Worth noting on Gillesphey that Plymouth changed from a back 3 to a back 4 when they got to the championship, and I think he got injured in the first half of the season also. The way he’s playing at the moment there’s a chance he could be good enough if we are playing a back 3 still, Plymouth might have kept him if not for the formation change.
We will need a LCB anyway regardless of division, if it’s championship we will potentially look for a new first choice, if league 1 then someone like McIntyre who can provide cover/competition is fine
Watson as a backup for me is a no, even for League One. It's almost like last season when people were making the case for Hector and/or Thomas to be kept on as backup CB's.
While Watson has clearly improved under Jones we also have Asiimwe coming back from his loan to provide cover and any RB coming in needs to be competing with Ramsey for a place in the team.
Watson’s ability is fine as a backup, but a key attribute of a backup player is that they are fit to come in and play when needed. He’s been out for a lot of this season so I’d definitely be getting rid and using Assimwe as cover behind Small (or a new wing back if he leaves)
You can’t really assess the squad for next season until we know what league we will be in.
To an extent you’re right but regardless of league we need a new GK, will need at least one RWB and should probably be buying replacements/cover for Godden and Berry due to age, that’s almost half a team already
If we get promoted to the Championship this squad will need a massive overhaul. I know everyone’s really excited at the moment, so am I, but trying to be objective there’s only five or six players that are really of the standard required for the next tier.
Jones - Small - Ramsay - Godden - Docherty - Coventry... Maybe Campbell, maybe Berry still (as he's been there, dunnit)?
Personally I think the two keepers both have differing assets that combined would make a perfect keeper. Mannion is better at taking crosses, Maynard Brewer is the better shot stopper.
It's always going to involve a degree of personal bias but my preference would be Maynard Brewer of the two.
Yeah my preference is Maynard-Brewer as well... However looking at it from a neutral standpoint, Jones seems to prefer Mannion given who started the season and plus he's been very relaxed about Maynard-Brewer's latest injury verging on the point of nonchalant almost.
I think Jones sees them as little between them whilst he started with Mannion, AMB retained his place once Mannion was fit, nor did he bring in a back up.
In the Championship I think both would be good back ups to a new more experienced keeper at that level.
Hector - offer him a pay as you play, has injuries but is a rolls Royce of a player at this level and good cover - keep him
Terrell Thomas - keep him, would make a good squad player
Fraser - I still feel there’s a player in there. Remember when he ran the show that one time MK Dons beat us 2-0. If he can rediscover that form, and with better players around him, he’ll be an asset
Aneke - cheat code. Immense player who undoubtedly would be playing Champions League if it weren’t for his injuries. Even if we can only give him max 3 minutes run out at the end, has the potential to turn a game in that 3 minutes and bully defenders. 5 year deal this time
Sean Clare - keep him. Scored a good goal against Plymouth once. Could do that again
Jack Payne - 5ft but what he makes up for in height he makes up for in potential to be a good squad player
DJ Mansfield - give him 4 more loans to assess whether or not he’s got what it takes, but keep him
Lucas Ness - 6 more loans to assess readiness, but ‘one of our own’ so automatically keep him, regardless of whether he’s good enough
You can’t really assess the squad for next season until we know what league we will be in.
Jones can’t assess until he knows where we are. As fans, we can absolutely assess based on all kinds of assumptions, guesses, randomly optimistic/pessimistic projections. It is part of what is fun on a fan forum. We have no actual impact on the squad selection so it doesn’t matter and even if I am wrong l, I can still take credit for being right nine months from now
Watson as a backup for me is a no, even for League One. It's almost like last season when people were making the case for Hector and/or Thomas to be kept on as backup CB's.
While Watson has clearly improved under Jones we also have Asiimwe coming back from his loan to provide cover and any RB coming in needs to be competing with Ramsey for a place in the team.
Watson’s ability is fine as a backup, but a key attribute of a backup player is that they are fit to come in and play when needed. He’s been out for a lot of this season so I’d definitely be getting rid and using Assimwe as cover behind Small (or a new wing back if he leaves)
I disagree. Not that I have anything against Assimwe, but Watson can play RB, LB, RWB, and RCB.
All teams need someone on the bench (and in the squad) who can cover a multitude of positions...
Watson as a backup for me is a no, even for League One. It's almost like last season when people were making the case for Hector and/or Thomas to be kept on as backup CB's.
While Watson has clearly improved under Jones we also have Asiimwe coming back from his loan to provide cover and any RB coming in needs to be competing with Ramsey for a place in the team.
Watson’s ability is fine as a backup, but a key attribute of a backup player is that they are fit to come in and play when needed. He’s been out for a lot of this season so I’d definitely be getting rid and using Assimwe as cover behind Small (or a new wing back if he leaves)
I disagree. Not that I have anything against Assimwe, but Watson can play RB, LB, RWB, and RCB.
All teams need someone on the bench (and in the squad) who can cover a multitude of positions...
I always feel a club should aim to improve every summer by letting their worst players go and replacing them with better. The easiest way to make room is by releasing players out of contract who aren’t important players. I expect Watson to be released whatever league we’re in, there were suggestions he nearly moved on deadline day in January. I think Chuks will go too due to the limited minutes he can play.
I see Watson at a similar level to REG and Edun - a decent L1 player, but we’re aiming to compete in the Championship next season and if not get promoted to it for the season after.
As well as making a signing to replace Watson, we have the option of promoting two young defenders currently out on loan in Zach Mitchell and Asiimwe. Now they’re starting games they have a good chance for them to show between them they can replace Watson, and potentially improve on him if they continue to develop.
It’ll be interesting to see what route we go down, including whether we keep Watson and Chuks.
You can’t really assess the squad for next season until we know what league we will be in.
normally we would also need to factor in which new manager comes in, and what players he wants. Hopefully (fingers crossed!) thats one variable we wont need this year, though I feel nervous even thinking about it.
If we get promoted to the Championship this squad will need a massive overhaul. I know everyone’s really excited at the moment, so am I, but trying to be objective there’s only five or six players that are really of the standard required for the next tier.
I'd say most of our first XI could hold their own in the Championship! Who would you say couldn't? Poor Macca, he is a *bit* slow isn't he. The others though?
That midfield lacks the class and passing quality to play in the championship . I don’t think we’d score anything like enough goals . Coventry would be ok . Gillesphey wont be good enough .
If we get promoted to the Championship this squad will need a massive overhaul. I know everyone’s really excited at the moment, so am I, but trying to be objective there’s only five or six players that are really of the standard required for the next tier.
I'd say most of our first XI could hold their own in the Championship! Who would you say couldn't? Poor Macca, he is a *bit* slow isn't he. The others though?
That midfield lacks the class and passing quality to play in the championship . I don’t think we’d score anything like enough goals . Coventry would be ok . Gillesphey wont be good enough .
Doc I'd be okay with as a squad player but not as a starter , would need a serious injection of quality into the midfield, Coventry I'd back to step up.
If v we don't go up we are likely to lose a number of players who have positively contributed this season ... Campbell and Small as well as Leaburn but also the vultures could circle for Jones and Ramsey and even Coventry, plus there are the players we want to lose not give contracts to. That would mean, even though we could get decent fees we still have to replace these platers and do a whole lot of rebuilding again. This has the consequences of team building for the season.
So let's hope we can get up and face similar problems of team building whilst retaining our best
You can’t really assess the squad for next season until we know what league we will be in.
IMO this sort of outlook from the club is part of the mismanagement that has left us where have been for the last decade.
A properly set up professional outfit would be very busy already planning for and identifying targets for both eventualities.
If you wait til June to start trying to suss this out, it’ll be far too late and you’ll already be behind the curve of rivals. You can bet your bottom dollar the agents of Small and Ramsay are working on options for both eventualities already.
Small? I would keep Ramsey and get Poku from Peterborough (out of contract but will have loads of interest from Championship clubs), and while we are there sign Mothersille to back up Campbell.
I mean even if we don't go up.... To say that the squad as is, is fine... whilst just replacing any outgoings is a very risky strategy - Players are going to be older, whilst we've seen from the likes of Scott Fraser how form can just fall off a cliff for some individuals.
Of course we wont know that with anyone until Pre-Season itself starts. But even failure to win promotion, should result in us looking at where we could have been better strengthened, and go into 2025/26 correcting those weaknesses (Goalkeeper etc.?), as well as replacing any players we lose.
As losing in the Play-Offs this season, should result in us aiming for the title next year, and to go into it too relaxed could see us copying what Bolton have done this campaign.
Small? I would keep Ramsey and get Poku from Peterborough (out of contract but will have loads of interest from Championship clubs), and while we are there sign Mothersille to back up Campbell.
Shot I forgot Ramsey !!! My fav player as well lol
Even if we don't go up, we're a lot more attractive proposition for players than we were last summer. A settled manager in Jones and a core of players good enough to mount a serious L1 promotion challenge, only one of which (Small) being out of contract.
Comments
In the Championship I think both would be good back ups to a new more experienced keeper at that level.
Terrell Thomas - keep him, would make a good squad player
Fraser - I still feel there’s a player in there. Remember when he ran the show that one time MK Dons beat us 2-0. If he can rediscover that form, and with better players around him, he’ll be an asset
Aneke - cheat code. Immense player who undoubtedly would be playing Champions League if it weren’t for his injuries. Even if we can only give him max 3 minutes run out at the end, has the potential to turn a game in that 3 minutes and bully defenders. 5 year deal this time
Sean Clare - keep him. Scored a good goal against Plymouth once. Could do that again
Jack Payne - 5ft but what he makes up for in height he makes up for in potential to be a good squad player
DJ Mansfield - give him 4 more loans to assess whether or not he’s got what it takes, but keep him
Lucas Ness - 6 more loans to assess readiness, but ‘one of our own’ so automatically keep him, regardless of whether he’s good enough
All teams need someone on the bench (and in the squad) who can cover a multitude of positions...
I see Watson at a similar level to REG and Edun - a decent L1 player, but we’re aiming to compete in the Championship next season and if not get promoted to it for the season after.
As well as making a signing to replace Watson, we have the option of promoting two young defenders currently out on loan in Zach Mitchell and Asiimwe. Now they’re starting games they have a good chance for them to show between them they can replace Watson, and potentially improve on him if they continue to develop.
It’ll be interesting to see what route we go down, including whether we keep Watson and Chuks.
two strikers
one keeper
two midfielders
One left-sided centre-back.
Small
Edwards
Jones
Coventry
TC
Godden
if we go up we will need a big transfer window
So let's hope we can get up and face similar problems of team building whilst retaining our best
I would keep Ramsey and get Poku from Peterborough (out of contract but will have loads of interest from Championship clubs), and while we are there sign Mothersille to back up Campbell.
Of course we wont know that with anyone until Pre-Season itself starts. But even failure to win promotion, should result in us looking at where we could have been better strengthened, and go into 2025/26 correcting those weaknesses (Goalkeeper etc.?), as well as replacing any players we lose.
As losing in the Play-Offs this season, should result in us aiming for the title next year, and to go into it too relaxed could see us copying what Bolton have done this campaign.
AMB
Watson
Mitchell (A)
Berry
Docherty (if we can get a fee)
Ahadme (write off fee)
Hylton.
I'd give Chuks a year and hope that a pre-season helps.
Taylor needs to be in the squad as does Asiimwe, Dixon, Enslin and probably Zach as a starter.
Need more pace all over the pitch. Hope Mbick is fit by August. Could be better than Miles who I dont think is the player he was.