[Archived] Summer 2016. Who Stays? Who Goes? You Decide!

[Baz]

Lowe?

Keep to see how he performs under PL, he's one of the few who may be able to do the pressing system PL wants to bring in.

[47er]

We have a squad that might , just might, hang on to our Championship status. It is utterly depressing how far and how fast we have fallen.

I agree with others that there is a handful of 5-6 worth keeping.

No big clear-out, no reasonable money available to PL in summer and we are sunk imo.

[LewisF]

Keep to see how he performs under PL, he's one of the few who may be able to do the pressing system PL wants to bring in.

Yeah, his athleticism and stamina may well suit Lambert's style. I'll be interested as to how he does

[RoverMinion]

Sat down and had a think about the team and the direction we should aim at going in last night.

This is what I concluded:

Goalkeepers:

Jason Steele - 1st team keeper - Keep

Simon Eastwood - Capable backup - Keep

David Raya - Excellent prospect - Keep

Defenders:

Adam Henley - Not 1st team quality - Sell
Elliott Bennett - Needs more time to prove himself - Keep

Matthew Kilgallon - Not 1st team quality and needs to play consistently to be capable - Release (contract expires end of season)
Grant Hanley - Capable option (question mark surrounding captain status) - Keep

Shane Duffy - Capable option - Keep
Tommy Spurr - Capable player for a team on an incredibly tight budget trying to stay in Championship, we are surely trying for play offs next season - Release (contract expires end of season)
Marcus Olsson - Has pace, but lacks crossing ability and defence capability - Release (contract expires end of season)

Ryan Nyambe - Capable prospect - Keep

Midfield:

Ben Marshall - 1st team squad option who can play many positions - Keep (unless offer of £4 million + made)

Jason Lowe - In my opinion incredibly overrated, wouldn't fit into a Lambert system - Release/Sell

Lee Williamson - Have tremendous respect for the guy as a utility player, but we have to strive for better quality - Release (contract expires end of season)

Chris Taylor - Incredibly underrated option in my opinion - Keep

Sacha Petshi - If he's not pushing for the 1st team at present we shouldn't retain him come the summer - Release (contract expires end of season)
Hope Akpan - Shows glimpses of decency, however to far and few - Release/Sell

Danny Guthrie - Undoubtedly has talent, but his injury record is there for all to see, unreliable - Release/Sell

Darragh Lenihan - Prospect - Keep

Corry Evans - Decent squad player - Keep

Craig Conway - Excellent squad player who could turn into excellent impact sub - Keep

Connor Mahoney - Excellent prospect - Keep

John O'Sullivan - Not good enough, has failed to impress in recent loans - Sell

Forwards:

Nathan Delfouneso - Average squad player - Release (contract expires end of season)

Bengali-Fode Koita - Exciting prospect - Loan out

Chris Brown - Average utility player maybe punching above his weight - Release (contract expires end of season)

Jordan Rhodes - Player to built team around, need to attune to his style of football - Keep

Tom Lawrence (loan) - Squad player/overrated, doesn't take chances, capable winger, unspectacular forward - Allow loan to end + replace

Simeon Jackson - Trial period - See come end of season

Conclusion:
Release/Sell:

Adam Henley

Matthew Kilgallon

Tommy Spurr

Marcus Olsson

Jason Lowe
Lee Williamson

Sacha Petshi

Hope Akpan

Danny Guthrie

John O'Sullivan
Nathan Delfouneso
Chris Brown

Needs:

1x RB -

2x CB's

2x LB's

1x RM
2x CDM
1x Holding midfielder
2x CAM
1x LM

2/3x CF

[Stuart]

That makes for grim reading! It's no wonder PL is struggling.

[BlueMonday]

Sat down and had a think about the team and the direction we should aim at going in last night.

This is what I concluded:

Goalkeepers:

Jason Steele - 1st team keeper - Keep

Simon Eastwood - Capable backup - Keep

David Raya - Excellent prospect - Keep

Defenders:

Adam Henley - Not 1st team quality - Sell

Elliott Bennett - Needs more time to prove himself - Keep

Matthew Kilgallon - Not 1st team quality and needs to play consistently to be capable - Release (contract expires end of season)

Grant Hanley - Capable option (question mark surrounding captain status) - Keep

Shane Duffy - Capable option - Keep

Tommy Spurr - Capable player for a team on an incredibly tight budget trying to stay in Championship, we are surely trying for play offs next season - Release (contract expires end of season)

Marcus Olsson - Has pace, but lacks crossing ability and defence capability - Release (contract expires end of season)

Ryan Nyambe - Capable prospect - Keep

Midfield:

Ben Marshall - 1st team squad option who can play many positions - Keep (unless offer of £4 million + made)

Jason Lowe - In my opinion incredibly overrated, wouldn't fit into a Lambert system - Release/Sell

Lee Williamson - Have tremendous respect for the guy as a utility player, but we have to strive for better quality - Release (contract expires end of season)

Chris Taylor - Incredibly underrated option in my opinion - Keep

Sacha Petshi - If he's not pushing for the 1st team at present we shouldn't retain him come the summer - Release (contract expires end of season)

Hope Akpan - Shows glimpses of decency, however to far and few - Release/Sell

Danny Guthrie - Undoubtedly has talent, but his injury record is there for all to see, unreliable - Release/Sell

Darragh Lenihan - Prospect - Keep

Corry Evans - Decent squad player - Keep

Craig Conway - Excellent squad player who could turn into excellent impact sub - Keep

Connor Mahoney - Excellent prospect - Keep

John O'Sullivan - Not good enough, has failed to impress in recent loans - Sell

Forwards:

Nathan Delfouneso - Average squad player - Release (contract expires end of season)

Bengali-Fode Koita - Exciting prospect - Loan out

Chris Brown - Average utility player maybe punching above his weight - Release (contract expires end of season)

Jordan Rhodes - Player to built team around, need to attune to his style of football - Keep

Tom Lawrence (loan) - Squad player/overrated, doesn't take chances, capable winger, unspectacular forward - Allow loan to end + replace

Simeon Jackson - Trial period - See come end of season

Conclusion:

Release/Sell:

Adam Henley

Matthew Kilgallon

Tommy Spurr

Marcus Olsson

Jason Lowe

Lee Williamson

Sacha Petshi

Hope Akpan

Danny Guthrie

John O'Sullivan

Nathan Delfouneso

Chris Brown

Needs:

1x RB -

2x CB's

2x LB's

1x RM

2x CDM

1x Holding midfielder

2x CAM

1x LM

2/3x CF

Pretty Much agree with all of that except Koita and Apkan. dependent on who PL brings in for forward and MF options. I'd keep Akpan as a squad man and presuming PL is going to seriously improve our striking options I'd let Koita go.

Either way PL has a major rebuilding job to do.

[Dunnfc]

Sat down and had a think about the team and the direction we should aim at going in last night.

This is what I concluded:

Goalkeepers:

Jason Steele - 1st team keeper - Keep

Simon Eastwood - Capable backup - Keep

David Raya - Excellent prospect - Keep

Defenders:

Adam Henley - Not 1st team quality - Sell

Elliott Bennett - Needs more time to prove himself - Keep

Matthew Kilgallon - Not 1st team quality and needs to play consistently to be capable - Release (contract expires end of season)

Grant Hanley - Capable option (question mark surrounding captain status) - Keep

Shane Duffy - Capable option - Keep

Tommy Spurr - Capable player for a team on an incredibly tight budget trying to stay in Championship, we are surely trying for play offs next season - Release (contract expires end of season)

Marcus Olsson - Has pace, but lacks crossing ability and defence capability - Release (contract expires end of season)

Ryan Nyambe - Capable prospect - Keep

Midfield:

Ben Marshall - 1st team squad option who can play many positions - Keep (unless offer of £4 million + made)

Jason Lowe - In my opinion incredibly overrated, wouldn't fit into a Lambert system - Release/Sell

Lee Williamson - Have tremendous respect for the guy as a utility player, but we have to strive for better quality - Release (contract expires end of season)

Chris Taylor - Incredibly underrated option in my opinion - Keep

Sacha Petshi - If he's not pushing for the 1st team at present we shouldn't retain him come the summer - Release (contract expires end of season)

Hope Akpan - Shows glimpses of decency, however to far and few - Release/Sell

Danny Guthrie - Undoubtedly has talent, but his injury record is there for all to see, unreliable - Release/Sell

Darragh Lenihan - Prospect - Keep

Corry Evans - Decent squad player - Keep

Craig Conway - Excellent squad player who could turn into excellent impact sub - Keep

Connor Mahoney - Excellent prospect - Keep

John O'Sullivan - Not good enough, has failed to impress in recent loans - Sell

Forwards:

Nathan Delfouneso - Average squad player - Release (contract expires end of season)

Bengali-Fode Koita - Exciting prospect - Loan out

Chris Brown - Average utility player maybe punching above his weight - Release (contract expires end of season)

Jordan Rhodes - Player to built team around, need to attune to his style of football - Keep

Tom Lawrence (loan) - Squad player/overrated, doesn't take chances, capable winger, unspectacular forward - Allow loan to end + replace

Simeon Jackson - Trial period - See come end of season

Conclusion:

Release/Sell:

Adam Henley

Matthew Kilgallon

Tommy Spurr

Marcus Olsson

Jason Lowe

Lee Williamson

Sacha Petshi

Hope Akpan

Danny Guthrie

John O'Sullivan

Nathan Delfouneso

Chris Brown

Needs:

1x RB -

2x CB's

2x LB's

1x RM

2x CDM

1x Holding midfielder

2x CAM

1x LM

2/3x CF

Agreed bar Akpan who i'm beginning to like. He has improved under PL. Guthrie will stick by given he signed a two yer contract too.

[sharpysharps]

Sell / Release:

Eastwood

Kilgallon

Spurr

Williamson

Guthrie

Taylor

Petshi

Brown

Delfouneso

O' Sullivan

Starting line up for next season should be along these lines IMO...got to be brutal with this bunch of fairies:

New first choice GK

New LB

Hanley

Duffy / new CB

New RB

Conway

New creative CM

Akpan

New RM

New CF

Rhodes

[MCMC1875]

.

[had.e.nuff]

Sat down and had a think about the team and the direction we should aim at going in last night.

This is what I concluded:

Goalkeepers:

Jason Steele - 1st team keeper - Keep

Simon Eastwood - Capable backup - Keep

David Raya - Excellent prospect - Keep

Defenders:

Adam Henley - Not 1st team quality - Sell

Elliott Bennett - Needs more time to prove himself - Keep

Matthew Kilgallon - Not 1st team quality and needs to play consistently to be capable - Release (contract expires end of season)

Grant Hanley - Capable option (question mark surrounding captain status) - Keep

Shane Duffy - Capable option - Keep

Tommy Spurr - Capable player for a team on an incredibly tight budget trying to stay in Championship, we are surely trying for play offs next season - Release (contract expires end of season)

Marcus Olsson - Has pace, but lacks crossing ability and defence capability - Release (contract expires end of season)

Ryan Nyambe - Capable prospect - Keep

Midfield:

Ben Marshall - 1st team squad option who can play many positions - Keep (unless offer of £4 million + made)

Jason Lowe - In my opinion incredibly overrated, wouldn't fit into a Lambert system - Release/Sell

Lee Williamson - Have tremendous respect for the guy as a utility player, but we have to strive for better quality - Release (contract expires end of season)

Chris Taylor - Incredibly underrated option in my opinion - Keep

Sacha Petshi - If he's not pushing for the 1st team at present we shouldn't retain him come the summer - Release (contract expires end of season)

Hope Akpan - Shows glimpses of decency, however to far and few - Release/Sell

Danny Guthrie - Undoubtedly has talent, but his injury record is there for all to see, unreliable - Release/Sell

Darragh Lenihan - Prospect - Keep

Corry Evans - Decent squad player - Keep

Craig Conway - Excellent squad player who could turn into excellent impact sub - Keep

Connor Mahoney - Excellent prospect - Keep

John O'Sullivan - Not good enough, has failed to impress in recent loans - Sell

Forwards:

Nathan Delfouneso - Average squad player - Release (contract expires end of season)

Bengali-Fode Koita - Exciting prospect - Loan out

Chris Brown - Average utility player maybe punching above his weight - Release (contract expires end of season)

Jordan Rhodes - Player to built team around, need to attune to his style of football - Keep

Tom Lawrence (loan) - Squad player/overrated, doesn't take chances, capable winger, unspectacular forward - Allow loan to end + replace

Simeon Jackson - Trial period - See come end of season

Conclusion:

Release/Sell:

Adam Henley

Matthew Kilgallon

Tommy Spurr

Marcus Olsson

Jason Lowe

Lee Williamson

Sacha Petshi

Hope Akpan

Danny Guthrie

John O'Sullivan

Nathan Delfouneso

Chris Brown

Needs:

1x RB -

2x CB's

2x LB's

1x RM

2x CDM

1x Holding midfielder

2x CAM

1x LM

2/3x CF

agree with most but i think you might find that lowe is a lambert style off player just for his non stop running

[RoverMinion]

My concern about Akpan is he doesn't seem to move forward instinctively.
He usually passes sideways or backwards.
He isn't brilliant at holding the ball, and when he does it is usually a misdirected pass that gives the ball away.

Given a team pushing for promotion, he doesn't start and in my estimations would just be a replacement for Williamson, Ie: Bench or squad player at best?

[tomphil]

Akpan is the best we've had for a while at putting a foot or a head in and braking up play. He makes the odd driving run forwards under Lambert and pinches the odd goal. As said though he is quite poor in possession and quick passing but he's an average championship player and they all have their flaws. He can't cover the ground like Lowey but is most definitely a better player imo.

[Tom]

Amazed people would get rid of Akpan but we all see things differently.

For me he's our best central midfielder for a long time but needs someone alongside him, he looks more suited to the holding role but is actually very good at picking the ball up and charging forward into the box, think the penalty he won earlier in the season and the chance he created for Rhodes yesterday.

He's about the only player to do anything of the sort even if he is a little clumsy

[LDRover]

Amazed people would get rid of Akpan but we all see things differently.

For me he's our best central midfielder for a long time but needs someone alongside him, he looks more suited to the holding role but is actually very good at picking the ball up and charging forward into the box, think the penalty he won earlier in the season and the chance he created for Rhodes yesterday.

He's about the only player to do anything of the sort even if he is a little clumsy

Agree. Not only that but he doesn't go missing when it gets a bit feisty. We've enough bottlers in this squad, get rid of them first and foremost.

[47er]

Yep, no bottlers, just battlers from now on!

[RevidgeBlue]

Echo all the comments about Akpan, think he looks decent.

Long term the keeper situation still worries me, I only view Eastwood and Steele as average so I think you've got to decide if Raya is going to be better than them long term and persevere with him and bin one or both of the other two off, or if not sell Raya and at least one of the other two and try and get a better number one in.

It obviously won't be this severe but as Ive said previously, apart from the youngsters I'd only look to keep Raya, Hanley, Duffy, Akpan, Conway and Rhodes.

The rest of them, on yer bike for me.

[Ribble Rover]

Sat down and had a think about the team and the direction we should aim at going in last night.

This is what I concluded:

Goalkeepers:

Jason Steele - 1st team keeper - Keep

Simon Eastwood - Capable backup - Keep

David Raya - Excellent prospect - Keep

Defenders:

Adam Henley - Not 1st team quality - Sell

Elliott Bennett - Needs more time to prove himself - Keep

Matthew Kilgallon - Not 1st team quality and needs to play consistently to be capable - Release (contract expires end of season)

Grant Hanley - Capable option (question mark surrounding captain status) - Keep

Shane Duffy - Capable option - Keep

Tommy Spurr - Capable player for a team on an incredibly tight budget trying to stay in Championship, we are surely trying for play offs next season - Release (contract expires end of season)

Marcus Olsson - Has pace, but lacks crossing ability and defence capability - Release (contract expires end of season)

Ryan Nyambe - Capable prospect - Keep

Midfield:

Ben Marshall - 1st team squad option who can play many positions - Keep (unless offer of £4 million + made)

Jason Lowe - In my opinion incredibly overrated, wouldn't fit into a Lambert system - Release/Sell

Lee Williamson - Have tremendous respect for the guy as a utility player, but we have to strive for better quality - Release (contract expires end of season)

Chris Taylor - Incredibly underrated option in my opinion - Keep

Sacha Petshi - If he's not pushing for the 1st team at present we shouldn't retain him come the summer - Release (contract expires end of season)

Hope Akpan - Shows glimpses of decency, however to far and few - Release/Sell

Danny Guthrie - Undoubtedly has talent, but his injury record is there for all to see, unreliable - Release/Sell

Darragh Lenihan - Prospect - Keep

Corry Evans - Decent squad player - Keep

Craig Conway - Excellent squad player who could turn into excellent impact sub - Keep

Connor Mahoney - Excellent prospect - Keep

John O'Sullivan - Not good enough, has failed to impress in recent loans - Sell

Forwards:

Nathan Delfouneso - Average squad player - Release (contract expires end of season)

Bengali-Fode Koita - Exciting prospect - Loan out

Chris Brown - Average utility player maybe punching above his weight - Release (contract expires end of season)

Jordan Rhodes - Player to built team around, need to attune to his style of football - Keep

Tom Lawrence (loan) - Squad player/overrated, doesn't take chances, capable winger, unspectacular forward - Allow loan to end + replace

Simeon Jackson - Trial period - See come end of season

Conclusion:

Release/Sell:

Adam Henley

Matthew Kilgallon

Tommy Spurr

Marcus Olsson

Jason Lowe

Lee Williamson

Sacha Petshi

Hope Akpan

Danny Guthrie

John O'Sullivan

Nathan Delfouneso

Chris Brown

Needs:

1x RB -

2x CB's

2x LB's

1x RM

2x CDM

1x Holding midfielder

2x CAM

1x LM

2/3x CF

You think we should get rid of Akpan but keep Taylor??

Mind boggling

[RoverCanada]

While I certainly agree Kilgallon was terrible on Saturday (and I remember him being fairly poor in his only start against Shrewsbury too), I think it's fair to say we should wait-and-see with him since it looks like he'll get a run of games now with Duffy out, barring Lambert bringing in a CB he deems ahead of Kilgallon. He's certainly done nothing to suggest he's earned another contract this year, but keep in mind he was excellent when he played last year and it was a surprise to me he started on Saturday given his injury. If he fails to perform over the next few weeks then cut him loose in the summer. I think he can be fine as a 3rd (preferrably 4th) choice CB.

Taylor hasn't done much at all his last few appearances, but I think he's got value as a versatile squad player. Obviously replaceable, but it doesn't hurt much to keep him around as a squad player on a cheap contract.

Midfield definitely needs an upgrade, but I'd like to see Evans-Akpan again once Evans is fully fit. I don't think it's a coincidence our form dropped so badly after Evans went down injured. I haven't been impressed by Guthrie at all. Williamson can do a job as a DM in a close-up-the-shop defensive formation (see his performances against Liverpool last year), but not much more. Lenihan shows some promise, but he's struck me as just another defensive midfielder.

[PeteJD13]

You think we should get rid of Akpan but keep Taylor??

Mind boggling

[PeteJD13]

Sat down and had a think about the team and the direction we should aim at going in last night.

This is what I concluded:

Goalkeepers:

Jason Steele - 1st team keeper - Keep

Simon Eastwood - Capable backup - Keep

David Raya - Excellent prospect - Keep

Defenders:

Adam Henley - Not 1st team quality - Sell

Elliott Bennett - Needs more time to prove himself - Keep

Matthew Kilgallon - Not 1st team quality and needs to play consistently to be capable - Release (contract expires end of season)

Grant Hanley - Capable option (question mark surrounding captain status) - Keep

Shane Duffy - Capable option - Keep

Tommy Spurr - Capable player for a team on an incredibly tight budget trying to stay in Championship, we are surely trying for play offs next season - Release (contract expires end of season)

Marcus Olsson - Has pace, but lacks crossing ability and defence capability - Release (contract expires end of season)

Ryan Nyambe - Capable prospect - Keep

Midfield:

Ben Marshall - 1st team squad option who can play many positions - Keep (unless offer of £4 million + made)

Jason Lowe - In my opinion incredibly overrated, wouldn't fit into a Lambert system - Release/Sell

Lee Williamson - Have tremendous respect for the guy as a utility player, but we have to strive for better quality - Release (contract expires end of season)

Chris Taylor - Incredibly underrated option in my opinion - Keep

Sacha Petshi - If he's not pushing for the 1st team at present we shouldn't retain him come the summer - Release (contract expires end of season)

Hope Akpan - Shows glimpses of decency, however to far and few - Release/Sell

Danny Guthrie - Undoubtedly has talent, but his injury record is there for all to see, unreliable - Release/Sell

Darragh Lenihan - Prospect - Keep

Corry Evans - Decent squad player - Keep

Craig Conway - Excellent squad player who could turn into excellent impact sub - Keep

Connor Mahoney - Excellent prospect - Keep

John O'Sullivan - Not good enough, has failed to impress in recent loans - Sell

Forwards:

Nathan Delfouneso - Average squad player - Release (contract expires end of season)

Bengali-Fode Koita - Exciting prospect - Loan out

Chris Brown - Average utility player maybe punching above his weight - Release (contract expires end of season)

Jordan Rhodes - Player to built team around, need to attune to his style of football - Keep

Tom Lawrence (loan) - Squad player/overrated, doesn't take chances, capable winger, unspectacular forward - Allow loan to end + replace

Simeon Jackson - Trial period - See come end of season

Conclusion:

Release/Sell:

Adam Henley

Matthew Kilgallon

Tommy Spurr

Marcus Olsson

Jason Lowe

Lee Williamson

Sacha Petshi

Hope Akpan

Danny Guthrie

John O'Sullivan

Nathan Delfouneso

Chris Brown

Needs:

1x RB -

2x CB's

2x LB's

1x RM

2x CDM

1x Holding midfielder

2x CAM

1x LM

2/3x CF

Koita an exciting prospect he is bloody awful. Henley and Lowe release??, admittedly they haven't been great but they young and could flourish under Lamberts guidance. You are also proposing us signing 15 or so new players? whilst the squad needs a clear out and freshen up bringing in 15 players is heading into Blackpool territory

I would get rid of the following

Koita

Delfuneso

Brown

Marshall

Guthrie

Olsson ( if he won't re sign )

Lee Williamson

Sacha Petshi

Taylor

Use the money saved to get 4/5 quality additions and then look to promote a couple of lads from the youth team to pad the squad out

[Waggy76]

I would keep Hanley and Rhodes , the rest I care not one jot !

[den]

I would get rid of the following

Koita

Delfuneso

Brown

Marshall

Guthrie

Olsson ( if he won't re sign )

Lee Williamson

Sacha Petshi

Taylor

Use the money saved to get 4/5 quality additions and then look to promote a couple of lads from the youth team to pad the squad out

There's nowhere near enough money from those to sign 4/5 quality players.

[PeteJD13]

There's nowhere near enough money from those to sign 4/5 quality players.

I was basing it on Venkys supplying the money as the new FFP rules come in this summer, plus there would wage bill savings, only Marshall would generate funds out of that lot anything over 2.5 million and I would be tempted to sell him.

It also depends on who PL teams release there tend to be a few decent ones knocking about

[roverstdt]

Let's be realistic we don't have that many key assets that will generate funds. The key issue is that by letting

Taylor, Petchi, Brown, Delfouneso, Guthrie, Eastwood, Koita, Killa, Lee Williamson, O'Sullivan, Lawrence, Akpan, will at least leave room for wages. Allow Lennihan to be apart of the squad, and so forth for us to then use without going crazy on wages and increasing the wage bill drastically

[BlueMonday]

They'll need a skip down at Brockhall in the summer with all trash we'll be shedding.