Retained/Released Lists 2023

[shoddycollins]

It’s maybe because I cannot see them weekly but I never understood the urgency in keeping any of our defenders, whenever I watched our defence at L2 level it looked a calamity awaiting a mistake, think it’s why we were never able to fully see our strong attack options work.

Defence needs new blood removing a few allows some new guys for the step up.

Feeney is a quality centre back. We've actually been very good defensively this past season. Maybe had a few shaky moments but results speak for themselves.

 

[AmberRich]

Yeah like AmberRich said, Bennett was a January signing and was excellent for us, along with Michael Morrison at the back.

I don’t blame the players for us almost going down last season as crazy as that sounds. Our squad on paper was easily good enough for mid table but what cost us was lack of depth and once injuries hit us we were depleted.

We didn’t sign any loan players in the summer window and put trust in kids not good enough. Our January business was excellent and it saved us.

Lessons learnt and recruitment seems to be loans and league one experience so far.

Ryan Bennett's new contract confirmed by the club. Definitely strengthens the defence, probably the strongest centre back in the team.

Think you're definitely right about the problems last season. The squad was imbalanced, lacked depth, and we had failed to replace key players who had left. The imbalance meant more pressure was out on certain areas of the team and they eventually crumbled and morale and belief seemed to then just drop.

The new squad is certainly going to be interesting though and judgment is still out on whether we have learnt from last season. In goal it's going to be a very important season for Mannion and Stevens. Both will want to be first choice and both have points to prove, especially Stevens.

The back line is a mixture of old experienced veterans and youngsters who all have things to improve on. Seems to be a bit of reliance on Morrison or Bennett to mould the youngsters into shape.

Midfield still needs work. Still think we lack creativity, which has been a major problem since Hoolahan left. Massive seasons for Thomas and Lankester, they both have points to prove.

We haven't finished our attack either. For the last three seasons we've had Mullin or Smith around to get us goals, so far we have an injury prone Fejiri Okenabirhie and Gassan Ahadme. That is a big worry for me.

The foundations are there for an alright team but we need 4 or 5 decent signings and a bit of luck to avoid the mess we were in last season.

 

[valefan16]

Although never announced by the club it seems Mal Benning has signed a new contract, or a trigger by the sounds of it which explains why he’s training with us but no announcement was made.

Funny one Sir Mal, cracking player in there but last season at times he was all over the place. His defending against Charlton for their second goal was one of the most ridiculous things I’ve seen!

That said if we can get a decent first choice left back in he would be a decent back up.

 

[The Evil Dead]

That said if we can get a decent first choice left back in he would be a decent back up.

We have? Conor Grant?

 

[valefan16]

We have? Conor Grant?

I had him down as more of a midfielder but listening to the Ale and Vale on the way to work that makes sense.

 

[valefan16]

Finally confirmed Mal Benning triggered an extension