Squad Movements - Summer 2018

[SF_]

James Jones**, Callum Ainley**

Seems we've made moves for both players recently so imagine we will be looking at their situation.

Especially now Jones is back playing.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Owen Dale and Dave Richards have signed new contracts with us on 2 year and 1 year deals respectively.

Seems Artell must be happy with how Dale took his loan spell at Witton Albion after a rumoured training ground bust up. Richards is an alright No. 2 as well and has finally proved he can be capable of deputising for Garratt. Would've thought a non league club would've signed him to give him a better wage but he'll be cheap backup anyway.

1 or 2 more could be signing new deals later this week, my money is on Ng and Pickering to join the above two and Lowery and Wintle with new contracts. Would leave Kirk, Ainley and Jones out of the three we've offered deals to...

Shaun Miller also hinted today that he'd ideally like to stay at the club. If he's on a fraction of Dagnall's generous wages then that's great, I'd have him as a backup any day after his performances this loan spell. My guess is if he signs with us, his pay will be either the same or slightly lower than his current Carlisle contract given they'll want rid of him and given how local he is to Crewe anyway.

 

[gijsbert_bos]

Crewe aiming high by resigning loads of the squad that has done so well this year...

 

[JJ1532]

Owen Dale and Dave Richards have signed new contracts with us on 2 year and 1 year deals respectively.

Seems Artell must be happy with how Dale took his loan spell at Witton Albion after a rumoured training ground bust up. Richards is an alright No. 2 as well and has finally proved he can be capable of deputising for Garratt. Would've thought a non league club would've signed him to give him a better wage but he'll be cheap backup anyway.

1 or 2 more could be signing new deals later this week, my money is on Ng and Pickering to join the above two and Lowery and Wintle with new contracts. Would leave Kirk, Ainley and Jones out of the three we've offered deals to...

Shaun Miller also hinted today that he'd ideally like to stay at the club. If he's on a fraction of Dagnall's generous wages then that's great, I'd have him as a backup any day after his performances this loan spell. My guess is if he signs with us, his pay will be either the same or slightly lower than his current Carlisle contract given they'll want rid of him and given how local he is to Crewe anyway.

As a back up? To who?

 

[JJ1532]

Crewe aiming high by resigning loads of the squad that has done so well this year...

Trollololol.

A back up keeper and a young winger that has barely played and has only just come out of the academy. Yeah, we're going to struggle next season.

By the way, who were the last team to beat you and what was the score? Can't remember.

 

[T.A]

I think it's pointless for any side in with a chance of promotion or relegation to be assessing squads at this stage.

For us if we somehow get promoted to L1 we would need at least 5 first team changes (imho), but if we stay down we could quite happily keep exactly the same squad and have another competitive crack at L2 again.

I think I would be worried if I was an Accy fan, that team is going to get raided so hard in the summer break by clubs with more money than them.

How is that any different to any other summer for Accy?

 

[shoddycollins]

We wont be making any decisions on out of contract players until the summer apparently.

Same here, and same goes for Keith Curle. For all we know any out of contract players we have (and there are a lot) are already in talks with other clubs. Sam Cosgrove went to Aberdeen in January because we learned he had signed a pre-contract agreement with them, so we agreed a fee with them for him to go there right away, but it did highlight the fact that if a player has less than six months to run on their contract, they could already be betrothed to another, and you may find that by summer, players you wanted to keep are already headed elsewhere.

 

[gijsbert_bos]

Trollololol.

A back up keeper and a young winger that has barely played and has only just come out of the academy. Yeah, we're going to struggle next season.

By the way, who were the last team to beat you and what was the score? Can't remember.

I wasn;t trolling, if that's what you are suggesting? I don;t really know your squad at all, but it just seems odd how you;re re-signing a number of this year's squad who have been battling relegation for the majority of the year, and that you reckon you should sign up a few more of them too.

 

[shoddycollins]

Shaun Miller also hinted today that he'd ideally like to stay at the club. If he's on a fraction of Dagnall's generous wages then that's great, I'd have him as a backup any day after his performances this loan spell. My guess is if he signs with us, his pay will be either the same or slightly lower than his current Carlisle contract given they'll want rid of him and given how local he is to Crewe anyway.

Surely he'd want to sign with the expectation of first team football. Otherwise he's just going from one bench to a bench closer to home.

 

[hellogregory]

Under contract
Gary Liddle - keep
Jamie Devitt - keep
Mike Jones - keep
Cole Stockton - fuck off
Richie Bennett - fuck off
Jason Kennedy - in a wheel chair - time to retire
Hallam Hope - keep
Kelvin Etuhu - fuck off
Tom Parkes - keep

Out of contract
Shaun Miller - fuck off
Sami Nabi - fuck off
John O’Sullivan - fuck off
Mark Ellis - keep
Clint Hill - keep at all costs
Nicky Adams - keep at all costs
Tom Miller - fuck off
Danny Grainger - keep
Luke Joyce - fuck off
Reggie Lambe - fuck off
Jamal Campbell-Ryce - fuck off

On loan
Jack Bonham - fuck off
Louis Gray - fuck off
James Brown - sign him, but no chance
Kris Twardek - fuck off
Ashley Nadesan - sign him if possible

 

[shoddycollins]

Under contract
Gary Liddle - keep
Jamie Devitt - keep
Mike Jones - keep
Cole Stockton - fuck off
Richie Bennett - fuck off
Jason Kennedy - in a wheel chair - time to retire
Hallam Hope - keep
Kelvin Etuhu - fuck off
Tom Parkes - keep

Out of contract
Shaun Miller - fuck off
Sami Nabi - fuck off
John O’Sullivan - fuck off
Mark Ellis - keep
Clint Hill - keep at all costs
Nicky Adams - keep at all costs
Tom Miller - fuck off
Danny Grainger - keep
Luke Joyce - fuck off
Reggie Lambe - fuck off
Jamal Campbell-Ryce - fuck off

On loan
Jack Bonham - fuck off
Louis Gray - fuck off
James Brown - sign him, but no chance
Kris Twardek - fuck off
Ashley Nadesan - sign him if possible

it's academic since he'll be gone anyway, but what has Jack Bonham done do piss you off so much? John O'Sullivan too, can only think of that one bad game he had when he was probably not fully recovered from a stomach bug.

are you sure JCR is out of contract? Seems odd he would leave Barnet to sign a six month contract with us.

You've changed your tune on Mark Ellis.

I saw Jason Kennedy out jogging in Rickerby Park yesterday by the way. Looks like he's putting a shift in to get fit.

 

[hellogregory]

it's academic since he'll be gone anyway, but what has Jack Bonham done do piss you off so much? John O'Sullivan too, can only think of that one bad game he had when he was probably not fully recovered from a stomach bug.

are you sure JCR is out of contract? Seems odd he would leave Barnet to sign a six month contract with us.

You've changed your tune on Mark Ellis.

I saw Jason Kennedy out jogging in Rickerby Park yesterday by the way. Looks like he's putting a shift in to get fit.

Are you kidding about Bonham? I refer you to howlers at Wycombe, Notts County, at home to Crawley, his flapping for the Cambridge goal. Those are just off the top of my head as they are the last couple of months. But there are loads more that have cost us. I appreciate he makes some good saves as well, but some of the basic errors he’s made have been woeful. Shamal George was dropped instantly after his clangers against Stevenage, but it’s like Bonham is immune from criticism and his place is untouchable. The lad from Everton must be utter wank if he can’t get a chance.

Ellis has changed just about everyone’s view I’d say. The back 4 has been the one positive of this season, we’d be stupid to willingly tamper with it over the summer. It’s the area of the pitch that could save us from being dragged into a relegation battle next season if they slash the budget and hire another Kavanagh.

Nothing much against O’Sullivan, but his end product is seriously lacking and I think we need better particularly if Adams goes.

Campbell-Ryce is out of contract. Again nothing against him but we need more from him if he’s going to warrant being kept on.

Kennedy, I’m only going off what Jenkins said at the forum about him being in a wheelchair

 

[Luke Imp]

Tom Miller not done the business this season? Seem to recall he did ok up there last?

 

[shoddycollins]

Tom Miller not done the business this season? Seem to recall he did ok up there last?

been injured for most of the season sadly

 

[Luke Imp]

He had a tough time with injuries before we signed him in the NL then seemed to stay injury free in his time here. Be a shame if injuries halt his career again.

 

[shoddycollins]

Are you kidding about Bonham? I refer you to howlers at Wycombe, Notts County, at home to Crawley, his flapping for the Cambridge goal. Those are just off the top of my head as they are the last couple of months. But there are loads more that have cost us. I appreciate he makes some good saves as well, but some of the basic errors he’s made have been woeful. Shamal George was dropped instantly after his clangers against Stevenage, but it’s like Bonham is immune from criticism and his place is untouchable. The lad from Everton must be utter wank if he can’t get a chance.

Ellis has changed just about everyone’s view I’d say. The back 4 has been the one positive of this season, we’d be stupid to willingly tamper with it over the summer. It’s the area of the pitch that could save us from being dragged into a relegation battle next season if they slash the budget and hire another Kavanagh.

Nothing much against O’Sullivan, but his end product is seriously lacking and I think we need better particularly if Adams goes.

Campbell-Ryce is out of contract. Again nothing against him but we need more from him if he’s going to warrant being kept on.

Kennedy, I’m only going off what Jenkins said at the forum about him being in a wheelchair

I think you expect too much from goalkeepers. Even at the highest level, keepers will make a few basic mistakes per season, outfield players as well but keepers' mistakes are remembered because they result in goals. I think you've probably covered all of Bonham's errors because I don't think he made too many since replacing George in the line-up.

I would judge him more on his saves which for some reason people don't seem to like doing, as if it's the minimum they expect from a keeper; yet many of them have been outstanding saves that affected the result of the match. He also has great instincts for rushing out and there have been a number of occasions where an opposition striker clean through and probably already planning their goal celebration has found Bonham suddenly right on top of them.

O'Sullivan is still young and inexperienced, especially as he missed half of this season with injury. There will be times he fails to make an impact but he also has the makings of a game-changer in him, and has a decent shot too. I would keep him and nurture him.

That fans forum was an utter shambles, can't believe he would say that.

 

[shoddycollins]

He had a tough time with injuries before we signed him in the NL then seemed to stay injury free in his time here. Be a shame if injuries halt his career again.

Think he's expected back before the end of the season, but he won't get back into the side as we've been doing well defensively. Started the season really well though.

 

[hellogregory]

I think you expect too much from goalkeepers. Even at the highest level, keepers will make a few basic mistakes per season, outfield players as well but keepers' mistakes are remembered because they result in goals. I think you've probably covered all of Bonham's errors because I don't think he made too many since replacing George in the line-up.

I would judge him more on his saves which for some reason people don't seem to like doing, as if it's the minimum they expect from a keeper; yet many of them have been outstanding saves that affected the result of the match. He also has great instincts for rushing out and there have been a number of occasions where an opposition striker clean through and probably already planning their goal celebration has found Bonham suddenly right on top of them.

O'Sullivan is still young and inexperienced, especially as he missed half of this season with injury. There will be times he fails to make an impact but he also has the makings of a game-changer in him, and has a decent shot too. I would keep him and nurture him.

That fans forum was an utter shambles, can't believe he would say that.

There have been more, I just can’t recall off the top of my head. You could even argue that him palming the ball straight in front of the Colchester player at home was a clanger.

I don’t expect them all to be Manuel Neuer’s in this league, but I expect them to make the routine saves. Other goalkeepers we come up against don’t seem to have as many shockers as ours.

O’Sullivan doesn’t have the skill and technical ability imo. I don’t think there’s enough there. He does as you say have a good shot and a good leap on him, but if anything Lambe has more ability than him. I just think we need something different, maybe a bit of pace, someone who can beat a defender. Apart from Nicky Adams’ right foot, we don’t have anything out wide that can beat a full back.

I think our attack needs revamped full stop, so that means the wide players as well. Adams is class so obviously he’s the exception.
If we had a half decent attack, with our improved defensive line we’d be in the playoffs at the very least.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Trollololol.

A back up keeper and a young winger that has barely played and has only just come out of the academy. Yeah, we're going to struggle next season.

By the way, who were the last team to beat you and what was the score? Can't remember.

It is kinda true though, it doesn't look like there's going to be major changes. The changes that do happen will be likely plugging the gaps left by those jumping ship (Ainley, Jones and possibly Kirk). It's a similar situation to a lot of summers where we are signing up deadwood to make up the numbers whilst our better players go. It's annoying that last summer was arguably our most positive in years yet served up the mess of this season.

I don't see any real signs yet that we'll do anything but linger around the bottom 3rd of the table next season. I'm pretty much ok with that, I'm leaning towards the thinking that with the club as it is (Norman Hassall & historic abuse lingering), treading water will have to be as good as we can hope for. Peter Morse writing about possibly being promotion contenders next season is complete pie in the sky.

 

[valefan16]

I’ve always wanted us to sign JCR. He always plays like Arjen Robben against us! But seems to be meh at other times! Maybe Vale Parks wide pitch would suit him, we made JMW and Ashley Vincent into top wingers for us!

What’s the situation with Dagnell Alex fans I haven’t really heard of him doing much lately? Didn’t even come on against us which surprises me?

 

[shoddycollins]

I’ve always wanted us to sign JCR. He always plays like Arjen Robben against us! But seems to be meh at other times! Maybe Vale Parks wide pitch would suit him, we made JMW and Ashley Vincent into top wingers for us!

What’s the situation with Dagnell Alex fans I haven’t really heard of him doing much lately? Didn’t even come on against us which surprises me?

Like most attacking flair players, I'm sure how good he looks depends on the players around him, and the style of play. He'd probably look like a world beater in the right squad. He looked fantastic in his first game against Wycombe. Has flattered to deceive since then, but it's only been a handful of games so I doubt we can judge him on them yet, it should be left up to whoever manages us next season to decide (if he's still here by the time we know who that will be).

 

[shoddycollins]

There have been more, I just can’t recall off the top of my head. You could even argue that him palming the ball straight in front of the Colchester player at home was a clanger.

I don’t expect them all to be Manuel Neuer’s in this league, but I expect them to make the routine saves. Other goalkeepers we come up against don’t seem to have as many shockers as ours.

Had a look at the Brentford forum, they don't seem to rate him and have him down to leave in the summer. Obviously what they think could be very different to what their management think but if that is the view at Brentford then I would say get on the phone to his agent and offer a contract right away. How anyone in this division can watch him and say he isn't good enough is beyond me. Until reading what the Brentford fans thought, I'd just been working on the assumption that there was no way they'd be willing to loan him out to a League Two team again.

I know you'll disagree but I was right about Mark Ellis and you were wrong so I'm just gonna hold that over you forever, kapish?

 

[JJ1532]

It is kinda true though, it doesn't look like there's going to be major changes. The changes that do happen will be likely plugging the gaps left by those jumping ship (Ainley, Jones and possibly Kirk). It's a similar situation to a lot of summers where we are signing up deadwood to make up the numbers whilst our better players go. It's annoying that last summer was arguably our most positive in years yet served up the mess of this season.

I don't see any real signs yet that we'll do anything but linger around the bottom 3rd of the table next season. I'm pretty much ok with that, I'm leaning towards the thinking that with the club as it is (Norman Hassall & historic abuse lingering), treading water will have to be as good as we can hope for. Peter Morse writing about possibly being promotion contenders next season is complete pie in the sky.

No, I get it. I'm similarly unsure about whether we'll be much better next season. We need 3-4 top quality additions come the summer, not average L2(at best) players like Porter, Walker and Raynes. Can we afford that? Probably not.

We also need the players that stay to really take the next step and I don't know whether they are capable of doing that either. I'm not even asking for all that much, a 12th-15th placed finish in which we go something like 16-15-15 would be fine. What I want is to see the goals conceded tally come down, the defeats to come down and for them to show a bit more consistency from the start next season. I'd take that.

You're right, with the off field stuff still in a right old mess, we'll probably struggle to challenge in this league. But if we can be a steady mid-table team, that would be ok with me.

 

[hellogregory]

Had a look at the Brentford forum, they don't seem to rate him and have him down to leave in the summer. Obviously what they think could be very different to what their management think but if that is the view at Brentford then I would say get on the phone to his agent and offer a contract right away. How anyone in this division can watch him and say he isn't good enough is beyond me. Until reading what the Brentford fans thought, I'd just been working on the assumption that there was no way they'd be willing to loan him out to a League Two team again.

I know you'll disagree but I was right about Mark Ellis and you were wrong so I'm just gonna hold that over you forever, kapish?

How was I wrong about Mark Ellis? He was absolutely shite last season and at the beginning of this. He could very well turn absolutely shite again if we keep him, but would that mean I was wrong to say he’s been playing well in the last few months of this season. It’s like saying we were wrong about Brisley just because he was shite last season but playing well this.

You’re disappointing me lately shoddy. I thought you were better than this.

 

[hellogregory]

Like most attacking flair players, I'm sure how good he looks depends on the players around him, and the style of play. He'd probably look like a world beater in the right squad. He looked fantastic in his first game against Wycombe. Has flattered to deceive since then, but it's only been a handful of games so I doubt we can judge him on them yet, it should be left up to whoever manages us next season to decide (if he's still here by the time we know who that will be).

To be fair JCR looked a level above anyone else when he came on at morecambe on Saturday. 2 half decent performances isn’t enough to earn a new contract though.

 

[thewwfc]

I don't see that many games, so the following is based on a sad mix of personal bias and forum hearsay. If we stay down, I think we've got the nucleus of another decent crack at next season but if we go up I really want to see us strengthen, since we didn't do so properly the last 2 times we've gone up, and (duh) came straight back down on both occasions. Whether we could afford to strengthen properly is another question however.

Out of Contract:

Scott BROWN G - Get rid. Wouldn't cry if he stayed either, but there's better keepers out there.
Sido JOMBATI RB - Keep. Not unreservedly great, but can actually play football for a defender at this level.
Joe JACOBSON LB - Keep. Has played at L1 level so is worth sticking with, decent dead ball delivery too.
Sam SAUNDERS M - Get rid. Not for his playing quality, but for his injury record, I think you'd be lucky to get half a season out of him.
Marcus BEAN M - Get rid. Good solid squad player but he's getting on, and midfield spoilers aren't so hard to find.
Matt BLOOMFIELD M - Keep - just. Good solid backup option, but also a good dressing room influence.
Will DE HAVILLAND D - Get rid. The fact that we keep farming him out on loan tells you something.
Nick FREEMAN M - Good young player with room to develop
Nathan TYSON F - Keep - bit of an injury problem also but worth the risk when fit.
Craig MACKAIL-SMITH F - Keep
Max MULLER CB - Get rid, if he was worth it he would have broken into the first team.
Yves MAKABU-MAKALAMBY G - Never plays, I think he's probably on a pay-as-you-play deal. Who knows.

In Contract
* means that I can't be arsed to write anything but I'm fine that they're staying

Dominic GAPE M*
Anthony STEWART CB*
Adam EL-ABD CB Not sure on this one. He had a shaky start with us but recently has apparently been putting in MOTM performances. He's played most of his football at a higher level so should be able to cope if we go up...hmm
Scott KASHKET F Another injury risk, not sure...
Paris COWAN-HALL M Apparently been sulking recently about lack of game time. A good player but if he's throwing an attitude then let him leave.
Michael HARRIMAN D/M*
Luke O'NIEN M - extend the contract please, he's only got another year
Adebayo AKINFENWA F - what can you say, not sure he'd bag 18 goals at L1 if we get there, but he's always going to cause problems
Gareth AINSWORTH M - fuck off you beardy freak. Nah - I don't think he's played this season, and probably never will again for us, but you never know...

Loanees

Nathan McGINLEY CB. Don't think I've seen him but hasn't had great reviews.
Randell WILLIAMS F. Never seen him play, I think he's only appeared twice. But I've heard OK things, and think if he does well enough we may try and sign him as he's probably not good enough for the Watford First XI.
Dan SCARR CB. Done OK, but nothing more.
Curtis THOMPSON CM. Hasn't featured that much and Notts County don't want him. If we go up, get rid.
Tafari MOORE RB. We may have a chance of signing him as I can't see him playing for Arsenal.

 

[Laker]

Uche Ikpeazu has rejected a new contract with us. *shrug*

 

[#Beebot]

To be fair JCR looked a level above anyone else when he came on at morecambe on Saturday. 2 half decent performances isn’t enough to earn a new contract though.

In terms of technical ability JCR is a Championship player. His touch and close control are class and his play between the halfway line and final third are excellent.

Unfortunately he doesn't get anywhere near as many goals or assists as he should given his ability, largely due to some awful habits in his game like turning the full back inside out 100 times before putting a delivery in, endless dithering and slowing down play on counter attacks, and slow looping crosses that keepers deal with easily.

We were onto something playing him in the number 10 role earlier in the season as it forced him to make decisions quicker, but injuries saw him pushed back out wide.

Letting him go was still a disastrous decision for us though. For all his faults, JCR is a vastly superior option to the NL North winger (Nicholson) who Westley thought could replace him. JCR can hold onto the ball when an opposition player closes him down, for a start.

 

[Habbinalan]

Uche Ikpeazu has rejected a new contract with us. *shrug*

It's been great fun to have him in the team, he's a big part of the reason we haven't flirted with relegation more seriously and he has scored from a header. He's a great bloke/kid in a bloke's body but I've always been more confident of goals when (even half fit) Jabo was on the pitch or even on the bench.

We'll be doing very well if we can find a goal scorer or scorers of the quality or even potential of Jabo and Barry Corr. I can't remember us successfully signing an established but ageing striker in all my time going to the Abbey. On balance, I'd probably offer Jabo a contract but I'm too patient for this lark.

Hopefully Uche doesn't go to Scotland and we might get a decent transfer fee. He's just what the Wombles have been looking for since the Beast moved on.

 

[Laker]

It's been great fun to have him in the team, he's a big part of the reason we haven't flirted with relegation more seriously and he has scored from a header. He's a great bloke/kid in a bloke's body but I've always been more confident of goals when (even half fit) Jabo was on the pitch or even on the bench.

We'll be doing very well if we can find a goal scorer or scorers of the quality or even potential of Jabo and Barry Corr. I can't remember us successfully signing an established but ageing striker in all my time going to the Abbey. On balance, I'd probably offer Jabo a contract but I'm too patient for this lark.

Hopefully Uche doesn't go to Scotland and we might get a decent transfer fee. He's just what the Wombles have been looking for since the Beast moved on.

I agree completely. I’ve really enjoyed his spell with us and he has livened up a dreadful couple of seasons - without him it would have been a lot more boring and we’d have been closer to the drop. He’s also the closest thing we’ve had to a cult hero since the promotion side.

But he’s a terrible finisher and never sees/plays a pass early enough. With some good coaching he could be a hell of a player but he needs some serious work. A player with his attributes should be getting 20+ a season but he’s just as likely to put the ball in the car park as the back of the net.

I’d be tempted to go with Corr, Jabo, Azeez (unless we can ship him out), Foy plus a loanee next season. Only fear would be Corr and Jabo being out injured for long spells at a time.