Contracts: the summer juggle

[Dr Hotdog]

Looks like Cravies not being offered a contract according to Nixon.

I take it we should find out this week which players are staying and which are going?

He seems a really decent bloke does Cravies but I think he's found his limit. He stood out in a really poor Barnsley side but we aren't much better and he has only played really well in fits and bursts.

There is no point if he is injured as much as Mark Davies.

He is too injury prone and has never started more than 5 games in succession for us. Which is a recipe for inconsistency. But in the paper Lennon has come out and called him an important player if he can stay fit:

“I’m sure some of the players are glad this season is over but from my point of view I would have liked to work longer with some of the players who have been out injured,” he said.
“And that gives me a lot of positivity for next year.
“Clayton, Clough, Pratley, Wheater, Craig Davies, they are important players, but it’s keeping them healthy and on the pitch.
“I’m planning a long pre-season and I think that gives me the opportunity to really get some work into the players and make sure they come back fit.”

[Prufrock]

Sounds like he's getting at least an offer. You'd think we'd be in a decent position to either offer him a cheap deal or a decent-ish one pay-as-you-play.

I'd like to keep him but we can't waste our limited budget on players in the sick room.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

He was the likeliest candidate among last season's squad to effectively lead the 4-2-3-1. Whether he's the best option there for next season is a different ask altogether. There's only so many forward berths: Heskey seems to have signed; Eidur's been offered; ALF's agent is allegedly (and welcomely) negotiating; Clough and Clayton will be fit; and you would hope that Lennon has some other ideas, including but not limited to former Celts like Stokes and the Hoopdogg.

I thank Cravies for his hard work but I wouldn't be falling over myself to offer him a new contract. Stay friendly, wish him the best and see how we are in late summer - if we've failed to land alternatives and he's not found a club, I wouldn't object to his return, but at the moment I'd like to see some of this squad-whittling we've all been so looking forward to.

[malcd1]

It looks like Bolton are not going to announce who will be leaving this summer until next Monday/Tuesday. I'm expecting and hoping for a cull.

WANDERERS may wait until after the weekend to name their retained list.

The club are expected to release a number of players who are out of contract but want to wait until the development squad have completed their season’s fixtures to make the announcement official.

The Under-21s play at Blackburn Rovers’ Brockhall training complex tomorrow (Thursday) and then face Arsenal at the Macron on Monday lunchtime.

So, the last Bolton game was played yesterday. I think we should find out very soon (possibly today?) who is going and who is staying.

It seems like Bogdan and Mills are weighing up their options and may get a better offer elsewhere.

Craig Davies too injury prone so he can go. Pratley I would keep.

Lonergan looks like he will be going (according to The Oracle).

We may eventually go back for Amos and Janko permanently and another loan for ALF, Bannan and Rochinha.

Heskey staying but what about Gudjohnsen?

The others. Meh.

Adam Le Fondre
Adam Bogdan
Andy Lonergan
Matt Mills
Luke Woodland
Darren Pratley
Chris Lester
Craig Davies
Eidur Gudjohnsen
Emile Heskey
Georg Iliev
Ben Amos
Kevin McNaughton
Paddy McCarthy
Simeon Slavchev
Jordan Lussey
Giles Coke
Barry Bannan
Saidy Janko
Rochinha

[TANGODANCER]

Two ex Wanderers who started off with so much promise..

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... _Athletic/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bruce Rioja]

Two ex Wanderers who started off with so much promise..

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... _Athletic/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Get Eagles back up here.

[jaffka]

Hall on his way out, now that's not a surprise.

Who was it saying that he wouldn't be?

[ChrisC]

What happens with the West Ham ruling from the tribunal? Does the 400k go to West Ham?

[Gary the Enfield]

Is the full list out then?

[Gary the Enfield]

Is the full list out then?

Not from what I've seen. Been checking the official site and BEN frequently as I'm interested in how much of a restructure Lennon wants. If he's culling as many as he says he is, he must be planning at least another season of being here.

Either that or he's Gary Megson's lovechild sent to destroy us with faint hope and more than a hint of ginger...........

[Harry Genshaw]

Two ex Wanderers who started off with so much promise..

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... _Athletic/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Get Eagles back up here.

No thanks! Anonymous in 9/10 games, doesn't commit when things weren't going our way, and now two clubs at our level have released him since his departure. Says it all really. He has some quality, as he showed in 12/13, but it's only flashes and they are few and far between. We have better options in the centre with Clough and Mavies, and on the wing he's no better than who we already have.


Also the BEN has us trying to offload Hall. Shame really, I do think there's a good player in there and was hoping that NL would bring out the best in him. http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... is_summer/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You don't want Eagles back but are sorry to see Hall go?

[LeverEnd]

Yep, Eagles over Hall every time. He carried us for a while and had an end product. Hall just flattered to deceive when I saw him. Not without talent but an unknown quantity. Eagles has his flaws but I'd like to see him in an attacking Lennon team like we saw when he first came in, I think he can still be a class act in the right line-up. Hall might only be 21 but he'd played quite a few games before he came to us and has been given chances which he didn't take. Lennon's intentions were pretty clear when he preferred Walker, who has an end product if not yet the all-round game. I know which I prefer.

[TANGODANCER]

^^
Aye. Eagles needs the right people around him and he'll do the business. Get the ball to him in the right areas and he could do a job for a season ot two. Our mistake was in parting with him.

[plymouth wanderer]

I'd have him back! We could do a lot worse.

He's versatile aswell!

[Bruce Rioja]

I've willed Hall to come good for as long as he's been with us, but I just don't see a footballer in him at all. Not a worthwhile one anyway.

[Prufrock]

Hall is shite. Get rid. I'd not be against Eagles coming back, but I'd be trying to see if we could get better first. Good player, but v hot and cold.

[TANGODANCER]

Lot of nothing going on right now it seems, according to B.N.. Cash flow problems holding things up with key players, Mills, Pratley and Bogdan. Not looking too healthy.

[Prufrock]

If Pratters decided he was moving on to bigger and better things that might just tip me over the edge!

[jaffka]

Some of the comments on that story are bordering on panic.

If the three go, then so what, we have seen it before and still here. There are plenty of players who will want to play for BWFC, the skill is choosing the right ones.

FFP effects all the clubs not just us, some clubs like Forest and Blackburn have a transfer embargo and therefore are in potentially worse position. Leeds were under one but have somehow managed to come out of it.

Evolve with the rules, its how its always been and always will. Applies to pretty much everything and not just football.

[Bruce Rioja]

Ahh, one of the benefits of being skint is that we won't be re-signing Mat Mills. Every cloud and all of that.