Squad Watch 2024/25

[Snowflake Royal]

Possibly a little premature, but with 4 games left and a 6 point buffer, it's the sort of time you think about giving some minutes to some fringe players to see how they stack up and what you'll need next season.

Current Squad

Goalkeeper
Button - June 2025
Pereira - June 2025 (option)
Andresson - June 2024?
Boyce-Clarke - June 2025 +1
Bouzanis - June 2025

Defence
Yiadom - June 2025?
Abrefa - June 2024?
Guinness-Walker - June 2024?
Mola - June 2024?
Carson - June 2024?
Clarke (John) - June 2024?
Dorsett - June 2024?
Bindon - June 2025
Mbengue - June 2024?
Dean - June 2025
Stickland - June 2024?

Midfield
Wing - June 2026
Savage - June 2027
Craig - June 2024?
Elliott - June 2026
Hutchinson - June 2024?
Rushesha - June 2025 option
Senga - ?

Attack
Smith - June 2026?
Knibbs - June 2026?
Azeez - June 2024?
Ehibhatiomhan - June 2024?
Wareham - ?
Mukairu (loan) June 2024
Clarke (Jahmari) - June 2024?
Camara - June 2025?

On a bunch of the Academy graduates I'm guessing at 1 year extensions for the ones listed as up in June 2023 on the last squad watch thread.

Updated to include Bouzanis and CBCs contract from Clyde

[Clyde1998]

Back in March, I had (expiry dates added to the quote below):

In terms of contracts, I believe we've got the following players contracted for next season:

1. GK - Bouzanis [2025]
2. GK - Boyce-Clarke [2025 + 1]
3. GK - Button [2025]
4. RB - Yiadom [2025]
5. CB - Bindon [2025]
6. CB - Dean [2025]
7. CB - Mbengue [2025]
8. CM - Savage [2027]
9. CM - Wing [2026]
10. AM - Elliott [2026]
11. AM - Knibbs [2026]
12. ST - Smith [2026]

Of those we appear to have optional contract extension clauses for (players on professional contracts):

1. GK - Andresson
2. GK - Mawer
3. GK - Norcott
4. GK - Pereira
5. GK - Rowley
6. RB - Abrefa
7. RB - Paul
8. LB - Clarke, John
9. CB - Holzman
10. CB - Kanu
11. CB - Stickland
12. CM - Hammond-Chambers-Borgnis
13. CM - Purcell
14. CM - Senga
15. AM - Giscombe
16. AM - Maudner
17. AM - Wellens
18. WF - Camara
19. WF - Clark, Billie
20. WF - Okine-Peters
21. WF - Tuma
22. ST - Clarke, Jahmari

Shay Spencer can be added to the first list, as he's just signed a professional contract (until 2025).

EDIT: Found Andresson signed a new contract until 2025 just before he went on loan to Carlisle at the start of the season (as opposed to a one year deal, with an option of a further year). He'll definitely be in the top list.

[Sutekh]

Think the following are still right

Contracted until 30 June 2024
Name (Age at end of contract) > squad #

Hamid Abdel-Salam (20) > 43
Adrian Akande (20) > 37
Kelvin Abrefa (20) > 30
Femi Azeez (23) > 11
Matt Carson (21) > 47
John Clarke (20) > 33
Harvey Collins (21) > 41
Jerial Dorsett (22) > 20
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan (21) > 15
Nesta Guinness-Walker (24) > 18 (loan at Stevenage)
Jacob Hammond-Chambers-Borgnis (19) > 46
Sam Hutchinson (34) > 23
Tivonge Rushesha (21) > 40
Basil Tuma (19) > 48

Loan players

Tom Holmes - Luton Town
Paul Mukairu (28) - (will be out of contract at Copenhagen in January 2025) > 12

Contracted until 30 June 2025

Jokull Andresson (22) > 25
Tyler Bindon (20) > 24
Dean Bouzanis (34) > 21 (loan at Sutton)
Coniah Boyce-Clarke (22) > 31
David Button (36) > 1
Mamadi Camará (21) > 28
Harlee Dean (33) > 6
Amadou Mbengue (23) > 27
Shay Spencer - ?
Jayden Wareham - 19
Andy Yiadom (33) > 17

Contracted until 30 June 2026

Ben Elliott (23) > 4
Harvey Knibbs (27) > 7
Sam Smith (28) > 10
Lewis Wing (31) > 29

Contracted until 30 June 2027

Charlie Savage (24) > 8

Remaining Players, all presumed contracted until June 2024 (if anyone can confirm when their current deals run to that would be really useful)

Name - position > Squad No.

Joseph Barough (19) - Midfielder
Boyd Beacroft (19) - Defender
Jamari Clarke - Striker > 39
Michael Craig - Defensive Midfielder > 36
Blesk Ekpenyong (19) - Midfielder
Tyler Field (20) - Defender
Ajani Giscombe (19) - Midfielder
Matthew Goulding (19) - Defender
William Guttierrez-Ramirez (19) - Defender
Taylan Harris (19) - Midfielder
Louie Holzman - Central Defender
Abraham Kanu (19) - Defender
Harvey Maudner - Attacking Midfielder
Geneiro Maragh (21) - Midfielder
Toby Mawer (20) - Goalkeeper
Clinton Mola (?) - Central Defender
Denim Nnamudi (19) - Midfielder
Tom Norcott - Goalkeeper
Jeremiah Okine-Peters - Attacking Midfielder
Sam Paul (21) - Right Back > 44
Jayden Porter-Atkinson (19) - Midfielder
Benjamin Purcell (21) - Midfielder > 45
Harrrison Rhone (20) - Goalkeeper
Matt Rowley (21) - Goalkeeper
Jack Senga-Ngoyi - Midfielder > 35
Shay Spencer (19) - Midfielder
Michael Stickland - Central Defender > 38
Jack Timberlake (19) - Striker
Aaron White (19) - Defender
Billy Clarke (18) - Striker

[SCIAG]

@Sutekh - we sold Taylan Harris to Luton in January.

For me...

Happy to let Pereira go as part of cost-cutting, though also happy for him to stay. Inclined to have either Andresson or CBC as back-up to Button while the other goes out on loan.

Defence: renew Abrefa, Mbengue, Dorsett, Mola or NGW, and Carson or Clarke, probably Carson.

Midfield: renew Craig, probably Senga. Let Hutchinson go, good player but old, too often injured and an outcast.

Attack: renew Azeez, Ehibhatiomhan, Clarke, and Wareham.

Among the young players, I would like to see Maunder and Tuma continue but don't have especially strong views.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Pereira is better than Button, so it's a shame he's the one with his contract up. He was decisive in the win against Northampton; that's the only game this season where a keeper has played a big winning role, whereas Button has a few key losing roles against his name.

So I'd definitely try and keep Pereira if affordable.

[Clyde1998]

Think the following are still right

Contracted until 30 June 2024
Name (Age at end of contract) > squad #

Hamid Abdel-Salam (20) > 43
Adrian Akande (20) > 37
Kelvin Abrefa (20) > 30
Femi Azeez (23) > 11
Matt Carson (21) > 47
John Clarke (20) > 33
Harvey Collins (21) > 41
Jerial Dorsett (22) > 20
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan (21) > 15
Nesta Guinness-Walker (24) > 18 (loan at Stevenage)
Jacob Hammond-Chambers-Borgnis (19) > 46
Sam Hutchinson (34) > 23
Tivonge Rushesha (21) > 40
Basil Tuma (19) > 48

Of these we've definitely got one year options on Rushesha and Pereira (who's missing entirely from your list).

A number of these we may have options for, but that hasn't been confirmed by the club - like Abrefa and Tuma.

[Snowflake Royal]

Pereira is better than Button, so it's a shame he's the one with his contract up. He was decisive in the win against Northampton; that's the only game this season where a keeper has played a big winning role, whereas Button has a few key losing roles against his name.

So I'd definitely try and keep Pereira if affordable.

I expect Jokull to go back on loan or leave in the summer. He's only got 6 games for Carlisle this season. Last season he got 4 between Exeter and Stevenage. Similar for Bouzanis, who at least seems to have played regularly for Sutton, but it seems not hugely impressively.

So I think keeping Pereira is likely. Hopefully CBC can get a loan and kick on.

[Clyde1998]

Pereira is better than Button, so it's a shame he's the one with his contract up. He was decisive in the win against Northampton; that's the only game this season where a keeper has played a big winning role, whereas Button has a few key losing roles against his name.

So I'd definitely try and keep Pereira if affordable.

I expect Jokull to go back on loan or leave in the summer. He's only got 6 games for Carlisle this season. Last season he got 4 between Exeter and Stevenage. Similar for Bouzanis, who at least seems to have played regularly for Sutton, but it seems not hugely impressively.

So I think keeping Pereira is likely. Hopefully CBC can get a loan and kick on.

Agree with this - especially if we do have Bouzanis back (ie. we've not sold or loaned him) for next season. If you've got both Button and Pereira, he'd be third (at best) in the pecking order and the club would use someone like U21 regular Harvey Collins as back up if either got injured (or Bouzanis if he's still here).

That's also assuming CBC does go out on loan - which would make sense for him. I'd imagine the club would want to give him opportunities in the cups (especially the Trophy) if he stays.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Who the hell signed Bouzanis on a 3 year deal?

[Snowflake Royal]

Who the hell signed Bouzanis on a 3 year deal?

That would be Ince and Bowen.

At least it hasn't cost us much.

[72 bus]

Green = Keep
Red = Bin

Goalkeeper
Button - June 2025
Pereira - June 2025 (option)
Andresson - June 2024?
Boyce-Clarke - June 2025 +1
Bouzanis - June 2025

Defence
Yiadom - June 2025?
Abrefa - June 2024?
Guinness-Walker - June 2024?
Mola - June 2024?
Carson - June 2024?
Clarke (John) - June 2024?
Dorsett - June 2024?
Bindon - June 2025
Mbengue - June 2024?
Dean - June 2025
Stickland - June 2024?

Midfield
Wing - June 2026
Savage - June 2027
Craig - June 2024?
Elliott - June 2026[/color]
Hutchinson - June 2024?
Rushesha - June 2025 option
Senga - ?

Attack
Smith - June 2026?
Knibbs - June 2026?
Azeez - June 2024?
Ehibhatiomhan - June 2024?
Wareham - ?
Mukairu (loan) June 2024
Clarke (Jahmari) - June 2024?
Camara - June 2025?

[Sutekh]

Aim for a squad next season of...

Keepers

Pereira
CBC

Defenders

Abrefa
Carson
Bindon
Mbengue
Dorsett
Mola
Yiadom
New left back, preferably with bit of experience

Midfield/Wings

Knibbs
Wing
Elliott
Savage
Craig
NGW
Camara
Azeez

Strikers

Smith
Wifi
Wareham
New bloke

Leading youngsters

Senga
Clarke
Tuma
Norcott
Ryan
Baraugh
Etc.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Aim for a squad next season of...

Keepers

Pereira
CBC

Defenders

Abrefa
Carson
Bindon
Mbengue
Dorsett
Mola
Yiadom
New left back, preferably with bit of experience

Midfield/Wings

Knibbs
Wing
Elliott
Savage
Craig
NGW
Camara
Azeez

Strikers

Smith
Wifi
Wareham
New bloke

Leading youngsters

Senga
Clarke
Tuma
Norcott
Ryan
Baraugh
Etc.

Mostly agree, but lacking in the wide areas still. 1 or 2 more there and get rid of NGW. Nice not to need a complete rebuild for what feels like the first time in about 5 years.

[Clyde1998]

Who the hell signed Bouzanis on a 3 year deal?

That would be Ince and Bowen.

At least it hasn't cost us much.

This. I think he was always signed to be a backup keeper; he'll be on backup keeper wages. He was also signed at a time when we were most restricted as to who we could bring in, so he probably had the ability to demand a longer deal than we would want due to him knowing we had no alternative.

Hopefully he'll get picked up by someone - perhaps an Australian team.

[Clyde1998]

I'd go with the following for players I'd want to try and keep (for those out of contract) and those I think we won't be able to sell/loan (for those in contract):
(+ new contract; * trigger extension clause; ++ new signing)

GKs
Button
Pereira*
CBC (send out on loan)

RBs
Abrefa+
Rushesha* [don't know if he's more of a RB or DM, but put him here]
Yiadom

LBs
Mola+
++
Ryan (send out on loan/keep in U21s)

CBs
Bindon
Dean (try to sell or loan, but I think he'll be here come September)
Dorsett+
Mbengue
++

CMs
Craig+
Savage
Wing
++

AMs
Elliott
Knibbs

WMs
Azeez+
Camara+
++
++

STs
Ehibhatiomhan+
Smith
Wareham+
++

Potential targets
L1/L2 players who's contracts are expiring at their current club, along with this season's league record (according to FotMob)
LB - Rio Adebisi, 23 (Crewe) - Pld 42; Gls 4; Ass 7; Rat 7.19
CB - Sam Sherring, 23 (Northampton) - Pld 34; Gls 0; Ass 4; Rat 7.05
CM - George McEachran, 23 (Swindon) - Pld 36; Gls 1; Ass 5; Rat 6.99
WM - Jack Nolan, 22 (Accrington) - Pld 40; Gls 14; Ass 5; Rat 7.22
WM - Will Ferry, 23 (Cheltenham) - Pld 37; Gls 2; Ass 1; Rat 7.06
ST - Ruel Sotiriou, 23 (Leyton Orient) - Pld 41; Gls 11; Ass 5; Rat 6.77

[SCIAG]

WM - Jack Nolan, 22 (Accrington) - Pld 40; Gls 14; Ass 5; Rat 7.22

Thought I remembered checking up on him and thinking he hadn't done well, obviously not.

Yeah, get him in. Nolan and Azeez either side of Knibbs with Ehib and Elliott to come off the bench is tasty.

[dontbedaft]

I don't think that we need to "get rid" of NGW. His contract is up at the end of the season and I cannot see us offering him a new one nor him accepting a new one while Selles is still here.

[The Cube]

Who the hell signed Bouzanis on a 3 year deal?

That would be Ince and Bowen.

At least it hasn't cost us much.

This. I think he was always signed to be a backup keeper; he'll be on backup keeper wages. He was also signed at a time when we were most restricted as to who we could bring in, so he probably had the ability to demand a longer deal than we would want due to him knowing we had no alternative.

Hopefully he'll get picked up by someone - perhaps an Australian team.

A 3 year deal as a Championship back-up, remember. Has shown no evidence of being close to that level.

Anyway, Bouzanis moved back to England because his partner (now fiancee) signed for Arsenal. So probably the best chance to move him on is that she gets a transfer to the US.

[Clyde1998]

WM - Jack Nolan, 22 (Accrington) - Pld 40; Gls 14; Ass 5; Rat 7.22

Thought I remembered checking up on him and thinking he hadn't done well, obviously not.

Yeah, get him in. Nolan and Azeez either side of Knibbs with Ehib and Elliott to come off the bench is tasty.

He appears to have improved a lot since December (at least in terms of goals): https://www.soccerbase.com/players/play ... son_id=156

Aug - 2 from 5 (6 including cups)
Sep - 1 from 4 (5)
Oct - 0 from 6 (7)
Nov - 1 from 4 (7)
Dec - 2 from 5 (6)
Jan - 3 from 3 (4)
Feb - 3 from 6
Mar - 2 from 6
Apr - 0 from 1

FotMob reckons he's had eight 8.0+ ratings this season, six since the start of December and only had eight ratings below a 7.0 since then (out of 21 matches).

From what I can see, this is his first season of regular first team football so it may be he's improved as the season's gone on.

Hopefully we'd also have Camara in the first team (he's been injured most of the season) - so would have a further option to come off the bench (along with Elliott and Ehib).

Having a quick look at his Wikipedia page and it turns out he signed a professional contract with us in 2018! We sold him to Walsall in January 2020. Hadn't realised that!

[Snowflake Royal]

Key thing for me now is to give a few fringe players some.sub minutes and maybe a start, not too many at once, but we need to see who we want to contiñue to develop and who we can't rely on to step up next season..

So I want to see at least one 15 min plus sub appearance from the following:
Carson
Rushesha
Wareham
Camara
Senga

A start would be nice, but not all at once!

And at least 30 minutes for Dorsett at CB. Would like him to get a start. And think Abrefa should get a start too.