Who goes and who stays ?

[billybersham]

Originally Posted by Wiltshire_Red

Good employers look after their unable to work staff, usually part funded with employer insurance. I would hope that the WST had put decent insurance policies in place to cater for such events as Thomas’ injury, it would really depend on the T&Cs of said insurance.

As you mentioned regardless of anything else, I think our new owners and CEO will do the decent thing and offer him a contract of some sort.

If the takeover had not happened and Thomas had scored 20 goals he would be going on a Bosman back into the football league,but Iam sure our new owners will give him a new contract.

[billybersham]

Originally Posted by Prodigal Dragon

Our stated objective for next season is promotion to the EFL; the aim is to have a full stadium, which requires effective and entertaining football.

With that in mind, I remain convinced that Keates and Co cannot fulfil those demanding requirements, and most of our players simply aren't good enough, too. Therefore...

Players Under Contract - Retain

Ponticelli - Season ruined by injury. Needs a rest and a good pre-season to better judge him.

Davies - Not perfect but has improved with games. He is part of the future.

Angus - Asked to do a difficult role when not fully fit and really a wide-man. Has pace and will improve with a good pre-season.

Austin - Not seen him, but seemingly highly thought of.

Bickerstaff - A bit lightweight, but has shown some good control at times. Needs to develop more.

Cleworth - Think he will be very good, albeit may be better at RB than CB due to his size.

Players Out of Contract but Worth an Extension

Jarvis - Clearly like Marmite with RP experts, but I still think he is a good player who has not been developed.

Hall-Johnson - Cannot defend for toffee, and inconsistent when crossing and attacking. Nevertheless, would be a good squad filler.

Kelleher - Lack of genuine pace is the worry, but adequate providing there are quick players around him.

French - Has been a good signing. With a good pre-season I think he'll improve again.

Players Out of Contract to be Released

Lainton - A good keeper, but does not command his 6-yard box and now injury-prone.

Dibble - Not as bad as many claim, but also not good enough to be a permanent No 1.

Pearson - Good captain when he arrived, but his foot injury has exacerbated his slowness. Could be a potential youth coach.

Redmond - Something has gone badly wrong. Needs a break away from Wrexham to reset his career.

Harris - Past his best, with a coaching job at Tranmere now his best option.

Young - Doesn't command the midfield, but will pick up another club in the NL and do a job.

Reckord - Very inconsistent and a poor wing-back.

Durrell - Wasn't very good first-time; seemingly brilliant when elsewhere; has been poor again second-time. Very disappointing!

Rutherford - Gets a lot of undeserved flack, but he is very limited despite his work-rate. But, he has been a good pro who got on with things.

Carrington - He is in the running for my Player of the Season, but he now needs to look at coaching or management. Great guy; would like to see him in our Youth set-up.

Vassell - French is a better option.

Thomas - A poor footballer, albeit he was beginning to show some form alongside Angus. Injury could affect his career, so deserves some financial support from the club, but not a new contract.

Horsfield - His knee injury clearly didn't help, but I suspect he fell out with Keates.

Of the 10 players I would keep, not all would be automatic starters. Keates would certainly not be so ruthless, and a new manager might consider keeping more. However, if we are to meet our objective and aims we need a far better squad of players. That means upheaval, but so be it.

Wow player of the seaon he has only played 14 times.

[Prodigal Dragon]

Originally Posted by billybersham

Wow player of the seaon he has only played 14 times.

Yupp, which says a lot!

He and Kelleher are my stand-out pair, so far.

[the_holt_dragon]

Originally Posted by bowler

Totally agree,except those still in contract, I'd get rid of the lot,if they are not good enough to get us promoted this year,why keep any,and I don't rate any of the players really,new broom sweeps clean as they say.

I’m pretty sympathetic to that argument. My only concern is that maybe Keates isn’t a manager who can get the most out of players, so some may be better than they look.

[harrypothead]

We are lucky to have Laiton, French, Kelleher and Vassell. They are up there with the best in their position in this league. Do we really want to get rid of our best players? We are not far with what we have got, add quality to that team and you have a league winning squad. Get rid of all and bring in new players and start all over again doesnt always work. We need a squad of players that have been here longer than one season.

[Rob Edwards]

Lainton is a good goalkeeper but if we are to keep him we need a better no.2 than Dibble.
Lainton would need a full medical too due to his injury record.
Surely the number one signing needs to be a number 9 - a Bowman or Quigley.

[davewilli]

Originally Posted by harrypothead

We are lucky to have Laiton, French, Kelleher and Vassell. They are up there with the best in their position in this league. Do we really want to get rid of our best players? We are not far with what we have got, add quality to that team and you have a league winning squad. Get rid of all and bring in new players and start all over again doesnt always work. We need a squad of players that have been here longer than one season.

Agreed, 5 or 6 quality additions as well as a few punts from released Academy youngsters and lower leagues now we can afford to carry a bigger squad. We should be looking now at the up and coming players as we now should be able to compete with lower FL clubs to attract young talent.

[the_holt_dragon]

Originally Posted by harrypothead

We are lucky to have Laiton, French, Kelleher and Vassell. They are up there with the best in their position in this league. Do we really want to get rid of our best players? We are not far with what we have got, add quality to that team and you have a league winning squad. Get rid of all and bring in new players and start all over again doesnt always work. We need a squad of players that have been here longer than one season.

Also look at some of the teams who gave won the league in recent times, the quality has definitely gone down in my opinion. We weren't too far from winning the title with an average squad and Brian Hughes as manager.

[bowler]

Originally Posted by the_holt_dragon

I’m pretty sympathetic to that argument. My only concern is that maybe Keates isn’t a manager who can get the most out of players, so some may be better than they look.

Hopefully Keates is cleaning windows in Walsall.