Planning for League One

As is the case every summer we also have three or four players who are under contract who the club might try to move on. Adam Wilson, Clarke Oduor and Tyler Smith for definite. Maybe even Tommy Leigh although seeing as he’s only just signed, has two years left on his contract and we paid a fee he will probably be given longer to prove his worth.

 

But that’s less than 2,000 which is the minimum allowed for us. Will be Bradford End and last two blocks of Midland Road as it used to be.

 

I think Johnson may have already been told he will be released. He wasn’t even in the squad yesterday and the manager doesn’t trust him to start matches.

 

Doncaster will be given the minimum 2,000 tickets after they did the same to us last week.

 

New Deals
Sam Walker
Ciaran Kelly
Richie Smallwood

No surprises here. 2 are key players and GA seems to like Kelly. We losing a few defenders so will want to keep some for consistency.

1 Year Options
Lewis Richards
Romany Crichlow

It wouldnt shock me if Crichlow wasnt extended, think he gets that extension, but GA doesnt seem utterly convinced by him. That said he done enough to earn a deal IMO. He has work to do to get a place in that back 3.

Released
Colin Doyle (Coach deal)
Callum Johnson
Sam Stubbs
Paul Huntington
Jamie Walker
Vadaine Oliver

Callum Johnson may get a deal if it works for club and player. He is ok as back up to Halliday, and useful. But GA may have other ideas.

Made Available
Clarke Oduor
Adam Wilson
Tyler Smith

All 3 are done. Think he keeps Neill Byrne as that 5th choice. Plus we losing Shepherd, Huntington and probably Johnson. Dont see him giving up on Tommy Leigh just yet. Will get pre season and maybe first month to see if he isnt a dud. With Walker and Oduor going, there is space in the squad. He has work to do...

Its an exciting summer ahead. No longer shopping in the baragain basement, looking for players willing to drop to League 2. Think we will have more players chasing a deal with us, than us doing the chasing and dangling carrots, been held to ransom etc.

 

Correct. We aint filling the stadium every week, but 2700 seats will be filled by the away end by possibly half the division, more if some of the smaller teams are doing well.

 

Yes I know

 

Crowley has done sod all either! Waste of a talent . Played 16 times since his transfer and scored ZERO goals .
Kav I agree but a L1 striker ….Sadly no.

 

One of the two for back up, not both I suspect.

 

Agree with all that apart from Crichlow, who has been very disappointing since returning, so I'd release him

 

It would be interesting to see what Kelly's aerial duals stats are. I don't recall him being a dominant centre half so would question giving him another deal. His distribution is OK but you can see he's not had the professional coaching from an early age. Add to that he tends to get long term injuries, so based on that I'd be looking for an upgrade. I think we'll see a lot of clever strikers / attacking midfielders who know how to handle big cumbersome defenders.

 

I’d keep Crich and Baldwin and try bring Shepherd back.

would release Kelly, Byrne and Huntington.
Id have been happy to keep Johnson as backup for Brad but seems he’s off. Benn was out of favour so unlikely to return now.

 

I like Crichlow but Alexander doesn't seem convinced and he hasn't been on top form so I think he'll not get an offer. The back line needs improving so we can't be keeping everyone we have and then adding another three, that would be bonkers.

Byrne was not deemed good enough for Stockport in league one and if we want to finish close to where they finished then I don't think he'll be good enough for us either.

 

Not convinced with Critchlow either. Doesn’t look like the same player we had under Hughes and has failed twice in league 1 before. We need better.

 

Sorry , his distribution in the first half Sat was appalling . I bet GA was apoplectic ?

 

Id keep Crichlow, we only have Kelly (new deal) and Baldwin. Byrne is shite but I think he sticks around as the 5th/6th choice.

Johnson, Huntington and Shepherd all need replacing. 2 top quality CBs needed and a utility player in the Johnson mould.

 

I believe deals were already in the pipeline for no matter what league we were going to be in.

Sam walker
Kelly
Smallwood

Richards option would also have been taken up from what I heard.

I also see Crichlow getting another year but do feel we are probably looking at 4/5 incomings in defence if you include wing backs.

Jamie walker
Oliver
Stubbs
Huntingdon
Johnson
Will be gone and with Tayo and shepherd loans ending (hope to see both back next season) then we desperately need reinforcements there.

Also gone are
Khela
Mellon
Benn

Smith needs to let go as well.

Midfield we definitely need 3 in there for me a real enforcer required someone in the josh Cullen mold would be ideal but would love to a Gareth whalley type player come in too.

Upfront I would hope we are looking for 2 out and out forwards with possibly wide players on top.

So for me probably we are looking at 10/12 incomings with a similar amount outgoing. Definitely an interesting and important summer ahead and one I think we will have some pulling power with as players will have seen the crowds we can pull regularly and the bond between fans and the club.

 

Baldwin under contract until 2026 anyway

 

Is Oliver still under contract? Thought he had a year left.

 

Nathan Lowe can’t get into the Stoke team at the moment. It might be a good shot at bringing him to City for a season long loan.