Keen Blade
Look Sharp !
I will never get to sleep if I start typing all my negative emotions , so my nightcap is to acknowledge that life does indeed go on and there's always next season.
So to try and drag myself out of a pit of despair , here's my thoughts on what I'd do in Nigel's shoes :
Every player out of contract in the summer EXCEPT Adams, Harris, K.Wallace, Edgar & Long , should go.
ie: Hammond, Sammon, Flynn, JCR, Baxter, Cuvelier, Collins, Kennedy, McGahey, McEveley & Howard.
But Hammond will stay (you know it).
Of those who are still in contract, these should be sold/paid-off: Scougall, Woolford, McFadzean & DGRO.
But Woolford will stay (you know it).
That leaves us with a realistic prospect of the following squad:
New first-choice goalie, Long as cover ( or Long plus Willis as cover - I don't know Willis);
Brayford, new RB cover, new CB x2, Edgar as cover, Harris, K.Wallace;
Coutts, Basham, Hammond (Capt. while NA is here), Reed, new & pacy CMF x2, new RW, new LW (new ones have to be goalscorers);
Sharp, Done, Adams, DCL, new C/F x 2.
That's a principle squad of 23.
9 new recruits who are A) YOUTHFUL & B) HAVE SOME PACE & C) HAVE SOME QUALITY & D) HAVE SOME POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP ...........think Brian Deane.
Like in 1988, we aren't rich enough to buy the finished article - so we have to SCOUT WELL and find players who are going to take themselves (and us) upwards.
No one could call me a clapper , but where there's life , there's hope.
So to try and drag myself out of a pit of despair , here's my thoughts on what I'd do in Nigel's shoes :
Every player out of contract in the summer EXCEPT Adams, Harris, K.Wallace, Edgar & Long , should go.
ie: Hammond, Sammon, Flynn, JCR, Baxter, Cuvelier, Collins, Kennedy, McGahey, McEveley & Howard.
But Hammond will stay (you know it).
Of those who are still in contract, these should be sold/paid-off: Scougall, Woolford, McFadzean & DGRO.
But Woolford will stay (you know it).
That leaves us with a realistic prospect of the following squad:
New first-choice goalie, Long as cover ( or Long plus Willis as cover - I don't know Willis);
Brayford, new RB cover, new CB x2, Edgar as cover, Harris, K.Wallace;
Coutts, Basham, Hammond (Capt. while NA is here), Reed, new & pacy CMF x2, new RW, new LW (new ones have to be goalscorers);
Sharp, Done, Adams, DCL, new C/F x 2.
That's a principle squad of 23.
9 new recruits who are A) YOUTHFUL & B) HAVE SOME PACE & C) HAVE SOME QUALITY & D) HAVE SOME POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP ...........think Brian Deane.
Like in 1988, we aren't rich enough to buy the finished article - so we have to SCOUT WELL and find players who are going to take themselves (and us) upwards.
No one could call me a clapper , but where there's life , there's hope.