livipar2

2 hours ago, Grant said:

Hope not. None of them have the required ball progression abilities to play as the wide centre backs. 

I’d say Fisher can without a doubt.  And Breen although he needs to stay fit and prove himself at this level.

I think it’s just Jakubiak and Allan of the first team squad that are out of contract in a few weeks.  What are folks thoughts on keeping them?

I’ve been very impressed with Allan in the second half of this season when he has played. Problem for me is he is similar to Chalmers and Chalmers is already under contract for next season. Allan is a better player for me though but is there room for both of them?

I wouldn’t be offering Jak a contract. A goal return of 2 goals in 20 odd games is poor. On his day he is unplayable but those days are rare. We already have Wighton and McCann under contract while I’m presuming we will be in for Kane. Plus Sutherland must be on the verge of some minutes? I just don’t see room for Jak especially as we only play one striker most of the time.

I think this highlights the problem we have with so many fringe players under contract for next season meaning it will be really difficult to freshen up the squad.

49 minutes ago, Deutsch Par said:

I think McPake will go in the summer very much in the manner John Hughes left tbh, there doesn't seem to be any urgency to offer key players new deals or us even getting linked with anyone.  

I am also hearing that certain people are also allegedly very difficult to deal with during negotiations and players are being advised to look elsewhere for opportunities.

 

Which key players haven’t been offered deals????

Absolute dross again.

McPake needs a fast start to next season and a huge improvement in home form or he will be under serious pressure quickly.

1 hour ago, DA-go Par Adonis said:

If that is the case, he must look like prime van Basten in training.  I really can't see us signing him permanently.

Hope not!

I’d be giving Sutherland minutes ahead of Holmes. Holmes has done nothing and I’d rather we develop or own player.

The minutes Holmes is getting leads me to believe we want to sign him in the summer. Why else?

I think the squad we have is easily good enough for the Top 4. I think it’s reasonable to say that without the mid season injury crisis we would have finished in the Top 4. That said a number of games have been pretty boring - Saturday being right up there.

If, and it’s a big if, we could get Kane and MFW on permanent deals that would be a big boost. One or 2 other signings that would go straight into the 11 and I see no reason not to challenge at the top next season. That said I have a concern that we have a number of ‘squad’ players under contract next year like Chalmers, MOH, Wighton etc and how that will affect our budget?

One of the things I like about McPake is he is willing to admit mistakes. As a young manager he is bound to make them - if he didn’t he would manage at a much higher level.

Recruitment is massive this summer.

I think we need cover for Otoo and Hammy in the role the play as we are pretty crap when one or both aren’t in the middle.

Problem is we have so many players who are out of favour under contract for next year such as O’Halloran, Chalmers, Breen. You could apply the same logic to Comrie and Wighton etc if we signed MFW, MWH and Kane permanently. 

Bit worried we don’t have enough defenders starting today 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Without getting ahead of myself does anyone know the play-off dates? I can find the date of the final (23rd&26th of May) but not the QF’s or the SF’s.

5 minutes ago, parsforlife said:

It could be, but for it to go well if needs significant buy in, if it gets it at this price I’d be delighted for the club in the cash it would bring in, but if as I suspect the pricing kills a lot of interest and they only get a few hundred along then it would have killed the little ‘difference’ factor that pubs will offer

Fair comment. Looks like quite a few shifted already.

27 minutes ago, the saline hill puma said:

Price well ott. Add in a couple drinks and food, gtf.

All just to watch a game on tv. Shambles 

£40 for 3 games. Reasonable. How would you have priced it?

it’s something differently and done well it could be really good.

I’d think we probably need 5 wins out of 7 for the top 4. Not impossible and about time we put a run together!!

Great updates, thanks guys!

14 minutes ago, Eastendtales said:

If we have to play this failed 3 at the back, I'd go Fisher Bene Walcott.

 

We simply have to go for the win, time is running out to get ourselves in a safe position. Our last 3 games are all against the teams around us and I don't think we'll cope with the pressure TBH

Failed? It’s failed largely because we have rarely had any, never mind all, of Bene, Breen and Fisher available.

8 minutes ago, Grant said:

Aye? I'm not sure I'd have him above Fagan Walcott tbh. 

I would. Altho my preference would be a back 3 of MFW-Bene-Fisher so they’d both play.

Having Fisher and Kane back would be huge. I’ll believe it when I see it particularly Kane!

Fisher isn’t far behind Bene for me in terms of influence and ability.

Good that this meeting is happening but I really feel it should be open to all.

I’d normally agree with dropping Allan to accommodate Todd, Otoo and Hammy but he has been really good the last 2 games. His set piece delivery is a big threat as well. Tricky decision.

If Bene starts I reckon we’ll be back to 5 at the back.

No way is Mehmet at fault in anyway for either goal.

It was excellent entertainment at half time and great to see and hear the crowd getting involved so much. Well done to everyone involved. 

What is the fans vehicle for asking for greater transparency around these results? PST? Centenary Club? Individual e-mails?

A Q&A with the BOD just now wouldn’t go amiss.  From a transparency and fan engagement point of view….

30 minutes ago, GG Riva said:

Imagine if we'd managed to get Ashcroft on loan and he'd done his hamstring in his first game. There would have been the mother and father of all meltdowns on dotnet. 😀😀

Haha very true! Would obvs have been our training methods….