Outs

[Stretch]

I think it really depends on where you see next season going. If we look to progress rather than stagnate then there can’t be any sentiment, waiting years for a guy who may be adequate. I don’t see the following making any realistic contribution next season:

G - Long
D - Wright, Heneghan, Lafferty, Hussey
M - Carruthers, Reed
F - Wilson, Donaldson, Evans, Hanson, Lavery

Then question marks over:
G - Moore
M - Holmes, Thomas
F - Sharp

Leaves:
G - Blackman (hopefully), Eastwood
D - Baldock, Freeman, Stevens, Basham, Stearman, O’Connell
M - Coutts, Fleck, Duffy, Evans, Leonard, Lundstram, Slater
F - Clarke, Brooks

Goalkeeper is a concern. I’ve seen enough to worry me over Moore that he or George would be back up at best. You could sell one or both for me. Blackman returning would be a boost.

Need better at left back and with Leonard’s adaptability you can perhaps add just one centre back. Likes of Semple and Norrington-Davies can be 6th centre back and third left back options.

Midfield can arguably go again with Coutts, and his back ups have gained good experience. Perhaps a proper winger needed if we want a plan B. It will be a big summer for Holmes or Thomas or they could find themselves out the door.

Only Brooks off Clarke are a good option next year for me as forward players. How successful you are in getting the right numbers in may depend on if Sharp remains. The rest not good enough unless Evans finds the Delorean.

It would also be interesting to see if Chris thinks any of the youth can step up.

Would agree with most of that, but I reckon Sharp is more likely to stay than leave. He has had a good season, all things considered and been involved in a few wonderful goals. I think we would be mad to try and ship him out just yet. Keep him Clarke and Brooks then get in 2 more proven championship strikers [or 1 proven champ and a risky PL loanee] and that looks like a very decent attacking line.

If we do decide to sell him we will no shortage of takers from the Championship.

 

[Sean Thornton]

I wouldn't keep Freeman unless there's something specific which is causing all these injuries and can be solved. Just too injury prone.

I think having his kneecap kicked around the back of his leg by a team mate isn't really down to being injury prone.

 

[cahill]

I just assumed Brooks would be on his way

 

[Sean Thornton]

Would agree with most of that, but I reckon Sharp is more likely to stay than leave. He has had a good season, all things considered and been involved in a few wonderful goals. I think we would be mad to try and ship him out just yet. Keep him Clarke and Brooks then get in 2 more proven championship striker [or 1 proven champ and a risky PL loanee] and that looks like a very decent attacking line.

If we do decide to sell him we will no shortage of takers from the Championship.

Billy won't stay as fourth or fifth choice. I believe he's unhappy as it is.

 

[cahill]

I think having his kneecap kicked around the back of his leg by a team mate isn't really down to being injury prone.

Oooph !! sounds painful

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

As things appear to stand at the moment, it may not be wise to get your hopes up that the clear out may be that big.

Absolutely this.

Are any of the voices on this thread the same voices who are regularly posting their understandable anxiety that boardroom handbags may mean bugger all cash available for new players this summer ?

Time to square that particular circle, people

 

[mancunianblade]

Here is one to consider.. does CW become obsessed with players he can’t have but thinks he should be able to get? I’m not willing to write either off so soon but with Holmes and Leonard it seems we identified achievable targets who would improve us, when it didn’t happen we persisted and seemed to have ignored that the players we already had proved thenselves better options in the mean time.

Having said that I really liked Holmes on his debut. Gave great energy and I’d go as far as saying we will slate Leonard for a season or two before he settles and becomes the RCB we all know he is

 

[mosbolad]

GK- Keep Blackman, perm if poss.
.

I think it's naturally curly BigBed......

 

[Revolution]

Billy won't stay as fourth or fifth choice. I believe he's unhappy as it is.

If he is I'm not surprised, since leaving him out has not actually led to an upturn in results.

 

[Stretch]

Billy won't stay as fourth or fifth choice. I believe he's unhappy as it is.

I wouldn't expect him to be happy if he isn't starting Sean, no good player should be. I suppose it's just whether he wants to stay and battle for his place enough with others coming in?
He still feels like our talisman to me and reckon he has another good season or 2 at this level.

 

[Bobby Boo]

Leonard - not really had a chance yet. He plays in a position where our best players play. Fleck, Coutts, Duffy, L Evans... it's hard to complete against those! they're the best midfielders we have had in my recent memory

Thomas is one for the future, he's still in development. Hanson was a good signing towards the end of last season but we didn't need him this season

At the Forest game, Kevin Gage said that CW really rates Leonard and see's his future at the club as a central defender

 

[Champagneblade]

I wouldn't expect him to be happy if he isn't starting Sean, no good player should be. I suppose it's just whether he wants to stay and battle for his place enough with others coming in?
He still feels like our talisman to me and reckon he has another good season or 2 at this level.

I wish he was. But he’s not scored since the end of Feb. If ever we needed a player to be a talisman and take the game by the scruff of the neck it’s been these last 6 matches - Birmingham, Millwall, Barnsley, Boro, Cardiff and Brentford. Winning in all 6 of them and won just one.

It’s been a great, romantic chapter but it’s coming to a close.

 

[Revolution]

I wish he was. But he’s not scored since the end of Feb. If ever we needed a player to be a talisman and take the game by the scruff of the neck it’s been these last 6 matches - Birmingham, Millwall, Barnsley, Boro, Cardiff and Brentford. Winning in all 6 of them and won just one.

It’s been a great, romantic chapter but it’s coming to a close.

Sharp started one of the six games you mention (Brentford), came on as sub 3 times, and did not play in the other 2.

Essentially, he missed chances against Brentford and Wilder dropped him.

I remain unconvinced that this was a good decision.

But irrespective of that, it's pretty hard to step up when you're sitting on the bench for the majority of the time.

 

[Eric Cartman]

Sharp started one of the six games you mention (Brentford), came on as sub 3 times, and did not play in the other 2.

Essentially, he missed chances against Brentford and Wilder dropped him.

I remain unconvinced that this was a good decision.

But irrespective of that, it's pretty hard to step up when you're sitting on the bench for the majority of the time.

At least Sharp gets into positions to miss chances. Donaldson, Cardiff apart, is often too busy falling over his own feet.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Gerremallart

Payemalloff

Getnowtforrem

Weers munneh gone.....

Err,,,,,,


As things appear to stand at the moment, it may not be wise to get your hopes up that the clear out may be that big.

Are these the foreigners that van winkle is reported to be bringing in?

 

[BigBed]

I think it's naturally curly BigBed......

I knew someone would've seen downstairs

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

I wouldn't expect him to be happy if he isn't starting Sean, no good player should be. I suppose it's just whether he wants to stay and battle for his place enough with others coming in?
He still feels like our talisman to me and reckon he has another good season or 2 at this level.

I don't think that it's just an issue with him not starting, he's not coming on in games as well that's the big thing for me. Factor into the mix the loss of captaincy, I can see why he'd be annoyed. Not playing any part in the 2nd derby must have been deeply upsetting for Billy. It's worth remembering that on the 8th April last year he was being carried shoulder high off the pitch, and a year later he's getting 30 mins cameos if he's lucky. I think Billy with have a sit down with CW at the end of the season & have a chat with his family and discuss what's best for all parties. I think he's under contract until 2019, and he's probably got enough left in the tank to play until 2020, possibly 2021 depending on his desire. Where, for how many games and in what role would be the question. If he is down the pecking order now, I don't see how he can re-assert himself in CW's plans.

 

[1889]

This maybe controversial, but I think we need to replace our strikers if we are going to improve on this seasons position.
I don’t include Brooks, he has great potential but is currently too lightweight, Wilson has failed to take his chance and showed very little to suggest he’ll be a top player.
Sharp and Clarke, are not good enough for anything other than bench or back up, if we are really serious about promotion.
Donaldson is just not good enough, full stop.
Our lack of goals since Christmas and appalling finishing has cost us a tap in play off place.
Finding and financing a new strike force may be easier said than done

 

[Stretch]

I don't think that it's just an issue with him not starting, he's not coming on in games as well that's the big thing for me. Factor into the mix the loss of captaincy, I can see why he'd be annoyed. Not playing any part in the 2nd derby must have been deeply upsetting for Billy. It's worth remembering that on the 8th April last year he was being carried shoulder high off the pitch, and a year later he's getting 30 mins cameos if he's lucky. I think Billy with have a sit down with CW at the end of the season & have a chat with his family and discuss what's best for all parties. I think he's under contract until 2019, and he's probably got enough left in the tank to play until 2020, possibly 2021 depending on his desire. Where, for how many games and in what role would be the question. If he is down the pecking order now, I don't see how he can re-assert himself in CW's plans.

I must admit that his exclusion in round 2 vs the grunters was baffling at best. He looked absolutely forlorn. To be fair to Wilder he admitted he got it wrong but yeah it must have hurt seeing an unproven loanee be given the nod over you as club captain.

 

[Ricky]

Not bringing Sharp on against Wednesday was possibly Wilder's most bizarre move of the season.

 

[LJBlade]

This maybe controversial, but I think we need to replace our strikers if we are going to improve on this seasons position.
I don’t include Brooks, he has great potential but is currently too lightweight, Wilson has failed to take his chance and showed very little to suggest he’ll be a top player.
Sharp and Clarke, are not good enough for anything other than bench or back up, if we are really serious about promotion.
Donaldson is just not good enough, full stop.
Our lack of goals since Christmas and appalling finishing has cost us a tap in play off place.
Finding and financing a new strike force may be easier said than done

Imagine if Clarke played for another team in this league and had managed to score as many goals for them as he has for us. I guarantee you wouldn’t be saying he isn’t good enough. I think the same could even be said for Sharp as well.

 

[Grappler]

I wouldn't be too quick to get rid of Lafferty, no idea if Holmes is one for next season, same with Leonard.

Heneghan looked half decent, as did Nathan Thomas, so would think they would be here next term.

 

[Keen Blade]

Gerremallart

Payemalloff

Getnowtforrem

Weers munneh gone.....

Err,,,,,,


As things appear to stand at the moment, it may not be wise to get your hopes up that the clear out may be that big.

And whose fault is that ? The fans ?
Or could it be that if a manager starts trying to clear out players to whom he's just given a contract (and have made no impact or not been selected) , it might begin to look a teensy weensy bit like incompetence ?

 

[Champagneblade]

Sharp started one of the six games you mention (Brentford), came on as sub 3 times, and did not play in the other 2.

Essentially, he missed chances against Brentford and Wilder dropped him.

I remain unconvinced that this was a good decision.

But irrespective of that, it's pretty hard to step up when you're sitting on the bench for the majority of the time.

He cost us the game against Brentford with his poor finishing along with Donaldson. Those two points might cost us a play off place in favour of Brentford.

I can appreciate his opportunities were then limited. My point is that it’s difficult to hold up someone as a Talisman who isn’t being considered good enough by the manager to get in the team.

If he’s not a starter I don’t see where we go together. He doesn’t have an outstanding attribute to come from the bench and be a game changer. Caring isn’t an attribute and he doesn’t add physicality or pace. I can’t remember when he last was sub and scored.

I wish him well, he’s done great but it’s coming to an end. You can tell. So many, Sharp nearly got there comments. Last season he was there.

 

[Revolution]

He cost us the game against Brentford with his poor finishing along with Donaldson. Those two points might cost us a play off place in favour of Brentford.

I can appreciate his opportunities were then limited. My point is that it’s difficult to hold up someone as a Talisman who isn’t being considered good enough by the manager to get in the team.

If he’s not a starter I don’t see where we go together. He doesn’t have an outstanding attribute to come from the bench and be a game changer. Caring isn’t an attribute and he doesn’t add physicality or pace. I can’t remember when he last was sub and scored.

I wish him well, he’s done great but it’s coming to an end. You can tell. So many, Sharp nearly got there comments. Last season he was there.

100% agreed on Brentford, but you can't put the other games on him.

My concern with Sharp is that after an admittedly poor performance against Bolton just after Christmas, Wilder has not played him as much as he was before...with no real discernible improvement in results.

We've tried Clarke on his own, we've tried Clarke and Donaldson, we've tried Wilson and Clarke, we've tried Brooks behind Clarke, we've tried Duffy behind Donaldson...nothing has worked consistently.

And you know what? Sharp is still joint top scorer since Christmas. It's only four goals - 2 against Leeds and Reading - but they have been valuable ones as we won 5 points as a result of those goals. Clarke has also scored 4 - we've drawn 3 and lost 1 of the games he's scored in.

Wilson? Donaldson? One goal each, in the same game, an important win at Norwich.

Is Sharp a 30 goal striker in this division? Nope. Is he better than all of our other options bar Clarke? I think there's a strong argument that he is. Has he scored this season? 12 in 26 starts and 6 sub appearances is respectable, yes.

Against this background, I am puzzled as to why he hasn't started more this calendar year. The only thing more puzzling is Wilder's bizarre treatment of Ricky Holmes.

Ian Porterfield used to forget occasionally that the best way to deal with Keith Edwards was to play him and let him get on with it. I wonder whether we might have been better adopting that stance with Sharp since Christmas.

 

[HolmesfieldBlade]

Based on summer board activity it’s not certain we’ll be challenging for the play offs next year.

 

[Lmaobob]

I don't think Leonard is someone we should get rid of. He's young, spent all his life nowhere higher than league 1 and come to a club where competition is tough and have been pushing for the play offs. He seems to be Wilder's choice of player to bring on when we need to be steady so he is thought of highly by Wilder. Wilder didn't spend all this time trying to sign him for him to be offloaded 6 months later

 

[Houston_Blade]

Holmes is going nowhere, we won't recoup anywhere near enough cash for him. He might turn out ok yet, you never know.

 

[Chali 2na]

I wouldn't keep Freeman unless there's something specific which is causing all these injuries and can be solved. Just too injury prone.

You don't know the difference between being injured and being injury prone.

 

[Carlton Blade]

I don't think that it's just an issue with him not starting, he's not coming on in games as well that's the big thing for me. Factor into the mix the loss of captaincy, I can see why he'd be annoyed. Not playing any part in the 2nd derby must have been deeply upsetting for Billy. It's worth remembering that on the 8th April last year he was being carried shoulder high off the pitch, and a year later he's getting 30 mins cameos if he's lucky. I think Billy with have a sit down with CW at the end of the season & have a chat with his family and discuss what's best for all parties. I think he's under contract until 2019, and he's probably got enough left in the tank to play until 2020, possibly 2021 depending on his desire. Where, for how many games and in what role would be the question. If he is down the pecking order now, I don't see how he can re-assert himself in CW's plans.

If Barnsley go down that would be an ideal move for him.

I'd rather keep him around but if he's not playing then we may as well make use of his wages