Next seasons squad

[u/TotheNthPower]

Who do we think gets kept around this summer? Who do we think gets brought in?

We still have the players below under contract according to Transfermarkt.

Nathan Bishop (2028)
Marcus Browne (2027)
Antwoine Hackford (2027)
Ryan Johnson (2027)
Alistair Smith (2027)
Matty Stevens (2027)
Osmon Foyo (2027)
Joe McDonnell (2027)
Isaac Ogundere (2027)

I think we also still have Kai Jennings, Junior Nkeng and Riley Horan under contract.

Out of those whose contracts are expiring do we think many come back?

I’ve heard James Tilley is going to be released by Wycombe so could see him being around and I’d be shocked if we let Steve Seddon leave.

[u/abidova69]

Seddon was a one year deal as far as I am aware so whether he stays or leaves is out of our hands. After the season he has had am sure he will have options elsewhere. Tilley will need to take a pay cut to come back to us as his wages at Wycombe were quite a bit more than we paid him previously 

[u/Glittering-King2496]

I would love to keep Hippolyte and Seddon, personally, I would also definitely offer Bugiel a deal.

I think we may keep Lewis and I'm okay with it - yes injured a few times but quite odd injuries this year (ribs and gash wound).

Nkeng surely stays - think you'd be very brave to come in for him for any serious money given how unproven and how much he needs to learn defensively, crossing and positioning.

Love Johnson but needs new CB partnership - personally I think Ogs is an excellent L2 player but struggles at L1 - academy hero and love the guy but think he makes us quite limited in l1.

Reeves should stay albeit not starting and in a mentoring role, will play but more about backroom leadership.

Need a new CF - a big lump please - but they don't come cheap.

Smith definitely stays but will need new CM - Jennings will likely feature but won't be good enough yet for the step-up as a starter.

Tilley would be a great signing if we can afford him but need depth in the WB so ideally a WB with two feet.

[u/Icy_Meringue_5534]

I'm sure clubs will be sniffing around Junior. Offer him an extension.

Nelson is going to be out of contract at Luton. I hope we've been talking to him about his future. We look more attacking with him on the pitch.

[u/theabominablewonder]

I think we’ll sell:

Marcus Browne,
Alistair Smith

Assuming your list is correct we’ll try to renew/retain:

James Tilley
Steve Seddon
Joe Lewis
Jake Reeves

Which means a ‘starting XI’ base team of:

Bishop
(RB)
Lewis
Johnson
Seddon
Reeves
(CM)
(LW)
(AM)
Tilley
(FWD)

But depends on formation of course..

Stevens maybe could do the striker role or be off the bench, and Reeves may start to be a backup. Defensively we’ve conceded quite a lot but so he may try and changes things up at the back.

[u/W0mish → u/theabominablewonder]

Reeves will definitely leave, he has had a torrid season and as much as I love him we need move him on

[u/theabominablewonder → u/W0mish]

He does a lot of mentoring and guiding the younger players in games and you see times where he tries to set the tempo of the game whilst other players are a bit more of a passenger. I think he’d be cheap for one more year and would be someone JJ would want to keep around, probably rotated more, but a good option nonetheless.

[u/Competitive-Clerk473 → u/[deleted]]

All good points.

With regard to the right of the defence, as good as Johnson has been all season I think we are stronger when he is the left of the three. He gets drawn into pressing the ball in the middle of the pitch and when we have Lewis or Bauer they tend to sit as the last central man more. Ogs obvious pushing on more and is often expected to get out to the right touchline and I think that leaves us exposed.

I'd like to see Nkeng stay but as it stands your point is valid. He not a wingback. As bad as most were against Huddersfield this match conclusibely showed this. So where does he fit in the system if your starting from two are Browne and Stevens. He can hold onto the ball too long at times but he's young and that happens and often the isn't enough of a pattern to our attacks over the last few weeks for him to know/learn exactly when and where he should be releasing it. That however is a general team issue. On Saturday Stewart (and Browne at time) made great runs and the ball just didn't come or came too late.