Retained List

[Tarqs]

I don't understand the "let's keep Coulibaly" comments. He's not managed any minutes after promotion so it's clear Hecky doesn't rate him.

I myself did want to see more of him but its a pointless situation now. Let him free.

Hecky said hes got a big part to play in our future apparently.

Makes it more baffling that fleck gets chosen over him.

 

[Mouth of the South]

Given we are going to spend 60% or more of most matches out of possession we need a squad of predominantly fit and fast players who can run for 90 mins and press the hell out of sides. Just one person not doing that and the whole system falls apart as premier league sides pass their way through you and around you and run right past you.

That's why it's pretty easy to see which players shouldn't be retained. It's also a potential reason for retaining Ozzy.

If running around like a headless chicken was a key requirement for the squad, Osborn would get a 5 year deal. Unfortunately, as Utd will need to firstly win the ball back and then try to do something constructive / creative when they get it, it surely rules him out of having any sort of role next season. He may well be able to cover several positions but if he plays all of them badly, what's the point? He'd actually be my first out of the door if it were my decision.

 

[Swinton Blade]

we've released it on the 24th May for the last two years, so save the date

Last two seasons ended later though. Might be earlier this year.

 

[steve26272]

That is likely going to depend hugely upon whether a player is out of contract, or whether the contract is merely expiring. At this stage, you might be right. Two months down the line when the player is released, all contractual ties will have finished and that surely cannot be the case

seem to think there are several instances, De Gea now, where the club can offer a reduced salary - of course the player can reject it, but cant see how clubs can be stopped from offering what they want?

even if this is the case, tell the agent that the club will offer the player £xx pw salary, and that offer is valid from 00:01 on the 1st of July, by which time the player is no longer contracted to the club so we can make any offer to someone who is technically unemployed

 

[FriethBlade]

If running around like a headless chicken was a key requirement for the squad, Osborn would get a 5 year deal. Unfortunately, as Utd will need to firstly win the ball back and then try to do something constructive / creative when they get it, it surely rules him out of having any sort of role next season. He may well be able to cover several positions but if he plays all of them badly, what's the point? He'd actually be my first out of the door if it were my decision.

I know where u r coming from but given Heckys comments it's clear we are keeping some of the old guard. I'd keep him over Fleck who is a better footballer but will be a passenger most games.

 

[Snowflake]

The more I hear Hecky, and the more I think of the players out of contract, the more I worry he might offer them ALL an extention.

*with the exception of JOC.

Why would this be wrong when we have lost 4 loan players and need 5/6 new players to make up the squad ?

 

[Mouth of the South]

Why would this be wrong when we have lost 4 loan players and need 5/6 new players to make up the squad ?

Mainly because they're not good enough.

The thought of Fleck, Stevens (whilst acknowledging how great they've been for the club) and especially Osborn playing next season makes me shudder.

Hopefully PH is keeping his cards close to his chest and actually plans to sign a raft of improvements.

 

[Snowflake]

Mainly because they're not good enough

That is only relevant if you can replace them.
We need four players to cover this season’s loans and two more to make up to PL squad numbers.
We will not have money to spare beyond these 6 and the increased salaries of those retained.

 

[Mouth of the South]

That is only relevant if you can replace them.
We need four players to cover this season’s loans and two more to make up to PL squad numbers.
We will not have money to spare beyond these 6 and the increased salaries of those retained.

Who knows how many and who will be signed. Do you really expect PH to come out with "we've got £50m to spend and I'm going to sign 6.

Even Forest in their football equivalent of Supermarket Sweep last season didn't publicise their intention.

If you're telling me the recruitment team is unable to find improvements on Osborn, Fleck and Stevens with the money available (even on a net zero cost), I'd question their capability.

 

[buddy]

That is only relevant if you can replace them.
We need four players to cover this season’s loans and two more to make up to PL squad numbers.
We will not have money to spare beyond these 6 and the increased salaries of those retained.

again ,if we cant find or afford someone to have a bigger impact on games than Fleck etc , from the youths or even non league ,then its time to pack it in. It would be just a waste of a wage in the prem

 

[Snowflake]

Who knows how many and who will be signed. Do you really expect PH to come out with "we've got £50m to spend and I'm going to sign 6.

Even Forest in their football equivalent of Supermarket Sweep last season didn't publicise their intention.

If you're telling me the recruitment team is unable to find improvements on Osborn, Fleck and Stevens with the money available (even on a net zero cost), I'd question their capability.

I agree that those three should be at the top of the list of ex players, but until we have filled the 6 gaps in the squad they will have to remain.
If they are removed then 9 are needed to balance the numbers and that will be difficult.

 

[Brownieblade]

Would Billy drop wages to stay on for one more year, knowing he would be sub at best for every game

 

[Mouth of the South]

If running around like a headless chicken was a key requirement for the squad, Osborn would get a 5 year deal. Unfortunately, as Utd will need to firstly win the ball back and then try to do something constructive / creative when they get it, it surely rules him out of having any sort of role next season. He may well be able to cover several positions but if he plays all of them badly, what's the point? He'd actually be my first out of the door if it were my decision.

Koh Samui Blade - are you based out there? We were there 3 weeks ago - fantastic place!

 

[Blademan89]

I don't understand some of the stick ozzy gets. He's not the best player in the squad by far, but when heads drop, he's still running around trying to make something happen.

I can run around being a try hard, trying to make something happen and hassling/pressing. I would be on relatively cheap wages. Would you be happy with me stepping in off the bench in the Prem for odd game or 2? - genuine question

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

It was incredibly frustrating to see Hecky's team selections in the last three games, agreed

Hecky said hes got a big part to play in our future apparently.

Makes it more baffling that fleck gets chosen over him.

It just don't make sense to me, you can't even know if he's any good without a run of games either. We know Fleck etc was good but he isn't the future.

Jebbison and Osula got run outs to have a look at and they're even younger than IC.

 

[Tarqs]

It just don't make sense to me, you can't even know if he's any good without a run of games either. We know Fleck etc was good but he isn't the future.

Jebbison and Osula got run outs to have a look at and they're even younger than IC.

But coiulibaly and brooks played over an hour against spurs in the cup...

Just find it all a bit weird

 

[Norwood's 6 iron]

It's our left side that is our big weakness, Enda and Flecky are past their sell by date. Osborn and Max Lowe aren't good enough.
Not sure about JLT and RND. So we need a minimum of 4 possibly 6 players just to shore up our left flank.
Add on that we have lost Doyle and McAtee and that Norwood hasn't the legs for the prem, it would appear that Hecky might have quite a long shopping list.
It might get to a stage where his hand is forced into keeping some players purely because he can't bring enough players in.
Wouldn't like to go down the Fulham or Forest path of bringing a whole new squad in but we may have to accept that the Blades will have a different look next season.

 

[robbiez666]

Last two seasons ended later though. Might be earlier this year.

I guess we'll not do it until we've sorted contracts out for those we want to keep. Which may take a while, depending on what kind of wages we're offering.

 

[Tarqs]

I guess we'll not do it until we've sorted contracts out for those we want to keep. Which may take a while, depending on what kind of wages we're offering.

To be honest, the ones we're talking about (Sharp, Norwood, etc), I don't think would get a better deal elsewhere at this stage of their careers.

That said, they may just want to play football, in which case we shouldn't even be negotiating.

 

[robbiez666]

To be honest, the ones we're talking about (Sharp, Norwood, etc), I don't think would get a better deal elsewhere at this stage of their careers.

That said, they may just want to play football, in which case we shouldn't even be negotiating.

I suspect that they may want to keep playing regularly, even if that's on significantly less money. Norwood would get a decent championship deal. 4 promotions on his CV now.

 

[TJ blade]

I don't understand some of the stick ozzy gets. He's not the best player in the squad by far, but when heads drop, he's still running around trying to make something happen.

Hence the title headless chicken..

 

[atlanticblade]

Hecky attended the Senior Blades lunch this afternoon and stated that some of the players have been given good news
and some bad news. He also said that we would be even more proud of the team if we knew what had been going off
behind the scenes. He seemed in a very good mood though, alongside Jack and Stuart Mac.

 

[skinje]

Reading through the replies it’s evident just how difficult a summer it’s going to be for PH. It’s safe to assume that we will have to plan and execute based on a protracted Prince ownership (and therefore budget).
We are going to have to do a combination of:

• pull a few rabbits out of the hat on loans
• plunder some bargains from overseas
• hope that returning players (RND, BREWSTER) have an impact
• get a development leap from one of the youths (always seems to happen…could be one of Jebbo, Osula, the new left back etc.).
• take a more flexible approach to wage structure and explore free agent market.

I don’t see us doing much if any business from the championship. I certainly don’t see us buying the top talents and given where we are at financially I don’t think it’s viable or the best approach. It can be revisited when we know who our next owner is…

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

10 out of contract, I imagine more than half will be offered new deals (6 or more) from what the management have been hinting.

 

[SUFC Guy]

So we know that Billy is leaving. Who else does that leave?

 

[SufcBilly]

So we know that Billy is leaving. Who else does that leave?

Osborn, Enda, Fleck all certainly leaving i would bet

 

[Nightsweats]

If running around like a headless chicken was a key requirement for the squad, Osborn would get a 5 year deal. Unfortunately, as Utd will need to firstly win the ball back and then try to do something constructive / creative when they get it, it surely rules him out of having any sort of role next season. He may well be able to cover several positions but if he plays all of them badly, what's the point? He'd actually be my first out of the door if it were my decision.

Ozzy has uncomplainingly bust a gut in more positions unsuited to him than anyone.
Played as a LWB he is a decent player. First out the door? Stevens, Fleck and Sharp are ahead of him IMO.

 

[Balham]

10 out of contract, I imagine more than half will be offered new deals (6 or more) from what the management have been hinting.

IMHO we should be giving a new deal to two or three, taking up the option on two and releasing the other 5. If we're keeping the likes of Ben Osborn around for a Premier League season we may as well wave the white flag now.

Foderingham - new deal
Stevens - release
Robinson - new deal
O'Connell - release
Norwood - 1yr option taken up assuming reduced playing time
Fleck - release
Osborn - release
Coulibaly - 1yr option taken up
Sharp - release
McBurnie - new deal

 

[Champagneblade]

IMHO we should be giving a new deal to two or three, taking up the option on two and releasing the other 5. If we're keeping the likes of Ben Osborn around for a Premier League season we may as well wave the white flag now.

Foderingham - new deal
Stevens - release
Robinson - new deal
O'Connell - release
Norwood - 1yr option taken up assuming reduced playing time
Fleck - release
Osborn - release
Coulibaly - 1yr option taken up
Sharp - release
McBurnie - new deal

You're probably right with that. The concern is how much additional recruitment is going to dilute the final quality of the overall team.

 

[Toronto Blade]

We need pace to compete in the PL. With McAtee and Doyle both gone they stopped our slide from a 12 point lead. We are left with aging legs Norwood and Fleck who have zero pace to compete in the PL.