Contracts

[bigmart]

The club have the option of another year on Mcgurks contract.

 

[Ian]

The club have the option of another year on Mcgurks contract.

I wouldn't renew it. We've seen enough to know he isn't going to improve any further and he does tend to suffer from injuries. He's not the player we need to take this club forward.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

A big advantage of Ronnie coming in when he did is that he'll have a chance to assess the squad for next season. If we reach safety before the season ends, he'll have the luxury of giving some of the squad members and youngsters a game. It would be intersting to see who he rates and who he releases, given that none of the current squad were his signings.

This all assumes Ronnie gets (and accepts) a new contract before long. If not, we risk a repeat of the fiasco under Barnes when Ronnie had already started to bring in new players (Mark Allott) and JB put out a scratch side for the first game of the season.

Maybe negotiations have already started. There is no sense to delay any longer.

 

[Sparky]

Yeah lets all be honest - we aint gonna go down now. Simply wont happen. Ronnie obviously has to say it aint until we're mathematically safe etc but we will stay up.

So they must be planning not only Ronnies contract but also the players, some of which may not want to stay until they know what is happening with the gaffa.

On the subject of McGurk, i have always been a big fan and often felt sorry for him playing out on the left out of position.

Its a shame that when Ronnie has come in with 2 up front, he has got injured.

But thats the story of his rovers career (a bit like Devaney), just unlucky with injuries.

I'd try and snap Adam up for another year but try and reduce his wages on the basis of his injury record.

 

[amplesou]

Danny homes turns down liverpool and glasgow Rangers and celtic are after him

bloody el...dany you got one el of an agent there ....all Bs of course....

 

[SonkORLY?]

The club have the option of another year on Mcgurks contract.

Oh great

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

It has been reported elsewhere on the web that Ronnie has now signed a one year deal, and Goody has also re-signed for a year, but apparently against the manager's wishes.

I am actually pleased with both decisions.

 

[Boz]

I think Ronnie merits the contract having more or less secured our L1 future. It will be interesting to see how he copes with squad building in these times when the purse strings have been tightened. Hopefully he will be more inclined to give the younger players a chance now.

Wonder why RM didn't want Goodi to get another deal. While he is perhaps on the wane, still more good performances than not this season.

 

[bigmart]

Good news that both have signed if this is ture, think we may lose Buchanan to a better team.

 

[SonkORLY?]

Good news that both have signed if this is ture, think we may lose Buchanan to a better team.

If we keep Zoum it's not a huge problem

 

[bigmart]

Buchanan is a better defender than zoom i hope we can keep him.

 

[SonkORLY?]

They're both v good at this level

 

[roverstillidie]

The problem with Zoom is that every time he plays, he seems to give away a penalty.

 

[DIW]

And get booked.

 

[SonkORLY?]

and win headers and tackle people and run really fast in lime green boots

people have forgotten how good he is at left back imo

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I think Buchanan is the more reliable defender, but Zoum is a great player to have in the squad because of his ability to play wide left, particularly in the latter stages of games where his pace causes real problems: we are hardly a squad blessed with real pace elsewhere.

 

[bring back the cowshed!]

We've all said who we'd like to be retained, but now Ronnie has been signed up for next season, I have been trying to read his mind. Not easy, I know, but the lack of any mention or bench space for Labadie, Raven and Tiryaki, probably spells the end for them. I am also fearful for some of the youngsters, who Ronnie seems unwilling to try out.

He seems to be thinking of a smaller, better paid squad. This makes sense, as we have had much better luck with injuries and a much improved disciplinary record this season compared to last, so we have had a lot of squad members kicking their heels (e.g. Kay, Raven, Tiryaki). The new policy would favour versatile players like Zoom but count against injury-prone ones like Devaney. He has praised regulars like Robbo and Welsh, so I expect they are safe, as are the backbone of the team. I would expect more money spent on loanees for emergencies (e.g. Rachubka) and to add quality (Baxter, Wallace and Cassidy).

I expect Weir and McGurk to be on their way and I would not be surprised to see Enoch depart to make funds for a better striker. I would not even bet on Goodi being here next season, unless Ronnie thinks he really can keep fit and on form for another full season. On the evidence of recent displays I would worry about his ability to keep out of the ref's book next year.

It all depends on who Ronnie thinks he can attract to the club. And who he can keep. He will do well to hang onto Holmes or Buchanan, although the signs are good with the others.

In the end, I hope Ronnie doesn't throw Les's baby out with the bath water and release too many of the current squad or rely too much on loanees. Les's signings have been generally good and his policy of signing bargain basement players has was sound. It was his tactics and inflexibility which led to his downfall.

Most of the current squad - with a few improvements, particularly upfront - could form the basis of a team which could carry the current form into next season.

 

[Boz]

Labadie has a broken toe or similar. He had some issue with a loose fragment of bone when Les was in charge too and might also come into the injury prone category. Plus he didn't shine when Ronnie gave him a start at Bury, though by all accounts nobody else did that day. A hard one to call.

Raven has been doing quite well for the reserves, yet doesn't get a mention from RM. He did loan him from Liverpool during his last spell in charge, so maybe mind made up. Given Ash is out for the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see who provides the defensive cover on the bench at the weekend, assuming McChrystal starts alongside Goodi.

Tiryaki hasn't been shaking any trees with his performances in the reserves apparently.

It seems likely that Ronnie is after a new striker and a fast wide player from comments previously made, in a smaller squad, which may shrink as low as 18. Having a small squad carries it's own risks; having to play those out of form and problems when injuries and suspensions kick in. To back up the nucleus of specialist players, you need those who are versatile but not injury-prone. There is also an argument for keeping on a few more youngsters as cheaper back-up, but Ronnie doesn't seem that adept at bringing youngsters through.

 

[Rockford's Love Child]

I think Ronnie likes McGurk and is almost wiling him to provide him with a reason to offer him a contract. Despite his poor performance on Saturday I would not be surprised to see him start again at Colchester.

Of the players on the fringes, I think Labadie will be released, not so much because of his poor disciplinary record but more because of his poor attitude, given the importance that RM places on workrate. The situation with Raven is strange as he is a very reliable performer at this level, but does not appear to be on Ronnie's radar. I think Devaney, Weir, Kay and Tiryaki will also be released.

Of the more established players, Enoch will surely depart as RM does not appear to see eye to eye with him and gives the impression of being generally unimpressed, and his departure would free up funds to try and attract that elusive goalscorer.

Of the youngsters, I would imagine that contracts will be offered to those players RM has recently talked up, Kirby and Stockton, which may spell the end for Power and Coughlin.

I am sure it is in Ronnie's mind to try and get Wallace on a long term loan or even a permanent deal given the importance of his presence to our two man midfield; Cassidy may also return on loan next season, but I think this is less likely.

 

[Ian]

Considering finances are of extreme importance, those fringe players and those Ronnie doesnt rate who are on higher wages will be for the chop. Definitely agree about those mentioned. Weir, Kay, Tiryaki etc.. I would get rid of McGurk but Ronnie seems to rate him from the comments he made a few weeks ago. Lot of changes to come.