With the contracts of our loan players (Hugill, Amos and Clarke) due to expire in 12 days and the contracts of several first team players (Hall, Rangel, Pugh, Cameron, Hamalainen and Owens) due to finish at the end of June the question is are any of them worth keeping.
A lot will depend on finances but it's almost certain that some will lose there job to a young replacement. Are the young wingers Shodipo, Dalling and Smyth good enough to take the place of Pugh or BOS should he be sold.
If Masterson takes Hall's place in the first team do we keep Hall on the bench or do we promote Joe Gubbins who has been doing well in the Development team. It's possible that we let Cameron go but keep Hall and use him as a utility player that slots into either a CD role or a CM role.
Is Kakay now over the WBA nightmare and are we do we see him challenging Kane for the right wing back role.
Niko Hämäläinen has been doing a great job at Kilmarnock playing on the left side of defence and also midfield but is he good enough to challenge Manning or Wallace. He must have been doing something right because he has managed to get in the Scottish Premier team of the week twice this season.
We remain desperate for a real leader on the pitch and should BOS and Eze stay and provide the chances who will convert them.
Lots Of Big Decisions to be made by Mark Warburton and Sir Les.
With the contracts of our loan players (Hugill, Amos and Clarke) due to expire in 12 days and the contracts of several first team players (Hall, Rangel, Pugh, Cameron, Hamalainen and Owens) due to finish at the end of June the question is are any of them worth keeping.
A lot will depend on finances but it's almost certain that someNicholas Antero Hämäläinen (born 5 of the discussion will be around whether we have a young replacement. Are the young wingers Shodipo, Dalling and Smyth good enough to take the place of Pugh or BOS should he be sold.
If Masterson takes Hall's place in the first team do we keep Hall on the bench or do we promote Joe Gubbins who has been doing well in the Development team. It's possible that we let Cameron go but keep Hall and use him as a utility player that slots into either a CD role or a CM role.
Is Kakay now over the WBA nightmare and are we do we see him challenging Kane for the right wing back role. Niko Hämäläinen has been doing a great job at Kilmarnock playing on the left side of defence and also midfield but is he good enough to challenge Manning or Wallace. He must have been doing something right because he has managed to get in the Scottish Premier team of the week twice this season.
We remain desperate for a real leader on the pitch and should BOS and Eze stay and provide the chances who will convert them. Lots Of Big Decisions to be made by Mark Warburton and Sir Les.
Phew! So many questions and so little chance to provide answers.... For what it is worth, here are my guesses: Hämäläinen will get an extension; Hugill will be subject to West Ham's plans so unavailable; Clarke will not be given a second chance; Amos will be retained if Spurs allow (or as part of an Eze deal); Shodipo's future will depend upon BOS' future (if he stays it will be a 'make or break' season for him), whilst Smyth deserves another season to shine; Dalling & Gubbins - no idea; Masterson should become first choice CB alongside Barbet and Hall replace Cameron as DM, but Warburton has never seen how good Hall can be there, so...; Rangel should be too old but in truth Kane (even if faster and fitter) is not as good a defender, so I would keep Rangel and send out Kakay until Christmas on a 'make or break' too; and the leader options can only be Wallace or Ball, both have the skill to captain and set fine examples. One extra point I would like to raise is that player retention will depend upon their ability to play the 'Warburton way'. That may well mean that those who do not suit his style, even if good players, being released.
I would keep all of the first team players who we can. This upheaval around coronavirus means we will benefit from continuity when things get back under way. So we should be looking to extend the deals of anybody who has been around the first team this season.
Kakay has been around for a long time and hasn't even really been able to get a decent loan. I don't see him as making the grade.
Shodipo will be worth another year, especially with the risk BOS could be sold.
Hugill certainly won't be staying at West Ham but I can't see us being able to afford him. Perhaps we could have him on another season long loan?