In fairness to Gillesphey, he was part of the Plymouth team that won league one last year so he has proved he can play a part in a promo winning side.
I agree with you though. Other than being a route one long ball merchant he doesn’t bring a lot to the party
I watched him lump it forward at Wickhams head in the first half v Cambridge constantly and thought of all the Plymouth fans comments about his wand of a left foot. He is clearly a better ball playing defender than we have seen so far. I hope we see that side of his game before the end of the season.
What about Josh Murphy from Oxford out of contract at the end of this season? Has played pretty well recently… I’m conscious that I’m only focusing on free agent atm but I would hope the following
Sorensen - Lincoln
Conn-Clarke - Alti - Would require a fee
Kelior- Dunn - Mansfield - would require a fee
Kane - Barnsley
Dan Kemp - MK - would require a fee
Max Dean - MK -would require a fee
Collins - Derby
I would add maybe Jack Currie and Owen dale to this list also
I'm expecting a complete revamp of our centre halves. When Jones was interviewed, he said that three coaches could not all be inept at defensive coaching and said its personnel.
He had Small and Ramsay on the pitch who are technically his players. The three centre halves that played have all had issues all season. Ness out of favour now completely so I'm expecting wholesale changes in this area. Gillesphey we are stuck with. However Hector and Thomas are out of contract. I'd be surprised if either get offered a contract unless it's as back up to new incoming cb's.
So much deadwood to get rid of though. It may restrict Jones getting who he wants due to the squad being so big.
Taylor ( has he been in a Jones squad at all?) McGrandles, Fraser all need to be moved on. The loans sent back .
It has to be a huge churn otherwise it's going to be another mid table season at best.
First signing for me would be Dobson. Coventry isn't fit to lace George's boots and doesn't even play the role George dominates in.
Harsh on Coventry. Dobson dominates? We have been shit for 3 years. No dominating in the midfield has happened in that period.
Ok, so tell me who else won the ball back during those three years.
None so blind as those that cannot see.
I'm talking about George not the other incompetent midfield dross
Player of the year 2022 and runner up in 2023 and likely runner up 2024..... some of you lot are so fucking fickle
Given the amount of chances we are now creating under NJ and with Miles coming back next season, I hope, I think it's a new GK and 2 Central Defenders.
Given the amount of chances we are now creating under NJ and with Miles coming back next season, I hope, I think it's a new GK and 2 Central Defenders.
Going into next season, we have 4 strikers under contract. I wouldn’t say it’s an immediate priority.
I'd personally be looking for an out and out No1 keeper - I'm cool with Isted as cover , AMB needs to go and play regularly somewhere and I assume Ward is in effect an additional coach/overage U23 player.
Striker it's the injuries that concern me - Leaburn has had a string of injuries and we know we can't rely on Chuks, the answer isn't Ladapo as we've clearly seen so I could see another starting quality striker come in who can be rotated in.
Midfield needs majorly looking at and possibly 3-4 players to come in to add to Coventry , Anderson and Taylor. None of the loanees have impressed me enough to consider them as answers and we're crying out for some creativity - someone that could add double figures in goals and assists and maybe solve the set piece concerns too.
I think the only position I'm probably happy with is the fullbacks but I could still see a situation where Edun is moved on and Asiimwe is possibly loaned out? I don't know if he's someone that could potentially benefit from 6 months in League 2 playing every week (I know that hasn't worked out this season with Mitchell)
CB needs to be addressed - the last 2 promotion sides were built on very strong CB partnerships. I think REG and Jones are good for this level but don't know if they'd start for a promotion contender, Gillesphey I'd be fine with as cover. Hector I think will go , if we have extended Ness I'd get him a loan deal and see if he can recover his form.
Carl Piergianni from Stevenage Taffazoli at Wycombe Sorenson from Lincoln Bowie and Pinnock at Northampton Guthrie from Northampton Archibald from Orient Brannagan at Oxford (probably pissing in the wind with him mind you) Sam Smith, Harvey Knibbs and Femi Azeez from Reading
1 of Guthrie, Taffazoli or ideally Piergianni. He is a monster of a centre half
Sorenson pulls wide and just roasts people, draws loads of fouls, gets Lincoln up the pitch and really stretches teams
Bowie I think is destined for higher things but if we can get him, we have a worker who can really use the ball well
Sam Smith isn't a goal machine but he is a battering ram who stays fit
Knibbs and Azeez I think are a season off stepping up and I think, like most of Readings squad, are out of contract this summer
Brannagan is a class player, always wants the ball, beautiful technique and effective in possession
Archibald, I just like him. Makes things happen and seems to show up when it matters
Keepers, I'm less sure of. I rated the Lincoln keeper, can't remember his name. Shame we had to sell Amos as he was solid and claimed everything.
In an ideal world Ashley improves his communication and command of a penalty box and turns into the keeper I know is in there. Hard to be too harsh on Istead or Ash as the defence in front of them exposes them so often. That said, neither command their space as much as you need a keeper to which in turn probably makes the centre halves nervous. I personally think its more down to our players not being decisive enough and not attacking the ball
Below is a list of our current state of the squad of those who have either played more than a handful of games or been included in the squad on a regular basis. I have also included their age and when their contracts run out.
This means, including those out on loan, we have 12 permanent players out of contract and 5 loanees due to go back to their parent club, despite their own contractual situations.
We have 20 players contracted for next season including 4 who are currently out on loan.
Goalkeepers
Ashley Maynard-Brewer - 24 - 2026 (+1)
Harry Isted - 27 - 2025
Lewis Ward - 27 - 2024
Defenders
Kayne Ramsay - 23 - 2027
Nathan Asiimwe - 19 - 2026 (+1)
Tennai Watson - 27 - 2025
Rarmani Edmonds-Green - 25 - 2026 (+1)
Macaulay Gillesphey - 28 - 2026 (+1)
Lloyd Jones - 28 - 2025
Michael Hector - 31 - 2024
Terrell Thomas - 28 - 2024
Lucas Ness - 22 - 2024
Tayo Edun - 25 - 2025
Thierry Small - 19 - 2024
Midfielders
Karoy Anderson - 19 - 2027 (+1)
Conor Coventry - 24 - 2027
Terry Taylor - 22 - 2026
George Dobson - 26 - 2024
Tyreece Campbell - 20 - 2024
Kazenga LuaLua - 33 - 2024
Strikers
Daniel Kanu - 19 - 2027 (+1)
Alfie May - 30 - 2025 (+1)
Chuks Aneke - 30 - 2025
Miles Leaburn - 20 - 2025
Connor Wickham - 31 - 2024
Loaned out
Aaron Henry - 20 - 2025 (+1)
Zach Mitchell - 19 - 2025
Scott Fraser - 29 - 2025
Conor McGrandles - 28 - 2025
Jack Payne - 29 - 2024
Diallang Jaiyesimi - 25 - 2024
Richard Chin - 21 - 2024
Loaned in
Tyreeq Bakinson - 25 - 2024
Panutche Camara - 27 - 2024
Louis Watson - 22 - 2024
Lewis Fiorini - 21 - 2024
Freddie Ladapo - 31 - 2024
Of the 17 players (12 out of contract and 5 on loan), there are only 3 which I would be looking to keep, 5 at most. These for me are: Hector, Small, Wickham, and potentially Ness and Campbell.
It would still leave us with players like Fraser and McGrandles who we need to shift as they have another year on their contract.
I believe Jones sees Edun as a midfielder and not a left-back/left-wing-back, but I don't think he believes he's a player for him, so may get moved on.
I would personally look to move on Watson as we have invested in Asiimwe with his contract length and brought in Ramsay. Three right backs/right-wing-backs are not ideal, even if Asiimwe may benefit from a loan next season.
Neither goalkeeper, in my view, are good enough to number one throughout a whole season for a team looking to get promoted, ideally automatically, so it's a case of which one is favoured and which one is easier to shift/get money for. Maynard-Brewer's contract length may prove to be an issue if they look to keep Isted, instead.
Essentially, there is a lot of work to do this summer and an overhaul is coming, and needed.
I think it's great having a wish list of players to bring in to the squad to add quality, but we really need to shift players out and let go of many before we can look and assess what we have and where we need to really target.
However, saying that, although we all know the defence is an issue and will be sorted one way or another, the midfield looks extremely weak with no depth. Coventry will probably prove to be a good player next season, Anderson has been excellent but is 19 and will be up and down, Dobson looks like he's off to Hungary, Taylor can't get a look in, the rest are on loan or out on loan. It's a huge area to get right.
Interesting few months ahead, especially when Jones wants 90% of his squad sorted for the start of pre-season.
GK is no.1 priority closely followed by a top experienced sh*thouse CB then I’d like a really flair assist making / scoring no.10 type someone like dembele currently on loan at Blackpool from 7 goals and 11 assists this season. Still only 21.
Major clear out needed, including most of the signings from last summer and Jan, although unlikely to happen. No time for sentiment, this squad is no where near it and needs ripping up.
Major clear out needed, including most of the signings from last summer and Jan, although unlikely to happen. No time for sentiment, this squad is no where near it and needs ripping up.
Not going to happen, we'd lose a fortune clearing out recent signings.
In a similar way to how Ben Watson was kept over Pratley because the latter was out of contract, it's easier to let go out of contract players than try to sell or loan out contracted ones.
The real mystery is Lloyd Jones who seems to have vanished without trace, despite our defensive issues.
He’s not fit. Jones rates him highly.
Why hasn't he said so then? In recent interviews, he's been talking about how big the squad is, and how he's having to leave players out of the 18, and that we've got very few injuries now.
We need to sign a goalkeeper with Championship quality.
Carl Rushworth, Brighton currently on loan at Swansea. Christian Walton, currently bench warming at Ipswich. Lukas Jensen, Lincoln City. Viktor Johansson, Rotherham. Viljami Sinisalo, Villa, currently on loan at Exeter. Nathan Baxter, Bolton W. Daniel Grimshaw, Blackpool.
I'd also go for the pick of L1 CBs.
Paudie O'Connor at Lincoln would be first choice Terence Vancooten at Stevenage is a goliath of a man.
Rushworth is doing so well at Swansea people are touting him as a possible England call-up, no way will be drop down to League 1, will be in the Championship again at worst next season.
Johansson will likely get a Championship move as he's got a release clause, but if not he'll stay at Rotherham, he's not moving sideways to us for the sake of it.
Elliot Watt from Salford could be a decent shout - defensive midfielder but more the type to get it from the defense and pass it out rather than a tacking type.
Out of contract, 24, hasn't missed many games last few seasons which would make a change.
Elliot Watt from Salford could be a decent shout - defensive midfielder but more the type to get it from the defense and pass it out rather than a tacking type.
Out of contract, 24, hasn't missed many games last few seasons which would make a change.
Yeah, let's sign someone who exactly matches the player profile of Conor Coventry
Elliot Watt from Salford could be a decent shout - defensive midfielder but more the type to get it from the defense and pass it out rather than a tacking type.
Out of contract, 24, hasn't missed many games last few seasons which would make a change.
Yeah, let's sign someone who exactly matches the player profile of Conor Coventry
We're playing with two defensive midfielders in Coventry and Dobson, and Dobson is leaving.
It's also a squad game nowadays - we'll have played 54 games this season, 58 the year before. We have a terrible injury record.
You may be right, but having two players for the same position isn't that crazy a suggestion.
Elliot Watt from Salford could be a decent shout - defensive midfielder but more the type to get it from the defense and pass it out rather than a tacking type.
Out of contract, 24, hasn't missed many games last few seasons which would make a change.
Yeah, let's sign someone who exactly matches the player profile of Conor Coventry
We're playing with two defensive midfielders in Coventry and Dobson, and Dobson is leaving.
It's also a squad game nowadays - we'll have played 54 games this season, 58 the year before. We have a terrible injury record.
You may be right, but having two players for the same position isn't that crazy a suggestion.
Elliot Watt from Salford could be a decent shout - defensive midfielder but more the type to get it from the defense and pass it out rather than a tacking type.
Out of contract, 24, hasn't missed many games last few seasons which would make a change.
Yeah, let's sign someone who exactly matches the player profile of Conor Coventry
We're playing with two defensive midfielders in Coventry and Dobson, and Dobson is leaving.
It's also a squad game nowadays - we'll have played 54 games this season, 58 the year before. We have a terrible injury record.
You may be right, but having two players for the same position isn't that crazy a suggestion.
Isn’t that Taylor’s role too?
Well it probably would be but given Taylor's mysterious disappearing act who knows what role (if any) he will actually have next season.
Elliot Watt from Salford could be a decent shout - defensive midfielder but more the type to get it from the defense and pass it out rather than a tacking type.
Out of contract, 24, hasn't missed many games last few seasons which would make a change.
Yeah, let's sign someone who exactly matches the player profile of Conor Coventry
We're playing with two defensive midfielders in Coventry and Dobson, and Dobson is leaving.
It's also a squad game nowadays - we'll have played 54 games this season, 58 the year before. We have a terrible injury record.
You may be right, but having two players for the same position isn't that crazy a suggestion.
I'm expecting a complete revamp of our centre halves. When Jones was interviewed, he said that three coaches could not all be inept at defensive coaching and said its personnel.
He had Small and Ramsay on the pitch who are technically his players. The three centre halves that played have all had issues all season. Ness out of favour now completely so I'm expecting wholesale changes in this area. Gillesphey we are stuck with. However Hector and Thomas are out of contract. I'd be surprised if either get offered a contract unless it's as back up to new incoming cb's.
So much deadwood to get rid of though. It may restrict Jones getting who he wants due to the squad being so big.
Taylor ( has he been in a Jones squad at all?) McGrandles, Fraser all need to be moved on. The loans sent back .
It has to be a huge churn otherwise it's going to be another mid table season at best.
First signing for me would be Dobson. Coventry isn't fit to lace George's boots and doesn't even play the role George dominates in.
Having a laugh … Coventry is a huge up grade on Dobson and will be playing championship football sooner rather then later hopefully with is .. Taylor won’t go he will be back up to Coventry having signed 3 year contract .. if Dobson changes his mind and accepts the offer on the table and he buys himself out of his contract .. is the only way he will stay .
Do you actually watch the matches? As in Charlton matches?
Coventry has yet to play a full season for any club, that's despite him being 24 years old. Also, we haven't seen anything in his game that suggests he's Championship quality. So what exactly are you looking at?
On the SLP pod Cawley says we'll probably bring in a new GK. Also says no contact with JCH since January but we will probably be in for a striker this summer. Expecting Dobson to go and a lot of churn in general
I'm expecting a complete revamp of our centre halves. When Jones was interviewed, he said that three coaches could not all be inept at defensive coaching and said its personnel.
He had Small and Ramsay on the pitch who are technically his players. The three centre halves that played have all had issues all season. Ness out of favour now completely so I'm expecting wholesale changes in this area. Gillesphey we are stuck with. However Hector and Thomas are out of contract. I'd be surprised if either get offered a contract unless it's as back up to new incoming cb's.
So much deadwood to get rid of though. It may restrict Jones getting who he wants due to the squad being so big.
Taylor ( has he been in a Jones squad at all?) McGrandles, Fraser all need to be moved on. The loans sent back .
It has to be a huge churn otherwise it's going to be another mid table season at best.
First signing for me would be Dobson. Coventry isn't fit to lace George's boots and doesn't even play the role George dominates in.
Having a laugh … Coventry is a huge up grade on Dobson and will be playing championship football sooner rather then later hopefully with is .. Taylor won’t go he will be back up to Coventry having signed 3 year contract .. if Dobson changes his mind and accepts the offer on the table and he buys himself out of his contract .. is the only way he will stay .
Do you actually watch the matches? As in Charlton matches?
Coventry has yet to play a full season for any club, that's despite him being 24 years old. Also, we haven't seen anything in his game that suggests he's Championship quality. So what exactly are you looking at?
Watch every game …….
Great, you'll be able to answer this question. What part of Coventry's game is better than Dobson's?
I'm expecting a complete revamp of our centre halves. When Jones was interviewed, he said that three coaches could not all be inept at defensive coaching and said its personnel.
He had Small and Ramsay on the pitch who are technically his players. The three centre halves that played have all had issues all season. Ness out of favour now completely so I'm expecting wholesale changes in this area. Gillesphey we are stuck with. However Hector and Thomas are out of contract. I'd be surprised if either get offered a contract unless it's as back up to new incoming cb's.
So much deadwood to get rid of though. It may restrict Jones getting who he wants due to the squad being so big.
Taylor ( has he been in a Jones squad at all?) McGrandles, Fraser all need to be moved on. The loans sent back .
It has to be a huge churn otherwise it's going to be another mid table season at best.
First signing for me would be Dobson. Coventry isn't fit to lace George's boots and doesn't even play the role George dominates in.
Having a laugh … Coventry is a huge up grade on Dobson and will be playing championship football sooner rather then later hopefully with is .. Taylor won’t go he will be back up to Coventry having signed 3 year contract .. if Dobson changes his mind and accepts the offer on the table and he buys himself out of his contract .. is the only way he will stay .
Do you actually watch the matches? As in Charlton matches?
Coventry has yet to play a full season for any club, that's despite him being 24 years old. Also, we haven't seen anything in his game that suggests he's Championship quality. So what exactly are you looking at?
Watch every game …….
Great, you'll be able to answer this question. What part of Coventry's game is better than Dobson's?
There’s another thread for Dobson talk, take it there. It’s tiring hearing it
Comments
I watched him lump it forward at Wickhams head in the first half v Cambridge constantly and thought of all the Plymouth fans comments about his wand of a left foot. He is clearly a better ball playing defender than we have seen so far. I hope we see that side of his game before the end of the season.
Sorensen - Lincoln
Conn-Clarke - Alti - Would require a fee
Kelior- Dunn - Mansfield - would require a fee
Kane - Barnsley
Dan Kemp - MK - would require a fee
Max Dean - MK -would require a fee
Collins - Derby
I would add maybe Jack Currie and Owen dale to this list also
Player of the year 2022 and runner up in 2023 and likely runner up 2024..... some of you lot are so fucking fickle
Striker it's the injuries that concern me - Leaburn has had a string of injuries and we know we can't rely on Chuks, the answer isn't Ladapo as we've clearly seen so I could see another starting quality striker come in who can be rotated in.
Midfield needs majorly looking at and possibly 3-4 players to come in to add to Coventry , Anderson and Taylor. None of the loanees have impressed me enough to consider them as answers and we're crying out for some creativity - someone that could add double figures in goals and assists and maybe solve the set piece concerns too.
I think the only position I'm probably happy with is the fullbacks but I could still see a situation where Edun is moved on and Asiimwe is possibly loaned out? I don't know if he's someone that could potentially benefit from 6 months in League 2 playing every week (I know that hasn't worked out this season with Mitchell)
CB needs to be addressed - the last 2 promotion sides were built on very strong CB partnerships. I think REG and Jones are good for this level but don't know if they'd start for a promotion contender, Gillesphey I'd be fine with as cover. Hector I think will go , if we have extended Ness I'd get him a loan deal and see if he can recover his form.
Taffazoli at Wycombe
Sorenson from Lincoln
Bowie and Pinnock at Northampton
Guthrie from Northampton
Archibald from Orient
Brannagan at Oxford (probably pissing in the wind with him mind you)
Sam Smith, Harvey Knibbs and Femi Azeez from Reading
1 of Guthrie, Taffazoli or ideally Piergianni. He is a monster of a centre half
Sorenson pulls wide and just roasts people, draws loads of fouls, gets Lincoln up the pitch and really stretches teams
Bowie I think is destined for higher things but if we can get him, we have a worker who can really use the ball well
Sam Smith isn't a goal machine but he is a battering ram who stays fit
Knibbs and Azeez I think are a season off stepping up and I think, like most of Readings squad, are out of contract this summer
Brannagan is a class player, always wants the ball, beautiful technique and effective in possession
Archibald, I just like him. Makes things happen and seems to show up when it matters
Keepers, I'm less sure of. I rated the Lincoln keeper, can't remember his name. Shame we had to sell Amos as he was solid and claimed everything.
In an ideal world Ashley improves his communication and command of a penalty box and turns into the keeper I know is in there. Hard to be too harsh on Istead or Ash as the defence in front of them exposes them so often. That said, neither command their space as much as you need a keeper to which in turn probably makes the centre halves nervous. I personally think its more down to our players not being decisive enough and not attacking the ball
This means, including those out on loan, we have 12 permanent players out of contract and 5 loanees due to go back to their parent club, despite their own contractual situations.
We have 20 players contracted for next season including 4 who are currently out on loan.
Goalkeepers
Midfielders
Strikers
Loaned out
Loaned in
Of the 17 players (12 out of contract and 5 on loan), there are only 3 which I would be looking to keep, 5 at most. These for me are: Hector, Small, Wickham, and potentially Ness and Campbell.
It would still leave us with players like Fraser and McGrandles who we need to shift as they have another year on their contract.
I believe Jones sees Edun as a midfielder and not a left-back/left-wing-back, but I don't think he believes he's a player for him, so may get moved on.
I would personally look to move on Watson as we have invested in Asiimwe with his contract length and brought in Ramsay. Three right backs/right-wing-backs are not ideal, even if Asiimwe may benefit from a loan next season.
Neither goalkeeper, in my view, are good enough to number one throughout a whole season for a team looking to get promoted, ideally automatically, so it's a case of which one is favoured and which one is easier to shift/get money for. Maynard-Brewer's contract length may prove to be an issue if they look to keep Isted, instead.
Essentially, there is a lot of work to do this summer and an overhaul is coming, and needed.
I think it's great having a wish list of players to bring in to the squad to add quality, but we really need to shift players out and let go of many before we can look and assess what we have and where we need to really target.
However, saying that, although we all know the defence is an issue and will be sorted one way or another, the midfield looks extremely weak with no depth. Coventry will probably prove to be a good player next season, Anderson has been excellent but is 19 and will be up and down, Dobson looks like he's off to Hungary, Taylor can't get a look in, the rest are on loan or out on loan. It's a huge area to get right.
Interesting few months ahead, especially when Jones wants 90% of his squad sorted for the start of pre-season.
someone like dembele currently on loan at Blackpool from 7 goals and 11 assists this season. Still only 21.
Jensen at Lincoln would be my first choice but I doubt he'd come cheap.
In a similar way to how Ben Watson was kept over Pratley because the latter was out of contract, it's easier to let go out of contract players than try to sell or loan out contracted ones.
Johansson will likely get a Championship move as he's got a release clause, but if not he'll stay at Rotherham, he's not moving sideways to us for the sake of it.
No point wasting time on unrealistic signings.
Out of contract, 24, hasn't missed many games last few seasons which would make a change.
It's also a squad game nowadays - we'll have played 54 games this season, 58 the year before. We have a terrible injury record.
You may be right, but having two players for the same position isn't that crazy a suggestion.