2024 Released Players & City transfer rumours

Only reason I can think of is We're trying to put Oliver in the window by giving him minutes, an he put Young on the bench to somewhat appease the fans into assuming he's not being sold. That an the fact that Smith is a bit shit

 

Don't want him holding the ball up. What we wanted yesterday was Smallwood sweeping up the ball, giving it to Oduor who ran upfield and put a ball over the top or through the channel for Smith to run onto, win a free kick, throw in or corner. When Oliver came on and the punts upfield continued, they just kept winning the ball back and bringing it into our half.

It's rare a forward receives a ball in the air on their chest/head and retains possession when there's no teammate around them but we still persist with it.

 

I know what you mean but that description is in an ideal world and not when we are blowing out of our arses and desperate to hang on with 10 minutes to go. I can understand why Oliver was sent on yesterday and why we did what we did.
There is a lot still a lot of work to do but we shouldn't underestimate what the result meant to the players (some big reactions at the end)

 

You certainly shouldn't underestimate that performance.
Yes MK missed a few goal scoring opportunities during the game but City kept battling to the final whistle, couldn't have asked for anymore away from home against descent opposition yesterday.

 

Agree it never pays off, but I can’t agree Smith is the answer as he’s too lightweight BB.

 

Which he is!

 

But Smith is far more effective.....and has done far more in a City shirt.

 

As a lone striker? Are you sure?
Oliver did exactly what we needed yesterday when he came on and did it well.

 

His weight or lightweightedness doesn't come into it if his job is to run after balls and run through the channels. He needs pace and light-footedness, which he has.

He gets knocked off the ball trying to head and chest balls lumped up towards him.

 

Agree but not sure he’s quick either but I understand what you mean .

 

Gilliead turned down a move away from the club last week apparently. Maybe that's why he was left out on Saturday then?

 

I like Gilliead but I just can't see him getting a lot of time in this new midfield 3. Fair play on rejecting the move to try and stay to play, but it can't be a good feeling rocking back up to training after the club have accepted a transfer for you.

Possibly might have factored into the "green light" comment last week? They presume Gilly would have gone and this new loan midfielder comes in maybe? T&A also seem to hint we are in the out before in stage.

 

The fact we were willing to let him go will hopefully mean we are looking for players who can hurt the opposition. He's great for a club whos ambition is stability, but to push on we need to improve on what we had last season.

 

Young>Smith

 

As a fan of Smith it's concerning to see him not make the bench ahead of Young who was supposedly on his way out.

Smith isn't a perfect player, but no players in league 2 are. And his shooting is either smashing or smashing it wide. But he looks lively whenever i've seen him and he can score goals. I know he scored most of his last season in the Pizza cup, but he can only beat what's in front of him....

I'd like to see him play up top with Cook. I'm a fan of Kav too, but he's still young and will 100% get his chances.

 

Should have been released last summer. He's a great lad who always gives his all for the shirt but that isn't enough in and of itself, especially for a team that is supposedly serious about challenging for promotion. We shouldn't let sentiment get in the way of that fact.

 

I think he was kept because of his adaptability as a squad member . A managers dream , however his performances were better than those he was supposed to be covering ! Hence we saw him a lot. I won’t knock him….a thoroughly decent pro, however I called early in preseason he’d struggle to play this time round and be a bench filler at the most.

 

Smith was involved in 38 league games last year and made 19 starts scoring a total of just 5 goals. Yes he can only "beat what's in front of him" but that was league two and he didn't.

He'll no doubt be involved in patches this year but unless he ups his output then I doubt he'll get as many league starts as he did last season.

 

It's the negligence from the club (or the managers) that has kept him here for so long. Even Stevie Wonder could have seen where our problems have been year after year yet the failure to upgrade on Gillead (and the injury status of others) meant that time after time he found himself back alongside Smallwood in the engineroom.

I only wish Gillead the best, he's always given his absolute all for the club and if he stays I'll continue to support him but other than filling in and for resting players, I just don't see how he gets into that midfield as we've finally upgraded with Sarcevic, Walker, an injury free Pattison, Pointon and seemingly Odour all in front of him in the 8 roles.

 

I remember having a similar discussion last summer Kev. You felt it was the right decision to keep him as a squad member due to his versatility (which I get), but I felt it was the wrong decision because I didn't think that was why he was being offered a new contract and felt he would continue to be one of the first names on the team sheet under Hughes, which is exactly what happened. When GA came in, he continued to pick him due to his 'Mr Reliabilty' tag and I maintain that had he not got injured towards the back end of the season, that would have remained the case and we wouldn't have had as good a finish to the season as we did.
Like you say, a thoroughly decent pro and good servant to the club, but not good enough to be a starter in a team with aspirations of promotion.