Webber announced.

[morty]

Here was the matchday squad of 18 players. Taking his "12 to 15" you can easily lose Bennett, Whittaker and McGovern straight away, and theres your 15. I wouldn't be surprised if we offloaded Naismith, purely for wages and quite possibly Hoolahan.

 

[Canaryboy]

If we did decide to part ways with Hoolahan, I really hope he is given a premature testimonial for a proper send off in our pre-season friendlies. No rule to say that a player can't get a testimonial for 9 year service, especially as 10 years is far less common now than it used to be. Can't see people objecting if 50% of the profits went to a local Norfolk charity or something. 

Other than being deprived of that game (which I'd go and attend), I wouldn't be too gutted because we've got to start building a team for the future and if it means helping us to keep Pritchard on the payroll and Maddison breaking through, then perhaps it wouldn't be a bad thing. 

 

[morty]

If we did decide to part ways with Hoolahan, I really hope he is given a premature testimonial for a proper send off in our pre-season friendlies. No rule to say that a player can't get a testimonial for 9 year service, especially as 10 years is far less common now than it used to be. Can't see people objecting if 50% of the profits went to a local Norfolk charity or something. 

Other than being deprived of that game (which I'd go and attend), I wouldn't be too gutted because we've got to start building a team for the future and if it means helping us to keep Pritchard on the payroll and Maddison breaking through, then perhaps it wouldn't be a bad thing. 

Yeah agree with that, as great as Hoolahan has been you can only keep picking him over our youngsters for so long before they get sick of it.

 

[Canaryboy]

Another problem with Maddison is that loaning him out for the season is only going to be good for his development if it is to a Championship side, that's where he needs to be playing. A bit risky, that side could end up a promotion rival. Nobody expected Leeds to be up there this season, doubt many people had money on Fulham either. 

We probably need to shift either one of Naismith or Hoolahan this summer in order for that position to not be crowded. Maddison should take the place of either Hoolahan or Naismith. At least we've got one position we don't need to purchase a player for at this level, nice position to be in. 

I do think that one of Naismith or Hoolahan will leave, and as long as that means keeping Pritchard and Maddison then I'm cool with that. 

 

[Din]

I can't see Hoolahan going, I think he will make it to his testimonial year. Not just for the sentiment either but genuinely because on his day he is up there with any other player in the league in how effective he can be. I'm certain Naismith will be offloaded this summer, which makes sense ahead of selling Hoolahan as Naismith is almost certainly on more money and their respective ages means that we could probably get more in terms of transfer fee for him as well. Plus I genuinely believe that despite those two factors Wes is the better player. That said, I am as big a Wes Hoolahan fan as anyone, but if it was the choice of getting rid of him or getting rid of Maddison or particularly Pritchard, I would have to say that we should be parting ways with him. However I don't think we will. I think all 3 of Pritchard, Maddison and Hoolahan will be here next year, the only danger being that we'll have to fend off interest for Premier League teams for Pritchard. Hoolahan's age means he's not going to be able to play a fair few of our games next season, meaning Maddison should get plenty of opportunities to stake his claim for a regular starting place ahead of Wes, assuming we sell Naismith (which I hope we do).

One player which I included in the list of those that will likely stay, that wouldn't actually hugely surprise me if he left, is Dorrans. In the whole time he's been here he's never been able to hold down a first team place for various reasons, when realistically he'd easily be a first team player in the majority of Championship sides. With Howson and Tettey, the favoured combination of centre midfielders for a number of managers in a row now, both presumably set to stay next season, you have to wonder if he see's his future here. Plus he is another player who will be 30 by the time next season starts, we could probably still get a decent fee for him this coming window, so it wouldn't surprise me if Webber plans to move him on. 

 

[Fenway Frank]

With Wes, Naismith and Pritchard, two of those three have played together with one on the bench. Lose Naismith and there is room for all of them on a match day.

 

[Canaryboy]

One player which I included in the list of those that will likely stay, that wouldn't actually hugely surprise me if he left, is Dorrans. In the whole time he's been here he's never been able to hold down a first team place for various reasons, when realistically he'd easily be a first team player in the majority of Championship sides. With Howson and Tettey, the favoured combination of centre midfielders for a number of managers in a row now, both presumably set to stay next season, you have to wonder if he see's his future here. 

You may be right about Dorrans, especially if Rangers come calling (been linked in the Scottish press). He's from Glasgow and grew up a Rangers fan. He'd be salivating at the prospect of playing in some Old Firm derbies and having a couple of years in the Europa League before he retires. 

But if Rangers don't come knocking then I don't think his status as a rotation player is too much of a big deal, didn't stop him signing a three year contract last summer and in fairness he has been a bit unlucky with injuries this season. He was one of the players out when we were down to bare bones in midfield. 

Feel a bit sorry Snodgrass who is desperate to play for Celtic and was prepared to run down his contract at Hull to join Celtic on a free transfer and take a huge pay cut to make it happen, Brendan Rodgers wasn't interested.