Squad Movements - Summer 2018

[Roger Stone]

been injured for most of the season sadly

Miller was well liked while with us. Unfortunately he broke the leg of Chung Yong Lee of Bolton in a pre season game and then received dozens of death threats from crazy Koreans. Bizarre.

 

[shoddycollins]

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.

I don't think he was shite last season and he certainly wasn't earlier this season. He maybe didn't fit the mold of a ball-playing defender that Curle was going for at the time and didn't make the team because of that not because his performances had been poor at all. He certainly wasn't more responsible for goals we conceded in the games he played in than Raynes, Brisley etc. The qualities he did have were still pretty evident and have been consistently evident since we signed him.

I'm not having a go at you for saying he's played well this last few months, but you also said he was one of the players you'd keep when according to your own assessment of him this good form is uncharacteristic and you don't even seem to expect it to continue into next season.

 

[hellogregory]

I don't think he was shite last season and he certainly wasn't earlier this season. He maybe didn't fit the mold of a ball-playing defender that Curle was going for at the time and didn't make the team because of that not because his performances had been poor at all. He certainly wasn't more responsible for goals we conceded in the games he played in than Raynes, Brisley etc. The qualities he did have were still pretty evident and have been consistently evident since we signed him.

I'm not having a go at you for saying he's played well this last few months, but you also said he was one of the players you'd keep when according to your own assessment of him this good form is uncharacteristic and you don't even seem to expect it to continue into next season.

If we keep Clint Hill then I expect his good form to continue. He seems much better with a commanding, reliable, vocal organiser beside him. If we don’t then it wouldn’t surprise me if he went back to his old habits of diving in to challenges he can’t possibky win, being constantly dragged out of position and just general rashness.

I would keep him yes, I think he deserves it. However I still believe our best CB partnership is Hill-Liddle. But if ellis can continue his form and reliability then he’s a good option to have.

 

[TimeyWimey]

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.

Said this when he was with us (and I absolutely loved him) but it doesn't sound like he's changed much in those four years. If a coach could take him by the scruff of the neck and help him engage his brain on the pitch, he would be completely unplayable in the Akinfenwa way.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

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.

I would go nowhere near that, even if we're only playing one up front I wouldn't back us to get 35 games out of Jabo and Corr combined and even that is probably optimistic, we know Azeez is guff and Foy is nowhere near ready (not convinced he ever will be but I base that on having never actually seen him play....).

We're not expected to be flush with cash next season, so it's going to be difficult to get this right, we know how hard it is to find genuinely good strikers, which is why it's more agonising that we're losing one for free and have another two on the books who can't stay healthy.

I am confident we can offload Azeez based on his reports from Dover, so that'll free up some funds. We need to be looking at a "name" for the first choice striker (but then so will most other teams), someone preferably not over 31 and with little injury history (Dennis at Chesterfield looks like he's out of contract), and then back that up with someone proven from the lower leagues like the bloke at Greenwich we've been linked with, or the one at Grantham earlier in the year, although they're obviously going to cost us a fee. A loanee and then one of Corr or Jabo on a 1 year, very incentive-based (coaching?) contract, would be ideal I reckon.

 

[Laker]

I would go nowhere near that, even if we're only playing one up front I wouldn't back us to get 35 games out of Jabo and Corr combined and even that is probably optimistic, we know Azeez is guff and Foy is nowhere near ready (not convinced he ever will be but I base that on having never actually seen him play....).

We're not expected to be flush with cash next season, so it's going to be difficult to get this right, we know how hard it is to find genuinely good strikers, which is why it's more agonising that we're losing one for free and have another two on the books who can't stay healthy.

I am confident we can offload Azeez based on his reports from Dover, so that'll free up some funds. We need to be looking at a "name" for the first choice striker (but then so will most other teams), someone preferably not over 31 and with little injury history (Dennis at Chesterfield looks like he's out of contract), and then back that up with someone proven from the lower leagues like the bloke at Greenwich we've been linked with, or the one at Grantham earlier in the year, although they're obviously going to cost us a fee. A loanee and then one of Corr or Jabo on a 1 year, very incentive-based (coaching?) contract, would be ideal I reckon.

Yes my suggestion was made with one eye on a reduced budget/being stuck with Azeez. I agree with what you say and I want us to be more ambitious - it’s just funds.

Interestingly I was st a Q&A with Ben Strang a couple of weeks ago and he said they are more interested in addressing our forward line than our defence. I agree with him but surprised (this was before Taylor had resigned) - I was refreshed that they too think the attack is the problem area.

 

[TommoCUFC]

It'll be an interesting summer that's for sure. From what I've been told we'll have a smaller squad which will be largely backed up by youth players i.e. Norville-Williams, and that Taylor aside, pretty much everyone out of contract will be leaving, not sure how accurate that is mind

If true though, I'd say we're going into summer needing: first choice GK, first choice CB, back-up CB, 3x wingers, an attacking midfielder and 3x strikers. Would imagine we'll have to dip into the non-league scene a little bit if rumours of a reduced budget are true, but this can't be an excuse for not challenging at the top end of the table as Accrington have shown it is definitely possible to do so on a shoestring, and we'll still have a budget bigger than most in this league I'd imagine, especially with Luton gone

 

[Laker]

I raised the point in the Q&A that, for a supposed excellent academy, our conversion rate to the first team was poor in recent years. Strang stated it was in the management team’s minds and that they knew they needed it to be better. I suspect there will be an expectation on the next manager to get more youth graduates through to the first team.

 

[Vanni]

Tommo - 'pretty much everyone out of contract will be leaving, not sure how accurate that is mind'

That's what I heard too (''a rebuilding job") and if this is true, I can't say it will come as a big surprise to me. From the bits and pieces that I hear, it's looking increasingly likely that next season's starting line up will be very different to this years, and a good 5-7 of those will be new faces. With that in mind, I'm not expecting great things from the U's next season, but perhaps that won't be such a bad thing. We've been repeatedly told we should be aiming for the play offs - top 7 budget blah blah blah - and then we're left feeling deflated after missing out like we did for the past two seasons.

I agree with Tommo on playing budgets. Not having a top 7 budget doesn't mean we can't compete, but if the above is true then it will take a lot of time before the new players bed in, more so if these are unproven NL players. I don't think the club can attract the tried and tested ones with the sort of budget they're gonna have to work with.

 

[Habbinalan]

Tommo - 'pretty much everyone out of contract will be leaving, not sure how accurate that is mind'

That's what I heard too (''a rebuilding job") and if this is true, I can't say it will come as a big surprise to me. From the bits and pieces that I hear, it's looking increasingly likely that next season's starting line up will be very different to this years, and a good 5-7 of those will be new faces. With that in mind, I'm not expecting great things from the U's next season, but perhaps that won't be such a bad thing. We've been repeatedly told we should be aiming for the play offs - top 7 budget blah blah blah - and then we're left feeling deflated after missing out like we did for the past two seasons.

I agree with Tommo on playing budgets. Not having a top 7 budget doesn't mean we can't compete, but if the above is true then it will take a lot of time before the new players bed in, more so if these are unproven NL players. I don't think the club can attract the tried and tested ones with the sort of budget they're gonna have to work with.

Glad I've booked the end of August and September in Bolivia (Blue-throated Macaws and the like)..

Should be hitting our straps for an FA Cup run...............and we go around again.

Actually, more than happy to rebuild but would like the foundation to be sorted soon.

 

[Casey]

Gawd knows with us. We have a cadre of players who don't get near the team so I expect them to leave.

Kaby Djalo; was a fans fav last season but he is small. Someone at this level could make use of him.

Billy Clifford; likewise a fans fav last season who Harry don't like. Lots of skills and tricks but little end product.

Joe McNerney; Harry don't like. Anyone wanting a solid stopper at league two level could do a lot worse. I believe he is still under contract though.

Yousef Mersin; Liverpool paid a million for him from Millwall. Tall athletic looking keeper. Fans call him flapper! Punched the ball into his own net in a rare outing this season.

Mark Randall and Josh Payne; good when the goings good....

Mousa Sanoh; Dutch ghost. Known to haunt the bench but sightings are rare.

Among the others I think we will lose Jordan Roberts. Posh were after him. Played up front most of the season but he is an attacking midfielder really. Tends to take a while to recover from injuries but good left midfielders are worth it to someone.

I think we will still be paying Dean Cox's wages. I can't see him getting a gig elsewhere until he has played again.

We need to be in for a forward! Verheydt is a slow moving sicknote and, although Camara has bags of potential, we need someone to score some goals next season.

We need to re sign Dannie Bulman. Another season and still looks the fittest player on the pitch.

To be honest, most of the side are a bit meh. Though I would prefer a bit of stability after three seasons of large squad changes and, although I'm not his greatest fan, we should try to keep hold of Harry.

That was a bit of a ramble.

Casey

 

[hellogregory]

I would go nowhere near that, even if we're only playing one up front I wouldn't back us to get 35 games out of Jabo and Corr combined and even that is probably optimistic, we know Azeez is guff and Foy is nowhere near ready (not convinced he ever will be but I base that on having never actually seen him play....).

We're not expected to be flush with cash next season, so it's going to be difficult to get this right, we know how hard it is to find genuinely good strikers, which is why it's more agonising that we're losing one for free and have another two on the books who can't stay healthy.

I am confident we can offload Azeez based on his reports from Dover, so that'll free up some funds. We need to be looking at a "name" for the first choice striker (but then so will most other teams), someone preferably not over 31 and with little injury history (Dennis at Chesterfield looks like he's out of contract), and then back that up with someone proven from the lower leagues like the bloke at Greenwich we've been linked with, or the one at Grantham earlier in the year, although they're obviously going to cost us a fee. A loanee and then one of Corr or Jabo on a 1 year, very incentive-based (coaching?) contract, would be ideal I reckon.

Has Jabo all of a sudden become injury prone? He certainly wasn’t with us. He had the odd niggle during his 2 years, but nothing serious.

 

[Habbinalan]

Has Jabo all of a sudden become injury prone? He certainly wasn’t with us. He had the odd niggle during his 2 years, but nothing serious.

No.

His last absence was a concussion protocol rather than him wearing out.

 

[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.

I know you like him Shoddy, but that’s another calamity today to add to Bonham’s collection.

He does have attributes to be a good keeper, but he has to cut out these horrendous gaffs otherwise he’ll be playing non league in another few years.

 

[thewwfc]

We seriously have to strengthen now if we’re to do anything next season but crash straight back down.

The defence in particular needs reinforcements - we let in a ton of goals this season and that stat is hardly going to improve with the same players at a higher level.

 

[mowgli]

We seriously have to strengthen now if we’re to do anything next season but crash straight back down.

The defence in particular needs reinforcements - we let in a ton of goals this season and that stat is hardly going to improve with the same players at a higher level.

Let's just hope we don't start the season with Ainsworth coming out with the line "Anthony Stewart is close to a return"

 

[thewwfc]

We’ll see. I’d hope for 5 or 6 new signings in the close season though. I suspect we’re going to have to rely on loans to get in players of the right quality though, as we won’t be able to afford them otherwise.

Of course with loans you run the risk that if they do too well, they just get recalled into the First XI at the parent club.

 

[shoddycollins]

I know you like him Shoddy, but that’s another calamity today to add to Bonham’s collection.

He does have attributes to be a good keeper, but he has to cut out these horrendous gaffs otherwise he’ll be playing non league in another few years.

Not seen it, but I heard he made a great save too. Even if he has a gaffe in him, I'd still say the likelihood of us conceding once a player has only the keeper to beat is much lower with Bonham between the sticks than we have any right to expect. I wait to see who we'll be linked with in the summer but I'd take Bonham over most keepers at this level.

 

[hellogregory]

Not seen it, but I heard he made a great save too. Even if he has a gaffe in him, I'd still say the likelihood of us conceding once a player has only the keeper to beat is much lower with Bonham between the sticks than we have any right to expect. I wait to see who we'll be linked with in the summer but I'd take Bonham over most keepers at this level.

He’s great on 1 v 1’s, I won’t deny that. He makes the hard saves that no one would blame him if he conceded on, but he fucks up on situations where a bang average league 2 goalkeeper wouldn’t.

I’d let bacon start the Newport match. Might as well see what he’s like against a standard league 2 side with a bit of physicality.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

If I were to go off and make wild assumptions how the players reacted to the celebrations yesterday I think we have seen the last of Shinnie. Wasn’t into it at all and seemed a bit of an outcast. Didn’t appear after the lap of honour either.

 

[Kenneth E End]

If I were to go off and make wild assumptions how the players reacted to the celebrations yesterday I think we have seen the last of Shinnie. Wasn’t into it at all and seemed a bit of an outcast. Didn’t appear after the lap of honour either.

I think he's been disappointing in the second half of the season and certainly think he's underachieving. Think he'd probably do better in L1, but I think we should be targeting someone better. He has also got a lot of competition in his position too.

 

[BelizeHatter]

What about McCormack waving to the fans when taken off. That looked like goodbye?

 

[Chris FGR]

Every transfer window you hear managers say, "We're looking to add 4 or 5 of real quality to the squad to really push on" instead of which most end up signing a boatload of mainly bang average journeymen and youngsters on loan, most of whom will be gone come the end of the season.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Chris Dagnall has definitely left the club judging by his instagram post with a pint of Carling which said "Season Over" before kickoff yesterday. Had a brilliant season last season after Dull Davis was sacked but injuries and being played out of position have worked against his this campaign. Shaun Miller will be on half of what Dagnall is earning when we inevitably sign him permanently at the end of the season anyway and Miller's fitness is a lot better than Dagnall's too.

I didn't expect him to be back next season anyway, but I fully expect him to sign for a League Two club. Bury have been interested in his services for a while but I wouldn't be surprised if he rocked up at Tranmere either if they went up. I think Vale have stopped signing our cast offs these days anyway.

 

[Greenacres]

Every transfer window you hear managers say, "We're looking to add 4 or 5 of real quality to the squad to really push on" instead of which most end up signing a boatload of mainly bang average journeymen and youngsters on loan, most of whom will be gone come the end of the season.

...although in our case the quality added in January probably saved us from looking forward to away games in places like Halifax, Gateshead and Eastleigh next season.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I think he's been disappointing in the second half of the season and certainly think he's underachieving. Think he'd probably do better in L1, but I think we should be targeting someone better. He has also got a lot of competition in his position too.

I’d agree, very disappointing second half of the season. There’s pretty much no point playing him in 50% of the games as he is useless away from home too.

 

[Chris FGR]

...although in our case the quality added in January probably saved us from looking forward to away games in places like Halifax, Gateshead and Eastleigh next season.

True.

 

[valefan16]

Chris Dagnall has definitely left the club judging by his instagram post with a pint of Carling which said "Season Over" before kickoff yesterday. Had a brilliant season last season after Dull Davis was sacked but injuries and being played out of position have worked against his this campaign. Shaun Miller will be on half of what Dagnall is earning when we inevitably sign him permanently at the end of the season anyway and Miller's fitness is a lot better than Dagnall's too.

I didn't expect him to be back next season anyway, but I fully expect him to sign for a League Two club. Bury have been interested in his services for a while but I wouldn't be surprised if he rocked up at Tranmere either if they went up. I think Vale have stopped signing our cast offs these days anyway.

Oddly how much in it I don’t know but I did see a rumour linking us with Dagnall the other day!

Would do alright alongside the Pontiff I reckon.

Aside from that Aspo was late delivering one of the 90% of trophies Pope won last night as he was on the phone regarding a player so looks like we’ve started in earnest prepping for next season, going to be tricky as a fair few are not out of contract so might be another summer of expense in paying players off!

New Keeper

Gibbons
Smith
New centre half or try and sign Howkins permanent
Montano

New winger
Hannant
New centre mid (ideally creative)
New winger

Pope
New striker

That’s where I think we are currently in terms of what I’d want to see start next August.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

What about McCormack waving to the fans when taken off. That looked like goodbye?

Noticed that too, wasnt sure if it was just your usual end of season good byes though or something a bit more.

Either way good player though he undoubtedly is, we need to bring in someone who is a bit more reliably available than him in that position for next season in my view.

 

[Luke Imp]

...although in our case the quality added in January probably saved us from looking forward to away games in places like Halifax, Gateshead and Eastleigh next season.

How does you 1st and 2nd halves of the season compare? Seems like you had a handful of good results in a row in both but still been hit and miss.