Balham
S24SU Seer
Now that we've been consigned to another season in League One, the planning for next season should begin. The starting point should be a rational examination of the squad:
Goalkeepers:
Keep:
Howard: I can only assume that Howard was signed as cover for Simonsen this season, with an eye to him taking the no 1 shirt next year.
Long: unfortunate scapegoat in the 4-4 draw with Exeter, where a mistake from Williams evidently shook his confidence. He's highly rated and should be Howard's understudy: although a spell on loan in League Two might be beneficial depending on Willis' progression.
Release:
Simonsen: Out of contract and reputedly a high earner, it's time for Simonsen to find the fifth club of his career. It's a shame that his time with the Blades ended with him blasting the 22nd spot kick over the Wembley crossbar but that shouldn't cloud the decision, which has to be to release him.
Defence:
Keep:
Lowton: signed a new 3 year contract in August last year and unless someone comes in offering a significant amount for him (£3m+), he should stay. Excellent offensively but needs to work on his defensive game if he's to make it at the top level.
Jean-Francois: sometimes you don't realise what you've got until it's gone; or in LJ-F's case, out for a year. Yes, he makes mistakes but he's quick enough to recover more often than not.
Collins: who would have thought that Neill Collins would become a defensive lynchpin.
Maguire: if he continues to develop next year as he has this year he'll be a class act. He might not be that quick but his reading of the game is excellent.
Williams: we gave him a contract until summer 2013 so he's staying. That is about as much as I can say about Williams.
Release\retire:
Taylor: out for a long time with injury and not at the same level since his return. A change of scenery would probably do him good too.
Morgan: again, out for a long time with a knee injury. He's been working on the coaching side and his reserves won the league: it's probably time for Morgs to hang up his boots.
Conneely: hasn't had the impact desired and will probably be released.
Others:
Kennedy should be looking to make the step up to the first team next season. A loan to a League Two club might be in order.
Midfield:
Keep:
Doyle: won over the doubters (including me) by excelling as the destructive half of our central midfield. Not playing next to Montgomery helped with this - they're too similar.
Quinn: as with Lowton, unless a big money bid comes in (in Quinn's case, £1.5m+) he should stay but we should be looking to develop him in the free role he had in the play-0ffs
Flynn: he is lightweight and needs to spend the summer playing football left-foot only but he is a good team player and, I would guess, not on a huge wage.
McAllister: should be looking to become a squad player as a minimum after shining on loan at Shrewsbury.
Re-sign
McDonald: highly unlikely but the fulcrum of our team. If a deal can be agreed that would be a huge bonus - he should be the best player in League One next season if he stays
Williamson: if the price is right. If his demands are too high, he should go.
Release:
Williamson: if his demands are too high
Ertl: I've put him down as a midfielder as that's probably his least-worst position. Comes across as a thoroughly nice bloke but footballing-wise he's been a waste of a wage.
Sell/free-transfer
Montgomery: our longest serving player but the time has come for Monty to go. I just hope that someone, somewhere will think he's worthy of a considerable Championship salary...come on Neil.
Others:
Harriot and Whitehouse should be looking to push on next year.
Forwards
Keep:
Porter: showed in glimpses that he's a capable League One striker. He's also the best target man we've got.
Release/free-transfer
Cresswell: he works hard for the team but if the rumoured salary is correct (£750k pa) he's far too expensive for what he offers. There's next to no chance of anyone wanting him though.
Beattie: a disastrous signing. No goals, two red cards - the latter when we needed him. Looks like he's going through the motions.
Others:
Evans: who knows. If his appeal is successful then re-signing him should be a priority but I can't see it happening.
Philliskirk and Tønne should be pushing on next season, perhaps supplemented by Ironside.
Obviously this is all budget-dependent and leaves us light on the flanks and up front which is where we should be looking to strengthen.
Goalkeepers:
Keep:
Howard: I can only assume that Howard was signed as cover for Simonsen this season, with an eye to him taking the no 1 shirt next year.
Long: unfortunate scapegoat in the 4-4 draw with Exeter, where a mistake from Williams evidently shook his confidence. He's highly rated and should be Howard's understudy: although a spell on loan in League Two might be beneficial depending on Willis' progression.
Release:
Simonsen: Out of contract and reputedly a high earner, it's time for Simonsen to find the fifth club of his career. It's a shame that his time with the Blades ended with him blasting the 22nd spot kick over the Wembley crossbar but that shouldn't cloud the decision, which has to be to release him.
Defence:
Keep:
Lowton: signed a new 3 year contract in August last year and unless someone comes in offering a significant amount for him (£3m+), he should stay. Excellent offensively but needs to work on his defensive game if he's to make it at the top level.
Jean-Francois: sometimes you don't realise what you've got until it's gone; or in LJ-F's case, out for a year. Yes, he makes mistakes but he's quick enough to recover more often than not.
Collins: who would have thought that Neill Collins would become a defensive lynchpin.
Maguire: if he continues to develop next year as he has this year he'll be a class act. He might not be that quick but his reading of the game is excellent.
Williams: we gave him a contract until summer 2013 so he's staying. That is about as much as I can say about Williams.
Release\retire:
Taylor: out for a long time with injury and not at the same level since his return. A change of scenery would probably do him good too.
Morgan: again, out for a long time with a knee injury. He's been working on the coaching side and his reserves won the league: it's probably time for Morgs to hang up his boots.
Conneely: hasn't had the impact desired and will probably be released.
Others:
Kennedy should be looking to make the step up to the first team next season. A loan to a League Two club might be in order.
Midfield:
Keep:
Doyle: won over the doubters (including me) by excelling as the destructive half of our central midfield. Not playing next to Montgomery helped with this - they're too similar.
Quinn: as with Lowton, unless a big money bid comes in (in Quinn's case, £1.5m+) he should stay but we should be looking to develop him in the free role he had in the play-0ffs
Flynn: he is lightweight and needs to spend the summer playing football left-foot only but he is a good team player and, I would guess, not on a huge wage.
McAllister: should be looking to become a squad player as a minimum after shining on loan at Shrewsbury.
Re-sign
McDonald: highly unlikely but the fulcrum of our team. If a deal can be agreed that would be a huge bonus - he should be the best player in League One next season if he stays
Williamson: if the price is right. If his demands are too high, he should go.
Release:
Williamson: if his demands are too high
Ertl: I've put him down as a midfielder as that's probably his least-worst position. Comes across as a thoroughly nice bloke but footballing-wise he's been a waste of a wage.
Sell/free-transfer
Montgomery: our longest serving player but the time has come for Monty to go. I just hope that someone, somewhere will think he's worthy of a considerable Championship salary...come on Neil.
Others:
Harriot and Whitehouse should be looking to push on next year.
Forwards
Keep:
Porter: showed in glimpses that he's a capable League One striker. He's also the best target man we've got.
Release/free-transfer
Cresswell: he works hard for the team but if the rumoured salary is correct (£750k pa) he's far too expensive for what he offers. There's next to no chance of anyone wanting him though.
Beattie: a disastrous signing. No goals, two red cards - the latter when we needed him. Looks like he's going through the motions.
Others:
Evans: who knows. If his appeal is successful then re-signing him should be a priority but I can't see it happening.
Philliskirk and Tønne should be pushing on next season, perhaps supplemented by Ironside.
Obviously this is all budget-dependent and leaves us light on the flanks and up front which is where we should be looking to strengthen.
