Summer transfer priorities

I think you are being extremely unfair on the lad. He’s just turned 21 a few months ago and although he’s had a few wobbly moments in games, he’s really made that defensive position his own, and was particularly excellent in the last couple of games. They have to start somewhere, Bobby is no different, he’s had his moments earlier in the season where we were left wondering if he was a one trick pony. Keeping faith with the pair of them as GA has done, they have come on leaps and bounds and grasped their opportunity. I for one would not be disappointed if we got Dan back on a season loan, especially now we’ve lost JT and possibly Stubbs

 

No deal comes with a place in the starting 11. He might not be offered one…Who knows? Can we do better…. Yes, however that depends on investment by the owner probably.

 

He won't be getting a new contract at Brentford

 

I believe there are extension options on his deal that runs out, I’m not sure who the beneficiary is. It’s not insurmountable if a deal is to be done.

 

If we are lucky enough to find new clubs for vadaine and Smith,we could look to the conference north striker Paul Blackett 29 goals for mid table side South Shields and a proven Lower league goalscorer. 26 years old and a year left on his contract.

 

I agree but I'd imagine he feels at this stage in his career he's earned the right to be a starter, whether that's with us or somewhere else. His stats probably show we're better with him in the side than without. I've watched him for years and he's always been solid but slow in thought. I think he's probably good enough for League 1 but as a squad member. Definitely good enough for league 2 as a starter.

 

I’d quite like JT back. Thought he was steady and can only improve.

 

Can you see him wanting to move up north though? I think one of the London clubs will pick him up. Charlton , Orient, Crawley take a look. Wimbledon from our league. Depends on the lad.

 

Do you really think a 6th tier striker in Blackett would be better than Smith?

Don't get the grief Smith gets actually. Double figure goal tally in league and cup for someone who is basically a back up forward.

I'd be happy to see him stay and challenge Kavanagh and potentially Young, if he stays.

 

I'm probably the other way Idle, flattered to deceive a lot of the time for me. Doesn't look a natural goal scorer and slower than he looks. Kavanagh looks a far better prospect as does Young.

 

Unfortunately, due to various reasons, I haven’t seen any of our matches since Harrogate away. So I’ve missed seeing the improvement in Oyegoke’s form that some on here have reported. I’ve been surprised that he kept getting selected ahead of Tomkinson, who’s been excellent and (alongside Platt and Kelly) was a key component of our superb defensive spell in February, when we kept a string of clean sheets.
I can only assume that’s because GA rates Oyegoke and was grooming him for the mobile CB role next season, assuming he returns.

 

Smith is comfortably 4th choice, it's up to him whether he wants to fight for the spot or try find first team football elsewhere. But this has been the story of his career so far, he joins a club, they cant find consistency in him and he leaves. He's turning 26 next season, and has yet to show much to be a starter in L2. I wouldn't be surprised if he leaves to go and find gametime. If he has another season of 1 start and about 40 minutes off the bench, his career is going to go nowhere. He is coming to an age where you need something on your CV for clubs at this level to keep giving you a chance and at the minute, he doesn't.

I think it's his finishing that lets him down. I seem to remember the chances he didn't score in the 6 yard box this season, more than the ones he did. Looking at the stats, he isn't too far off Cook and Kavanagh but there is a clear gap. If you look at the ratios, for shots per 90 mins played this season, Cook averaged 3.50, Kav had 3.07 and Smith had 2.94. Shots on target every 90 played Kav averaged 1.35, Cook 1.23 and Smith 1.07. Goals per shot on target Kav 0.33, Cook 0.32 and Smith 0.25. He's in the ball park with the other two for shots, but hitting the target is a drop off and then beating the keeper is another slight drop down.

 

That’s entirely possible.

 

Tomkinson is by far the best CB we've had this season. Platt, Kelly Stubbs are decent but they have little intelligence and awareness. Oyegoke despite improving after his injury in my eyes is a winger, he always looked better going forward and is a yellow/red card/clanger in waiting as a defender.

 

Could well be Ibbitson as 4th choice next season.

100% part of the 1st team squad if he isnt sold.

 

Opinions..are entirely valid, his passing ability is pretty dire , that’s my problem with him. In this day and age a footballer needs a reasonable level of passing ability, if not it’s just hoofball from the back. Remember their game against us at their place. It was all ariel stuff . Yes we did well to combat it. Only Wrexham made that work and purely because of Mullin.

 

I'm leaning towards us taking a good offer with a chunky sell on for him is more likely than seeing him, would be good to give another a chance after Pointons success. A pal who is a Leeds fan heard they bid for a Bradford youth striker, can only assume it's him. Think we've sold them a handful over the last few seasons.

 

No more than any other L2 clogger i'm afraid

Oyegoke has been a much better defender than part of the midfield

 

This is true. However if a player says they want to leave, it puts us in a tough spot. We can either accept a fee now or see out their contract and they leave for free next year. Plus interest from above can sometimes result in heads being turned and form dipping (e.g. Lewis). 1 Year left on a contract is always tricky territory.

 

I hope you are right, nothing more exciting than a talented youngster coming through, especially in the attacking positions. That said, we could do worse than handling him how we did Bobby and sending him on loan for a season to gain men's experience.