Good reasons given. Don't completely agree with all but opinions aren't sacred or anything are they? So mine would be the same basically.
Loans:
McAtee... There's just no chance, is there? Even if Citeh decide he's not for them (which would shock me), he's done enough even in a woeful side to show that he's at the very least a Premier League player, and in my view is comfortably a top 6 player in the making.
Holgate- gone. I don't want to see him play for us again. His daft challenge showed a bit of disrespect for the club and the fans in my view. I know he's a player we'd been after for a good 5 years in total, but as with a few of Wilder's long term targets in the past (Ricky Holmes, Samir Carruthers etc) it's one that hasn't worked, which fans were already tepid at best towards.
Controversial, but I'd keep Larouci. I think he's shown at times that in a side who dominate possession and attack a lot he'd be a decent option at champ level, and also he's already had a year with the squad, and given that I agree about letting Lowe go on a free (spoilers), we'll need the cover at LWB. His performances this season, in a side who spend ¾ of every game pegged deep into their own half and with him having some of the responsibility for getting us out, he's not shone, but worth remembering he's only 20, and some of the qualities he DOES have are already good, and he's at least improved at most other things, even if he's definitely still no Prem player. Also, If we let Lowe go, have massive question marks over RND and maybe let him go, then we'll need to sign and bed in at least 2 LWBs without Larouci. With him being made permanent, we would only need to sign one (a first choice one)
I think I'd quite like to go for BBD over picking between 2-3 other striking options. If we also have Brewster, Osula, and possibly Jebbison (should he actually sign, which seems less likely as time goes on), and the chance to keep Traoré, I feel we're fairly well stocked and only really missing a ruthless goalscorer, so I'd rather have an expensive BBD than settle for someone cheap. I understand completely that he'll probably have better options than going back to championship level just over a year later, but from our perspective, we're only going to have one season of parachute money this time. We'll have to go all out, so having one expensive go at bouncing straight back is our best chance IMO
Permanents:
Egan - Stay. Especially if he's fit again before summer.
Already said Lowe should go. I don't think he's as awful as a lot of fans do, but he's far from great. I think we can do better fishing in the championship pond for a new first choice there, and have Larouci as a cheap alternative option.
Of the keepers- in the unlikely event that Wes is happy to stay on as a backup option I'd give him a new deal, but I don't think he will be.
Davies was just about good enough as a backup in the champ, and I wouldn't trust him in the Prem. I think it's best for all involved if he leaves in summer.
Personally I'd like to see Amissah given a deal, and either made no.2 or sent on a good loan, somewhere he'll be pushing for promotion from league one maybe.
RND I'd be offering a new deal to but with similar caveats on the fitness front. Maybe offer him a 2 year deal with some appearance related bonuses rather than pay as you play (a player of his age is unlikely to accept not getting the regular wage, but might be prepared to lay off some of it until he's his made X number of appearances)
Baldock I'd be offering new terms to but not being held to ransom. We know he's wanted in Greece, and the opportunity to play European football will be a big pull to him, even if the level of the league is no better than the championship.
Because of the uncertainty around Baldock, I'd be offering Bogle a new deal with no hesitation. I also believe he's good enough to justify being the new regular first choice there, & having future recruitment take his game into consideration.
Ozzy - another controversial one, but I'd keep him. I feel like his versatility is going to be essential to any rebuilding project at least in the short term. If, as I believe we need to, we have to stop being so wedded to the idea that we play 3-5-2, and a rebuild being the perfect time to stop living in the past like it's still 2016-2019, then having a player who knows our squad, knows the coaching staff, and can be used to at least decent effect in multiple different roles will be vital. If we were staying up I'd be thinking about letting go, but at championship level I think he'll be needed.
Norwood - stay. All the reasons you said. Too good to just let go.
McBurnie - keep, and possibly make captain. I think he's shone more when he had some responsibility. Last season Hecky gave him McAtee to take under his wing and both his performances and his discipline improved.
Bash - I actually said we should have let go in summer, but I understand why we kept him. This year though, give him his testimonial and either release him to go and play out his last year or two elsewhere, or if he's almost ready to retire and happy with playing a reduced role, then offer him a player coach contract while he does his coaching badges. Ever since he arrived (even his disappointing first season) I've always seen him going into coaching and being good at it.
Jebbo - I'm never sure really. He has flashes of being one of the best our academy has ever turned out in recent years, but equally sometimes looks either out of depth or disinterested. I'd keep him if he's willing to commit to 3-4 years, but if he's going to keep looking for an out at the first opportunity I don't know if it's worth what it would cost to keep him.
Long and short is that I believe we have to go forward on the basis that we can't be as wedded to 3-5-2. Any rebuild needs to account for flexibility, and for more attacking formations. I think we've looked best in the last couple of seasons playing that 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 (last season was most notable when it was Iliman and Macca playing in the half spaces behind either McBurnie or Jebbo, sort of like two 10s, rather than playing as wide forwards or wide mids). But I also think that the 4-1-4-1, 4-3-3, or the 4-2-3-1 that's a 4-2-1-3 in attacking phases have looked really effective.
I’d probably offer deals to a few less, personally. Even if it means spending a few years rebuilding in the Championship. We’ll just end up in the same predicament, yet again, if we go up with a spine of Egan, Norwood and McBurnie.
I don't think Egan, Norwood and McBurnie should be the spine. But to raise the ceiling of the squad, we should keep them and try and buy better. If we're simply replacing what we've already got with no better, we're in a losing position from the off.
“Can they kick it, head it and tackle? Can they run around? Can they pass?” Just so. Looking at the players on the pitch last night (vs Arsenal) I don’t think “yes” would be the answer for any of them. Oh, would that we could clone Billy Sharp . . .
I think I agree with all your plans (although McBurnie’s a tough one). Just a few personal thoughts to add:
I think McAtee will be very glad to go . . . he must wonder what he’s come into this season after the joy, thrills and delight of the last one!
Holgate – “a retrograde step from a one-legged Chris Basham.” True, sadly very true. I wasn’t heartened when I read Roy’s “View From” his previous teams, but they spoke the truth, it seems.
I’m a bit overwhelmed to think Grbić will be our first team keeper. Okay, I know he probably needs time to settle (and I’m prepared to allow that) and I know the defence are pretty woeful, too, but he seems to spend all his time on the floor. In the Arsenal game, for example, each time they had a shot, he was on the floor before the ball reached the net, sailing over his head. As each goal inevitably approached, I found myself repeating “big, empty goal net and Grbić on the floor”! I’m prepared to give him a chance . . . but not yet convinced. (I’ll probably have to eat these words in 12 months’ time!).
Baldock – yes I love him, too. We’re not supposed to let sentimentality blind us (!) but as you say, he now owns the title “Mr Sheffield United” (or maybe joint title with Egan).
Norwood – he’s just not Premier League standard, but he most definitely is Championship standard and when he’s “on” he can play a really intelligent game. I’d love to keep him for the Championship and watch as he comes out of his shell again.
“Basham goes, with every best wish and a million memories” – exactly so. Hope we can give him and Billy a testimonial.
17 players and it’s shocking state of affairs that anyone on the list could be released without causing any uproar on the scale of Ndiaye or Berge.
For me and in Priority order I’d go with Jebbo, Baldock, Egan, McBurnie and Amissah. Would like to keep RND but just like Brewster - you won’t be able to trust him not breaking down with another Hamstring every time he goes down the wing.
From this list I think both Baldock and McBurnie will reject the contract offers and choose to sign for someone else.
Don’t expect us to bounce back straight away - we are in for a medium to long term rebuilding job and need a takeover to concentrate on investment in infrastructure including Academy, Training Ground and Scouting Network.
No point going back up until we have new owners and a more solid base off the pitch to build on.
Without changes to the P&S rules it’s going to be challenging for any team from Championship to bridge the gap in the future. Even if you have rich owners like Forest if you do spend a fortune you will only end up with points deductions.
Clubs going up ought to be allowed to spend more than the rest but the established clubs want to keep a closed shop so will never agree to it.
I can see Wilder re-inventing Baldock in the Bashambauer role (with Ahmedhodžic sold) - gives room for Curtis to deputise for Bogle at RB. Bash to stay on as a coach.
The Bogle/Baldock issue is a conundrum. If we’re banking on Curtis developing into a starter, is that best done next to an experienced head like Baldock? Would renewing both but quickly cashing in on the most saleable of the two in Bogle be on the cards?
Good reasons given. Don't completely agree with all but opinions aren't sacred or anything are they? So mine would be the same basically.
Loans:
McAtee... There's just no chance, is there? Even if Citeh decide he's not for them (which would shock me), he's done enough even in a woeful side to show that he's at the very least a Premier League player, and in my view is comfortably a top 6 player in the making.
Holgate- gone. I don't want to see him play for us again. His daft challenge showed a bit of disrespect for the club and the fans in my view. I know he's a player we'd been after for a good 5 years in total, but as with a few of Wilder's long term targets in the past (Ricky Holmes, Samir Carruthers etc) it's one that hasn't worked, which fans were already tepid at best towards.
Controversial, but I'd keep Larouci. I think he's shown at times that in a side who dominate possession and attack a lot he'd be a decent option at champ level, and also he's already had a year with the squad, and given that I agree about letting Lowe go on a free (spoilers), we'll need the cover at LWB. His performances this season, in a side who spend ¾ of every game pegged deep into their own half and with him having some of the responsibility for getting us out, he's not shone, but worth remembering he's only 20, and some of the qualities he DOES have are already good, and he's at least improved at most other things, even if he's definitely still no Prem player. Also, If we let Lowe go, have massive question marks over RND and maybe let him go, then we'll need to sign and bed in at least 2 LWBs without Larouci. With him being made permanent, we would only need to sign one (a first choice one)
I think I'd quite like to go for BBD over picking between 2-3 other striking options. If we also have Brewster, Osula, and possibly Jebbison (should he actually sign, which seems less likely as time goes on), and the chance to keep Traoré, I feel we're fairly well stocked and only really missing a ruthless goalscorer, so I'd rather have an expensive BBD than settle for someone cheap. I understand completely that he'll probably have better options than going back to championship level just over a year later, but from our perspective, we're only going to have one season of parachute money this time. We'll have to go all out, so having one expensive go at bouncing straight back is our best chance IMO
Permanents:
Egan - Stay. Especially if he's fit again before summer.
Already said Lowe should go. I don't think he's as awful as a lot of fans do, but he's far from great. I think we can do better fishing in the championship pond for a new first choice there, and have Larouci as a cheap alternative option.
Of the keepers- in the unlikely event that Wes is happy to stay on as a backup option I'd give him a new deal, but I don't think he will be.
Davies was just about good enough as a backup in the champ, and I wouldn't trust him in the Prem. I think it's best for all involved if he leaves in summer.
Personally I'd like to see Amissah given a deal, and either made no.2 or sent on a good loan, somewhere he'll be pushing for promotion from league one maybe.
RND I'd be offering a new deal to but with similar caveats on the fitness front. Maybe offer him a 2 year deal with some appearance related bonuses rather than pay as you play (a player of his age is unlikely to accept not getting the regular wage, but might be prepared to lay off some of it until he's his made X number of appearances)
Baldock I'd be offering new terms to but not being held to ransom. We know he's wanted in Greece, and the opportunity to play European football will be a big pull to him, even if the level of the league is no better than the championship.
Because of the uncertainty around Baldock, I'd be offering Bogle a new deal with no hesitation. I also believe he's good enough to justify being the new regular first choice there, & having future recruitment take his game into consideration.
Ozzy - another controversial one, but I'd keep him. I feel like his versatility is going to be essential to any rebuilding project at least in the short term. If, as I believe we need to, we have to stop being so wedded to the idea that we play 3-5-2, and a rebuild being the perfect time to stop living in the past like it's still 2016-2019, then having a player who knows our squad, knows the coaching staff, and can be used to at least decent effect in multiple different roles will be vital. If we were staying up I'd be thinking about letting go, but at championship level I think he'll be needed.
Norwood - stay. All the reasons you said. Too good to just let go.
McBurnie - keep, and possibly make captain. I think he's shone more when he had some responsibility. Last season Hecky gave him McAtee to take under his wing and both his performances and his discipline improved.
Bash - I actually said we should have let go in summer, but I understand why we kept him. This year though, give him his testimonial and either release him to go and play out his last year or two elsewhere, or if he's almost ready to retire and happy with playing a reduced role, then offer him a player coach contract while he does his coaching badges. Ever since he arrived (even his disappointing first season) I've always seen him going into coaching and being good at it.
Jebbo - I'm never sure really. He has flashes of being one of the best our academy has ever turned out in recent years, but equally sometimes looks either out of depth or disinterested. I'd keep him if he's willing to commit to 3-4 years, but if he's going to keep looking for an out at the first opportunity I don't know if it's worth what it would cost to keep him.
Long and short is that I believe we have to go forward on the basis that we can't be as wedded to 3-5-2. Any rebuild needs to account for flexibility, and for more attacking formations. I think we've looked best in the last couple of seasons playing that 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 (last season was most notable when it was Iliman and Macca playing in the half spaces behind either McBurnie or Jebbo, sort of like two 10s, rather than playing as wide forwards or wide mids). But I also think that the 4-1-4-1, 4-3-3, or the 4-2-3-1 that's a 4-2-1-3 in attacking phases have looked really effective.
I’d probably offer deals to a few less, personally. Even if it means spending a few years rebuilding in the Championship. We’ll just end up in the same predicament, yet again, if we go up with a spine of Egan, Norwood and McBurnie.
I don't think Egan, Norwood and McBurnie should be the spine. But to raise the ceiling of the squad, we should keep them and try and buy better. If we're simply replacing what we've already got with no better, we're in a losing position from the off.
Thanks, Sam
“Can they kick it, head it and tackle? Can they run around? Can they pass?” Just so. Looking at the players on the pitch last night (vs Arsenal) I don’t think “yes” would be the answer for any of them. Oh, would that we could clone Billy Sharp . . .
I think I agree with all your plans (although McBurnie’s a tough one). Just a few personal thoughts to add:
I think McAtee will be very glad to go . . . he must wonder what he’s come into this season after the joy, thrills and delight of the last one!
Holgate – “a retrograde step from a one-legged Chris Basham.” True, sadly very true. I wasn’t heartened when I read Roy’s “View From” his previous teams, but they spoke the truth, it seems.
I’m a bit overwhelmed to think Grbić will be our first team keeper. Okay, I know he probably needs time to settle (and I’m prepared to allow that) and I know the defence are pretty woeful, too, but he seems to spend all his time on the floor. In the Arsenal game, for example, each time they had a shot, he was on the floor before the ball reached the net, sailing over his head. As each goal inevitably approached, I found myself repeating “big, empty goal net and Grbić on the floor”! I’m prepared to give him a chance . . . but not yet convinced. (I’ll probably have to eat these words in 12 months’ time!).
Baldock – yes I love him, too. We’re not supposed to let sentimentality blind us (!) but as you say, he now owns the title “Mr Sheffield United” (or maybe joint title with Egan).
Norwood – he’s just not Premier League standard, but he most definitely is Championship standard and when he’s “on” he can play a really intelligent game. I’d love to keep him for the Championship and watch as he comes out of his shell again.
“Basham goes, with every best wish and a million memories” – exactly so. Hope we can give him and Billy a testimonial.
Sue.
17 players and it’s shocking state of affairs that anyone on the list could be released without causing any uproar on the scale of Ndiaye or Berge.
For me and in Priority order I’d go with Jebbo, Baldock, Egan, McBurnie and Amissah. Would like to keep RND but just like Brewster - you won’t be able to trust him not breaking down with another Hamstring every time he goes down the wing.
From this list I think both Baldock and McBurnie will reject the contract offers and choose to sign for someone else.
Don’t expect us to bounce back straight away - we are in for a medium to long term rebuilding job and need a takeover to concentrate on investment in infrastructure including Academy, Training Ground and Scouting Network.
No point going back up until we have new owners and a more solid base off the pitch to build on.
Without changes to the P&S rules it’s going to be challenging for any team from Championship to bridge the gap in the future. Even if you have rich owners like Forest if you do spend a fortune you will only end up with points deductions.
Clubs going up ought to be allowed to spend more than the rest but the established clubs want to keep a closed shop so will never agree to it.
I can see Wilder re-inventing Baldock in the Bashambauer role (with Ahmedhodžic sold) - gives room for Curtis to deputise for Bogle at RB. Bash to stay on as a coach.
The Bogle/Baldock issue is a conundrum. If we’re banking on Curtis developing into a starter, is that best done next to an experienced head like Baldock? Would renewing both but quickly cashing in on the most saleable of the two in Bogle be on the cards?