Now that the curtain has finally come down on our season and our League One status has been confirmed for another year, the rumours about player comings and goings has begun.
The club have already confirmed that Chris Dickson, Leon Mckenzie and Matt Spring have all played their last games for Charlton. Dean Sinclair is finally being shown the door as is former youth teamer Jack Clark and emergency keeper cover, Tony Warner. I think we can safely say that they are all for starters and are "no brainers" in terms of the decision-making process.
I think it's also fairly safe to say that whilst West Ham put their whole squad bar Scotty Parker up for sale, we will effectively go one better and listen intently to offers for any of our squad. In the current climate, there are not many who could command a fee and so most will come or go largely depending on our ability to get rid of them or what they cost to keep. A pretty poor situation to be in, but it could be worse.
If I were the manager of a rival club eyeing our playing assets, I would be surprised if I was expected to pay a fee for any of them with the possible exception of Kelly Youga, Jose Semedo, Nicky Bailey or Lloyd Sam. The better other players are either too old to command fees or have already been picked up on free transfers by us because their wages mean they can't command fees as well. In the circumstances, what we are left with will largely be what no-one else is actually interested in taking and what we can afford to keep or can't move on due to their contracts.
No doubt there will be new blood to "freshen things up" but again, these will most likely fit one of two categories; young and inexperienced (keen and cheap) or experienced and unlikely to get a contract anywhere else (desperate and potentially good value). With Phil Parkinson very unlikely to be offered a new contract until his current one runs out, he will know he is almost certainly in the Last Chance Saloon facing a gun battle short of ammunition. So let's try and maintain a stiff upper lip during the close season and be prepared to get behind the side we start with irrespective of it's relative shortcomings. Doesn't mean we have to like it but we shouldn't be surprised.
Good post - would have to add Richardson to that list. Could easily do a job for a good Championship side!
ReplyDeleteThink Lloyd Sam is out of contract and therefore on a free.
ReplyDeleteI would add Elliot to the list as well though.
Depressing reading...
ReplyDeleteWell, we know we have one player next season, Akpo Sodje isn't on the list!