Through the out door

I'd like us to keep Wood, but I get the feeling he will be canvassing other clubs having played quite a bit of first team football for us. He's really cut his teeth here, going from a poor Leicester City academy product to a reliable first teamer. He was fantastic last season, but hasn't replicated that this year; I don't think it would be too difficult to replace him, if there's one area we've been consistently strong in regardless of our division, it's at full back.

 

I think the reverting back to a four will help him as essentially he should be less isolated.

Despite him being a very attacking full back, probably our best outlet at times, i dont think the set up did him any favours particularily in such a poor team.

Like you say decent full backs are 10 a penny but i fear we have really messed up if our best asset leaves on a free in the summer

 

Yeah, for sure, I've said a few times this season that playing him at wing back has wrecked his form. His two best qualities, in my opinion, are last ditch tackles covering the centre backs (he needs to be in the back line to do that), and his crossing - but his crossing hasn't been as productive as it was last season.

Still, I think it will be a pretty easy sell based on what he's accomplished in a short amount of time and in a consistently poor Bradford City side, and a League One club will likely snap him up.

I never bought into the idea some fans had that he was worth money, though.

No full backs are ever worth transfer fees at this level, unless they're 16 and extremely promising, like an Ethan Ampadu for example. Connor Wood wasn't particularly young when he came here, and at 24 he's either in his prime or fast approaching it.

 

His confidence took a big knock during Stuart’s slump. He went into his shell at times and instead of attacking and delivering the crosses that earned him his name last season he’s been turning in and playing safety first (maybe this was instructed, but I don’t think his body language has been confident). However, he banged in a cracking shot against Port Vale and hopefully his confidence is returning.

I agree he was our best player on form last season.

 

Wood has been getting some shots in on goal the last few games. You never know, someone might come in with a nominal "undisclosed" fee.

 

There were rumors Gillingham were in for him in the summer. Lets hope they don't come in for him in January or i think he'll be off.

 

Lol, one our two "expert's" on this site.

Time to suck it up lad... Forty stands for what exactly, suggestions....it's new years eve here already so let's go for it!! Bahaha

 

One of my first City heroes as a young schoolboy

 

But if FCD gets injured? We'd have no specialist right back cover. French doesn't convince me at RB.
I'd rather we hang on to Hosannah. He has pace, which we lack, and can play as a wide midfielder/winger. Even if we choose to prioritise FCD, Hosannah is a very good bench option.

 

Good point, as long as L***s are happy with him sat on our bench.

 

Fresh is a backup centre half at best, that's his position.

 

Harsh on Cousin-Dawson, Staunton and Novak.

I also see improvements in Watt, Sutton and Paudie. Pritchard getting a chance now too. Wood has a bit of quality and Clarke hasnt done anything wrong either.

Getting rid of the better players is ill thought out. We need to improve on the shite in the squad.

Longridge, BRE, DMH, Samuels, Donaldson, Guthrie should be the first to go. 6 for you there, improve on them with some half decent signings and we could be ok.

 

Thought for one minute Bruce had got his boots out, earlier on in the season he'd have got a game even at 79.

 

I wouldnt have agreed with your Hosannah comment a few weeks ago but your right Cousin-Dawson is doing O/K and will improve as the gets more confidence and the defence get better as a unit.

 

More or less exactly where my thoughts are too - if we could move even a couple of them on in Jan it will help

 

~£300k left in this year's salary cap budget.. there's no massive need to get rid of anyone to balance the books unless we're looking at saving money for next season.

that's easy enough to get three or four decent players in at a total cost of £100k each (3 players) or £75k each (4 players) for effectively 6 months work.

 

Someone’s got to want them.

 

And therein lies the bloody problem.

 

True. Samuels can be sent back I think. DMH, maybe at a push a non league loan. He wont be on much anyway.

Maybe Longridge another loan but not the end of the world if he stays as back up.

BRE, Guthrie and Donaldson are the problem. BRE and Guthrie can be paid off for me. Donaldson as that 4th striker wouldnt be a disaster if we can move on the other 2.

Oh I forgot about Ismael. Another problem! With a lack of wingers he probably stays until the summer. Maybe Trueman and Sellers can get a tune from him. We shall see.

 

True. But wouldnt harm IF we can get takers for any of the 6/7 passengers in the squad. That might provide us with some extra wriggle room for a better quality of incomings.