We need to reduce the average age of the squad for a start, or at least the average age of the starting XI. Also we need to reduce our reliance on loanees.
Bowyer steadily increased this during his tenure. In our 2018/19 promotion squad, 51% of appearances were made by players aged between 20 & 24, this has dropped to just 23% this season. In 18/19 14% of appearances were made by players aged 30+, this is 31% this season, our highest yet.
If anyone is curious I've written a bit more about this and included contract lengths in my blog here
Agreed
Ben Watson's experience might have been really useful for a young squad, but we already had Pratley and Pearce to provide that
And then we went out and signed 2 experienced RBs (31 and 29) and a 31 year old midfielder (Shinnie) followed by a 31 year old Danish striker in January
Watson, Gunter and Schwartz are all under contract for next season too.
Looking at our squad, excluding loan players it's notable that Purrington (24) is one of the youngest players, with only DJ and Morgan of the regulars younger than him
GK I would keep Amos but would like an experienced number 2 . I would like to see AMB get a loan where he could be a regular . Young Keepers need regular games and I wouldn't want to risk him next year before he has played regularly somewhere .
RB Gunter and Matthews both staying is my preference . If Adam doesn't sign on again then maybe Deji could stay to cover RB/ CB
LB Purrington is under contract . We need an alternative alongside him . Declan John currently on loan at Bolton from Swansea , Cameron Borthwick Jackson impressed me at Scunthorpe two years ago and is out of contract at Oldham .
CB Inniss and Pearce . I would only retain Deji if Matthews does not stay . If not I would prefer a specialist centre back preferably someone with a similar presence to Ryan . Tom Anderson from Donny ? We would need another left sider as well .What about Conor Ogilvie at Gillingham who could also cover left back ?
RM / LM . Widemen . DJ is a good option . We need an alternative right footed wide man and ideally two lefties as well to replace Doughty and Maddison . Shane Ferguson and Josh Morris were both wanted on deadline day . I would be happy with either at this level as versatile left siders . Right footed options include Jordan Graham of Gills or Charlie Kirk who were also deadline day options .
DM Depending on wages I would retain both Pratley and Watson but not use them as regulars and not together . They could both be useful in the last half an hour if we need to hold on in a tight game . I would like a younger player as well . Is Mingi ready ? I always liked George Dobson currently on loan at AFC from the Mackems .
CM I would keep Jake Forster Caskey and Alex Gilbey is under contract next season and has improved . I would be happy if Shinnie stayed if there is the budget and feel Morgan would benefit from a loan. We need one or maybe two new options .Like others Ryan Fraser would be my favourite . I don't think MKD would let him go . What about Sean Goss of Shrewsbury ? More experienced options might include John Bostock at Donny or another MKD player Josh McEachran .
ST Chuks Aneke and Conor Washington should be two of our strikers . Although under contract I am not convinced by Ronnie Schwartz . We need another two options.
2 promoted already 3 highly likely to be promoted 4 play for Sunderland so won't leave them for us That leave 2 players we could target if they don't go up!
Lincoln being the surprise package this season, think it’s unfair they haven’t been awarded manager of the season. Don’t see what’s so great about McCann, not like Hull side got ripped apart after relegation.
I know your post was tongue in cheek, but I wouldn't fancy McGeady,I'm not that fussed by McVeasy (obviously) or Honeyman, and I like O'Nien as a proper trier but I'm not sure he's that amazing either.
Lincoln being the surprise package this season, think it’s unfair they haven’t been awarded manager of the season. Don’t see what’s so great about McCann, not like Hull side got ripped apart after relegation.
Well that got ripped apart in January and didn't give out contract extensions for players to finish the extended season. To be fair to him.
How Wilkes isn't in that team is beyond me though.
Am I missing something, 4 Sunderland players?! Why's that
Wyke and Clarke-Harris were the top scorers so made sense
McGeady has the most assists in the League so again makes pretty good sense him being there too - What is stupid is Burge gets in ahead of Chris Maxwell @ Blackpool, yet the latter has one more clean sheet and has conceded three less goals.
Not sure why O'Nien is there, although do like him as a Right-Back
It's a bit of an indictment of our season that nobody in our side deserves to be in that team. Even in L1 when we've failed as a side, there have usually been star performers
I would be surprised if we didn’t go back for Joe Piggot. Probably depends on whether he will have any championship clubs after him who are willing to offer him first team football.
I imagine being a free agent would allow us to bump up his wages. If we can make these types of signings I think we could be competitive without having to spend big transfer fees.
I’ve just read a comment saying we should keep Gunter, Pearce, Watson & Pratley 🤯. Do some fans not watch our games?
The problem isn't keeping them, or that they are here. The problem is they have probably played over 120 games between them this season. If they were 3rd or 4th choices it wouldn't be a problem. If they had played 50 games between them because we had players better than them we would be already in the play offs as a minimum.
We have no idea what they add, if anything, behind the scenes. I wouldn't get rid of all of them.
It's a bit of an indictment of our season that nobody in our side deserves to be in that team. Even in L1 when we've failed as a side, there have usually been star performers
We didn’t have anyone make the 18/19 team of the year when we finished 3rd.
I’ve just read a comment saying we should keep Gunter, Pearce, Watson & Pratley 🤯. Do some fans not watch our games?
The problem isn't keeping them, or that they are here. The problem is they have probably played over 120 games between them this season. If they were 3rd or 4th choices it wouldn't be a problem. If they had played 50 games between them because we had players better than them we would be already in the play offs as a minimum.
We have no idea what they add, if anything, behind the scenes. I wouldn't get rid of all of them.
Not to mention who is going to buy Gunter or Watson off us, they'll be with us next season as the former signed a two year deal and I imagine the latter has surpassed the required number of games to activate his extension
I’ve just read a comment saying we should keep Gunter, Pearce, Watson & Pratley 🤯. Do some fans not watch our games?
We can't keep buying a new team every season. Gunter and potentially Watson are under contract and the other two are experienced pros. We will be losing a lot of our squad over the summer and they will need replacing. The more players we have to sign the more we have to spread our budget and the less quality we can bring in. We have to replace Famewo and upgrade on Deji in the summer, we will be able to bring in better players if we don't also have to replace Pearce. We need a lot of new midfielders and attacking players; why also add in buying a reserve right back when we already have one?
I’ve just read a comment saying we should keep Gunter, Pearce, Watson & Pratley 🤯. Do some fans not watch our games?
I would definitely keep Pearce.
Love pearcey, but IMO I think next season would be one too many, he’s looked like a cart horse most of this season - he’s only going to be one year older next season.
I’ve just read a comment saying we should keep Gunter, Pearce, Watson & Pratley 🤯. Do some fans not watch our games?
We can't keep buying a new team every season. Gunter and potentially Watson are under contract and the other two are experienced pros. We will be losing a lot of our squad over the summer and they will need replacing. The more players we have to sign the more we have to spread our budget and the less quality we can bring in. We have to replace Famewo and upgrade on Deji in the summer, we will be able to bring in better players if we don't also have to replace Pearce. We need a lot of new midfielders and attacking players; why also add in buying a reserve right back when we already have one?
I didn’t say get rid of them all did I? More mindblown that somebody would want to keep all 4 of them.
I’ve just read a comment saying we should keep Gunter, Pearce, Watson & Pratley 🤯. Do some fans not watch our games?
We can't keep buying a new team every season. Gunter and potentially Watson are under contract and the other two are experienced pros. We will be losing a lot of our squad over the summer and they will need replacing. The more players we have to sign the more we have to spread our budget and the less quality we can bring in. We have to replace Famewo and upgrade on Deji in the summer, we will be able to bring in better players if we don't also have to replace Pearce. We need a lot of new midfielders and attacking players; why also add in buying a reserve right back when we already have one?
I didn’t say get rid of them all did I? More mindblown that somebody would want to keep all 4 of them.
Doesn't really seem that mindblowing. There's a case for keeping each of them. We are going to have to replace Smith and probably Shinnie and JFC, while Morgan would benefit from a loan. That leaves us with Pratley, Watson and Gilbey as central midfielders. Ideally we will be able to keep JFC, but if not then if we let Pratley and Watson go we will only have Gilbey and Morgan in contract, meaning we might need to sign 4 or 5 new central midfielders, which is ridiculous. We would also likely have to sell Watson to move him on or cancel his contract, which would be a waste. We're not made of money and needing to sign nearly a whole squad every season is what has us end up in situations where we're signing injury-prone players or relying on loans. I'd much rather we pick up 2 really good centre mids this summer with the experienced players as back-ups, and then sign two good midfielders again the next summer and slowly build a squad than always be needing to start over each year.
Pratley and Watson being in and around the squad isn't terrible in itself, they are good examples to younger players of how looking after yourself and training properly can benefit you and keep you playing longer.
But we really don't want to be in a position where they are appearing regularly as first team players - we need to be aiming higher than that.
It's like when we had Andy Hughes a few seasons back. He was great for training and mentoring and could do a job in a pinch but he wasn't there to be a regular first choice.
It's a bit of an indictment of our season that nobody in our side deserves to be in that team. Even in L1 when we've failed as a side, there have usually been star performers
We didn’t have anyone make the 18/19 team of the year when we finished 3rd.
That season we were late bloomers I suppose which might have affected things.
Some good names in that team, Mowatt and Collins have stepped up with their clubs, Pinnock is now at Brentford, Moore at Cardiff, Clarke at Brighton (on loan to Derby), Lowe at Swansea and Justin who was having a great season for Leicester
Most of our 2018/19 side have stepped up to better things, few are still in L1 whereas can you say that about our current squad?
It's going to be difficult because Cafc fans want Championship standard players to come to a League 1 club.
We want more players like the reborn Gilbey and JFC who are a good 7 to 8 (out of 10) consistent hard working players in Midfield and less players who have too many 5's on their scores on the doors.
If Aneke was fit to play 90 minutes in at least 36 matches a season he would smash League 1 to bits. Unfortunately that doesn't seem possible. Playing 15 minute cameos because he has a groin strain or muscle ache is becoming boring now.
Joe Pigott has scored 20 goals in a struggling side in League 1. What I noticed about Joe is not only has he matured but he takes up good positions in the area and will attempt shots from in and around the box.
Can't see him coming back to the valley when at 27 he can get a two year contract from a Championship club. When Joe moved on from Cafc i said he would have a career somewhere between the National League to League I in the future. Didn't see the championship as a possibility because of a lack of pace and at the time he left a lack of strength.
It never happens when I want players to sign for Cafc other than Maddison ! TBF that was 8 years ago when he was at Gateshead after leaving Newcastle and one month before signing for Peterborough.
Rebuild the side but fitness and skill need to be at the top of the requirements. I accept that we gamble slightly with players with potential.
No more buying players with disabled stickers on their cars. (With all due respect to anyone with health issues who genuinely need one)
It's a bit of an indictment of our season that nobody in our side deserves to be in that team. Even in L1 when we've failed as a side, there have usually been star performers
We didn’t have anyone make the 18/19 team of the year when we finished 3rd.
That season we were late bloomers I suppose which might have affected things.
Some good names in that team, Mowatt and Collins have stepped up with their clubs, Pinnock is now at Brentford, Moore at Cardiff, Clarke at Brighton (on loan to Derby), Lowe at Swansea and Justin who was having a great season for Leicester
Most of our 2018/19 side have stepped up to better things, few are still in L1 whereas can you say that about our current squad?
All of our current squad are in league one at the moment
Comments
GK I would keep Amos but would like an experienced number 2 . I would like to see AMB get a loan where he could be a regular . Young Keepers need regular games and I wouldn't want to risk him next year before he has played regularly somewhere .
RB Gunter and Matthews both staying is my preference . If Adam doesn't sign on again then maybe Deji could stay to cover RB/ CB
LB Purrington is under contract . We need an alternative alongside him . Declan John currently on loan at Bolton from Swansea , Cameron Borthwick Jackson impressed me at Scunthorpe two years ago and is out of contract at Oldham .
CB Inniss and Pearce . I would only retain Deji if Matthews does not stay . If not I would prefer a specialist centre back preferably someone with a similar presence to Ryan . Tom Anderson from Donny ? We would need another left sider as well .What about Conor Ogilvie at Gillingham who could also cover left back ?
RM / LM . Widemen . DJ is a good option . We need an alternative right footed wide man and ideally two lefties as well to replace Doughty and Maddison . Shane Ferguson and Josh Morris were both wanted on deadline day . I would be happy with either at this level as versatile left siders . Right footed options include Jordan Graham of Gills or Charlie Kirk who were also deadline day options .
DM Depending on wages I would retain both Pratley and Watson but not use them as regulars and not together . They could both be useful in the last half an hour if we need to hold on in a tight game . I would like a younger player as well . Is Mingi ready ? I always liked George Dobson currently on loan at AFC from the Mackems .
CM I would keep Jake Forster Caskey and Alex Gilbey is under contract next season and has improved . I would be happy if Shinnie stayed if there is the budget and feel Morgan would benefit from a loan. We need one or maybe two new options .Like others Ryan Fraser would be my favourite . I don't think MKD would let him go . What about Sean Goss of Shrewsbury ? More experienced options might include John Bostock at Donny or another MKD player Josh McEachran .
ST Chuks Aneke and Conor Washington should be two of our strikers . Although under contract I am not convinced by Ronnie Schwartz . We need another two options.
3 highly likely to be promoted
4 play for Sunderland so won't leave them for us
That leave 2 players we could target if they don't go up!
How Wilkes isn't in that team is beyond me though.
McGeady has the most assists in the League so again makes pretty good sense him being there too - What is stupid is Burge gets in ahead of Chris Maxwell @ Blackpool, yet the latter has one more clean sheet and has conceded three less goals.
Not sure why O'Nien is there, although do like him as a Right-Back
We have no idea what they add, if anything, behind the scenes. I wouldn't get rid of all of them.
But we really don't want to be in a position where they are appearing regularly as first team players - we need to be aiming higher than that.
It's like when we had Andy Hughes a few seasons back. He was great for training and mentoring and could do a job in a pinch but he wasn't there to be a regular first choice.
Some good names in that team, Mowatt and Collins have stepped up with their clubs, Pinnock is now at Brentford, Moore at Cardiff, Clarke at Brighton (on loan to Derby), Lowe at Swansea and Justin who was having a great season for Leicester
Most of our 2018/19 side have stepped up to better things, few are still in L1 whereas can you say that about our current squad?
We want more players like the reborn Gilbey and JFC who are a good 7 to 8 (out of 10) consistent hard working players in Midfield and less players who have too many 5's on their scores on the doors.
If Aneke was fit to play 90 minutes in at least 36 matches a season he would smash League 1 to bits. Unfortunately that doesn't seem possible. Playing 15 minute cameos because he has a groin strain or muscle ache is becoming boring now.
Joe Pigott has scored 20 goals in a struggling side in League 1. What I noticed about Joe is not only has he matured but he takes up good positions in the area and will attempt shots from in and around the box.
Can't see him coming back to the valley when at 27 he can get a two year contract from a Championship club. When Joe moved on from Cafc i said he would have a career somewhere between the National League to League I in the future. Didn't see the championship as a possibility because of a lack of pace and at the time he left a lack of strength.
It never happens when I want players to sign for Cafc other than Maddison !
TBF that was 8 years ago when he was at Gateshead after leaving Newcastle and one month before signing for Peterborough.
Rebuild the side but fitness and skill need to be at the top of the requirements. I accept that we gamble slightly with players with potential.
No more buying players with disabled stickers on their cars. (With all due respect to anyone with health issues who genuinely need one)