Next Season

[swmfc123]

With a club of our size and stature, there is always going to be uncertainty regarding our playing squad for the next season. We have done extremely well to compete towards the top end of the league the last few seasons (especially with so many changes in personnel) and a lot of what happens in the summer depends on where we finish at the end of this campaign.

My question is, what can we realistically do to keep our squad competitive next season?


1) Who will be leaving?

Shaun Hutchinson seems a certainty to go and will be hard to replace. He's been a great servant to the club. Is Cummins good enough to come back and slot in there? Does anyone know how he has been doing at Dundee?

Is McFadden likely to stay or is his high wage too much of a risk to keep him at the club?

A lot of people have suggested Hollis is leaving - is this definite?


2)Who do we bring in?

At the beginning of the season, a lot was made of our lack of pace in the side and this is something that will need to b

[Wellup4it]

I'd reckon Hutchinson and Hollis will be leaving and maybe Bob McHugh too if we can come to some arrangement with him. Lionel Ainsworth - who knows? Keith Lasley - at 34 will he be offered another deal given our midfield problems and he's the only one out of contract apart from Ainsworth?

Who do we bring in? A goalie for sure, maybe a centre back/maybe not depending on SM's view of central defence cover. Possibly a pacy midfielder - certainly at least one if Ainsworth leaves?

Realistic hopes? A top six finish and maybe a decent cup run.

[Handsome_Devil]

Hutch has said he will be leaving - I'm sure someone somewhere will pay him more than we can so no reason to doubt this even if he's not matched his early potential.

I have my doubts about Ainsworth - inconsistent through injuries or not, 10 goals and however many assists from a Motherwell winger means bigger fish will be interested. He may want to finally just play football after his stop-start career to date but that would make him a notable exception in the industry!

Hollis has to go. Slightly harsh given he's better than Nielsen but Gunnar has a contract and he doesn't. We need to get a proper number one with Gunnar as back-up until we can shuffle him off the wage bill in summer 2015.

Absolutely no idea how Cummins has done at Dundee. McHugh hasn't cut it at QOTS though, I imagine we'll do a deal with him and let him try to kick-start his career in the lower leagues.

McManus, Hammell, Lasley and McFadden are all out of contract. McManus has said he wants to stay and given their

[wellowell]

My only advice is we will have to wait and see as no idea who will stay would think las and hammell certs but mcmanus and faddy money dependent,ramdsen amd reid mccalls decision.ainsworth no idea.hollis and hutch will leave in other words i havnt a clue only my opinion

[Gowboy]

Below is what I posted 3 weeks ago re the signing situation and my view has not changed:
I think we will slip lower next season (I reckon 6th) but hope (as we all do) we might do better in the cups
"Hammell - 2 year contract; Las - 1 year contract; McManus - 2 year contract; Faddy - 1 year contract (on reduced terms if he will take it); Reid - 1 year contract; Ainsworth - 2 year contract (although I question if he will stay as I think he will get offers from down south).
Hutch will leave; Hollis not offered contract (and I feel sorry for this guy as he has been unlucky with injury).
Also, I would aim to extend John Sutton's contract (I assume finishes end of next season); I do not see Bob McHugh being offered a contract.
I think we need cover at left back (ZFA not a full back, in my view) but rest of defence well covered with Ramsden, Kerr and Reid all able to play centre half or right back. Adam Cummins - do not know what his contract situation is. He could still turn out to be a g

[steviex]

[quote="Gowboy"]Below is what I posted 3 weeks ago re the signing situation and my view has not changed:
I think we will slip lower next season (I reckon 6th) but hope (as we all do) we might do better in the cups
"Hammell - 2 year contract; Las - 1 year contract; McManus - 2 year contract; Faddy - 1 year contract (on reduced terms if he will take it); Reid - 1 year contract; Ainsworth - 2 year contract (although I question if he will stay as I think he will get offers from down south).
Hutch will leave; Hollis not offered contract (and I feel sorry for this guy as he has been unlucky with injury).
Also, I would aim to extend John Sutton's contract (I assume finishes end of next season); I do not see Bob McHugh being offered a contract.
I think we need cover at left back (ZFA not a full back, in my view) but rest of defence well covered with Ramsden, Kerr and Reid all able to play centre half or right back. Adam Cummins - do not know what his contract sit