Out of Contract Players; Who Should Stay?

[menzinho]

From what I can find these are the players who will be out of contract next month...

Wootton

Chicksen

Lacey

Brindley

Kelly-Evans

Sam

Brooks

Not that many for once. Strong rumours that Pompey are very keen on Wootton, it’s been widely predicted that he won’t be here next season and I have to agree. Assuming he won't re-sign, I think I'd want to keep the rest. However that would mean we would already have 19 contracted players going into next season. Part of me is a bit worried about a potential play-off hang-over and there wouldn't be much room for new recruitments to freshen up the squad. Equally I think it would be daft to get rid of good players for this level, it just means that the recruitment would have to be spot on given we would only be adding a few players.

What do you think? Who would you want to keep for next season?

[DangerousSausage]

I can't really say all that much as I've seen much less of them. In the aftermath of yesterday, it's tempting to sweep the decks and start from scratch, but then you're in danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Of the list above, if Brooks isn't ready to challenge for the first team he'd likely go out on loan again, and Sam might prefer a move elsewhere to get more regular football. As for additions, we need mentally strong players who know this level and can help get another 10% from their teammates.

There's no chance of us holding on to Wootton, but we could turn that to our advantage. In a way, having him has hobbled us in the transfer market as prospective new additions have been all too aware they'd be playing second fiddle to him. At least now we have the opportunity to get a couple of new faces in and have some real competition in that area of the pitch.

An even bigger question is who the manager will be, if the rumours of IB going to FGR are true. Hopefully Keven Nolan was just there to watch the match...

[4everapie]

It all depends on who gets sold 

[Fozzy]

Personally, I can see them all leaving, we will probably offer contracts to most, but they might all choose to leave.

I would release DKE and Chicksen. A bit harsh, but we need better and more physical players in the full back positions, so would have to sacrifice them, even though I really like Chicksen as a player.

Of all the ones listed, I would only really want to keep Lacey (although injury prone), (possibly) Brindley, and Sam.

I can see Sam having a really good season next year as he now looks to be up to speed and just seems to have something about him. I would bring him in for extra training though to work on his heading.

Our main issue is the centre of the pitch, we just have  to sign a tall, well built,  ball winning midfielder this summer, to play alongside Palmer as neither Vincent or Francis are it. 

Try to move on Taylor and Mitchell, but that might prove to be extremely difficult.