Hecky - Stick or Twist ???

[Espania blade]

In an ideal world I think it’s fair to say Hecky would probably prefer a clear out of some of the deadwood in our squad and sign some quality replacements along with the 5/6 extra players needed to compete next season. Unfortunately because of the ownership situation he feels he needs to re-sign all the players whose contracts are up this summer. Should he be brave and twist by releasing the deadwood and gamble on a change of ownership or should he stick with what he’s got with the risk of compromising the squad if the new owner comes in ???

It is possible of course that Heck'y is being diplomatic, two games to play - why upset the squad by saying "yes I want to clear half of them out" - time will tell, some players might not want to stay, some players might want a last payday ?
Until we know who wants to go ie Ndyia, Berge, et al, we know McAtee & Doyle will be going back to Man' City (even if they might come back to us for another season), JOC will be off the playing staff (even if he stays on the coaching staff),

We don't want to do a forest, that's for sure, we will need some senior players to run the dressing room and to show any incomings how we train, how we play etc, the coaching staff only do so much, the rest happens in the dressing room! the bonding takes place away from the ground.

 

[Rebster72]

Yeah

The summer transfer window closes in less than four months.

Extremely unlikely a takeover will have been completed by then

Yeah but the fringe players at risk of leaving need to know what’s happening within the next couple of weeks. That’s the dilemma.

 

[Fraggle Blade]

If we are dealing with a situation with little to no transfer funds, we need to clear out as many fringe players as possible to free up wages for bringing in free agents.

I wouldn't be unhappy to see Enda, Bash, Sharp, Fleck, Osborn, JOC, all on their way towards leaving.

 

[bakeblade]

Because we have no other choice. Like Hecky said we need to add to the current squad. I absolutely don’t think either of them are good enough to be premier league footballers, but we’re dealing with what we’ve got. Osborn & Fleck will hopefully be fringe players.

The alternative option is having Coulibaly & Brooks as the fringe players who have 0 English league experience. That would stop Brooks progression who needs a season out on loan & id probably say Coulibaly does too.

Current owned midfield options:

Berge
Norwood
Fleck
Osborn
Coulibaly

As our only midfield options. If you release two of them we realistically need to sign 5 midfielders which we don’t have the funds to do. Doyle & McAtee are going back.

Well thankfully you're not doing the transfer planning! Worst case scenario is we replace Fleck, Ozzy and Stevens with younger, fitter, more athletic and hungrier squad players. This would cost similar money to giving the old guard new contracts.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

If we are dealing with a situation with little to no transfer funds, we need to clear out as many fringe players as possible to free up wages for bringing in free agents.

I wouldn't be unhappy to see Enda, Bash, Sharp, Fleck, Osborn, JOC, all on their way towards leaving.

So that’s 5/6 players leaving, yeah? Easy peasy innit?

So who’s coming in to replace them? That’s the difficult bit, wouldn’t you agree?

So while you’re slicing up this season’s squad, please give some thought to next season’s

 

[Fraggle Blade]

So that’s 5/6 players leaving, yeah? Easy peasy innit?

So who’s coming in to replace them? That’s the difficult bit, wouldn’t you agree?

So while you’re slicing up this season’s squad, please give some thought to next season’s

Of course that's the difficult bit, no one said it would be easy, unless you have money to throw away as Forest have.
But you can't retain players who struggled at championship level and not free up wages for replacements.
It's also hardly slashing up this seasons squad with the number of starts between them.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Of course that's the difficult bit, no one said it would be easy, unless you have money to throw away as Forest have.
But you can't retain players who struggled at championship level and not free up wages for replacements.
It's also hardly slashing up this seasons squad with the number of starts between them.

That’s not what I asked you….it was who you’d replace them with

…and that’s why you’ve not named anyone, it’s difficult

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Well thankfully you're not doing the transfer planning! Worst case scenario is we replace Fleck, Ozzy and Stevens with younger, fitter, more athletic and hungrier squad players. This would cost similar money to giving the old guard new contracts.

no Hecky is and all I’m saying is that I understand what he said the other day when we’ve got a limited budget.

It’s not football manager mate. For instance we lose Fleck, Osborn, Doyle (returns), McAtee (returns), Coulibaly (loaned out as he’s not good enough), Brooks (needs first team experience)

What 5 players do you sign to replace them? Don’t forget that budget is also needed to get cover for CAM, LCB, CB & probably another GK as Davies isn’t good enough.

We’re not just signing new versions of the 3 players you’ve mentioned, we need more quality on top of what we’ve got. So you’ve got to replace what you’ve left plus add the quality.

When you put that altogether you’re looking at 9 signings if you release 3/4 of the current first team squad.

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

Don't think Hecky's done too bad a job so far,
so personally, I'd leave it up to him.......

 

[Overthehills]

Stick.... welcome his thoughts and support them.

 

[Snowflake]

Clarify "deadwood"please.

Not a word I would use when referring to people

 

[adiosmiamigo]

Nor I,certainly not referring to players who have served us very well.

 

[adiosmiamigo]

Nor I,certainly not referring to players who have served us very well.

It's disrespectful in the extreme.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

I'd like to bet Hecky has been so 'head down/arse up' scheming for opposition Sat/Tuesday he doesn't know himself what the plan is yet.

You'd assume you'd want to keep as many as possible so as not to upset the balance/culture of the squad.

As for incomings, until the fist cheque from Sky hits the account, we'll be buying no one. Seriously though, some folks round these parts had better get ready for Jebbison and Brewster being our strikers and our current back 5 being next season's back 5...

 

[Tom Bott]

As for incomings, until the fist cheque from Sky hits the account, we'll be buying no one.

Though player purchases are all paid by instalments, and with a guaranteed income from the Pl we can borrow the money.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

Deadwood = players who have got us to a semi final and won promotion back to the prem. FFS.

 

[AnstonBlade1]

You can't keep players for sentimental reasons, giving Fleck, Stevens and Osborn new contacts would be stupid.

100% agree

 

[AnstonBlade1]

That’s not what I asked you….it was who you’d replace them with

…and that’s why you’ve not named anyone, it’s difficult

That’s what the scouts and Hecky get paid for

 

[SwissBlade]

Agree , but keeping too many of them will stop us bringing new lads in ,meaning we dont improve , difficult

Bringing new players in doesn’t guarantee we will improve. Everton are a great example of this as well as having players rotting in the reserves

In the premier league next season there could be a number of sides that, depending on who goes down this season, could be very poor next season if they stay up

Forest, Everton, Leicester, Leeds are all struggling for different reasons.

We need to be careful of getting rid of too many of the squad which make us what we are.

I agree we need to move the likes of Osborn and Stevens on, possibly Fleck too, but we will need new players to fill the gaps and do a job.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

That’s what the scouts and Hecky get paid for

Thanks, you’ve just made my point there..

 

[Weasel]

You can't keep players for sentimental reasons, giving Fleck, Stevens and Osborn new contacts would be stupid.

Agree. The positives for retaining a player OOC is that you already know whether they will fit in with the rest of the team/group and they are probably settled in the area already.

However the crux of it is that whoever is OOC this pre season needs to be as good as or better than any other player you could get in with the same (or hardly any difference to budget) and who you know have good character references. If they are the best we can get at the money in offer ( and they are consistently available to do their job i.e not usually injured in this scenario) then provided there is still a need for them and the role that they fill then by all means keep them. If not, then they should be let go and replaced with new better players.

Now I can see a viable argument for Sharp/Norwood to be retained as they would provide cover, and have been consistently available for selection. Basham is still in contract so stays for another year. The others, namely, Fleck, O'Connell, Osborn and Stevens should be released. No one can tell me that those four are the best we can now get for the roles they they would be needed for out of the hundreds of players that will be available in the summer.

 

[Robby Blade]

The summer transfer window closes in less than four months.

Extremely unlikely a takeover will have been completed by then.

It will seem like four years when all the bedwetters and panic attackers are daily demanding to know why we haven't signed anyone.

 

[bongleblade]

I think we'll release:

Davies
Fleck
Stevens
Clark
JOC

And keep the rest on... it's a tough decision but only releasing two of the old guard that currently get minutes means the core social group isn't disturbed significantly

Sharp should be on a significantly reduced wage and enter into a PT coaching role this season... i'd love us to take on JOC in a coaching or fitness role too.

Next summer TW if we're still PL we look at shifting on another 3x old guard (Sharp into FT coaching, Osborn and Bash), and then season after who knows where we'll be but hopefully we look at shifting on Norwood, Baldock + Wes as they'll be well past their primes at that point, even for championship i'd imagine.

 

[bakeblade]

I think we'll release:

Davies
Fleck
Stevens
Clark
JOC

And keep the rest on... it's a tough decision but only releasing two of the old guard that currently get minutes means the core social group isn't disturbed significantly

Sharp should be on a significantly reduced wage and enter into a PT coaching role this season... i'd love us to take on JOC in a coaching or fitness role too.

Next summer TW if we're still PL we look at shifting on another 3x old guard (Sharp into FT coaching, Osborn and Bash), and then season after who knows where we'll be but hopefully we look at shifting on Norwood, Baldock + Wes as they'll be well past their primes at that point, even for championship i'd imagine.

Davies has another year on his contract I understand, so he'll probably stay.
Clark goes back anyway and he's too injury prone to offer a new contract

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Managing expectations will also be key.

We won't be spending to try and stay in the prem. We will be using Prem money to revamp our Champ level squad. Think Champ spending, funded by PL money.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

 

[adiosmiamigo]

Not Sam Allardice then?