I posted a thread around halfway through the season, looking at how many goals we've scored and conceded while each player is on the pitch. Rather than bumping it just to post some new end of season figures, I'll take it and use it to have a look at the collection of crap we've got, and see what we need to look to do before the start of next season.
I don't see a point in saying "they're all shit sack the lot of them", as it's incredibly unrealistic. What I am looking at is whether each player has a role at the club, and whether they would provide value for money in that role - particularly for those players whose contracts are expiring and/or on loan. We don't need 25 players who are all of a quality that's good enough to get us promoted - we just need that for the first 11 and then have the rest of the squad be able to not let everything go to pieces when needed. If someone's on an expiring contract and we can extend them as a backup on backup money then there's really no reason not to.
So, without further ado, who we've used this season - sorted by minutes played. A long list (we've used 35 players, and probably more in the cups) so it's in spoilers, for completeness it includes players that have already left the club
So if we make the moves that I think we should, then assuming we stay 3-5-2 it leaves a set up of:
First team - Basham, Sharp, Long, Adams, Brayford, Reed
Hopefully be able to be in first team - Baptiste, Edgar
Backups - K Wallace, Coutts, Done, DCL, Freeman, McGahey, Whiteman, Ramsdale
Which leaves needs of:
- Central midfield. At best we're going to need one, we may end up needing two. One needs to be everything we thought Hammond would be and wasn't (even more critical if the manager, new or otherwise, wants to go 4-4-2), if we find someone of that ilk then Basham/Reed as the other two could work great, giving Coutts/DCL some time as needed
- Centre backs. Obviously the above is reliant on us not needing to drop Basham there, we should make getting Baptiste a priority, and will need at least another couple - as stated, I wouldn't mind Edgar while others may disagree, one more beyond that would be ideal otherwise you're chucking McGahey in and have zero backup
- Left back. I think Wallace would be fine, but it's a question of how he does when he comes back from injury. Done's not really working there, so picking up someone who's a steady starter there would be useful, doesn't need to be a world beater
- Wingers. We don't have any. If we're playing 3-5-2 then it's not a need, but if not then it becomes an enormous problem.
What we don't need:
- Right back. Brayford/Freeman is perfectly adequate
- Striker. Sharp/Adams/Done is pretty good here. A returning McNulty, if he stays, is further backup, DCL could work if absolutely necessary, if we still need more then we could probably look behind the fridge and under the sofa and find a Diego.
Would this be achievable? I don't see why not. We'd be trimming the squad a lot and saving a lot of wages, and putting all the money into key first team needs which I think everyone's identified (sans Adkins), and that's where we want the money to go, even after these cuts our depth is fine and it'd be better to spend 10k a week on one good starter than 10k a week on two that might be good enough but probably won't be.
I don't see a point in saying "they're all shit sack the lot of them", as it's incredibly unrealistic. What I am looking at is whether each player has a role at the club, and whether they would provide value for money in that role - particularly for those players whose contracts are expiring and/or on loan. We don't need 25 players who are all of a quality that's good enough to get us promoted - we just need that for the first 11 and then have the rest of the squad be able to not let everything go to pieces when needed. If someone's on an expiring contract and we can extend them as a backup on backup money then there's really no reason not to.
So, without further ado, who we've used this season - sorted by minutes played. A long list (we've used 35 players, and probably more in the cups) so it's in spoilers, for completeness it includes players that have already left the club
player - minutes played - goal difference while he's playing - per 90 minute figure - contract situation
Chris Basham - 3808 mins, +2, +0.05/90 - 1 year left
With a year left, he's obviously worth keeping around, has a lot of versatility and is able to play to the level we need
Billy Sharp - 3786 mins, +3, +0.07/90 - 1 year left
Obvious first choice striker, surprised me by showing he can still do it at this level, solved the perceived striker problem
David Edgar - 3150 mins, +10, +0.29/90 - currently on loan
Only player in double figures, I think this one is hugely a question of wages. If we can get him on sensible money then I think we should offer him a 1, maybe 2 year deal, especially if we're going to be playing three centre backs going forward
Jay McEveley - 2902 mins, +3, +0.09/90 - contract expiring
Unsure. As part of a back four he wasn't really working, but has done a bit better since the shift to three at the back. If he'll resign on backup money then I don't have a problem with it, but I doubt that happens, so probably let go
George Long - 2790 mins, -3, -0.10/90 - contract expiring
Extend. He looks like he's got a lot better as the season goes on, and isn't going to cost the earth
Che Adams - 2728 mins, +2, +0.07/90 - 2 years left
Again, obviously retain. It's a question of finding his best position, whether it be as a striking partner with Sharp or something else
Neill Collins - 2590 mins, +1, +0.03/90 - already gone
Dean Hammond - 2504 mins, +6, +0.22/90 - currently on loan
Oddly his per 90 minutes aren't awful, which is odd that he seems to play awfully most of the time, clearly don't sign him up
Paul Coutts - 2260 mins, +3, +0.12/90 - 1 year left
Don't think that we can do too much here. With a year left I can't see us being able to offload on the wages he's on. I don't think he's that bad that he can't be a rotation option, but certainly shouldn't be a first choice
Matt Done - 2186 mins, +6, +0.25/90 - 1 year left
Has some versatility about him, and while he's been disappointing at times he can at worst be part of a striker/winger rotation with Adams, the current left wing back role isn't really working
John Brayford - 1710 mins, +3, +0.16/90 - 2 years left
Clearly keep. Hasn't looked quite the same after injuries, but is still good enough, at least at this level.
Ryan Flynn - 1611 mins, +2, +0.11/90 - contract expiring
We have a year option here. Think it's similar to Coutts, but here we need to look at what he's costing us as we can cut ties if needed. If it's rotation level money I don't see why not, but if it's first team money then it should be put to a first team quality player
Kieron Freeman - 1576 mins, +1, +0.06/90 - 1 year left
Bring him back. He wasn't playing badly when Brayford returned and at worst is a solid backup that isn't costing much
Jose Baxter - 1540 mins, +2, +0.12/90 - contract expiring
Let him go, more trouble than it's worth. Ironically our current system would probably work quite well but he's done enough that we should have sacked him twice already
Conor Sammon - 1436 mins, +4, +0.25/90 - currently on loan
This one is obvious, he's offered nothing in the latter half of the season and would provide no value whatsoever
Mark Howard - 1350 mins, +8, +0.53/90 - contract expiring?
Release. He's going to be on a decent wedge and we don't need that for a backup keeper. Ramsdale works fine on the bench for me
Martyn Woolford - 1184 mins, 0, 0.00/90 - 1 year left
This one didn't work in the slightest. See if someone will take him on a free/season loan, subsidising wages if needed
Jamal Campbell-Ryce - 1074 mins, +5, +0.42/90 - contract expiring
We're probably not going to be able to get him on the sort of money that is comparable to what he can do, so let him go, at 33 he's not going to get any better
Louis Reed - 867 mins, -2, -0.21/90 - 2 years remaining
I have no idea why he hasn't been getting more minutes, especially when we swapped to three in the centre of the park. Should be getting more time next year.
Alex Baptiste - 851 mins, +4, +0.42/90 - currently on loan
Think this is one that we should again look to bring in dependent on wages. Boro have been promoted so it's possible, if wages make a permanent deal a non-starter then try for a season-long loan where we're not paying all of it?
Kieran Wallace - 777 mins, +4, +0.46/90 - 2 years left
Pity that injury struck. He was doing quite well until Bob Harris came back and then went away. Like Freeman, at worst he's a quality backup that should be on cheap money, should at least get a shot at Done's role
Harrison McGahey - 528 mins, +1, +0.17/90 - 1 year left
I still think there's something there, and at 20 he's not going to be on a lot. If we stick to a three then he might be able to improve a lot alongside experienced centre backs. Would take the option for cover at least
Bob Harris - 450 mins, -3, -0.60/90 - contract expiring?
Looked poor when he returned, out on loan as it stands, don't think he offers anything
Stefan Scougall - 348 mins, +2, +0.52/90 - 1 year left
I think this is one kind of like Reed whereby he'd probably do better in our current formation, except that he's older and already looks to have been shown the door
Ben Whiteman - 343 mins, -1, -0.26/90 - contract expiring?
No reason not to extend, should be at worst an option off the bench
Florent Cuvelier - 334 mins, +4, +1.08/90 - contract expiring
Not been able to cut it since coming back from perennial injuries, quit while we're behind
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 298 mins, -1, -0.30/90 - 2 years left
Happy for him to be in the squad, it's just a case of working out where he's best played
Mark McNulty - 169 mins, 0, 0.00/90, 1 year left
Think that if we get an offer in that we should take it, otherwise I wouldn't hate having him as a squad player
Craig Alcock - 92 mins, +2, +1.96/90 - already gone
Jamie Murphy - 90 mins, -4, -4.00/90 - already gone
Callum McFadzean - 90 mins, -4, -4.00/90 - contract expiring?
Already have better, younger options, so let him go, if he's even still here?
James Wallace - 72 mins, +2, +2.50/90 - 1 year left
Doubt we can offload our damaged goods to anyone, so try to pay him up, if not, try to just loan out
Terry Kennedy - 45 mins, +1, +2.00/90 - contract expiring
Think it needs to be a release, sadly, if it wasn't for the continual knee issues he'd have solved a lot of problems
Michael Higdon - 1 min, 0, 0.00/90 - already gone
Graham Kelly - some stoppage time, 0, 0.00/90 - 1 year left?
Can't really tell at this stage, but must have been doing something right to get on the bench, still very much in development
Chris Basham - 3808 mins, +2, +0.05/90 - 1 year left
With a year left, he's obviously worth keeping around, has a lot of versatility and is able to play to the level we need
Billy Sharp - 3786 mins, +3, +0.07/90 - 1 year left
Obvious first choice striker, surprised me by showing he can still do it at this level, solved the perceived striker problem
David Edgar - 3150 mins, +10, +0.29/90 - currently on loan
Only player in double figures, I think this one is hugely a question of wages. If we can get him on sensible money then I think we should offer him a 1, maybe 2 year deal, especially if we're going to be playing three centre backs going forward
Jay McEveley - 2902 mins, +3, +0.09/90 - contract expiring
Unsure. As part of a back four he wasn't really working, but has done a bit better since the shift to three at the back. If he'll resign on backup money then I don't have a problem with it, but I doubt that happens, so probably let go
George Long - 2790 mins, -3, -0.10/90 - contract expiring
Extend. He looks like he's got a lot better as the season goes on, and isn't going to cost the earth
Che Adams - 2728 mins, +2, +0.07/90 - 2 years left
Again, obviously retain. It's a question of finding his best position, whether it be as a striking partner with Sharp or something else
Neill Collins - 2590 mins, +1, +0.03/90 - already gone
Dean Hammond - 2504 mins, +6, +0.22/90 - currently on loan
Oddly his per 90 minutes aren't awful, which is odd that he seems to play awfully most of the time, clearly don't sign him up
Paul Coutts - 2260 mins, +3, +0.12/90 - 1 year left
Don't think that we can do too much here. With a year left I can't see us being able to offload on the wages he's on. I don't think he's that bad that he can't be a rotation option, but certainly shouldn't be a first choice
Matt Done - 2186 mins, +6, +0.25/90 - 1 year left
Has some versatility about him, and while he's been disappointing at times he can at worst be part of a striker/winger rotation with Adams, the current left wing back role isn't really working
John Brayford - 1710 mins, +3, +0.16/90 - 2 years left
Clearly keep. Hasn't looked quite the same after injuries, but is still good enough, at least at this level.
Ryan Flynn - 1611 mins, +2, +0.11/90 - contract expiring
We have a year option here. Think it's similar to Coutts, but here we need to look at what he's costing us as we can cut ties if needed. If it's rotation level money I don't see why not, but if it's first team money then it should be put to a first team quality player
Kieron Freeman - 1576 mins, +1, +0.06/90 - 1 year left
Bring him back. He wasn't playing badly when Brayford returned and at worst is a solid backup that isn't costing much
Jose Baxter - 1540 mins, +2, +0.12/90 - contract expiring
Let him go, more trouble than it's worth. Ironically our current system would probably work quite well but he's done enough that we should have sacked him twice already
Conor Sammon - 1436 mins, +4, +0.25/90 - currently on loan
This one is obvious, he's offered nothing in the latter half of the season and would provide no value whatsoever
Mark Howard - 1350 mins, +8, +0.53/90 - contract expiring?
Release. He's going to be on a decent wedge and we don't need that for a backup keeper. Ramsdale works fine on the bench for me
Martyn Woolford - 1184 mins, 0, 0.00/90 - 1 year left
This one didn't work in the slightest. See if someone will take him on a free/season loan, subsidising wages if needed
Jamal Campbell-Ryce - 1074 mins, +5, +0.42/90 - contract expiring
We're probably not going to be able to get him on the sort of money that is comparable to what he can do, so let him go, at 33 he's not going to get any better
Louis Reed - 867 mins, -2, -0.21/90 - 2 years remaining
I have no idea why he hasn't been getting more minutes, especially when we swapped to three in the centre of the park. Should be getting more time next year.
Alex Baptiste - 851 mins, +4, +0.42/90 - currently on loan
Think this is one that we should again look to bring in dependent on wages. Boro have been promoted so it's possible, if wages make a permanent deal a non-starter then try for a season-long loan where we're not paying all of it?
Kieran Wallace - 777 mins, +4, +0.46/90 - 2 years left
Pity that injury struck. He was doing quite well until Bob Harris came back and then went away. Like Freeman, at worst he's a quality backup that should be on cheap money, should at least get a shot at Done's role
Harrison McGahey - 528 mins, +1, +0.17/90 - 1 year left
I still think there's something there, and at 20 he's not going to be on a lot. If we stick to a three then he might be able to improve a lot alongside experienced centre backs. Would take the option for cover at least
Bob Harris - 450 mins, -3, -0.60/90 - contract expiring?
Looked poor when he returned, out on loan as it stands, don't think he offers anything
Stefan Scougall - 348 mins, +2, +0.52/90 - 1 year left
I think this is one kind of like Reed whereby he'd probably do better in our current formation, except that he's older and already looks to have been shown the door
Ben Whiteman - 343 mins, -1, -0.26/90 - contract expiring?
No reason not to extend, should be at worst an option off the bench
Florent Cuvelier - 334 mins, +4, +1.08/90 - contract expiring
Not been able to cut it since coming back from perennial injuries, quit while we're behind
Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 298 mins, -1, -0.30/90 - 2 years left
Happy for him to be in the squad, it's just a case of working out where he's best played
Mark McNulty - 169 mins, 0, 0.00/90, 1 year left
Think that if we get an offer in that we should take it, otherwise I wouldn't hate having him as a squad player
Craig Alcock - 92 mins, +2, +1.96/90 - already gone
Jamie Murphy - 90 mins, -4, -4.00/90 - already gone
Callum McFadzean - 90 mins, -4, -4.00/90 - contract expiring?
Already have better, younger options, so let him go, if he's even still here?
James Wallace - 72 mins, +2, +2.50/90 - 1 year left
Doubt we can offload our damaged goods to anyone, so try to pay him up, if not, try to just loan out
Terry Kennedy - 45 mins, +1, +2.00/90 - contract expiring
Think it needs to be a release, sadly, if it wasn't for the continual knee issues he'd have solved a lot of problems
Michael Higdon - 1 min, 0, 0.00/90 - already gone
Graham Kelly - some stoppage time, 0, 0.00/90 - 1 year left?
Can't really tell at this stage, but must have been doing something right to get on the bench, still very much in development
So if we make the moves that I think we should, then assuming we stay 3-5-2 it leaves a set up of:
First team - Basham, Sharp, Long, Adams, Brayford, Reed
Hopefully be able to be in first team - Baptiste, Edgar
Backups - K Wallace, Coutts, Done, DCL, Freeman, McGahey, Whiteman, Ramsdale
Which leaves needs of:
- Central midfield. At best we're going to need one, we may end up needing two. One needs to be everything we thought Hammond would be and wasn't (even more critical if the manager, new or otherwise, wants to go 4-4-2), if we find someone of that ilk then Basham/Reed as the other two could work great, giving Coutts/DCL some time as needed
- Centre backs. Obviously the above is reliant on us not needing to drop Basham there, we should make getting Baptiste a priority, and will need at least another couple - as stated, I wouldn't mind Edgar while others may disagree, one more beyond that would be ideal otherwise you're chucking McGahey in and have zero backup
- Left back. I think Wallace would be fine, but it's a question of how he does when he comes back from injury. Done's not really working there, so picking up someone who's a steady starter there would be useful, doesn't need to be a world beater
- Wingers. We don't have any. If we're playing 3-5-2 then it's not a need, but if not then it becomes an enormous problem.
What we don't need:
- Right back. Brayford/Freeman is perfectly adequate
- Striker. Sharp/Adams/Done is pretty good here. A returning McNulty, if he stays, is further backup, DCL could work if absolutely necessary, if we still need more then we could probably look behind the fridge and under the sofa and find a Diego.
Would this be achievable? I don't see why not. We'd be trimming the squad a lot and saving a lot of wages, and putting all the money into key first team needs which I think everyone's identified (sans Adkins), and that's where we want the money to go, even after these cuts our depth is fine and it'd be better to spend 10k a week on one good starter than 10k a week on two that might be good enough but probably won't be.
