Phillips has done okay, but I would argue had he stayed he would be further ahead in his development and may have got a more successful Prem move in the vein of Wharton, rather than loans to other mid-table Championship sides. It's too easy to get lost in the shuffle among all the players at bigger clubs by moving too early. Finneran will be up against all to lads in the Newcastle academy which has been producing a fair number of good midfielders recently, and there is no path to the first team with their current squad.

He's a local lad no? So hopefully sees the sense in staying while he develops like Wharton did. Look at Finneran and Phillips who chased the big move too soon and haven't got very far.

Sanderson I think is a more than solid Championship defender with a solid pedigree. He's strong, fast and combative too, and young enough to have resale value. If we could get him for 500-750k I think it would be a good deal, especially as I don't see us renewing Hyam. Erhahon is very talented by all accounts, but if we wanted him we should've done it in January when it was cheaper and there was less competition. He'd be a good addition though.

Was in reference to Markanday's contract option.

Even if we get a few hundred thousand it's worth taking up the option.

Definitely too expensive and also would come in as new starter just as Toth has shown he deserves a chance. What I will say is the number of potential free agents this summer is crazy, looking at how many other Championship teams who also have 5-10 out of contract at once. If we are sensible we could pick up some useful players, though our lack of wage competitiveness will hurt.

Gilsenan must be done with the amount of injuries he has had now, shame as he did seem talented. Won't help his case that we will need/want to fast-track Tyjon into first team opportunities. Do we know if the club see Montgomery as a CM or a RB? Or has it been a Travis scenario to blood him in the first team at RB.

I assume we will renew Hedges, Forshaw and Batth as Ismael wants; should be easy enough deals even for us, not that I particularly think we should renew Hedges or Forshaw, but it is what it is. Pears, JRC, Buckley and maybe Gueye will be the guys we try move on from. I could also see us selling Hyam instead of offering him a new deal/losing him next summer. Not sure we'd get much more than 5 million for the lot which even if we would reinvest doesn't add much to the budget. Wharton moving to a bigger club seems our best bet for a financial boost this summer but again, will just give Venkys an excuse to send less money.

Ismael I think has won the opportunity to have support going into next season. Ultimately the bad run in form that cost us playoffs was down to Venkys/Execs screwing us in January and the fallout of Eustace leaving. The players clearly took a while to warm to Ismael but he seems to have them on board now. However, unless we properly invest in new players and renewing key starters Ismael will be completely hung out to dry as all our other managers have been. We can all see the needs except the three geniuses in charge.

Hadn't realised Hyam's critical error stats are that bad, but that said we would need to see how many he prevents to. From eye test he is often the guy blocking opposition shots in the box.

Ohashi I do think would work really well as a 2nd striker in a two, can drop deeper to link play but also press from the front. Bigger guy next to him like Gueye would give him some more freedom too as he can get bullied by bigger CBs. Again though, dunno if Ismael wants Gueye; I hope they can make it work because Gueye can be an absolute handful for defenders when he is on form (Jan-Mar). I would like us to go back for some of our January targets if possible perhaps, guys like Elie Youan, William Geubbells etc, though I seriously doubt we can be bothered to fund such signings.

Forgot about Higgins, he's the one Arsenal are supposedly eyeing up stealing.

It's scary, and despite all their protestations since Glen and Co put the heat on they have still not renewed any forst team contracts except Ribeiro. Travis, Tronstad, Brittain, Batth, Hyam all need to be tied down this summer. End of story, if they don't it is gross mismanagement.

Season over after a closer push than it had seemed we would make when Eustace left (congrats to him on Derby's escape, watch them outspend us 3x over in summer). Figured it would be a good time to review the squad going into the summer, taking into account performances and contracts etc. Those more knowledgeable on the youth teams and our loanees feel free to contribute. Goalkeeper: Toth (2027) Pears (2027) Barrett (2025) Eastham (2025) Michalski (2027) Goddard (2025) Khan (2025) Honor (2026) Toth showed enough in the last 5/6 games to be starting keeper next season, he may even push back into consideration for Hungary. Pears I think has run his course with us and I doubt he will be happy to sit on bench, sell if we can. Michalski is the big hope as I have heard it. Right Back: Brittain (2026) JRC (2027) Duru (2025?) Montgomery (2026) I worry the powers that be try to sell Brittain, but he is vital to us and deserves a new contract. JRC seems to be on the way out, I like him but too injury prone and Ismael doesn't seem to be a fan. Montgomery was a pleasant surprise coming into the team, I had higher hopes for Duru he needs a better loan next year. Need a back-up for Brittain in case of injury, and to renew his contract. Left Back: Ribeiro (2027) Pickering (2027) Batty (2025?) Powell (2025) Strangely one of our more solid positions after years of turmoil. Ribeiro and Pickering is a solid first team duo under contract. Batty needs a good loan to push on next year. Centre Back: Hyam (2026) Carter (2027) Wharton (2027) Batth (2025) O'Riordan (2028) Litherland (2025?) Atcheson (2028) Davies (2026) Gamble (2025) Olson (2025) Pratt (2025) Doherty (?) Again a reasonably solid group (assuming we renew Batth for another year). Arguably need one more left footed guy to cover while Wharton and Carter come back from injury. Maybe time to move on from O'Riordan, but I would give him one more loan. Don't know much about the younger guys, but Atcheson is the one I have heard best things about. Centre Mid: Travis (2026) Tronstad (2026) Buckley (2027) Forshaw (2025) Garrett (2027) Edmondson (2027) O'Grady-Macken (2025) Strich (2025) Murphy-Worrell (2025) Whitehall (2025) Caddick (2025) Saadi (2025?) Trav and Tronstad are fantastic but again huge worry over contract expiry next summer and our unwillingness to pay our best players. Buckley seems to be heading out while Forshaw is exactly the sort of old guy we'll extend on the cheap. Garrett maybe needs another loan. Need to strengthen here unless one of the younger guys is ready to come through. Attacking Mid: Cantwell (2027) Weimann (2025) Wood (2025?) Gilsenan (2025) Tyjon (2026) Sketchy group and needs strengthening . Weimann I think is too much of a risk to renew off injury. Wood and Gilsenan I think have missed shot. Tyjon is the future and needs to be in and around the first team next year or we will lose him. Cantwell a huge disappointment for his wages, I would not be opposed to selling him, though we would undoubtedly replace him with someone worse. Right Wing: Dolan (2025) Markanday (2026) Dolan is 100% gone, I am sure of it. Markanday I would take up his option and give him a chance in preseason, but huge position in need of reinforcements, ideally pacy ones. Left Wing: Kargbo (2027) Hedges (2025) Bloxham (2025) Doherty (2027) Kargbo showed flashes but too many daft fouls from over-eagerness. Hedges we apparently want to keep but maybe his injury derails that. He offers nothing going forward and I would only keep him as a back-up on reduced wages. Again, could do with strengthening. Striker: Ohashi (2027) Gueye (2027) Leonard (2027) Vale (2025) Mafoumbi (2027) Ohashi seems perfect for Ismael and I have loved him from the start. Gueye not gelled it seems but in Jan/Feb he was our best player so I think he stays and we give him the summer to get with the program. Leonard as the third guy seems fair though he may be missing his chance to break-out. Vale can go. Mafoumbi struggled by accounts and if he is using an overseas slot we should offload. Hope there are more youngsters I do not know about. Summary: We need some depth at GK and defence if we let Pears go, but otherwise these positions are solid and just need contracts renewed. Centre mid also needs depth and contracts but again the starters are excellent. Wings/Attacking Mid is a huge weakness and looks woefully understaffed. Need at least 2/3 new players here, on each wing and maybe attacking mid. Striker group is ok, I like Ohashi and Gueye and we are still waiting for Leonard to push on. Wouldn't say no to improving especially if Ismael doesn't want Gueye.

That's a heck of a goal by Garrett, I had high hopes for him but he seemed to lose his way a bit under Eustace, maybe Ismael will be a better fit. I assume Buckley and JRC will go in summer, so we will need Garrett and a new guy, even if we keep Forshaw as rumoured. Markanday I also have hopes for, but it may be better to sell at this stage. Vale we should 100% offload. Batty needs a good loan next year, Ribeiro and Pickering is solid LB group.

Sheffield time wasting is disgusting, what is even the point for them?

Not going to be enough, Kargbo been poor since he came on, too many silly fouls.

Gueye coming on, 10 minutes to save the season

Looking a bridge too far, our 7 defeats in 8 or whatever it was cost us a guaranteed playoff spot.

Except us winning...

Sheffield commentary is unbelievably biased. Basham is a right knob.

Need to make changes now and reenergise or we risk losing it

Great save by Toth

We go again

Ohashi you beauty