Retained List

I think people are writing off players too soon personally. I appreciate that we’ve had a terrible season but I would say a good number of the current team could cut it in L2 if they were complimented by the right players around them, the right tactics/manager and a fresh start.

This season has been a disaster from the start and the players are only partly to blame. A full summer to work with Bowyer, a few ins and outs of players and a new season with everyone starting on 0 points and I think half of this squad will be good enough for us next season.

 

I think a season is enough to judge players and the majority have been poor for the most part of it.

 

I agree but some such as Doyle who would be much better with a big physical player as his strike partner Chicksen would be better if he had a pacey winger in front of him

 

What is a chuffin' Lacey winger?

Plus, Blackpool played just one big striker and 2 wide players so does Doyle fit in with Bowyer's plan.
I do believe Blackpool walloped us 5-0 last season at their place-anyone remember that game?

 

The two games against Sunderland we did score at their place the ref disallowed it, and at home Doyle missed a penalty, again at home to both Portsmouth and Luton looked anything but promotion sides, where as Barnsley looked very much a promotion side who when we spoke both of us though would be in one of the auto places.
In all the home games I've seen this season for me Coventry looked the best side of them all that Tuesday evening they looked as if they would score every time the attacked.

 

And that big striker played alongside Doyle at Chesterfield and Doyle scored a lot of goals

 

I missed the Cov game (thank goodness), i thought our best performance of the season was Sunderland away. Honestly, if we had a half decent striker i think we would have stayed up. It would have probably gone to near the last game of the season but we've had nothing to offer up front all season.

 

I know weve spoken about Doyle but I think Bowyer will persist with him and add players who can help him get back to scoring goals because his spell at Valley Parade must be as poor as he's had, what is it with strikers we sign who have good goal scoring records over their careers except at Bradford City, Eoin Doyle, Aaron McLean, John McGinley Tony Adcock scored goals for fun apart from with City

 

We do seem to be a strikers graveyard. If it were me i'd get shut of Doyle but looks like we're stuck with him. Any suggestions for a strike partner for him?

 

Momentum is a big thing in football. We haven’t had much this season due to the terrible summer and delayed, poor quality managerial appointment.

For me, O’Donnell, Caddis, O’Connor, Scannell, Akpan, Doyle, Ball are all good enough for L2 and I would have no issue with them being in the squad next season.

As for loan players, I’d keep any/all of them, Payne, Butterfield, O’Brien in particular.

 

Thats virtually the team thats taken us down. Not that bothered about the keeper, he can stay or leave. Caddis would be a definite yes. Ball i like but not sure where you play. Don't want Doyle or Akpan. O'Brien a yes, wouldn't mind one of Butterfield of Payne but neither are essential. I'd expect Scannell to be able to contribute in league 2. O'Connor meh.

 

Yes mate there is a lad down at AFC Wimbledon, an ideal foil big bustling partner,



























































think The Wombles would want a fee, our last two signing from them have done great .
Maybe the lad Louis Moult he doesn't seem to be doing much at Preston and @abbomf speaks highly of him ?.

 

Bet most of the relegation clubs in all leagues would say the same.

I do know what your saying though.

 

The problem we have is that Edin has signed some of our players on silly money. Will the players be prepared to take a cut elsewhere? Or will they just dig their heels in and see out their deals? It isn't going to be easy moving so many on.

What do you do? Tell the player they are no longer part of your plans and bully them out of the club?

We tried to freeze Wright out in January and Hopkin even talked of listening to offers from non-league for him (Orient was it), yet here he still is. God knows what has happened to Joe Riley. The players are under no obligation to move on.

What is worse, paying them off and having a huge financial burden, or keeping them in and around the club with their losing mentality, but still having the option of being able to call upon them when needed?

I think Eoin Doyle might be easier to move on. He has a good pedigree and hasn't been that bad for us considering the generate state of our season, in an imbalanced team. I think he is one who will attract interest and could be shifted, though I hope he actually stays as he could rip League 2 apart in a proper team.

Scannell must be on a fair wack but with his injury history I cannot see there being many willing takers there. We'll no doubt have him next season, accounting for a big proportion of the budget, and just have to pray he stays fit.

 

Can you explain your reasoning as to why this would apply in lesser division

 

Keep Caddis. The rest can do one.

 

Yeah!! Let's spend a fortune and get rid of the lot and then get some replacements in, costing us more money and in all likelihood aren't as skilled. But never mind, they won't remind us of this season and of course, no club in history has been relegated and then bounced back with some of the same players!!

Hilarious how those who've had no involvement in this seasons disaster, still gets it in the neck. If Hopkin expected Reeves to leave when injured, then I apologise to those who never believed in him from Day 1. It could be that Reeves has actually had a serious problem, which was dismissed by Hopkin who wrongly (like he did with a number of players) decided to throw him under a bus as it made him sound like a fan that cares - as opposed to a proper manager, who gets to the bottom of the issue and resolves it. But hey, what do I know!!

Well McCartan is proven in L2. He's now been a key player in two promotions in his last two L2 seasons. This kind of rains on your parade, doesn't it? Clearly, some players who have struggled in L1 can do well in L2. How on earth can you dismiss the McCartan who will be even better, given his age?

Yet other relegated clubs retained similar 'characters' and have got promoted

Thank goodness!! I'll be honest, I'd have no issue with around eight of them taking the field next season, now we've got a manager who understands people and is a proven L2 promotion winner


I admire your passion. But let's face it, you want scapegoats for the last 18 months and anyone will do. No rationale. No logic to your argument. Anyone who played for us must be crap and must be gotten rid off. Jesus!, with your 'off with all their heads' we will be in National League!

 

We were knocked out by Aldershot, knocked out by a very poor Macc side and there's no way judging on the shambles that we've been this season that I can be optimistic with this bunch of players in League 2 and comparing this team to the the team we got promoted with.. We've got the worst GD difference in the league and that's because we can't defend or score it doesn't matter what division you're in if you can't do the basics right you won't win games of fooball.

What have you season that's encouraged you about these players in League 2?

 

The second you accused me of wanting us to spend a fortune, I stopped reading. If the rest of this post waffled on in the same vein, I'm glad I did.

My whole point is, we're not going to find it easy moving players on, we can't afford to spend a fortune because we're already probably over budget next season, that's why we won't be going straight back up.

Once you actually understand where I'm coming from, I might read a whole post.

 

This set of players, this team we have now, is relegation fodder in L2. At best, we might finish fifth or sixth from bottom. That's if we get a ton of luck, and far more refereeing decisions than we got this year.