Retained List

[Keen Blade]

25 players for The Premier League. We currently have 18 and that includes 7 players who have never started a game for us. The reason Osborn and Fleck haven't signed yet is obviously as they've been offered a contract on low wages and been told they will be squad fillers.

Assuming we had an option to extend by 12 months , I hope what's happened is that we've decided not to exercise it , but have made an offer on lower wages and only for 12 months.
Surely , even if relegated , we need better than Fleck & Osborne for promotion in 24/25 ?
If Hecky thinks they would be useful beyond May 2024 , he's crazy.

 

[Harry's Game]

It was blindingly obvious we would be keeping Fleck and Ossy cos we are potless

 

[Keen Blade]

I'd guess the contracts offered are 1 year deals, with small increase. Not signed because they may be trying to find 2+ year deals elsewhere.

No increase , or we might as well have exercised our 12 month option

 

[Keen Blade]

Have you seen any indication in the past that Hecky is likely to select Coulibaly over Fleck ?

Time moves on and the younger should replace the older

 

[Keen Blade]

If you look at the makeup of the squad under contract it's not surprising we've made offers to keep Fleck and Osborn around. There's a real lack of senior midfielders while we'd currently be relying on Norrington-Davies hitting the ground running at LCB and Lowe staying fit at LWB to even name a left side of the defence without chucking Buyabu in at the deep end.

Currently under contract, named as "first-team" and would need to be named in the PL squad to play:
5 GKs Foderingham, Davies, Eastwood, Amissah, Dewhurst
7 DFs Ahmedhodzic, Baldock, Basham, Bogle, Egan, Lowe, Norrington-Davies
3 MFs Berge, Coulibaly, Norwood
4 FWs Brewster, McBurnie, Ndiaye

Currently under contract, named as "first-team" but classed as U21:
Arblaster, Brooks, Buyabu, Jebbison, Osula, Sachdev

Currently under contract, named as "development squad" but would need registering:
Boyes, Neal


They do but they count towards the minimum 17 home grown players rule. At the moment, only Coulibaly, Ndiaye and Berge definitely fail on that; Ahmedhodzic might sneak in based on his time at Forest.

Wtf are we doing with 5 goalies including one who's been permanently out on loan for ever ?

 

[Wards]

I've no problem with Fleck or Osborn staying so long as they don't make 10 starts between them.

Also why the hell have we offered Brunt another deal?

 

[Old Programme seller]

We all know but some of us are doing our best to hide it but we have no money to invest in the transfer market normally Fleck and Ozzie would be released and we’d wish them well and we’d move on to newer signings but there’ll be no landmark signings this summer unless we get a new owner in time for the beginning of the season And if teams get a sniff of our desperation then we could be short of our best players and probably sold on the cheap! If we get to 30 points next season I’ll take it as a good (ish) season.

 

[andy m]

The way I see it is offering Osborne a new contract on lowish wages but with no fee is better than spending £3.5m on him and giving him a good contract the last time we went up. So we are doing better already.

 

[Keen Blade]

Nope, all 4 were going to be released anyway. Robinson and Osborn had their year option triggered last summer.

Wes, Coulibaly, Norwood and McBurnie are the ones who've automatically had their contracts triggered.

Cheers , that's useful info , so we had to EITHER release Robbo & Osborn OR give them a new contract.
Since negotiation still ongoing , are they currently entitled to talk to other clubs ?
But what about Fleck , do you know whether we hold a 12 month option on him ?

 

[Rebster72]

Fleck on top form is a very capable player for the Prem but for whatever reason he’s just not the same player he was. Maybe it’s the injuries he’s had but whenever I see him he just seems to lack confidence. When he used to play with Coutts and Duffy he always wanted to be on the ball and make things happen but recently he seems to almost hide on the pitch.

 

[Keen Blade]

The way I see it is offering Osborne a new contract on lowish wages but with no fee is better than spending £3.5m on him and giving him a good contract the last time we went up. So we are doing better already.

Please don't remind me what we paid for him (the kind of fee we paid for Anel) - my goodness , wasn't Wilder profligate !

 

[Keen Blade]

Fleck on top form is a very capable player for the Prem but for whatever reason he’s just not the same player he was. Maybe it’s the injuries he’s had but whenever I see him he just seems to lack confidence. When he used to play with Coutts and Duffy he always wanted to be on the ball and make things happen but recently he seems to almost hide on the pitch.

Not been the same since he had that collapse on the pitch

 

[Rebster72]

Not been the same since he had that collapse on the pitch

I forgot about that to be honest but I reckon he was off it before then.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

True, but then you walk away. We've already been stung giving out overly long contracts to players who are no longer good enough.

But a two year +1 ensures you wouldn’t do that again. At worst you have a first teamer this season as backup for the season back in the championship and then he goes on a free the following summer. If you stay up, then his contract isn’t a worry plus you can always send him on loan.
I suppose what I’m saying is I wouldn’t waste too much effort arguing or cut my nose off to spite my face around an extra year for someone whos shown himself able to be a first team starter in a championship side. When you have a small transfer budget you need to take some easy wins.

 

[10-0 win]

We could easily sell some retained. depends on ins.

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

I for one am looking forward already to the 2053 season. To see the still sprightly 62 year old John Fleck after he took up the option of a 10 year contract extension after the 2043 promotion campaign.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

ozburn is fukin crap n so is flick

 

[Keen Blade]

Comments on the lists :

First teamers under contract (20)

5 of these are goalies so I doubt we'll be getting another - looks like Wes & Davies in the matchday squad

Brewster & RND were seriously injured + we have no idea if or when they'll be back to previous form.

8 of those 20 should be nowhere near a PL matchday squad.

Options exercised (4)

Fair enough.

Contract offers made (4)

Barring an injury crisis , only Robinson should make the matchday squad.

Released (4)

Fair enough

Where does that leave our recruitment objectives , whether by fee , free or loan ?

Wes/Davies/Amissah - we've no money to do any better.

Baldock/Bogle

Anel/Bash

Egan / NEW CB to cover RCB & CCB , ahead of Bash

NEW (1st choice) LCB / Robinson

Lowe/RND/Osborn

Berge/Norwood/NEW MF like Doyle

NEW MF like McAtee / Fleck/ Coulibaly

Ndiaye/McBurnie/Jebbo/NEW STRIKER , especially if Brewster not fit

My conclusion is that we should be looking for the following who are immediately PL standard :

RCB (on subs bench) , LCB (starting) , R-footed MF (on subs bench) , L-footed MF (starting) , STRIKER (starting).
That's a minimum of 5.
Assuming we keep Berge & Ndiaye.

I reckon 5 is doable , with a mixture of fees , frees & loans.
But they have to be capable at PL level.

In the unlikely event of any cash left over , try to improve on Bogle & Lowe.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Cheers , that's useful info , so we had to EITHER release Robbo & Osborn OR give them a new contract.
Since negotiation still ongoing , are they currently entitled to talk to other clubs ?
But what about Fleck , do you know whether we hold a 12 month option on him ?

They should be allowed to talk to other clubs now (i think)?

No Fleck option.

 

[Keen Blade]

They should be allowed to talk to other clubs now (i think)?

No Fleck option.

Cheers , so we had to release or offer something to Fleck ... in any case we need 2 good recruits in MF to replace the City lads

 

[Jan Age]

Osborne I can just about stomach just because of his ability to fill a number of different positions (albeit poorly)

But Fleck? Seriously ? They guys has basically hidden all season starting at Scunthorpe pre-season. I was questioning his ability at champ level let alone Prem.

That decision alone gets the chimes of doom going in my mind that we actually have no money to spend and that we are in ver real danger of beating Derbys lowest ever points total.

That’s despite me telling all my Derby hates that their record would stand as long as I have a hole in my arse.

 

[sitwell]

Osborne I can just about stomach just because of his ability to fill a number of different positions (albeit poorly)

But Fleck? Seriously ? They guys has basically hidden all season starting at Scunthorpe pre-season. I was questioning his ability at champ level let alone Prem.

That decision alone gets the chimes of doom going in my mind that we actually have no money to spend and that we are in ver real danger of beating Derbys lowest ever points total.

That’s despite me telling all my Derby hates that their record would stand as long as I have a hole in my arse.

Breaking your leg isnt fucking hiding.

 

[Rebster72]

Comments on the lists :

First teamers under contract (20)

5 of these are goalies so I doubt we'll be getting another - looks like Wes & Davies in the matchday squad

Brewster & RND were seriously injured + we have no idea if or when they'll be back to previous form.

8 of those 20 should be nowhere near a PL matchday squad.

Options exercised (4)

Fair enough.

Contract offers made (4)

Barring an injury crisis , only Robinson should make the matchday squad.

Released (4)

Fair enough

Where does that leave our recruitment objectives , whether by fee , free or loan ?

Wes/Davies/Amissah - we've no money to do any better.

Baldock/Bogle

Anel/Bash

Egan / NEW CB to cover RCB & CCB , ahead of Bash

NEW (1st choice) LCB / Robinson

Lowe/RND/Osborn

Berge/Norwood/NEW MF like Doyle

NEW MF like McAtee / Fleck/ Coulibaly

Ndiaye/McBurnie/Jebbo/NEW STRIKER , especially if Brewster not fit

My conclusion is that we should be looking for the following who are immediately PL standard :

RCB (on subs bench) , LCB (starting) , R-footed MF (on subs bench) , L-footed MF (starting) , STRIKER (starting).
That's a minimum of 5.
Assuming we keep Berge & Ndiaye.

I reckon 5 is doable , with a mixture of fees , frees & loans.
But they have to be capable at PL level.

In the unlikely event of any cash left over , try to improve on Bogle & Lowe.

Amissah, Eastwood and Dewhurst will be on pennies. If Hecky thinks he needs to prioritise another keeper he’ll get one.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

Comments on the lists :

First teamers under contract (20)

5 of these are goalies so I doubt we'll be getting another - looks like Wes & Davies in the matchday squad

Brewster & RND were seriously injured + we have no idea if or when they'll be back to previous form.

8 of those 20 should be nowhere near a PL matchday squad.

Options exercised (4)

Fair enough.

Contract offers made (4)

Barring an injury crisis , only Robinson should make the matchday squad.

Released (4)

Fair enough

Where does that leave our recruitment objectives , whether by fee , free or loan ?

Wes/Davies/Amissah - we've no money to do any better.

Baldock/Bogle

Anel/Bash

Egan / NEW CB to cover RCB & CCB , ahead of Bash

NEW (1st choice) LCB / Robinson

Lowe/RND/Osborn

Berge/Norwood/NEW MF like Doyle

NEW MF like McAtee / Fleck/ Coulibaly

Ndiaye/McBurnie/Jebbo/NEW STRIKER , especially if Brewster not fit

My conclusion is that we should be looking for the following who are immediately PL standard :

RCB (on subs bench) , LCB (starting) , R-footed MF (on subs bench) , L-footed MF (starting) , STRIKER (starting).
That's a minimum of 5.
Assuming we keep Berge & Ndiaye.

I reckon 5 is doable , with a mixture of fees , frees & loans.
But they have to be capable at PL level.

In the unlikely event of any cash left over , try to improve on Bogle & Lowe.

What don't you understand about being totally skint, we've got zilch to spend.

 

[Jan Age]

Breaking your leg isnt fucking hiding.

Mate he was poor before that and when he came back and was on the decline season before … legend in his first few years but there’s no room for sentiment in footy

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

Surprised at the low number of players.

Sad to see Billy go, but he's 37, and scored 2 goals last season. He's too old for the EPL.

JOC was awesome, but he's been injured for about 3 years, and clearly isn't going to return at anything like his former self.

Stevens great player, but been injury prone for the last 3 years and the legs have gone. He isn't EPL standard.

Gordon has been nowhere near the first team, and isn't good enough for the standard we are at.

Resigning (or trying to) the remainder is a smart move. We can try and replace them, and if we can, then send them out on loan to see out the additional year. If we can't replace them, then at least we have a squad.

At the moment Hecky has 7 players to find. If he can get more then he can move some out on loan/sell them. It takes some pressure off Hecky, and is good insurance.

I wouldn't see it as a lack of ambition, as I think Fleck, Osborn etc will be moved on, with the loan clubs paying the majority of their wages. It's worth paying a bit extra to have the flexibility we need though.

There's been some good decisions in this retained list IMO. Retaining Coubaily is one of them. He's going to be a class player when he regains fitness and gains confidence

 

[Keen Blade]

What don't you understand about being totally skint, we've got zilch to spend.

Free transfers & loans - we can have 5 loans in the matchday squad - but I think there'll be a fee paid or maybe two. Anyway , let's see.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

So the next signings are either members of the Freebies Club or at worse,
relics from the OAP Clan.

 

[metalblade]

I can't understand why Fleck hasn't been released he has been crap or injured for the last two seasons. Are we really naming 5 goalkeepers in the retained list? Eastwood at the very least needs to move on. Sad to see Sharp O'Connell and Stevens leave they have been good servants Billy especially but it is the right decisions. A little surprised Coulibaly has been retained yet he couldn't get a league game last season. It all says to me we need at least six incoming this transfer window yet all the signs are we don't have the funds, going to be an interesting couple of months. Also against EPL players I can see JLT being suspended for more games than he starts what he gets away with in the EFL will not be tolerated in the EPL.

 

[sitwell]

Mate he was poor before that and when he came back and was on the decline season before … legend in his first few years but there’s no room for sentiment in footy

You mean when he was recovering from his episode ?