Retained list

Didn’t Vernam leave us when the club wanted to cut his pay via the Covid clause, and then didn’t take up the option we had on him?

Unsurprising he left if that’s how wanted the club made him feel.

Quoted from GyMariner

Anyone concerned that there’s not much scope for improvement in central midfield going forward?

Not majorly. We usually go with 3 and we have Holohan, Hunt, Clifton, Green as experienced pros and a young pro in Khouri. Nothing to say that we might not still see at least 1 of those move on or Khouri go out on loan. Defo need 1 CM but I think we'll see 2, even if no one moves on.

Quoted from cannylad65

Whoever is released, needs to be replaced with someone better.

Clearly you are not familiar with the Scunthorpe Model.
😄

Quoted from diehardmariner

Whilst he's struggled for most of this season, I thought Taylor deserved a send-off yesterday.  

He was integral last season and I personally would rather have had the opportunity to give him a round of applause in the final minutes than Mikey O'Neill.

Probably on a bigger appearance fee and goal bonus and maybe even close to a trigger clause.

Quoted from ska face

Didn’t Vernam leave us when the club wanted to cut his pay via the Covid clause, and then didn’t take up the option we had on him?

Unsurprising he left if that’s how wanted the club made him feel.

Exactly my thoughts too.. who wouldn't want to leave the club at the time the way it was being run..also got the impression the club wanted rid to reduce the wage bill..

Quoted from kafunanapar140909

Re Amos, the release says: "*Danny Amos* has triggered an appearance-related extension to *his* deal", which reads as though it was Amos's decision to extend his contract, having hit the required appearances. Perhaps that took the decision out of PH's hands, meaning we're none the wiser as to whether he actually features in our long-term plans. (FWIW, I'd be doing the same thing if I were Amos, unless I had another club lined up already.)

PH will have been well aware of that clause and could have kept his appearances below the trigger point if he wanted. I know injuries could have forced his hand in playing him but we will never know the full story.

Quoted from GyMariner

Anyone concerned that there’s not much scope for improvement in central midfield going forward?

All of our central midfielders are under contract, barring Morris, and he’s been released. I’m not sure what else could have been expected from a retained list.

We’re left with Clifton, Holohan, Green and Hunt - plus Khouri, but I think he’s at least a year off challenging for a regular starting slot. That’s 5 true senior midfielders in a side that’s regularly lined up with a middle three. There’s enough scope in there for another couple of decent players, and even that's assuming no one else leaves.

Dreaming for a second, I’d really like to see us go out and bring someone in from a higher level, still in their prime. Someone akin to Moncur at Leyton Orient or Smallwood at Bradford. I don’t know whether the budget or more likely wage structure could accommodate that, but in pure footballing terms I think it would be just what the doctor ordered.

Exciting summer ahead, methinks.

Quoted from Poojah

All of our central midfielders are under contract, barring Morris, and he’s been released. I’m not sure what else could have been expected from a retained list.

We’re left with Clifton, Holohan, Green and Hunt - plus Khouri, but I think he’s at least a year off challenging for a regular starting slot. That’s 5 true senior midfielders in a side that’s regularly lined up with a middle three. There’s enough scope in there for another couple of decent players, and even that's assuming no one else leaves.

Dreaming for a second, I’d really like to see us go out and bring someone in from a higher level, still in their prime. Someone akin to Moncur at Leyton Orient or Smallwood at Bradford. I don’t know whether the budget or more likely wage structure could accommodate that, but in pure footballing terms I think it would be just what the doctor ordered.

Exciting summer ahead, methinks.

I just think we need to add an experienced bully in mid field who can keep and pass the ball, all of our lads seem to do some of those things but not all of them.

That said after a decent rest I’m expecting our mid field to come back and be more effective, in the last few weeks we’ve seen glimpses of the difference I think we all know Hunt could make in creativity.

In my opinion we need more height and physicality. Vernam, Khan, Hunt, Holohan etc. are all tiny and tend to struggle against the big physical teams and struggle through the grind of the winter months. We've lost loads of games this year despite playing the better football and then conceded a couple of goals from corners or direct play. Nearly every team we play has 7 or 8 six footers whilst we struggle to have more than 3 or 4 at best usually.

Only thing for me is that I thought just a few interviews ago Hurst was hinting at being harsh or ruthless,  can't remember the exact wording....looking at that list then it's basically a pretty easy decision list...
I do wonder if he has privately told some players that they would be released if they could find a club.

Just hope the window brings some actual solid first team players in...looking at our list of loans, charity contracts for the season then four or five we have played this season were just wasteful use of squad numbers, wages etc..Pepple,Simmonds, o neill, Dixon Peters,  Scannell , Gallagher....maybe even some more who have already proved forgettable..