Romared Match Thoughts MK Dons v Barnsley

[animallittle3]

I think that's what we are both saying there Shad lol. That Duff doesn't seem like a manager who regularly ups and leaves teams.
The reason why Bristol City get mentioned is the thought of if or when Pearson gets sacked. Duff might then be tempted because its much nearer to his family, who apparently still do live in Cheltenham.
If we don't go up and if he stays with us, then I'd definitely feel confident about us challenging again next season.

I can see Duff staying next season even if we don't win the play offs .

However the club itself are the ones most likely to drive Duff towards another job not Duff himself .

He's likely to lose the loans Isted , Bobby Thomas and Watters .

Contracts up include , Andersen , Luke Thomas , Brad Collins and Norwood .

Saleable assets , Luca Connell , Cadden Herbie Kane and possibly Jordan Williams and Liam Kitching .

How the club negotiate the summer as a league one club may be the biggest driving force that determines Michael Duff's future .

Because he will receive offers this summer , there's no doubt about it .

That lot down the road stay in league one this season they may be one of em .

[Shadrack the Red]

I agree with a lot of your summing up & it remains to be seen if we want to try & bring any of the loan players back but we have to accept that they are not our players however I do believe we have options on Anderson & Norwood to keep for another season ,so that only leaves Thomas & Collins who might be a problem should we want to keep them, personally I can take or leave those two, if they resign then thats fine & if they move on then thats also fine by me , neither of them are on my must keep list .

[SBRed48]

Barnsley FC have already taken up their option to extend the contracts of-the following by one year until summer 2024

Andersen
Collins
J. Williams
Kitching

which were due to end this summer 2023

Of the loans that came in last summer---
Larkeche is due to return to parent club this summer 2023
Tedic is due to return to parent club this summer 2023
Edwards has already returned to Stoke
Martin due to return to parent club this summer 2023 but Barnsley have option to purchase

Of the loans that came in this January 2023 the following are all due to return to their parent clubs this summer 2023--
Isted
B Thomas
Watters

Hayton, Russell, Shaw and Cotter were all "permanent" transfers, not loans.

Norwood came as a free transfer until summer 2023 with an option (not yet taken up as far as I know) of extending to summer 2024

[animallittle3]

I agree with a lot of your summing up & it remains to be seen if we want to try & bring any of the loan players back but we have to accept that they are not our players however I do believe we have options on Anderson & Norwood to keep for another season ,so that only leaves Thomas & Collins who might be a problem should we want to keep them, personally I can take or leave those two, if they resign then thats fine & if they move on then thats also fine by me , neither of them are on my must keep list .

It's the old finances v ambition scenario Shad isn't it .

Get promoted at Wembley and this debate goes in the other direction doesn't it .

We are all aware of the club's current financial position and I'm sure Duff does too , he's never going to have millions to spend irrespective of what division we are in next season .

For Duff to want to remain here and another league one season to navigate he's going to want at least half a chance and not a Hecky or Stendel type summer where they lost a huge number of key players .

We may well lose some key players this summer but if the club can bring Bobby Thomas , Max Watters and Harvey Isted here permanently then that to me shows ambition whilst accepting the realities of another league one campaign and the modern game .

It may well be that someone has to be sold to bring in some revenue , if we can attain £2m for Luca and Duff gets £800k of that to improve the squad then again it's a sensible approach that has one eye on the books whilst giving Duff some backing .

[animallittle3]

Barnsley FC have already taken up their option to extend the contracts of-the following by one year until summer 2024

Andersen
Collins
J. Williams
Kitching

which were due to end this summer 2023

Of the loans that came in last summer---
Larkeche is due to return to parent club this summer 2023
Tedic is due to return to parent club this summer 2023
Edwards has already returned to Stoke
Martin due to return to parent club this summer 2023 but Barnsley have option to purchase

Of the loans that came in this January 2023 the following are all due to return to their parent clubs this summer 2023--
Isted
B Thomas
Watters

Hayton, Russell, Shaw and Cotter were all "permanent" transfers, not loans.

Norwood came as a free transfer until summer 2023 with an option (not yet taken up as far as I know) of extending to summer 2024

As we've spoken about before with contracts SB they don't tie the player to the club .

The option taken up just ensures we get a fee .

[EthelRed]

Hayton? Never heard of him

[EthelRed]

Of the loanees only Thomas and Isted cut it for me. Others can go.

[animallittle3]

Of the loanees only Thomas and Isted cut it for me. Others can go.

I think there's a player in Watters Ethel , still plenty to improve upon but in my opinion under Duff , a pre season and regular starts he'll score goals .

[Arblasterfromthepast]

I think there's a player in Watters Ethel , still plenty to improve upon but in my opinion under Duff , a pre season and regular starts he'll score goals .

Yes I agree Animal. He needs a decent run in the team and I think we'll get goals from him.

[SBRed48]

Watters could well get a dozen over a season in a winning team in the Third Division.

Like a number of others he would find it a lot harder in a struggling Championship team. He notched 1 goal in 22 appearances for his parent club Cardiff City in the Championship.