Retained list Fred

[cufc17]

Some good players being released by clubs today, Sanchez Watt, Jabo Ibehre, Reece Wabara and Theo Robinson to name a few. Doubt any of them will drop to league 2 though.

 

[WAP]

Busy day for us, Wes Fogden, Tom Craddock, Joe Devera, Dan Butler, Danny East, Nicky Shorey and Ben Chorley all released. Along with Gary Waddock and Paul Hardyman from the coaching staff.

Adam Webster offered a new deal, and we've triggered an extension in Ben Close's contract.

Not overly surprised by any of them, Joe Devera and Wes Fogden probably the most controversial but both not starting eleven material for a team who wants promotion.

Also Dan Butler leaving means we have no left backs at the club as Shorey has gone too. Butler is young and has alot to learn. His distribution is pretty poor and even before today we knew we'd be needing a new LB if we were to go up next season.

 

[Murphy]

Brian Saah, Joel Nouble and Bradley Goldberg all released from us, oh no etc...

Saah will almost definitely get a Conference club, probably Woking as that's where he was recently on loan. Nouble will end up in the Ryman and Goldberg will probably sign for Bromley on a permanent basis.

Still in talks with a number of players including Widdowson, Doe, Howell, Bingham, Raymond and Partridge, all of whom I hope we re-sign, in particular Doey who would without doubt be our biggest loss.

 

[thewwfc]

We've just announced ours

Released at end of contract:

Craig Eastmond
Joel Grant

These were both quality for us, I'm surprised.

 

[Kenneth E End]

More departures from Kenilworth Road. Shaun Whalley and Danny Fitzsimons all leave by "mutual consent" whereas Ricky Miller has been sacked by the club (officially had his contract terminated).

All there were suspended by the club, subject to an internal investigation after a breach of club discipline. Alleged headbutting of a taxi driver in Whalley and Miller's case after spending a night at 'Pink Punters'. The guy I sit next to at the ground reliably informs me its a good night out there, although he was pissed at the time!

 

[Judge Dredd]

Sounds like Miller isn't happy with the decision as the club press release mentions the decision is pending an appeal. Hope that fails, he didn't look up to much whenever I saw him play if I'm honest.

With those three gone, we've now purged every single non-league signing made in the John Still era from the club. Not exactly been a successful transfer policy! All of the ones who have come into the team and been successes have come from Football League clubs. That's not to say you can't get quality from non-league of course - just that our hit rate has been pretty poor so far under Still.


I reckon Miller will end up in the Conference, scored goals for Dover in his loan spell there, I'm sure there will be takers. Zero chance he gets a League Two club. Fitzimons will probably end up in the Ryman league or something.

Whalley will be interesting. I suspect one or two League Two clubs might be interested, if you only saw him once or twice this season you might think he was great. Of course when you see him week in, week out you realise he is actually a bog standard Conference winger...

 

[WAP]

Ryan Taylor has also left us, Oxford interested.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Danny Fitzsimons, Alex Wall, Ricky Miller, Shaun Whalley, Michael Harriman, Jim Stevenson, Nathan Oduwa, Charlie Walker, Elliot Lee, Brett Longden, Ian Rees, Charlie Smith, Lewis Kinsella, Cameron McGeehan (including loanees) have departed Luton in recent weeks; Paul Connolly, Jayden Stockley, Luke Rooney left with a few weeks to go in the season, with Fraser Franks, Alex Lacey, Andy Parry, Ross Lafayette, Matt Robinson, Curtley Williams all placed on the transfer list.

That's quite a cull, although I'm hopeful we'll resign 2-3 of the loanees - 23 players I make it? Thinks that's it for us. We're still paying for 25 professionals on 1st July, however that'll come down to 19 when the transfer listed players leave.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Ryan Taylor has also left us, Oxford interested.

Is he the ginger fella up front? Didn't think he was up to much in the two games against us to be honest, obviously apart from his goal in the game at Fratton Park which was an excellent finish.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Ryan Taylor has also left us, Oxford interested.

Us too, apparently.

Would be surprised if we could match his wage demands.

 

[GloverGing]

These were both quality for us, I'm surprised.

I did like Joel Grant but I imagine he was one of the higher earners in the squad and has had a few injury problems made worse through international duty, one of the few I would have liked to keep on but not surprised he's been let go.

Craig Eastmond on the other hand was a total mystery, signed in February with Skivo claiming that he could be a great player for us in the future. Made one appearance off the bench and often left out of the squad altogether.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Sounds like Miller isn't happy with the decision as the club press release mentions the decision is pending an appeal. Hope that fails, he didn't look up to much whenever I saw him play if I'm honest.

With those three gone, we've now purged every single non-league signing made in the John Still era from the club. Not exactly been a successful transfer policy! All of the ones who have come into the team and been successes have come from Football League clubs. That's not to say you can't get quality from non-league of course - just that our hit rate has been pretty poor so far under Still.


I reckon Miller will end up in the Conference, scored goals for Dover in his loan spell there, I'm sure there will be takers. Zero chance he gets a League Two club. Fitzimons will probably end up in the Ryman league or something.

Whalley will be interesting. I suspect one or two League Two clubs might be interested, if you only saw him once or twice this season you might think he was great. Of course when you see him week in, week out you realise he is actually a bog standard Conference winger...

I'm really for us going for players from non league, but the vast majority of the signings made from there under Still have been pretty bizarre and many not particularly in keeping with his "young and hungry" mantra.

If we can bring in Harriman, and McGeehan I think we can carve out a nice little niche in bringing in young players who haven't been given a fair crack at these big academies, there's no doubt our "hit rate" on those types of player has been far better than the non leaguers.

 

[WAP]

Is he the ginger fella up front? Didn't think he was up to much in the two games against us to be honest, obviously apart from his goal in the game at Fratton Park which was an excellent finish.

And the other goal at your place aswell?

 

[Judge Dredd]

And the other goal at your place aswell?

A tap in from a yard out after our defenders made a hash of a shit cross. Not exactly a stand out moment...

 

[WAP]

A tap in from a yard out after our defenders made a hash of a shit cross. Not exactly a stand out moment...

lol I know what you meant, just found it strange a fan saying a player looked poor against them despite scoring past you both matches.

If we had Awford again this season and Taylor had gone then we'd definitely have missed him. But with Cook in charge now I think it'll be seen as a good decision.

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

So that's two of our old centre backs in Yakubu and Devera released in this close season.

Like Yakubu, I'd have Devera back as the first reserve defender, given that he can also cover at right back in an emergency. Need to take a big pay cut though I would have thought.

 

[Brox]

We've retained 12 players so far...

Chris Day, Ronnie Henry, Dean Wells, Jerome Okimo, Tom Pett, Chris Whelpdale, Dean Parrett, Adam Marriott, Charlie Lee, David McAllister, Tom Conlon and Ben Kennedy.

I'd have kept every single one of them without hesitation so really pleased with that.

The club are in discussions with the remaining players, the only ones I'd be really disappointed to lose would be Darius Charles and Bira Dembele, so hopefully we'll re-sign both in the coming weeks.

 

[Arbury]

More departures from Kenilworth Road. Shaun Whalley and Danny Fitzsimons all leave by "mutual consent" whereas Ricky Miller has been sacked by the club (officially had his contract terminated).

All there were suspended by the club, subject to an internal investigation after a breach of club discipline. Alleged headbutting of a taxi driver in Whalley and Miller's case after spending a night at 'Pink Punters'. The guy I sit next to at the ground reliably informs me its a good night out there, although he was pissed at the time!

those three idiots just made it so much easier for Luton to say bye bye, you wanted rid and they've given you the perfect excuse.

 

[Judge Dredd]

those three idiots just made it so much easier for Luton to say bye bye, you wanted rid and they've given you the perfect excuse.

Yep, ideal scenario for us really. Whalley and Fitzsimons were out of contract anyway although we save 6 weeks of wages on them. Miller had another year to run so him being an idiot has worked out very well for us (depending on the outcome of his appeal of course).

 

[Dinge]

Busy day for us, Wes Fogden, Tom Craddock, Joe Devera, Dan Butler, Danny East, Nicky Shorey and Ben Chorley all released. Along with Gary Waddock and Paul Hardyman from the coaching staff.

Adam Webster offered a new deal, and we've triggered an extension in Ben Close's contract.

Not overly surprised by any of them, Joe Devera and Wes Fogden probably the most controversial but both not starting eleven material for a team who wants promotion.

Also Dan Butler leaving means we have no left backs at the club as Shorey has gone too. Butler is young and has alot to learn. His distribution is pretty poor and even before today we knew we'd be needing a new LB if we were to go up next season.

A bit gutted by Devera and Butler going if I'm honest, the rest I'm not bothered by. Thank god Shorey has gone though!
Was hoping Taylor signs a new deal as well and let the Wallace saga begin

 

[Dinge]

Is he the ginger fella up front? Didn't think he was up to much in the two games against us to be honest, obviously apart from his goal in the game at Fratton Park which was an excellent finish.

Came in from Bristol City, a good striker for League Two. Was looking forward to seeing him stay fit and form a partnership with Matt Tubbs but I guess it was not to be. Getting rid of Fogden, Taylor and Craddock, with Bird and Agyemang leaving during the season, it doesn't leave us with many.

The board must've given Cook a half decent budget to let 9 go, 3 of which are strikers.
No goalkeeper news yet either? Gonna need a new back 4, 2 new strikers depending what happens with Westcarr although I don't think he's worth keeping.

 

[WAP]

Has Poke gone then?

 

[Dinge]

Has Poke gone then?

No news yet Poke and Jones still there but not convinced Cook will want to keep either to be fair

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I can't say i'd be surprised if he opted to go up a league as he's the best keeper we've had since the great Keiren Westwood, although given how little he's played recently I don't know why any team in League 1 would take a risk on him as he'd surely only move for a first team spot and therefore a first team wage. We ought to get a decent compensation package for him as well assuming we offer him an improved contract.

to be honest I am not bothered if Gillespie goes I think he's been a huge part of our defensive problems for the last 2 seasons.

for all he has ability, he's been injured for about 75% of the last 2 years and it means we have never got a settled goalkeeper/backline

stability should be our motto for next season, a stable back line, a stable midfield a stable forward line, a stable team.....no constant mass changes or swapping about and short-term hopes.

 

[cufc17]

to be honest I am not bothered if Gillespie goes I think he's been a huge part of our defensive problems for the last 2 seasons.

for all he has ability, he's been injured for about 75% of the last 2 years and it means we have never got a settled goalkeeper/backline

stability should be our motto for next season, a stable back line, a stable midfield a stable forward line, a stable team.....no constant mass changes or swapping about and short-term hopes.

If we can get someone of a similar quality to replace him, I'd be satisfied. Fon Williams would be a decent replacement, in my opinion.

 

[Habbinalan]

.......stability should be our motto for next season, a stable back line, a stable midfield a stable forward line, a stable team.....no constant mass changes or swapping about and short-term hopes.

A team of carthorses will fit well in L2

 

[mowgli]

These were both quality for us, I'm surprised.

I'd take Grant back to play on the wing next season but i doubt we could afford him.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

A team of carthorses will fit well in L2

to be fair they'd probably do better than the players.

although we'd need to borrow Stevenage's ploughed field

 

[Brox]

We've released 13 players today:
Jon Ashton, Chris Beardsley, Bira Dembele, Roarie Deacon, Joseph N'Guessan, Fejiri Okenabirhie, George Allen, Sam Beasant, Michael Richens, Harry Worley, Andy Bond, Simon Walton and Calvin Zola.

Very disappointed to see Dembele leave, in my opinion he was our best defender, if another club at this level were to pick him up they'll have themselves a very, very good player. I won't criticise the club for letting him leave as I'm not privy to the discussions that have taken place, for all I know he might have wanted to leave or might have demanded more money, although it'd be a baffling decision if it was our choice to let him go.

From a footballing perspective I can't say I'm too disappointed to see any of the others leave, Ashton and Beardsley have served the club well over the last few years but unfortunately it's the right time for them to move on.

Leaves us with four or five players whose future's are undecided:
Darius Charles, Connor Calcutt, Dave Martin, Rhodell Gordon and Ryan Johnson.

Definitely want to keep Charles but not overly bothered by the rest, if any of the young kids are well thought of, then I wouldn't mind them being kept on but they wouldn't be great losses to the first team squad by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[Don Tonberry]

Apparently we're in for Dembele.