Now we've got a few games under our belt under NJ and look a far better team than before, how many of this squad do you reckon will/should be here next season?
AMB and Isted are both contracted through next year, I can't see us signing a new number 1 without one of them leaving, but it's tough as so often a keeper can shine elsewhere and be dogshit here (take MacGillivray for example)
Verdict: both stay
Hector, Thomas and Ness are all up for renewal in the summer. 12-15 months ago I would have said sign Ness up for as long as possible but he's been a shadow of that player this season, and whilst Thomas has had an upturn in form recently I'm not sure he's a man to have playing most games in a promotion chasing team, unless a backup only. However I believe both will be extended. Hector is too injury prone and lackadaisical to really warrant a new contract.
Verdict: Gillesphey, Jones, Edmonds-Green, Thomas, Ness, Mitchell all stay, one new signing in to replace Hector.
Wing backs is an interesting area, and one that is crucial to the system NJ wants to play. Asiimwe, Edun, Thomas and Ramsay are all contracted through at least next season, and we have an option on Small, so expect him to extend too. The biggest disappointment of them is Edun who we chased for the best part of a year only to find out he seemingly can't cross and isn't a great defender.
Verdict: no change here unless someone is sold
Moving to central midfield, we have a large amount of players leaving in the summer for one reason or another as it stands, with Watson, Camara, Bakinson and Fiorini all on loans, Dobson and Payne out of contract, and Fraser seemingly way out of favour and homesick. Taylor and Coventry have clearly been earmarked as the future of our midfield alongside burgeoning talent Anderson, but it's here I expect the most amount of change.
Verdict: one of Camara and Bakinson to sign on a free, 3 further signings to replace the rest, Fraser sold for next to nothing.
Wingers are an enigma, NJ seemingly doesn't operate with them, and the moving on of Chem Campbell, Kirk and CBT in the winter rather swayed that decision, with Tyreece the sole winger left in the first team. He's out of contract in the summer and I expect him to leave for pastures new.
Verdict: Nathan Jones' wingless wonders!
Finally we have the strikers, with May an almost certainty to stay, and Kanu signing a new long term deal, it remains to be seen what happens with long term injured Leaburn, with many suitors before injury, and Chuks Aneke, who's name my phone tries to auto correct to "Fucked" Aneke, which seems very on the nose, but alarmingly accurate. Ladapo hasn't really impressed despite his history in League 1 and will no doubt slip back off to Ipswich in the summer.
Verdict: May and Kanu stay, Aneke gets a 1 year deal, Leaburn sold, Ladapo sent back and we sign 2 new strikers
Let me know what you surmise will happen, and if the net result of it all will spell success for us or not.
Long Story short, we'll sign about 7 or 8 players this summer, sell or jettison 11 or 12 and operate with a more trim, but robust squad for next season
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Comments
Let's just learn from this season.
Wing backs I agree could be ok with the two on each side, although I’d have to see how Ramsay does as not convinced on Watson despite his improved form.
Centre backs I’d like to see one top quality option coming in to compete with REG, Jones and Gillesphey would I see as the first choice trio going forward. One of Thomas or Hector would have to make way for them. Ness goes out on loan.
I am personally a big fan of our wing back options. If we hang on to Small then either Asiimwe or Edun goes out on loan leaving us with two of those three together with Tennai and Kayne.
Central midfield, Fraser and McGrandles are gone or will be gone. I think Dobbo is probably done in SE7 too, don’t see how that situation is turned around now. Leaves Coventry, Anderson and Terry Taylor as the contracted options so potential major surgery required here… I still want to see Fiorini given a chance under Jones before the end of the season.
Forwards I like the five options we have. The one thing we’re really missing is a big lump like Chuks but can stay fit. I think we see one of Ladapo or Leaburn gone after this summer and we bring in another target man to replace them. Leaburn is the sentimental, exciting pick to keep but he’s starting to worry me that he’s picking up Chuks’ sick note trait.
Don’t think we need to give Chuks another year, as I think there’s one or two years still left on his current contract.
Midfield options are more up in the air.
No chance of promotion next year if we keep conceeding every game.
REG - X - Gillesphey
Ramsay - Coventry - X - Small
X
May - X
Is the starting eleven for next season for me at the moment.
Wont bother repeating whats been said about the Goalkeepers, I'd keep Maynard-Brewer as a No.2, don't see the point of loaning him out now.
Jones I'd keep around as backup, Hector and Thomas thank you for your Service, but think we equally need something slightly better than Jones... Wont be surprised either if Jones is in that starting eleven.
Midfield and Wing-Backs speak for themselves, maybe another Left-Back that is better than Edun, along with others to compete with Coventry and Anderson as its depth we once again need to concentrate on... Who knows what'll happen with Dobson, so left his spot spare
Might even see Taylor being a big player there... McGrandles and Fraser, bye bye
We definitely need the creativity in the No.10 spot, its probably the big factor that is holding us back, even with this impressive run of results at the moment.
Striker is probably going to be the hardest position to fill in some ways, we've got some excellent options with Leaburn and Kanu proving their worth, and Aneke when possible.
This has clearly been the breakthrough year for Kanu and Anderson, so could well fill two of the slots in that starting eleven, but equally we still need another Striker to replace Ladapo, someone who can hold up the ball, yet has the movement of May and Kanu in an ideal world.
I think it’s likely we’ll bring in a new GK which probably means one of AMB and Isted moving on as neither are going to be happy as 3rd choice, never mind 2nd.
I can see Ness being released unless he ends up having a run in the team and impresses. It’ll be interesting what happens with Hector and Thomas, nothing would surprise me either way with them.
CM of course needs the most work with all the loan signings. I don’t see Camara signing permanently with his injury problems, while we’ll probably aim higher than Bakinson - there’s an obvious gap for a goalscoring attacking midfielder or two. Hopefully Fraser can be moved on quite quickly to free up the budget. I expect Campbell to go though we might offer a contract with the aim of getting some compete to his age. Realistically there’s no room for him in NJs formations.
Up front we need another physical hold up striker which would give competition for Leaburn to play alongside Kanu or May. Chuks is then our 5th striker, which with 7 subs isn’t an issue.
The other thing to consider is who’s next in line in the academy. At CB Mitchell and Laqeretabua signed longer term deals which shows they’re rated. Up front Casey and Mbick will want to progress too and are also on longer contracts than most their age. Hopefully we get the balance right without the 888 plan pushing any young players further ahead than they’re ready to be.
Full current squad details here
McGrandles and Henry under contract for next season although imagine the club will want to move both on.
Thomas is one to keep for me. Versatile and experienced in what might be an otherwise youngish side and enough of a leader to be captain last weekend. Very underrated by many IMHO. And the way NJ players with three CHs you need plently of cover at the back.
On wingers I wouldn't assume that Jones doesn't want any, it's just that at the moment he's not got much choice.
He wants "Game changers" off the bench and if we're to challenge at the top end of the table next erm we'll need players who can break down stubborn defences.
Strikers who can play wide as well as centrally and have pace ala Karlan Grant would be ideal but they don't come cheap
Wing-backs: Edun to leave and a replacement brought in.
CM: We pretty much know who’s leaving already. 3 replacements needed.
ST: One in to replace Ladapo. Two if Miles is sold.
I make that 6-9 incoming dependant on outgoings and the GK. One thing for certain is that they pretty much all need to be in the ‘Elite’ category of the 8-8-8 model.
Midfield will need overhaul, Anderson has been great but we do need an attacking midfielder to compete with him and add goals/creativity. If Dobson leaves we probably need 2 other midfielders. McGrandles might be worth a final go maybe, but I’m hoping we try and bring in a top quality first choice box-box midfielder to partner Coventry
GK - I'd want an out and out first choice , wouldn't mind Isted as backup.
CBs - happy with Jones,REG and Gillesphey with TT as cover , wouldn't expect Hector to stay so another senior CB for a back 3 would be a plus. Not sure about Ness and we have Mitchell to come back too.
WBs - got no problems here with Ramsey and Small as starters , Edun I've been really disappointed by. T.Watson fine as cover.
CMs- Taylor , Coventry and Anderson are here definitely , not sure what will ultimately happen with Dobson so have him as a question mark. Absolutely need another more creative option that can replace Fraser.
Don't expect Mcgrandles and Henry to stay despite being under contract, Bakinson could be a useful squad option on a free.
ST- Leaburn I don't think goes in the summer purely because of fitness, not been overly convinced by Ladapo and Chuks is a difficult one. So it's just ultimately who partners Alfie out of Kanu, Leaburn and probably a new striker.
Would be getting Patrick Casey at least a National League loan.
Currently there are 10 players out of contract at the end of the season (3 of those out on loan and 2 with club options on an additional year)
5 players to return to their parent clubs
4 to come back to us from their loans and have more than a year left to run on their contracts
A lot of change to happen once again but provided Jones is allowed with no interference to build then it looks good
The one who should really be concerned is Edun. He hasn't looked good for any of the managers so far in any shape and he's not a Jones style wingback. Jones likes his wingbacks to be wingers who can put their foot in, Edun is a midfielder who isn't strong enough to hold the middle so gets to hide in wider areas and contribute from there. He's been extremely poor as a LB and when he was briefly LWB he didn't really look all that much better. A bit, but a player to bolster a midfield that needs an extra body, not a pacy wideman who can provide firepower from the flanks. Jones wants his WBs to widen the pitch and Edun instinctively narrows it. He'll either sit on the bench waiting for the end because no-one else can afford him or he'll go.
Up front Jones will want a hard-working bastard. Might be Leaburn fits the bill in which case we could do worse than May, Kanu, Aneke and Leaburn but there will need to be another. I always advocate for 5 strikers if you're playing with 2 (2 to start, 2 to cover injuries and loss of form, 1 to change the game from the bench when the injuries start to bite) and we've seen that Jones' style doesn't result in one striker bagging goal after goal, it gets shared around the frontline Curbs-style. I think we'll end up getting more like 5 goals from 5 strikers rather than another May run of goals. Aneke is a frustrating one because you can't have 6 strikers but it's hard to count him as a reliable 5th as well. We've got him though so we need another striker who can bully defenders, hold up the ball but also can show a turn of pace. Not easily found.
People still keep talking about the 10 position like we employ a 10. We don't. We play three battling centre mids. Two deeper to protect the middle and plug the gaps the WBs leave and one further forward to win the ball up high, competing for high balls and pressing defenders into making mistakes in their own half. Jones will want a player like Anderson who competes for everything and has a great engine, but with a bit more creative ability and the wherewithal to pounce on loose balls outside the box like the second coming of Johnnie Jackson. Another tough one to find but he'll know what he's after. There's a question mark over Bakinson as I don't think he's done very well as the deep midfielder and we won't want to go into a new season with Bakinson and Anderson as our advanced midfielders so he might end up going and not coming back. Dobson is apparently going so it's up to Taylor to try and make that spot his and we'll bring someone in to compete with him. The high-energy game Jones employs and his ruthlessness if someone has a bad game means we need a lot of rotation options in the midfield even if we're going for a smaller squad.
Let's not get carried away though, it was just one win. Need to confirm safety first!