L1 Retained Lists

[NorthWestCorner]

I listened to an interview the other day with MH suggesting he would be signing 14/15 players. Dream on pal. You’ll be making do with what you’ve got and be expected to get in the playoffs. All the best.

[millers88]

Decision to offer Kayode a new deal seems to be done by heart and not head, first mistake from management team for me. The rest are correct decisions

[RU66]

Decision to offer Kayode a new deal seems to be done by heart and not head, first mistake from management team for me. The rest are correct decisions

Already said that on this thread. Keep up!



Looking at the forwards at moment still here for next season only Nombe would start. Other 3 I wouldn't want them even on the bench.

[mellowmiller]

I don't understand some of the negativity about Jack Holmes.
Personally I think he has a lot more to offer and maybe with a full pre-season and new first team coach we'll see a much more confident player.
I hope Hamshaw encourages him to play as an out and out winger and take his full back on because that's one of the areas that's been lacking from the team since Chieo left.

[Citizen Erased]

I don't understand some of the negativity about Jack Holmes.
Personally I think he has a lot more to offer and maybe with a full pre-season and new first team coach we'll see a much more confident player.
I hope Hamshaw encourages him to play as an out and out winger and take his full back on because that's one of the areas that's been lacking from the team since Chieo left.

He won't be on much either. If he's determined and has a talent - why not keep him on another year.

[GlennMiller]

I don't understand some of the negativity about Jack Holmes.
Personally I think he has a lot more to offer and maybe with a full pre-season and new first team coach we'll see a much more confident player.
I hope Hamshaw encourages him to play as an out and out winger and take his full back on because that's one of the areas that's been lacking from the team since Chieo left.

100% Mellow

[mygiddypant]

I don't understand some of the negativity about Jack Holmes.
Personally I think he has a lot more to offer and maybe with a full pre-season and new first team coach we'll see a much more confident player.
I hope Hamshaw encourages him to play as an out and out winger and take his full back on because that's one of the areas that's been lacking from the team since Chieo left.

Agree. He certainly hasn't embarrassed himself in the matches where I've seen him, most of which have been from the bench for the last 10 minutes (yes, I know he's started in a couple).

Same with Kayode. He's a useful variation to introduce when we are desperate. With two relatively big earners in the squad the chances of signing another permanent forward are zilch.

The suggestion of sending JCH out on loan might help with cashflow. Or we could ask Chansiri for a loan.

[RU66]

I go on initial reactions just see something I like about a player. McGuckin did from day 1. Hatton can see something in him. There's something to work on there can't see that in some. Could be in some of the other younger players I've yet to see getting long enough game time.

[HensonsPRman]

The retained list proves everything I said about calls for a mass clear out the other week. There can't be one. The JJ decision is really baffling to be honest and can only send a clear hint that things are going to be done on the cheap by trying to morph him during the summer into a serious League 1 striker. Triggering the 1 year extension on Holme's contract may seem innocent given he is likely to be on low money but he is also likely to take up a squad place. Anyway,as others have said,the main problems are the big earners with another year left.Moving some of those on may prove to be a rather large headache.

Some strong words there and you are not the only one, so a little bit of balance is required.

What has killed us in the last few years is the lack of depth in the squad and the lack of home grown players who do not count towards the squad size.

Every other club has a bigger squad than we do. So I would not read too much into these decisions none of the players retained or offered contracts other than Haks or Cam are going to be on big money but they are useful in giving us the home grown player depth we have been lacking.

Hammy is not daft and these look like shrewd decisions in building a squad with depth.

The most important decisions are those that go alongside the retained list. What are we going to do with JCH and Hugill. I can see JCH wanting to go to Bristol Rovers, I have mates who are Rovers fans and given his performance there in 19/20 they would take him in a heart beat. Darrel Clarke has just gone in there, he plays with a big lump, needs a marquee signing to get the fans onside, there's a deal to be done there.

Hugill also has admirers, Bradford Port Vale and Donny so maybe we can move him on. If we can do then game on, only problem is that Nombe has admirers too, Charlton like him, if they go up an offer might come and I can see him wanting a move to London.

We then move onto Cam and Haks, I can see Haks staying, not sure about Cam, big decisions there that impact the team.

What am I saying, the retained list is a side show to what Hammy needs to do, let's judge him and TS on the important business to come.

[NorthWestCorner]

Some strong words there and you are not the only one, so a little bit of balance is required.

What has killed us in the last few years is the lack of depth in the squad and the lack of home grown players who do not count towards the squad size.

Every other club has a bigger squad than we do. So I would not read too much into these decisions none of the players retained or offered contracts other than Haks or Cam are going to be on big money but they are useful in giving us the home grown player depth we have been lacking.

Hammy is not daft and these look like shrewd decisions in building a squad with depth.

The most important decisions are those that go alongside the retained list. What are we going to do with JCH and Hugill. I can see JCH wanting to go to Bristol Rovers, I have mates who are Rovers fans and given his performance there in 19/20 they would take him in a heart beat. Darrel Clarke has just gone in there, he plays with a big lump, needs a marquee signing to get the fans onside, there's a deal to be done there.

Hugill also has admirers, Bradford Port Vale and Donny so maybe we can move him on. If we can do then game on, only problem is that Nombe has admirers too, Charlton like him, if they go up an offer might come and I can see him wanting a move to London.

We then move onto Cam and Haks, I can see Haks staying, not sure about Cam, big decisions there that impact the team.

What am I saying, the retained list is a side show to what Hammy needs to do, let's judge him and TS on the important business to come.

I admire your rose tinted glasses. Regarding Hughill and JCH. It’s wages that’s the problem. None of the sides mentioned will match their current salaries so very unlikely that they will move on. Cam has gone - I’ve heard Luton are in for him and will offer miles more that we can and also will be up there with the favourites. Oddoffin was being monitored by Wednesday but that may be gone now DR looks like he has moved on. In any case, he wants championship football and he won’t be here come August.

The points about homegrown talent is true but JJ is not a future hope or indeed a reliable squad member. He is brittle and can’t string more that one or two appearances together. Besides that, he is garbage and nowhere near div one level. I’m not sure he is even football league standard and the stats support that. Holmes - well he looks like a fish out of water. This is professional football, albeit not a great level but never the less he hasn’t got the game to play at this level. So, all this points towards a very very negative situation. I’ll give TS the benefit of the doubt because he might back MH but so far, so not good.

The league next year will not have a runaway Birmingham but it will be competitive. As it stands, I am worried. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Donny, hudds, Bradford, Barnsley and Chesterfield (if they make it) all have bigger budgets that us. It could be a tough battle with a novice at the helm.