here, right place, right squad etc.

 

If Young does stay we should be doing all we can to sign Kemp.