Planning for League One

The National League isn't what it once was, he could easily go to Carlisle on a 2 year deal and get paid more than he would at most clubs in league 2. If he is wanting to drop no further than league 2 and stay in the North then these are the clubs he's restricted to plus at least 2 of Notts County, Chesterfield and Walsall plus possibly 1 of York, Oldham, Rochdale, FC Halifax and Gateshead. He's also recently set up an coaching business in Skipton so I'd imagine he will want to stay local for that.
I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up at York, they have a lot of money now and if they get promoted there's not a lot of football league experience in their squad so he could be ideal for them.

 

I think we need to be looking at some of the best in league 2

Denver Hume LWB/LB Grimsby

Jatta from County

Matty Palmer

for example

 

No we can’t have that again. Full season or no can do.

 

Never liked Palmer and wouldn't want to see him back in a city shirt ever again.

 

Of our current squad who would you say is league 1 quality?

Smallwood
Patto
Sav
maybe Bobby
Cook

Think that’s about it. Anymore?

 

Many teams who go up don't have wholesale changes and survive even some teams make the top 10 in their first season so I think naming only a handful of players who can make the step up is quite funny. Also didn't cook struggle in L1 before Sarcevic is probably going to find it tough as he rarely does a full 90 minutes (Saturday was one exception of only a few games he has done so).
Don't think Pattison has played there before so we don't know if he is at that level although I would say he is. Bobby you would think will excel more but that leaves only Smallwood who should do a good job in L1 but depends just like Sarcevic on whether he can do 90 minutes at his age in the league above.

 

Possibly Halliday when at his best.
I agree with you about the "maybe" over Bobby. Some say he will flourish with more time and better players around him. I hope so, although not sure he will get more time. He has been bullied off the ball a lot lately, and isn't blessed with pace, but as we saw on Saturday he has quick feet and an eye for a pass. Time will tell.

 

Some very good points you raise. I haven’t really got my head round we are actually in league 1.

 

Will Sarcevic stay he seems to jump to the next L2 promotion chasing team once he gets promoted

 

He came to us because Stockport would only give him a 1 year contract and we gave him two.

 

He would have stayed with Stockport if they had offered him more than one year

 

The planning has to be without Cook as main man and if he comes back and manages to get in the rhythm again it’s a bonus but he’s got a hell of a journey to be league 1 ready

 

He’s under contract, unless we want rid he doesn’t have a choice.

 

Whatever happens he needs competition for that position
Kieffer Moore ?

 

The transfer activity will naturally be all dependent on how we plan to play. What I hope we favour is:

- A spine of the team which are our contracted players. Happy for loans to be an integral supporting role, but we have to start the season with 4-5 down the spine of the team which are ours.
- We go for a balance of position experts as well as versatility. If this season taught us anything, having a plan B is essential. We need to players who can adapt.

Smallwood and Sam Walker are no brainer for contract renewals. Crichlow I’d also be happy with an extension. I’m on the fence with Richards but think it’s probably the last we have seen of him. The rest of those out of contract I think it’s a huge thanks and time to part ways.

Of the loanees, Shepherd returning should only be considered if it is as a permanent, which is highly unlikely.
I would happily see Tayo back.
Contrary to many on here I like Mellon but priority is a permanent long term solution to replace Cook eventually and sadly I don’t think we’ve seen his best.
Khela i really, really like but think his development is better suited elsewhere. Wouldn’t be unhappy to see him return on a season long loan though, but mainly as a versatile squad member.

We need to find exit solutions for Smith, Odour and I’d add Byrne (however It’s unlikely) to that list.

 

Town won't match 20/21k.

Think they've averaged about 17.5k this year and there's a lot of discontent there with ownership, club structure and ST pricing.

I had a nose at their forum the other day and a poster or two we're referencing us as a club with a better set up than them. How the tables have turned!