The Summer clearout / Coming in thread. Updated 27/8

[Hoop Blah]

I really don't expect to see any decent bids coming in for Mills. I think he's been too inconsistent this season for anyone to think he's worth enough for us to let him go.

However, he has looked excellent at times (poor at others) and especially in the big games so I suppose you never know. If he can get himself right for more games this season and reproduce his good games more often then his value will certainly rise though.

...a bit like Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and the pair of Arsenal centre backs then??

No, not really.

Sure they have good games and bad games but they're standards are (or have been at least) on a different level than Mills have this season and last. They're much more consistent than Mills has been for us unfortunately.

[Royal Rother]

But Mills has had some fantastic games for us. If Cahill, Haageland, Samba etc. move on (as seems entirely likely) then I could actually see one of their current clubs taking a punt on Mills for £3m+.

[Duke the Dog]

Hang on, with all the focus on players leaving etc, what happens if we lose the manager? (It's no less likely surely?). He's young(ish), thoughtful, (reasonably) successful and fairly media savvy. Someone might take a punt on him (Fulham, Villa, etc?), although he is still reasonably inexperienced and still relatively unknown (fortunately for us!).

[Hoop Blah]

You are right RR, he's had some excellent games for us, and they've tended to be in the higher profile games so perhaps he might be one on other clubs radar.

Personally I wouldn't take a gamble on him if I were one of those clubs but then they won't have seen as many of his poor games as I/we have.

I've always maintained that managers buy on what they think they can get out of a player, not just their performances for their current and past clubs. Taking that into account perhaps I'm being a bit harsh on him and I should expect more clubs to show a serious interest once the transfer merri-go-round kicks into action. I hope not though as even though I don't like a lot of what comes with Mills he has shown that on his day he's probably our best centre back.

[Hoop Blah]

Hang on, with all the focus on players leaving etc, what happens if we lose the manager? (It's no less likely surely?). He's young(ish), thoughtful, (reasonably) successful and fairly media savvy. Someone might take a punt on him (Fulham, Villa, etc?), although he is still reasonably inexperienced and still relatively unknown (fortunately for us!).

If McDermott goes we give the job to Dolan or failing that Parkinson. I'm sure McDermotts replacement will be another candidate with links to the club though.

[Royal Rother]

I would be absolutely gobsmacked if McDermott goes just yet.

[Ian Royal]

I would be absolutely gobsmacked if McDermott goes just yet.

Ditto. He's early in his mangerial career and a lot of his success here is based on knowing the club and players inside out.

On another note, I'd quite like us to look at going back to 4-5-1 (or more accurately 4-2-3-1) providing we can find someone to fill in the Gylfi role. I don't mean someone as good as Gylfi, that level of quality player is almost impossible for us to get hold of. But someone like Howard, but who'll score a bit more.

I think Hunt could deputise there fairly well if needed and would be a good option of the bench. Church would be better suited to that system and might be able to lead the line. Otherwise there's Hunt, or Manset as possibles, or another new signing.

Jake Taylor could be a decent bet, he looked good in his brief appearance this season. My problem with him was his weakness when it came to defensive duties, sitting in the hole there is less tracking back and more hassling from the front, so that might be ok.

[andrew1957]

Bel Baggie was doing that a couple of years ago...

I saw Bell-Baggie a couple of years ago in a reserve game and he looked very good but he has had several loans over the last two seasons and never persuaded the loan clubs to give him a regular staring role - so my guess is that he looked good early on as a 17 year old but did not develop.

As for D'Ath - he could turn out to be a Bell-Baggie but he might just turn out to be a Sigurdsson instead. We can only hope.

[andrew1957]

I think it will be an exciting summer.

We could lose any or all of Long, Kebe, Fed and Mills - or possibly they will all agree to give promotion another go. It really is anyone's guess. I think if say Long goes, then we will most likely lose others.

We look like we are also going to lose Howard. Additionally it is make or break for Marcus Williams. Would not be surprised to see him go back to say Scunny if Brian makes it clear he will not play for us again - or could he yet be another Cummings? Brett Williams is another that has just one season to impress. Next season is really the final chance for Simon Church – he has had a poor 2010/11 but if Shane goes will he step up?

If we can keep our best players automatic promotion will be a real possibility, but if we lose several of them it will be another big rebuilding job and it is doubtful we will do much more than mid table next time round.

[Royal Rother]

I wonder what it is that differentiates the Academy stars who make it from those who don't... not necessarily just technical ability I assume.

Unfair to generalise but I suppose attitude, dedication and mental strength probably have a lot to do with it.

[andrew1957]

I wonder what it is that differentiates the Academy stars who make it from those who don't... not necessarily just technical ability I assume.

Unfair to generalise but I suppose attitude, dedication and mental strength probably have a lot to do with it.

I am sure that Eamon Dolan would love to know the answer to that question as well. I guess it is all but impossible to know how a player will develop but to be fair to RFC we don't make many mistakes when releasing players - Charlie Austin was the last one that we released who proved us really wrong as far as I can recall and that was before Dolan came in.

[No Hoops]

Bryjar signs 1 yr contract. Page 1 updated

[Archie's penalty]

Love ya Bryjnar!

[Hoop Blah]

Going back to the left back position again, there's a young lad from Tranmere, Aaron Cresswell, who is apparently a bit of a hot property and is being eyed up by 4 or 5 Championship clubs as he's available on a free (apart from the tribunal fee that is).

He sounds quite handy and, like Harte, bangs a few in from set pieces and takes a decent corner.

I doubt we're one of the 4 or 5 looking at him but you never know. Anyone noticed him?

[Wycombe Royal]

Going back to the left back position again, there's a young lad from Tranmere, Aaron Cresswell, who is apparently a bit of a hot property and is being eyed up by 4 or 5 Championship clubs as he's available on a free (apart from the tribunal fee that is).

He sounds quite handy and, like Harte, bangs a few in from set pieces and takes a decent corner.

I doubt we're one of the 4 or 5 looking at him but you never know. Anyone noticed him?

Apparently signing for Ipswich.

[knobby_1871]

Alan Smith released by Newcastle, give us some bite in midfield

[Hoop Blah]

Apparently signing for Ipswich.

I also found the bit about some poster on the Tranmere board saying Cresswell had told him he was going to Ipswich but I took it with a pinch of salt.

I was more interested if he was any good really and if we might be one of the interested parties (not that I expect anyone to really be able to help me on either point to be fair).

[Ian Royal]

We don't need bite in midfield with Karacan, Tabb, Gunnarsson and Leigertwood. A bit of guile and creativity on the other hand with Howard seeming likely to go, now that's a different story.

[Hiram K Hackenbacker]

I agree

[Snowball]

I think their may be a joke in there, Ian...