Who is next on the deadwood list?

BFC76

BFC76

Well-known member
Lubala, Nuttall, Sarkic and Howe all gone (and JJ). Those four players have been ear-marked for a while as our deadwood. So when it comes to the summer, have we a squad we can build on rather than worry about getting rid of?
 
BFC76 said:
Lubala, Nuttall, Sarkic and Howe all gone (and JJ). Those four players have been ear-marked for a while as our deadwood. So when it comes to the summer, have we a squad we can build on rather than worry about getting rid of?
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I'd start to look at who is actually good enough at this level.

Personally CJ/Virtue/Moore/Thorniley/Robson will be the ones with the most to prove for me.

Yates, Lavery, Ekpiteta and Bowler will probably be the ones with the most value that we will need to find ways of keeping or replacing in the summer.
 
SeasideKurt said:
I'd start to look at who is actually good enough at this level.

Personally CJ/Virtue/Moore/Thorniley/Robson will be the ones with the most to prove for me.

Yates, Lavery, Ekpiteta and Bowler will probably be the ones with the most value that we will need to find ways of keeping or replacing in the summer.
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I said some harsh things about cj against Hartlepool but he’s done ok since, I think thorniley and Moore are good enough. Robson and virtue maybe not.
 
SeasideKurt said:
I'd start to look at who is actually good enough at this level.

Personally CJ/Virtue/Moore/Thorniley/Robson will be the ones with the most to prove for me.

Yates, Lavery, Ekpiteta and Bowler will probably be the ones with the most value that we will need to find ways of keeping or replacing in the summer.
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Agree with rhat and I think Sonny Carey when fit will force his way into the valuable list.
 
SeasideKurt said:
I'd start to look at who is actually good enough at this level.

Personally CJ/Virtue/Moore/Thorniley/Robson will be the ones with the most to prove for me.

Yates, Lavery, Ekpiteta and Bowler will probably be the ones with the most value that we will need to find ways of keeping or replacing in the summer.
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CJ is coming into his own right now. 3 assists in 3 games is pretty good by any standards…
 
SeasideKurt said:
I'd start to look at who is actually good enough at this level.

Personally CJ/Virtue/Moore/Thorniley/Robson will be the ones with the most to prove for me.

Yates, Lavery, Ekpiteta and Bowler will probably be the ones with the most value that we will need to find ways of keeping or replacing in the summer.
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Plus Keshi, I wasn't sure he'd cut it in the Championship but he's come on in leaps and bounds.
 
Northstandsinger said:
I said some harsh things about cj against Hartlepool but he’s done ok since, I think thorniley and Moore are good enough. Robson and virtue maybe not.
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Maybe, I must be the least convinced CJ fan going. I want him to go well but when you look at every other winger in the league. They can trap a ball and CJ can't.
 
SeasideKurt said:
Maybe, I must be the least convinced CJ fan going. I want him to go well but when you look at every other winger in the league. They can trap a ball and CJ can't.
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Mate I’m same i made my mind up after Hartlepool, I deffo thought he was no way near championship level but he looked pretty dangerous at times in the second half at Fulham though let’s give him a few more weeks at least let him have a run in the team.
 
SeasideKurt said:
I'd start to look at who is actually good enough at this level.

Personally CJ/Virtue/Moore/Thorniley/Robson will be the ones with the most to prove for me.

Yates, Lavery, Ekpiteta and Bowler will probably be the ones with the most value that we will need to find ways of keeping or replacing in the summer.
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Your list probably isn't far away. Don't know if we need be overly concerned about Moore as 3rd choice GK but otherwise they have a bit to do.

CJ is starting and Critch clearly values what he can do. Given we'll probably lose Bowler in a few months a CJ breakthrough would be massive for us to keep that balance up top without having to unearth a left-footed attacker from somewhere. I have some doubts, but as a squad/impact option I think he can at least play a role.
 
Top players with value and interest - Keshi, Yates, Lavery, Ekpiteta and Bowler

Solid enough players for Championship - Dougall, Gabriel, Grimshaw, Maxwell, Ward, Carey

Still to prove but I expect to be good enough at this level - Dale & Moore

Still to prove they are good enough at this level - CJ, Robson, Casey, Moore, Thorniley, Virtue-thick, Connolly, Garbutt, James, Stewart (fitness),

Yet to play - Beesley & Kirk,

Will need to look at replacing - Keogh, Husband, Madine
 
ThereisonlyoneChrisMalkin said:
Top players with value and interest - Keshi, Yates, Lavery, Ekpiteta and Bowler

Solid enough players for Championship - Dougall, Gabriel, Grimshaw, Maxwell, Ward, Carey

Still to prove but I expect to be good enough at this level - Dale & Moore

Still to prove they are good enough at this level - CJ, Robson, Casey, Moore, Thorniley, Virtue-thick, Connolly, Garbutt, James, Stewart (fitness),

Yet to play - Beesley & Kirk,

Will need to look at replacing - Keogh, Husband, Madine
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Pretty much agree with that but I’d say Connolly is a good squad player for his versatility and I’d have Husband and Madine as solid enough for the Championship.
 
We haven’t seen a fit Matty Virtue yet and that might be his downfall?

If he comes back now it’ll take 6 weeks to get upto speed. He’s got the attributes to work really well in a Critch team. He’s athletic, very mobile and has goals in him.

With tricky wingers you do need 2 central midfielders with Energy and Aggression. One of the 2 needs more creativity but with our wingers being wingers not wide midfielders then you can’t afford the second CM to be a luxury player (fine in a 3 man midfield of course)
A fit Virtue could just be that more creative of the 2
 
I hate to say it but for me it’s Virtue-Thick he is yet to prove he can play at this level and with his injuries he is the one I feel has most to prove or move on.
 
AndrewDuncanSmith said:
The squad will need to replace Keogh & Madine in the near future lets
hope that their replacements can be found amongst our youngsters
instead of the club having to pay silly money for very average players.
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Could Beesley do the job Madine does, or is my impression of his qualities all wrong?
 
Devonshire said:
I hate to say it but for me it’s Virtue-Thick he is yet to prove he can play at this level and with his injuries he is the one I feel has most to prove or move on.
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Injury singular
Yes it was a bad one. Critch clearly rates him as he would have been put of contract in summer
 
Madine will be gone...lets give a chance to robson and Thorniley...same applies to Matty Virtue but I didnt rate him in league 1 and he was aleady as slow as a boat before the injury...Id loan him to AFC Fylde or a league 2 side to get his fitness.
 
SeasideKurt said:
Maybe, I must be the least convinced CJ fan going. I want him to go well but when you look at every other winger in the league. They can trap a ball and CJ can't.
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I couldn't disagree.
I have been one of his biggest critics.
Despite that fact, I really hope he can kick on, get some confidence by playing more and prove us all wrong, especially me.
 
ThereisonlyoneChrisMalkin said:
Top players with value and interest - Keshi, Yates, Lavery, Ekpiteta and Bowler

Solid enough players for Championship - Dougall, Gabriel, Grimshaw, Maxwell, Ward, Carey

Still to prove but I expect to be good enough at this level - Dale & Moore

Still to prove they are good enough at this level - CJ, Robson, Casey, Moore, Thorniley, Virtue-thick, Connolly, Garbutt, James, Stewart (fitness),

Yet to play - Beesley & Kirk,

Will need to look at replacing - Keogh, Husband, Madine
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Grimshaw definitely has value and I'm sure has gained loads of interest over the last few months.

I'd put Grimmy over Jerry, Keshi and Shayne for getting big money.
The only problem is the sell on % that Citeh receive
 
I don’t believe there is any deadwood (hate that term in any profession) whatsoever on the playing staff, but there are a number who need to prove they are equipped and capable to perform at championship level particularly those who haven’t kicked a ball yet due to long term injury e.g. Ward, Virtue. We have brought Beesley, Kirk and Dale in who need to prove themselves and although Dale has played for us at this level he has still much to prove. Thorniley and Robson have returned from excellent loan spells and these are like 2 new signings to me and need to be given a chance, although JT played very well at Fulham. Then there’s Stewart who is more than capable to perform at this level but his injury record is appalling and I’m not sure whether NC can or will want go into another championship season with the risk of him playing just a handful games in a key area of the pitch.
 
TangerineBayern said:
I don’t believe there is any deadwood (hate that term in any profession) whatsoever on the playing staff, but there are a number who need to prove they are equipped and capable to perform at championship level particularly those who haven’t kicked a ball yet due to long term injury e.g. Ward, Virtue. We have brought Beesley, Kirk and Dale in who need to prove themselves and although Dale has played for us at this level he has still much to prove. Thorniley and Robson have returned from excellent loan spells and these are like 2 new signings to me and need to be given a chance, although JT played very well at Fulham. Then there’s Stewart who is more than capable to perform at this level but his injury record is appalling and I’m not sure whether NC can or will want go into another championship season with the risk of him playing just a handful games in a key area of the pitch.
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I reckon that's a good way to define this question. Is there anyone who has had ample opportunity and just isn't up to the level we need? I don't think so now. But who has yet to prove they can perform at Championship level to a standard that means they are up for consideration for the match day squad.

Obviously Beesley, Kirk and Tharme have yet to get the opportunity and are unproven, as are Robson, Thorniley, Virtue and Casey. Dale needs more time too. And Moore, I guess. That's 8 of our 25 effectively. Plus Tharme. You wouldn't write any of them off as players we need to move on. Casey is younger than Tharme. He may get chances next season, Gretarsson gone and Keogh possibly a bit part player then.

Not sure whose contracts expire in June. Robson, Ekpiteta, Keshi, Thorniley, Ward, Madine I think will all be at the one year option trigger point. We could do with Marv and Keshi getting extended sooner rather than later.

Those in the nether regions of the squad perhaps...

CJ is a real strengths and weaknesses player who is very handy in some situations.
Garbutt does a job. Good at his best when fully fit.
Connolly will be kept cos he's a tough bastard who doesn't let us down.
James is a good squad player and night be our best left back too
Husband is a bit like Connolly, strong character and doesn't let us down.
Madine I think will get his option year triggered cos he's actually improving. We just need the goals now. 🤠
 
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not had value for money out of Stewart appearance wise. You can't be a good player if you're never fit. Doesn't make sense to give him a new deal unless it is a pay as you play basis which I don't think he'd sign. Madine is playing very well but he's getting older so not sure we can greatly improve in that area of the field with him. And he's never been prolific. Hopefully Beesley can step up. Maybe later in this season will provide more info. Keogh has been outstanding this season. He's not blessed with pace but he reads the game so well that imo, he's got another season in him at this level. I've never been a big fan of CJ or Virtue so not convinced they are good enough at this level but just because they don't float my boat, clearly Critch sees something.
One other observation. We've three left backs in Husband,Garbutt and James, all experienced pro's. Been unfortunate with them all being injured at the same time which hopefully is highly unusual but do we really need three as such senior pros on the books? To a degree they can all play in another position but in my view their best position is full back. I'd probably release one of them, maybe Garbutt who although he's done ok, I've yet to see any degree of consistency in his delivery of crosses,corners and free kicks into the box that he was supposedly acclaimed for.

And none of the players are "deadwood" it's simply about progressing and improving as a squad and team.
 
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