Retained List

I can't see GB going down the loan route too much as he recently said he was against the idea of too many loans.
He said he already had a plan A for stopping up and a plan B if we get relegated.
At least we will not be 3 months behind most other teams in getting players and hopefully we get our main targets in early.

 

I don't dodge questions. Must of missed it. Sorry mate.. understand I love you though.

Anyway I will answer:

Realistically the following:

O'DONNELL
A O'Connor
Mellor
Wright
Akpan
Scannell
Doyle
Wood
Robinson (depending if not sacked)
Gibson
Devine(might get offered a new contract)
Reeves (depending if not paid off)

Who I would keep

O'Donnell
Scannell
Mellor
Wright
Akpan
Robbo(if not guilty of anything wrong)

 

I cant believe you have Wright at #4 on both your lists. Don't you love him any more?

 

Cant believe that anyone could find it in their hearts to say we hope to retain Josh Wright. He has to be the worst signing of the lot that we made last summer. I for one hope hes at the top of the list of the ones the club help manufacture a move away for. Waste of a wage

 

Can’t agree with Wright, and I don’t think Akpan is made for League 2. But you’ve illustrated the point - your list is 6 strong. We need a huge rebuild, in the order of 15 new players. Personally, I’m not sure that’s achievable, even with the right backing. But if we can get 7-8 of the right ilk, it should make a big difference.

 

I tend to agree. Our shopping list needs to include 2 proper centre backs, left back, left winger, 2 Centre mids and at least 1 striker.

Sort the spine and the left hand side. We need more pace and strength throughout the team.

 

Wright has 2 years left on his contract and is on a decent wage I believe.

He is going to be hard to get rid off and if we do then more than likely it will cost us to top his wage up elsewhere.

The reason I would keep his because it's a bit like what @Dennis is saying to completely get rid of all players here would take 2 years and we need experience players. Like it or not Wright is experienced.

I would have him around for a year at least then he would only have a year left and depending on if we want rid then it's easier.

Think O'Connor will stay for the same reasons.

 

If that’s the case what do you say to every man and his dog on here expects instant promotion from league two?

 

They're right.

We've player that already have quality for div 2.

When teams go down you don't get rid of all the players that's unrealistic and stupid.

 

I get your point, to ship out all of them one way or another is both unlikely, perhaps counter productive and would leave us starting from scratch completely. Someone else posted earlier, it would leave Bowyer a huge task of finding a enough new players with the necessary physicality, talent and blend to form a successful team/squad straight away. PP took a couple of years to do it having jettisoned the lot and Bowyer may need a similar time frame.

However, going on the list of who we have and who wed like to see retained, I think there are far better players in Caddis, Mellor, Akpan (maybe?!) and Doyle, who all have more experience than Josh Wright (who's not really done much at any level, on a huge wage and to me was a bizarre signing in the first place) and are much more fitting to be seen as the spine of the team.

The thought of us pinning our hopes on Wright in L2 to be the talisman, the one to drag a team through tough games when we were struggling (like we did with Gary Jones on many occasion, successfully too!) makes me shudder. He's not fit to lace Jones's boots.

It is that standard if not better, that we should be aspiring to recruit if we're going to have a successful season next season. With that, Wright is definitely near the top of my list, that Stefan should be willing to take a hit on financially (which he undoubtedly will have to) and make sure hes not on the books next term.

 

Makes no sense though. No financial sense

I wouldn't of signed Wright or A' O'Connor but they're here and both on long contracts.

They're not many Gary Jones kind of players and we don't need that to get out of div 2.

We do need experience and togetherness.

No convinced Caddis will be her next season.
Mellor is injury prone.
Doyle is poor and for me we need to replace him.
Akpan has had a poor season like Wright but I would keep him also.

Massive unrealistic and stupid of fans to thing lets rip up and start again.

Get use to it that certain players will still be around next season and it won't be a bad thing as they could shine in div 2. We have to give these players another chance if we like it or not.

 

Financially, you’re probably right. If we end up lumbered with both, we have to try and get some value. The best option though, is for us to bite the bullet and take a hit on anyone we don’t want. It’ll be pricey but I’m hoping we’re intending to be ruthless.

League 2 makes me shudder but it’s not the end of the world - IF we sort ourselves and put together a proper side. I’m desperate to see a bantams side win automatic promotion again. You can’t beat that feeling. And whilst there’s a lot of work to do, I’m led to believe that Rupp is up for funding us having a real go next season.

 

How much do you reckon It will take to "have a real go" in the FL basement next season ?

 

Difficult to properly estimate the true value of one or
two players e.g. Doyle as he is a goalscorer but he needs
the right player/s around him and we've seriously lacked
that.

A big clear out is required because we can't afford to allow
the same mentality to manifest itself again next season.

 

If possible I would keep:
Caddis,
Wood
P O’Connor
McCarten
Ball
O’Brien
Butterfield (No chance of this)
Payne (No chance of this)

 

I agree completely that it'd make no financial sense, especially to simply pay off their contracts but a) what in football does make financial sense these days!? Very little! b) theres always a chance another team would take them, perhaps on a free, and take over their contracts (or the majority of)

Whichever way we look at it, we can't afford to carry dross next season, Bowyer will have his own targets and style that he wants to play, and the weaker players in the current squad he'll want to shift. I agree it won't be cheap or make any financial sense but this is where Stefan needs to right the wrongs of his partner in crime and create a squad capable of doing something. I hold the hope that if a team paid money for Dom Poleon from us, maybe there are others out there stupid enough to take the Wrights/O'Connors as well

 

Agree completely

 

....and height. Players too who can develop and improve as hopefully the club moves forward once again.

 

Agree, I want to feel confident that who ever is picked to run out on a Saturday afternoon is actually capable of not only having the required skill level, but also has club at heart. I am just hoping GB has got a grip of those whose mental strength, commitment to the cause have been found lacking are identified and asked to look elsewhere. I know this will be expensive and Stefan will need to step up to the plate, but that is the type of backing I am looking for.

We just cannot go into league 2, with left over drudge. We need a reset button.