DanTheMan

Needs a loan. It's make or break really. A player can only be "promising" for so long, he needs to start delivering.

I think they first put a barrier up after QPR the previous season when the ref got hit with a lighter. I was only a kid in 82/3 but I remember trouble at a few games early that season. It included one game when away support got into the river end and kicked off. I wasn't at the Stoke game but I do remember Norwich getting a mention on the World of Sport because of crowd trouble despite the warnings. Think we won despite going 1 down.

Think the plan is to offload him before next season when Tzolis returns.

Would only be a small upgrade on Hugill. No thanks

Interesting that none of the U23 keepers have been used in pre season. Would guess Barden & Mair will be off on loan. This still leaves Berry, Blair & Rose at U23

Not a bad player, the Premier League was just too fast for him. He often wanted a few seconds or one touch too many. He may well have thrived in the championship but he will probably be drawn to a top division with a slower pace.

I like seeing youngsters given a go in these matches. Assume players on international duty are getting an extra week or two off 1st half McCracken, Mumba, Hernandez, Tomkinson, Gibson, Sorensen, Cantwell, Rowe, PLM, Sargent, Dickson-Peters 2nd half Barden, Byram, McCallum, Zimbo, Famewo, Gibbs, Dowell, Springett, Hugill, Omotoye , Martin

Promising player but only a year left on his contract and not near the first team. He might have been ready next season after another loan but then could have walked away for free anyway. A case of cashing out. Good luck to the lad.

I suspect that if Huddersfield go up it makes them less likely to take the Sinani option as they will look/hope for better… Frustrating that none of our other loanees seems to have set the world alight this season.

The only reason to keep Rupp would have been if he was going to be first choice next season, he wasn’t and unfortunately given his recent run of injuries was unlikely to be available for chunks of the reason. Released with thanks for his service. On the youngsters - McAlear is an odd one as he was making the bench in the Championship season and has had a decent loan. I suspect he wanted to stay in Scotland and it is a case of mutual consent. Oxborough was unlucky to lose a season but is now too old for U23s and probably got overtaken by Barden & McCracken. He needed to move.

It was a best of XI, thanks but I’d rather go without…

Can’t imagine he willl play for us again but I hope he gets his head down in pre season and proves me wrong

Will be interested in what Smith does with Clarke, Gibbs & Tomkinson in pre season. Do they come into the squad or head off to league one on loan?

A team of loan players (who never signed for us) 1. Forster 2. Naughton 3. Bertrand 4. Taylor 5. Dijks 6. Skipp 7. Harper 8. Parker 9. Crouch 10. Rhodes 11. Reed. (struggling to think of a 2nd CB tbh) But could make a 25 man squad out of poor/disappointing ones. Agree with the thread - look to the future for the rest of the season, if they won’t be here next season don’t pick them.

Unless Rupp is going to be first choice next season he should be released. He is at an age where there isn’t much point him hanging around as a squad player, particularly with his injury record. Better to put his wages towards someone who would be first choice. No hard feelings, thanks for all your efforts, farewell. Zimbo - I really like the guy but I doubt he can now remain fit. Shake hands and pay him off. As back up next season Tomkinson or Famewo (if charlton don’t take up the option) would be better cheaper bets.

I watched the U23s on Friday. I liked the look of Gibbs & Clarke and both have potential to break through next season. Adshead looked rusty but it was his first game back after injury. Of the rest: Kamara looks like he needs a bit of building up physically; Shipley is an intelligent defender but for his age lacks a bit of pace; Warner has lots of pace but has a lot of learning to do; Stewart seems very one footed but has something about him.

As he made the bench last season and has had a good loan this lad should be further forwards than most of the youngsters on the bench on Saturday. It makes sense that we give him another couple of years in the hope that he can push on

Such sad news. The most underrated player in NCFC history. He makes my all time best XI from my time as a supporter (42 years).

Watched the under 23s on Friday. Really enjoyable but only Clarke & Gibbs looked like prospects. Perhaps they could make the bench by the end of the season. Although Kamara made the matchday squad he looks lightweight and maybe needs a few weights and steak dinners. Adshead played on Friday, showed a bit of quality but a lot of rust as he comes back from injury.

I was at the O’Neil match. Duncan Forbes played a few minutes, Trevor Brooking scored a cracker and late on Gunn & Fleck swapped positions

Kabak - no. Too accident prone and I would pick Hanley & Omo ahead of him next season. Normann - possibly but would “audition’ him over the remainder of this season

We need a team to get us out of the championship - you can only win the league you are in. Assuming all the loans leave.. On the plus side: 1. GK - no issues, only question is which youngster to make No.3 with McGovern either coaching or seeing out his last season on loan. 2. FB - McCallum coming into the mix to compete with Gianoullis. If Max goes we will be ok with Byrom and Mumba backing up. 3. CB - ok with what we have got at championship level. Hanley & Omo as first choice over Gibson & Zimbo. Potential for Tomkinson to become back up or one of the loanees if clubs don’t take up an option (Famewo? Bushiri?) 4. CMF - Sorensen deserves a go in the holding role but needs an experienced signing alongside him. Any of PML, Mclean or Rupp can cope at championship level but we need new blood. 5. Out wide we have options - especially if Idah or Sargent are going to play as one of them. Rowe is well and truly in the mix with Rachica, Tzolis could yet come good and I wouldn’t turn away Onel for a final season. One question is who ends up as the No.10 given how poor Dowell has been. Some mention of Sinani but I hear he has been hit & miss. Cantwell? - he is out of the building. 6. Forwards - really we need a potential replacement for Pukki. Not pensioning him off yet but someone who can push him onto the bench. Not convinced Idah or Sargent are out and out strikers. Hugall? I would see how he looks in pre season. 7. Will any of our loan players come into the mix? Most likely is Adshead who was doing well before his injury. None of the others seem to have made the most of their loans yet but Smith might see something in Martin? Omotoye? So two biggish signings needed and we should have enough for next season

Would give Pukki a rest. Not dropped, just a rest. Krull, Byrom, Williams, Zimbo, Hanley, Sorensen, Normann, Rupp, Rowe, Rachica, Sargent Subs: Gunn, Max, Gianoullis, Kabek, PML, Tzolis, Dowell, Mclean, Pukki

I am always sorry when one of these prospects doesn't come off. But I am realistic - for every Godfrey there are half a dozen like Bloomfield, Fonkeu, Power, Nizet , Gilmour (the lad from Arsenal), Adams and so on. I am still hoping Adshead will come good and save us millions on day.

I would loan out Idah with an eye to next season. He needs experience. Hopefully with a few goals and a bit of confidence he would then be a good prospect for us in the championship. This season I would bring back Hugill purely on the basis that if we are chasing games throwing on a battering ram style CF is a better option that what else we have on the bench right now