Our League One Squad

[terrierforever]

Here are my honest thoughts for where this squad is right now and what I think will happen or should happen going into next year.

MUST KEEP AND I THINK WILL STAY

GK- Chris Maxwell
I'd keep him, reliable back up, only a few errors and experienced keeper probably on a low wage. Whether heJs first choice depends on Nicholls or a new GK being brought in. Contracted until 2025.

GK- Jacob Chapman
Looks a good young prospect, had a good loan at Rochdale. I'd keep him and let him develop. Keepers develop slower because of the nature of their position. Another loan would suit him.

CB- Matty Pearson
Keep, tries his best, limited ability but league one will suit him. Contracted until 2025 can see him staying.

CDM- Jonathan Hogg
Move to a player coach role, give him a testimonial and slowly wind his career down. I actually think league one will be fine for him to play in but it's whether his legs can still handle it.

ST- Bojan Radulović
Feed him some Sunday roasts, build him up and you never know he might become half decent. The touch is there just not the strength. Needs to bulk up a bit to be worth our while playing him especially in league 1.

LB- Jaheim Headley
There is a footballer in there and I think he'll be good enough for league one.

CDM- David Kasumu
Limited ability but will probably be good enough in league one, keep.

RB- Ollie Turton
Keep, hopefully get back to his best.

CM- Ben Wiles
God knows, should be a stand out in league one for us but it's whether he has enough heart to become that. Keep but want to see a drastic improvement.

LW/RW- Pat Jones
Keep

CB- Tom Lees
Keep, good enough for league one.

ST- Rhys Healey
If he stays fit could score goals next season if given service.

Give these youngsters one more year to prove themselves.

Loick Ayina
Mustapha Olagunju
Kieran Phillips
Tom Iorpenda
Giosue Bellagambi
Michael Stone
Conor Falls
Charles Ondo
Michael Acquah


MUST KEEP BUT I THINK WILL GO

GK- Lee Nicholls
I can’t see him being here next season. Contracted until 2026 but can see him moving on to maybe a promoted team or someone at the bottom end of the Championship. Been a good keeper overall.

CB- Michał Helik
Must keep but will probably leave for the biggest fee. Contracted until 2025 but will be pleasantly shocked if he stays.

CAM- Jack Rudoni
Will probably go but think for his career he should stay and become the best player in league one. Think he'll leave for a fee.

RW/LW- Sorba Thomas
I think Sorba will leave, our best technical player on his day. However attitude can sometimes be questioned and he's inconsistent at times too.

RB- Brodie Spencer
A must keep but I bet clubs higher up will look to sign him. A definite bright spark in this terrible season.

CB- Radinio Balker
Keep but will probably want to go.

TO LEAVE THE CLUB

Josh Ruffels
Injury prone, not good enough, sell, contracted until 2025.

Delano Burgzorg
Loan to end and shouldn't be revisited. A £1m fee agreed with the parent club which I wouldn't touch, not worth a million and definitely not in league one. A poor loan overall, had potential but never used it.

Josh Koroma
Contracted till 2025 but I'd look to move on and I think he'll look to move too. Combined over 4 seasons he's had 1 good season and a terrible loan at Pompey. Rest of the time either been injured or not good enough.

Brahima Diarra
Wants to leave so let him not sure how far he'll get.

Tom Edwards
Loan ends thank god

Alex Matos
Loan ends

Kian Harratt
Release, unfortunately a liability and overall not good enough.

Danny Ward
Danny should score some goals in league one but I'd look to move on and bring someone fresh in.

Ben Jackson
Sell, not good enough.

Yūta Nakayama
Sell

Tyreece Simpson
Sell, not good enough.

Jordan Rhodes
Like Ward maybe keep for his goals but probably best he goes.

Kyle Hudlin
Not good enough.

Scott High
Sell not good enough

Connor Mahoney
Sell not good enough

Aaron Rowe
Josh Austerfield

[oneneilwarnock]

Apr 21, 2024 11:25:35 GMT 1 Amigo said:

Apr 21, 2024 11:09:30 GMT 1 oneneilwarnock said:

And actually if you want an example for us look at hungbo last year scored goals that kept us in the league even koroma did. Wingers aren’t just there to hit corners for a centre back to score from.

Who is creating these chances for Thomas?
After him the next most assists is 2!
He average 3.1 key passes a game, the next is on 1.0!
He's got more than his expected goals this season.
Crosses average 3.6 a game, out of players that have played more than 10 games the next best average is Koroma with 0.4! (Ruffles and Edwards have 0.8 but from not many games).

I know stats can be turned but he's leading on pretty much everything and they pretty clearly show he creates everything and if nobody else is creating anything how is he expected to score more goals? Unfortunately for him he doesn't have Odegaard, Martinelli, DeBruyne, Silva creating chance after chance for him. Or would you like him to be setting himself up as well?

Most wingers have the ability and skillset themselves to take a man on and get a shot of, never really seen that from thomas. Whilst I agree the rest of the side is rubbish and it’s equally on the likes of Rudoni to contribute from his position too I just wouldn’t be bothered to see him go.

[Venezuelan Pete]

Apr 21, 2024 10:25:05 GMT 1 philstarbuckscoffee said:

Whichever league we are in, we need a CM who can pass a ball and dictate play.

Never replaced Mooy. Had we done, the defence would be better protected, the strikers would get more service and we might be able to retain the ball for 5-6 passes unlike now.

Lewis had an incredible engine, he masked this deficiency for a while.

I don’t actually think the individual players are as bad as our league position suggests but the lack of any class in CM makes us a bottom 3 squad.

This is 100% our most important signing of the summer, regardless of division. Doesn't need to be on Mooy's level (let's be honest, they won't be), but we need to inject a degree of calm and maturity into the midfield along with passing ability. Grimes yesterday is a good example. Bannan for Sheff Weds was the best player in league one.

The teams at the top end of League One have got someone doing this role. They're different types of player but all share important attributes and consistently deliver an output.

Portsmouth - Marlon Pack, 12 G/A
Derby - Connor Hourihane, 13 G/A
Bolton - Josh Sheehan, 14 G/A

[bogart]

Apr 21, 2024 11:15:32 GMT 1 themanfromatlantis said:

Apr 21, 2024 11:14:42 GMT 1 melbourneterrier said:

Seeing people name these players:

Hudlin
Simpson
Mahoney
Austerfield
Rowe
Ward
Ruffles

Do we think people will actually make offers for them? They're all under contract.

I hear the Miami Heat are looking at Hudlin?

So they don't have to buy a ladder.

[Million Dollar Babies]

Please please please don't offer Pearson a new contract

Yes he tries but he's a big part of why we struggle so much. Constantly gives the ball away and it was ridiculous how easy he got spun yesterday by the slightest feint or dummy. Then allowing Lowe on to his stronger foot to get a shot away summed him up

[digs]

Contract ended or not,I can imagine every player will try to engineer a move if we go down,I know its laughable but all of them will think their too good for league one.

[hasta el pueblo]

Apr 21, 2024 12:15:30 GMT 1 Million Dollar Babies said:

Please please please don't offer Pearson a new contract

Yes he tries but he's a big part of why we struggle so much. Constantly gives the ball away and it was ridiculous how easy he got spun yesterday by the slightest feint or dummy. Then allowing Lowe on to his stronger foot to get a shot away summed him up

Too late, his contract was extended last September until 2025.

[alexdire]

Apr 21, 2024 11:14:42 GMT 1 melbourneterrier said:

Seeing people name these players:

Hudlin
Simpson
Mahoney
Austerfield
Rowe
Ward
Ruffles

Do we think people will actually make offers for them? They're all under contract.

Mahoney is at Gillingham. I thought we'd sold Mahoney. Oh no just checked he's only on loan.

[Million Dollar Babies]

Apr 21, 2024 14:22:58 GMT 1 hasta el pueblo said:

Apr 21, 2024 12:15:30 GMT 1 Million Dollar Babies said:

Please please please don't offer Pearson a new contract

Yes he tries but he's a big part of why we struggle so much. Constantly gives the ball away and it was ridiculous how easy he got spun yesterday by the slightest feint or dummy. Then allowing Lowe on to his stronger foot to get a shot away summed him up

Too late, his contract was extended last September until 2025.

FFS just seen the article after quick Google. Jackson too who looks like he'd struggle in league two

[terriersyndrome]

Apr 21, 2024 11:27:22 GMT 1 teddytheterrier said:

Ward is under contract so is koroma. So unless someone pays money for them they will be here next season.

Knowing this lot running the club they'll probably think Ward is all we need to lead the line, you know, like they did this season.

[morrisraspass]

I've reached the stage where I hate reading the squad list and seeing the same, spineless, shite names again and again. These boys are fucking terrible at football, we're a rotten dressing room with no fight, and I literally hate all of them.

[jimmynich]

Apr 21, 2024 14:47:29 GMT 1 morrisraspass said:

I've reached the stage where I hate reading the squad list and seeing the same, spineless, shite names again and again. These boys are fucking terrible at football, we're a rotten dressing room with no fight, and I literally hate all of them.

Agree 100% --- no affinity or desire for any to stay

[Farsley Terrier (UK product)]

If we can get shut of any player I'd sell. Needs a total rebuild with someone in charge that actually knows what he's doing.

[Sparrow]

Sell Helik, Rudoni & Thomas.

Don’t renew the contracts of Hogg, Yuta or Pearson.

GK - Nichols & Maxwell both League 1 standard. Belagambi fine as the 3rd keeper

RB - Need to keep hold of Spencer as first choice. Turton fine as League 1 back up. If Spencer is sold, then we need to sign a first choice RB.

LB - A season in League 1 will probably do Headley the world of good. Ruffles good enough for League 1. Keep Jackson as a squad player

CB - Need to get Balker properly fit over the summer. Lees is League 1 Standard. Ayina should be ready for League 1. Should look to sign a left footed CB to give us 4 solid CBs

Midfield - Kasumu & Wiles are both League 1 standard. Need to sign 3 more in total. Replacement for Hogg, Replacement for Rudoni and a ball player. Iorpenda should push for a place. High and Austerfield retained as squad fillers.

Wingers - Karoma is League 1 standard, so is Jones if he can stay fit. Need to sign 2 wingers. 1 should be a goalscorer

Strikers - Ward, Healy and Radulovic should all be good at League 1. Although maybe Ward will leave if he can get a 2 year deal somewhere, so a replacement would need to be signed. Phillips scored 7 in 22 for Morecambe in League 1. So if he can stay fit he’s definitely an option. Simpson probably goes out on loan again. Harratt is probably kept due to the problems he’s had so we can keep an eye on him (Duty of Care). Could be a useful option off the bench.

To sign

1 Left footed CB.
3 Midfielders - them most important signings
2 Wingers
Possibly 1 striker

Not major work to be done. But all of those signings have to be quality players coming in as starters in the first 11

[specialun]

Apr 21, 2024 12:15:30 GMT 1 Million Dollar Babies said:

Please please please don't offer Pearson a new contract

Yes he tries but he's a big part of why we struggle so much. Constantly gives the ball away and it was ridiculous how easy he got spun yesterday by the slightest feint or dummy. Then allowing Lowe on to his stronger foot to get a shot away summed him up

We’re going to league 1 not the premier league

Ability to pass less important, ability to be physical and mix it more important

Assuming Helik & Balker go then I’d expect Pearson to stay

[Wingman]

Apr 21, 2024 15:36:52 GMT 1 Sparrow said:

Sell Helik, Rudoni & Thomas.

Don’t renew the contracts of Hogg, Yuta or Pearson.

GK - Nichols & Maxwell both League 1 standard. Belagambi fine as the 3rd keeper

RB - Need to keep hold of Spencer as first choice. Turton fine as League 1 back up. If Spencer is sold, then we need to sign a first choice RB.

LB - A season in League 1 will probably do Headley the world of good. Ruffles good enough for League 1. Keep Jackson as a squad player

CB - Need to get Balker properly fit over the summer. Lees is League 1 Standard. Ayina should be ready for League 1. Should look to sign a left footed CB to give us 4 solid CBs

Midfield - Kasumu & Wiles are both League 1 standard. Need to sign 3 more in total. Replacement for Hogg, Replacement for Rudoni and a ball player. Iorpenda should push for a place. High and Austerfield retained as squad fillers.

Wingers - Karoma is League 1 standard, so is Jones if he can stay fit. Need to sign 2 wingers. 1 should be a goalscorer

Strikers - Ward, Healy and Radulovic should all be good at League 1. Although maybe Ward will leave if he can get a 2 year deal somewhere, so a replacement would need to be signed. Phillips scored 7 in 22 for Morecambe in League 1. So if he can stay fit he’s definitely an option. Simpson probably goes out on loan again. Harratt is probably kept due to the problems he’s had so we can keep an eye on him (Duty of Care). Could be a useful option off the bench.

To sign

1 Left footed CB.
3 Midfielders - them most important signings
2 Wingers
Possibly 1 striker

Not major work to be done. But all of those signings have to be quality players coming in as starters in the first 11

You often talk sense Jon, but Austerfield and High were garbage at this level, I wouldn’t want them as squad fillers in League One. When injuries bite they aren’t up to scratch.

I’d personally clear everyone out. Losers mentality across the board. Even go as far as letting Nicholls, Thomas, Helik and Rudoni go for decent fees, if we can get them. The problem really is shifting the rest out; much as I’ve liked him Pearson has to go. Lees is done. Hogg sadly the same I think. Ruffels, Balker, Koroma, Ward all can go for me too. Easier said than done. A lot will depend who the manager is.

[k1man999]

For any squad we need a manager
I'll throw 2 in the ring if as looks we are in lg 1
Mike Williamson at MK dons or Michael Skubala at Lincoln both done great jobs
Who ever comes in has a massive job on.

[rockwall]

Makes me laugh that people still call Keiron Phillips a youngster.

[htfcfcfc]

My bet is that Sorba will be playing against us for Wrexham

[JG Mellor]

I think the relegation will result in a lot of long term season ticket holders of my vintage, having at least season off - and just paying on the day for the more interesting fixtures. It's been a grind since the second season in prem. Lots of other things to do on a Saturday afternoon, as many of us found out during COVID break.

[impact]

Apr 21, 2024 17:06:44 GMT 1 htfcfcfc said:

My bet is that Sorba will be playing against us for Wrexham

Sorba will be a championship player next year. He's created the 4th most chances in the league in a terrible side. There won't be many sides who wouldn't take him.

[garyroberts'leftfoot]

People will want to buy Helik.

Some may want to but Thomas but otherwise I can’t see any club paying money for any other players on our books.

We need to release anyone we have other than Hogg. We still miss him when he doesn’t play and may accept a reduced wage and role next season.

Rudoni, Healey and Balker may want to go but we should only allow it if we can get our money back.

Centre mid is the most important position. We simple cannot retain possession so need to correct it. Otherwise it would be good to have more goals in the team.

[rougeboy31]

Apr 21, 2024 17:14:31 GMT 1 impact said:

Apr 21, 2024 17:06:44 GMT 1 htfcfcfc said:

My bet is that Sorba will be playing against us for Wrexham

Sorba will be a championship player next year. He's created the 4th most chances in the league in a terrible side. There won't be many sides who wouldn't take him.

That stat is a bit misleading I think, do his aimless pea roller crosses count as creating a chance, or the ones where he absolutely blasts it like a missile. Or when he either under hits or over hits a corner. Let’s not even get onto his shooting ability. It really highlights how limited he his when his set pieces aren’t hitting

[cheesyhtfc]

Whoever we retain or sign, someone needs to look them in the eyes and make sure that they have the stomach for the fight. Other than, perhaps, the 02-03 side, I struggle to think of a more mentally frail team than this season (to be fair to him, something that Moore clocked after the QPR home game). The number of times we've conceded leads late in the game, or conceded in the second half and just capitulated, is abysmal.

No leadership, no resilience, and no heart. It doesn't matter how much ability individual players have - if you don't have players who will step up when needed and take responsibility for dragging us through a difficult patch, you're on a hiding to nothing. Oh for a tub-thumping challenge from Worthington, the calm control of Mooy, or even a driving run from RVLP - anything but the insipid set of blancmanges that we've had to endure this season.

[Mounie for nothing]

Watching Coventry is the ideal type of club we need to be looking at/achieving. Not sure we can do it, but it's the template we should be striving for.

[ben1987]

Apr 21, 2024 17:26:00 GMT 1 Mounie for nothing said:

Watching Coventry is the ideal type of club we need to be looking at/achieving. Not sure we can do it, but it's the template we should be striving for.

With Mark Robins too. Another manager we didn’t back but has done well away from town.

[incognito]

Apr 21, 2024 10:41:44 GMT 1 Terrier Ramone said:

I know what people are saying when they say we haven't replaced Mooy but he was the best Town player in the last 40 odd years, it is incredibly hard to get anyone remotely close to Mooy's quality. Though, that being said, we ought to be able to get someone who can pass the ball more than 10 yards consistently well.

Even somebody like Emyr Huws would have improved us significantly.

I think the Wiles signing has been quietly season defining. A million (?) pound investment that was supposed to secure the quality in the middle we had been crying out for - it would have been difficult for him to have had less of an impact...

[Terriersmad]

Apr 21, 2024 17:22:00 GMT 1 cheesyhtfc said:

Whoever we retain or sign, someone needs to look them in the eyes and make sure that they have the stomach for the fight. Other than, perhaps, the 02-03 side, I struggle to think of a more mentally frail team than this season (to be fair to him, something that Moore clocked after the QPR home game). The number of times we've conceded leads late in the game, or conceded in the second half and just capitulated, is abysmal.

No leadership, no resilience, and no heart. It doesn't matter how much ability individual players have - if you don't have players who will step up when needed and take responsibility for dragging us through a difficult patch, you're on a hiding to nothing. Oh for a tub-thumping challenge from Worthington, the calm control of Mooy, or even a driving run from RVLP - anything but the insipid set of blancmanges that we've had to endure this season.

That’s hit the nail on the head more than I thought it did on first reading. I read it, went ‘hmm,’ then reconsidered. You’re absolutely right. There’s nothing at present to get us going. The team looks to others to get us going, not at themselves. Only Matos and Spencer seem able to put in that challenge, but nobody then responds. And they’re kids (one of whom isn’t even our kid, which says it all).

In truth, we have all the support players but none of the lead actors. Let’s say we signed Ben Whiteman, Cameron Brannagan, and Joseph Hungbo (leave aside the names somewhat, think of the type and quality of player). They would instantly improve us no end. Chuck in two full-backs and the team is much, much stronger, and we can get more balance and more out of the likes of Healey, Radulovic (especially him - we need more ability on the ball to utilise him, plus more runners in and around him), and others.

[impact]

Apr 21, 2024 17:21:08 GMT 1 rougeboy31 said:

Apr 21, 2024 17:14:31 GMT 1 impact said:

Sorba will be a championship player next year. He's created the 4th most chances in the league in a terrible side. There won't be many sides who wouldn't take him.

That stat is a bit misleading I think, do his aimless pea roller crosses count as creating a chance, or the ones where he absolutely blasts it like a missile. Or when he either under hits or over hits a corner. Let’s not even get onto his shooting ability. It really highlights how limited he his when his set pieces aren’t hitting

That's such a stupid comment I don't really know where to start.

[exberlinerterrier]

Apr 21, 2024 12:15:30 GMT 1 Million Dollar Babies said:

Please please please don't offer Pearson a new contract

Yes he tries but he's a big part of why we struggle so much. Constantly gives the ball away and it was ridiculous how easy he got spun yesterday by the slightest feint or dummy. Then allowing Lowe on to his stronger foot to get a shot away summed him up

At Town, Matty Pearson has had some excellent performances and some downright stinkers. He can’t pass the ball, has no vision, but is ferocious and committed. On the whole I still have no idea if he’s valuable to a defence, or a liability to it.

I guess underpinning everything is Luton Town saw fit to let him leave. Their recruitment over the last few years has been excellent, ours has been shoddy. The answer is probably there.