The Great Mass Debater
New Member
Now we have finally answered the question of where we will be playing next season, there are a number of players with question-marks over their futures.
Whittaker I would hope would stay, but his pace was questioned in the Premier League last season, and a year older that will still remain an issue. Good squad player, but not sure we should think of him as a fixture at right-back.
Bassong - been superb since his return to the fold, and this seems to have happened with little upheaval, so I would imagine he would stay. But it could also be argued that his return was simply rescuing a difficult situation effectively, and that next season it might be better for all concerned if he moved on. Hard to know how completely the rift has been healed.
Garrido. Premier League quality and able back-up to Olsson. Think Olsson will likely to be happy to stay now we've gone back up, and if he does, cant think its in Garrido's best interests to stay after 2 years rotting on the bench.
Turner - think his contract might be up. After a difficult start with the club performed superbly with Bassong and felt he was hard done by a little when farmed out to Fulham. I hope he stays, but can see him moving on.
Miquel - Think the parallels between him and Ayala are there to be drawn. Relatively a fair amount of money paid for someone who had almost no first team impact. Ayala has gone on to do well (perhaps not at Wembley), so probably a season long loan to the championship would be the best way to bring him on.
Toffolo - Had a good season at League One level. Probably needs a loan to a Championship club. Shame for continuities sake that that couldnt have been Swindon.
The Murphy's. Neil I think sees them as less ready for the first team than Adams, though next year might be their season, with Neil reputedly keen to bring on the youth. Think in all likelihood though they will both be loaned out. Jacob possibly sold.
Elliott Bennett. Great guy to have around by all accounts, but through injury and whatnot he has stagnated and seems a bit part player these days. I think he would make a great right-back, but wouldnt surprise me if he moved on.
Gary O'Neil. Good experience to have and not sure theres the need to move him on, but less and less a part of the first team, so wouldnt be surprised if he left.
VOO - We hardly know him. It might be that with a full pre-season he could be an influential player for us, but its hard to see. He might simply fade into obscurity even more than he already has.
Andreu - Doesnt seem ready for the championship, so not sure how he will do with the Prem. However, think Neil said his problem was the physical side, so it may be that like Arshavin at Arsenal (where it was said he might never be able to play Premier League football, then worked hard and became effective) with some good fitness work pre-season he could make a useful contribution. Not sure why Neil bought him if he saw no future role for him.
Hooper - With Neil's system using a lone striker, how Hooper fits in is a difficult question. Looked effective playing behind the lone striker in terms of goals, but this isnt really his position. In all probability his best role for us is going to be off the bench - but doubt he is going to settle for that.
Lafferty - Again where he fits in is difficult to answer. Certainly not a winger. Thought he would play an important role this season as the talisman we never replaced when Holt left, but it proved not to be. Dont think he's the right type of lone striker for us, therefore probably needs to move on.
RvW - He's still our player and apparently St Etienne dont want him (or say they cant afford him). Would like to think that Alex Neil could find that 20 goal a season striker in him that we all thought was there, but I doubt he'll get a second bite of the cherry. Hard to see who would come in for him though other than a Dutch or Portuguese club, where his reputation remains.
Whittaker I would hope would stay, but his pace was questioned in the Premier League last season, and a year older that will still remain an issue. Good squad player, but not sure we should think of him as a fixture at right-back.
Bassong - been superb since his return to the fold, and this seems to have happened with little upheaval, so I would imagine he would stay. But it could also be argued that his return was simply rescuing a difficult situation effectively, and that next season it might be better for all concerned if he moved on. Hard to know how completely the rift has been healed.
Garrido. Premier League quality and able back-up to Olsson. Think Olsson will likely to be happy to stay now we've gone back up, and if he does, cant think its in Garrido's best interests to stay after 2 years rotting on the bench.
Turner - think his contract might be up. After a difficult start with the club performed superbly with Bassong and felt he was hard done by a little when farmed out to Fulham. I hope he stays, but can see him moving on.
Miquel - Think the parallels between him and Ayala are there to be drawn. Relatively a fair amount of money paid for someone who had almost no first team impact. Ayala has gone on to do well (perhaps not at Wembley), so probably a season long loan to the championship would be the best way to bring him on.
Toffolo - Had a good season at League One level. Probably needs a loan to a Championship club. Shame for continuities sake that that couldnt have been Swindon.
The Murphy's. Neil I think sees them as less ready for the first team than Adams, though next year might be their season, with Neil reputedly keen to bring on the youth. Think in all likelihood though they will both be loaned out. Jacob possibly sold.
Elliott Bennett. Great guy to have around by all accounts, but through injury and whatnot he has stagnated and seems a bit part player these days. I think he would make a great right-back, but wouldnt surprise me if he moved on.
Gary O'Neil. Good experience to have and not sure theres the need to move him on, but less and less a part of the first team, so wouldnt be surprised if he left.
VOO - We hardly know him. It might be that with a full pre-season he could be an influential player for us, but its hard to see. He might simply fade into obscurity even more than he already has.
Andreu - Doesnt seem ready for the championship, so not sure how he will do with the Prem. However, think Neil said his problem was the physical side, so it may be that like Arshavin at Arsenal (where it was said he might never be able to play Premier League football, then worked hard and became effective) with some good fitness work pre-season he could make a useful contribution. Not sure why Neil bought him if he saw no future role for him.
Hooper - With Neil's system using a lone striker, how Hooper fits in is a difficult question. Looked effective playing behind the lone striker in terms of goals, but this isnt really his position. In all probability his best role for us is going to be off the bench - but doubt he is going to settle for that.
Lafferty - Again where he fits in is difficult to answer. Certainly not a winger. Thought he would play an important role this season as the talisman we never replaced when Holt left, but it proved not to be. Dont think he's the right type of lone striker for us, therefore probably needs to move on.
RvW - He's still our player and apparently St Etienne dont want him (or say they cant afford him). Would like to think that Alex Neil could find that 20 goal a season striker in him that we all thought was there, but I doubt he'll get a second bite of the cherry. Hard to see who would come in for him though other than a Dutch or Portuguese club, where his reputation remains.
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