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With safety virtually assured (if we go down now we deserve to) it may be time to give some thought to the end of season ins and outs. So I'll start the ball rolling ,then duck below the parapet awaiting flak.
Definite retain : Dixon,Livesey,Cook and J.Williams. Sparse but that says it all.
50/50 : ARH and Haworth .Don't think Cox will be conned by contract-winning improvements but if the last two games are maintained till the end of the season worth another shot.
Ashton,Grand and Walker. Can't see them as first team regulars but their experience and loyalty could be helpful as mentors to young players and solid emergency stand-ins rather than scouring the loan market.
Locals (inc Cowps). Ideal if we are to have some sort of reserve set-up. If not it would be a waste of time and money and an insult to them to have them as token school visitors and Xmas gift presenters at FGH.

Out : Lacey : Solid enough at Conf. North but not stepped up to this level
Pilks : Got the ability but difficult to dribble on a treatment table (make up your own jokes)
Symington,Mellor,Fofana,S.Williams and Grimes. The architects of Edmos downfall. Signed as the backbone of the squad and have contributed,for whatever reason,practically nothing

Targets : Sutton,NWA and Tomlinson if they are freed by parent clubs.
Meikle (Alfreton). Stupid FA rule stopped him being ours already. Wasted in Conf North
Hannah (Chester). Over 20 goals as a lone striker in a struggling side.
Chandler (Gateshead) Already said he is leaving at the end of season with no concrete reason. Rumoured going part-time but if not ?
Second keeper as competiton for JD (Deasy if Alty go down ?)
Mobile and vocal centre back
The best two CM's money can buy in Non League !!!

Agree with pretty much all of that.

ARH and Haworth at their best would be definitely in my retain list, question marks over consistency and team-work remain but hopefully Cox can get the best out of them.

Not sure I'd keep Ashton tbh, and Grands gone from superb to woeful at times so jurys still out personally.

Sutton has looked very good so would definitely like to see him retained, can't see NWA coming to us full time and no next to nowt about Meikle or Chandler. Hannah is a class player.

Good CB to go with Livesey would be high on my list, or move Sutton to the centre and look for a good RB. And obviously a couple of good CMs needed, though that's been on our wish list for years and years so I fully expect us to be starting games next season with Lacey/ARH or something like that...

Got to think about the players like Grimes who have another season to run on paper.

Would like to have a look at Neil Ashton in the midfield engine room, the guy can tackle and pass and has the controlled aggression needed.
Still think Jason could be around if he agrees a deal suitable to all parties, as for the others agree, whether they currently have deals in place or not!

Mark Mc wrote:Would like to have a look at Neil Ashton in the midfield engine room

Really??? Part of the reason I'm not too sure I'd keep him is his lack of engine, seems like his legs are going and he's a yard off the pace. Certainly wouldn't look at putting him in the middle of the park!

Ste Story wrote:Agree with pretty much all of that.

ARH and Haworth at their best would be definitely in my retain list, question marks over consistency and team-work remain but hopefully Cox can get the best out of them.

Not sure I'd keep Ashton tbh, and Grands gone from superb to woeful at times so jurys still out personally.

Sutton has looked very good so would definitely like to see him retained, can't see NWA coming to us full time and no next to nowt about Meikle or Chandler. Hannah is a class player.

Good CB to go with Livesey would be high on my list, or move Sutton to the centre and look for a good RB. And obviously a couple of good CMs needed, though that's been on our wish list for years and years so I fully expect us to be starting games next season with Lacey/ARH or something like that...

https://vimeo.com/121305355

Chandlers efforts from a couple of seasons back.Like the way for many of the goals he arrived late on the scene,even taking the ball off the toes of one of his teammates against Tamworth (around 4:00)

I'd be keeping Dixon, probably Livesey, probably Cook, J Williams at all costs. I would also like to see Parry back because I just have a feeling there is a decent footballer there...the player that Lacey could never be sort of thing.
Anderton would do if he can stay away from the red cards. Ashton would be a step backwards I think.
Haworth...1 good game away (so I can't comment) and a couple of good crosses in the last match...that's not enough to convince me that he is worth it. Happy to eat my words if he is improving lots over the last games of the season though. Maybe he just did need a manager to sort him out.
I think I'd try and keep hold of ARH, S Williams and Tomlinson too but that's it.
I agree a reserve keeper, possibly an older one is needed and as frightening a CB as we can find. So...we need a RB, a nippy striker and a creative midfielder on top of that lot. And back-up too of course. I hope there is a way back in for Cowps.

keep;-

Dixon

Livesey, S Williams (as cover)

Parry (getting better and fits the Cox player type), ARH (if stays consistant), Howarth (same as ARH)

Cook, J Williams (on a 2 year contract), Walker (as cover)

sign;- Tomlinson (Barnet put him up available for loan or sale in January so may well get released)
Sutton (Solid defender)
Adam Cunnington (Bromley) - tall, experienced and won nearly everything in the air against Livesey/Grand - scored the Bromley goal and Cox seams to know him.
NWA and Khan (doubt either will be available but an outside bet).
+1 striker (Bogle seams out of favour at Grimsby)
+2 midfielders
+1 centre back (McNulty if Tranmere go up)
+1 goalie - the Deasy shout is a good one - if Alty go down

the locals - agree with the reserve team comment someone else made, both Newby's and Carroll
Cowps - always tries his heart out, gets stuck in - and is the right type of player for Cox. probably won't be in the team - but very handy on the bench.

release Mellor, Grimes, Fofana, Ashton (has experience - but too often caught out for lack of pace unfortunately), Pilks and Symington

undecided about Grand..

and I think Cox will keep Lacey

Ste Story wrote:

Mark Mc wrote:Would like to have a look at Neil Ashton in the midfield engine room

Really??? Part of the reason I'm not too sure I'd keep him is his lack of engine, seems like his legs are going and he's a yard off the pace. Certainly wouldn't look at putting him in the middle of the park!

Agree he's a yard short of pace to play fullback now on a regular basis, think he's still got the engine though but the turbo just doesn't kick in when he presses the throttle!! Probably never Know if he can cut the mustard in the middle where younger legs around you can cover for your deficiencies.

Keep J Williams at all costs
Walker for cover
Livesey, Dixon, ARH, Sutton,
See if we can get Tomlinson and NWA in again

release: grand, ashton, grimes, symington, Mellor, fofana

Sign: a goalscorer, don't care if he does [SwearFilter] all all game as long as he knows where the net is and can be in the right place at the right time etc

A solid centre back to go with livesey
Experienced keeper to back up/ provide competition for Dixon

And of course midfielders

Dixon(I'd look to get another no 1 in ) Livesey, Howarth, J Williams,Cook
If Cowps recovers well I'd keep him as a utility player. I'd like to see Grimes have a proper go.
try to get Tomlinson on contract.

Not made my mind up on NWA yet nor have I seen much of Sutton/Parry as I haven't been arsed about going lately.

Big summer and a big cheque book is needed.

keep. cook williams livesey anderton parry the new right back cowps. rid of all others but some will be kept. can do better than dixon. would like to see mcnulty back.

Can't see Alty going down. Guiseley will be demoted automatically and Alty won't be in the bottom three. Would look for a first choice keeper with Dixon as back up.

With Gateshead already on the prowl for Cook less travelling to training might appeal to him. We might need to look for a couple of new strikers if he leaves.

Add to that a centre half to replace Grand, two full backs and a midfielder or two and Mr Cox will have a busy summer.

barrowscuba wrote:Can't see Alty going down. Guiseley will be demoted automatically and Alty won't be in the bottom three. Would look for a first choice keeper with Dixon as back up.

With Gateshead already on the prowl for Cook less travelling to training might appeal to him. We might need to look for a couple of new strikers if he leaves.

Add to that a centre half to replace Grand, two full backs and a midfielder or two and Mr Cox will have a busy summer.

Guiseley received their "A" ground grading recommendation today so why would they be demoted if they are not in the bottom 4?

http://guiseleyafc.co.uk/club-news/neth ... a-grading/

Keep: Ashton, Howarth, J. Williams, Parry, Harvey, Livesey, Grand, Cook, Dixon.

Get Rid: Fofana, Grimes, Mellor, S. Williams, Symington, Cowps, Pilkington, Lacey, Walker, and the other locals having no influence on the team whatsoever.

Sign: Would love to see Sutton and Tomlinson as permanent signings. Same goes to NWA, but I doubt that we will get a sniff. A centre-mid of the similar mould to Adam Murray (I know he is past his best these days, but always impressed me for Oxford/Mansfield). A high-quality centre back to compete with Grand/Livesey for that starting position. Another striker, someone above mentioned Bogle, I agree, worth a punt. A winger similar to Mackreth.