Harriers Chatter

tonythescout wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 10:01 am Phil did I read that right? Keep top scorer on a short term deal then decide?
Palmer is on a two year deal I believe as player coach

Yes!

So...

Don't Offer: Downing, Hewitt, AMS, Obadeyi, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Summerfield

Offer (I think they will accept): Bishop, Brown, Davis, Hall, Hemmings, Kandola, McNally, Palmer, Rubio

Offer (I think they will go elsewhere): Morrison, Richards, Thompson

Release or Transfer List: Penny

And my take on the loans we ended the season with...

Loans (No interest): Beresford, Kellermann, Lutz, Roberts

Loans (Would be interested but think they are better than signing in NLN): Reynolds, Worrall

Loans (Interest and think will be available): Kouhyar

Probably for another thread but transfer targets I have been thinking about...

1) Big horrible centre back to hopefully go with McNally and/or Morrison (if we retain) in the style of either Scott Wilson or Mark Ellis from Chorley

2) At least one (ideally two) striker(s) currently unsure what kind (Do we want a younger replica of AMS?) as haven't thought about style or strategy for the team yet

3) Full back

4) Commanding centre midfielder to do what Davis (I want to retain him but he's going to be another year older next season) has been doing and allow Brown some freedom to create play

cheguevaradunkley wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 12:13 pm So...

Don't Offer: Downing, Hewitt, AMS, Obadeyi, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Summerfield

Offer (I think they will accept): Bishop, Brown, Davis, Hall, Hemmings, Kandola, McNally, Palmer, Rubio

Offer (I think they will go elsewhere): Morrison, Richards, Thompson

Release or Transfer List: Penny

And my take on the loans we ended the season with...

Loans (No interest): Beresford, Kellermann, Lutz, Roberts

Loans (Would be interested but think they are better than signing in NLN): Reynolds, Worrall

Loans (Interest and think will be available): Kouhyar

Probably for another thread but transfer targets I have been thinking about...

1) Big horrible centre back to hopefully go with McNally and/or Morrison (if we retain) in the style of either Scott Wilson or Mark Ellis from Chorley

2) At least one (ideally two) striker(s) currently unsure what kind (Do we want a younger replica of AMS?) as haven't thought about style or strategy for the team yet

3) Full back

4) Commanding centre midfielder to do what Davis (I want to retain him but he's going to be another year older next season) has been doing and allow Brown some freedom to create play

I’d agree with pretty much all of that.

Also you have the best name on the forum.

Offer new deals to Richards, Devine, McNally, Kandola, Brown, Hemmings, Bishop, Morrison

Fully expect a number of them to decline and look for a move up the leagues

Release Davies, Summerfield, Downing, AMS , Hall, Thompson, Obadeyi, Ox, Palmer

Try to sign Maz, Worrell and Reynolds

Phil wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 8:58 am Our out of contract players:

Josh Bishop: Keep as back up
Zak Brown: Keep but no qualms if he left
David Davis: Short term contract until Dec 31st then decide
Paul Downing: Release
Kobe Hall: Release
Ash Hemmings: Short term contract until Dec 31st then decide
Samson Hewitt: Release
Kam Kandola: Keep on 2 year contract
Reiss McNally: Keep on 2 year contract
Amari Morgan-Smith: Release
Kyle Morrison: Keep on 2 year contract
Tope Obadeyi: Release
Christian O-C: Release
Tom Palmer: Release but keep him as keeper coach
Alex Penny: Release
Caleb Richards: Keep on 2 year contract but be prepared to see him sold after signing
Luke Summerfield: Short term contract until Dec 31st then decide
Seb Thompson: Short term contract until Dec 31st then decide after being told to toe the line
Noah Rubio: Keep on 1 year contract but start to play him more

The loans don't belong to us so no point saying keep them or not.

Completely agree with this. Can I have a gold star, sir? Obviously (?) I'd like to keep hold of Worral and Morrison, and Reynolds if possible.

It looked to me like Hemmings was saying goodbye at the very end of the game. I know he can be infuriating but his goal output has been vital second half of the seasion in particular and will very hard to replace. Looks to me like he can play at this level for some time to come (unlike AMS, who's been great but looked done second half of the season).

Also I'd say cheerio to Phil Brown, but that would be expensive so I'm hoping he walks.

Krasnyi wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 12:20 pm

cheguevaradunkley wrote: Mon May 05, 2025 12:13 pm So...

Don't Offer: Downing, Hewitt, AMS, Obadeyi, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Summerfield

Offer (I think they will accept): Bishop, Brown, Davis, Hall, Hemmings, Kandola, McNally, Palmer, Rubio

Offer (I think they will go elsewhere): Morrison, Richards, Thompson

Release or Transfer List: Penny

And my take on the loans we ended the season with...

Loans (No interest): Beresford, Kellermann, Lutz, Roberts

Loans (Would be interested but think they are better than signing in NLN): Reynolds, Worrall

Loans (Interest and think will be available): Kouhyar

Probably for another thread but transfer targets I have been thinking about...

1) Big horrible centre back to hopefully go with McNally and/or Morrison (if we retain) in the style of either Scott Wilson or Mark Ellis from Chorley

2) At least one (ideally two) striker(s) currently unsure what kind (Do we want a younger replica of AMS?) as haven't thought about style or strategy for the team yet

3) Full back

4) Commanding centre midfielder to do what Davis (I want to retain him but he's going to be another year older next season) has been doing and allow Brown some freedom to create play

I’d agree with pretty much all of that.

Also you have the best name on the forum.

What can I say, they're my favourite Che(y)s!

Keep
McNally - one year contract
Kyle Morrison - two year contract
Kandola - one year contract
Richards - two year contract - will do well to keep him and deserves a shot further up the pyramid
Brown - one year contract
Hemmo - one year contract
Davies - one year contract
Palmer - player/coach one year contract?

Release
AMS
Thompson
Summerfield
Downing
Obadeyi
Oxalade Chamberlain

No idea on Hall, Hewitt, Rubio, Bishop - never seen them play.

Already contracted
Dibble - keep
Devine - keep
Foulkes - keep
Penny - great player but injuries really holding him back and must be a big earner. Will he want to go to America now?

Loans
Maz Kouhyar - scored 12 league goals. Can’t be many better at this level on the wing. No brainer.

Worrall - has been a step up in terms of crossing ability and assists but clearly injured at the end of the season. 34 turning 35? Can he last a season? Worth a punt but we do have Foulkes already signed and he’s a good full back at this level.

Reynolds - worth a punt if we can sign him. The game yesterday was crying out for him to go up against Weeks. Good player at this level.

Kellerman- doesn’t seem to have worked for him both times but clearly a decent player at this level.

Beresford - started well and clearly a decent player who can score goals but injuries really got him disappointingly. Not sure if he’s worth a punt. Maybe if he can stay fit.

Lutz- what was the point?

Roberts- what was the point?

Please let’s not let Morrison depart this time. Key to next season!!

There’s a rumour of Hemmo signing for Macclesfield. Wouldn’t surprise me if they have offered decent wages on a two year deal. Would hope we could persuade him to stay!!

So close this year and with a couple of strikers and a centre mid added. Don't think we will be far away again!

Surely the budget will be similar to this season??

Some odd ideas in here. Getting rid of Palmer when he's essentially a coach. Do you think making him a coach-only will make him cheaper? Of course it won't. Signing players til December? Do you think any of them will take that?

Keep
Brown - really improved in the second half of the season. Blows hot and cold sometimes, but you will get that at our level. Offer two years.
Hemmo - Our top goalscorer. No brainer. A year with an option of an extension if he makes a certain amount of games. Or two years if pushed.
Kandola - Great at this level. Expect to possibly go. Offer two years.
McNally - Great at this level. Expect to possibly go. Offer two years.
Morrison - Great at this level. Expect to possibly go. Offer two years.
Richards - Great at this level. Expect to possibly go. Offer two years.
Thompson - A lot of promise. Give him a year.
Hall - A lot of promise and will be cheap. Give him a year.
Bishop/Rubio/Hewitt - probably cheap and worth another year.

Release
Davis - Another year older, hasn't been bad when he stepped in, but surely other and better options around.
Summerfield - See above.
Downing - See above
Obadeyi - See above.
AMS - Should have gone in the summer, if I was going to be harsh. Can see why Brown kept him, but now is his time to go. A loyal servant, always showed up, will be missed in terms of his personality and character.
Penny - See if we can get him to do a deal to pay him up if he won't play again.
Lutz - Not a release as such, but expect to see him at the Swifts, Worcester or Bewdley next year. Not up to it.

Sign
Kouhyar - Good season. I see he's made one team-of-the-year (which may be dubiously put together). See if he'll stay.
Roberts - If he'll come back. Unlikely.
Reynolds - See Roberts.

Undecided
Worrall - Does he fancy another year? Is he up to it another year older? Not sure. Can see Macc taking a look. On balance I'd probably offer a year with an extension if he makes a certain number of games.
Beresford - Get him back for pre-season and see if he can move quicker than the fridge he is at the moment.
Kellerman - Only saw him once.

What we need...

A RB - still not convinced by Foulkes, personally.
A CM - An experienced head in midfield in the guise of Summerfield/Davis/Worrall/Leesley of old.
A striker- Is a young Joe Ironside knocking about?

A few players to come off the bench. As Chris Williams pointed out after the last game of the season, we do seem to be lacking!

Ben Beresford. Maybe controversial, but he doesn't look like a footballer to me.
Josh Bishop. No opinion.
Zak Brown. Need to retain him. Coming into his prime.
David Davis. Not for me.
Reece Devine. In contract
Christian Dibble. In contract
Paul Downing. Release
Joe Foulkes. In contract
Kobe Hall. Release
Ashley Hemmings. Retain.
Samson Hewitt. No opinion
Kam Kandola Retain.
Maz Kouhyar. Sign.
Reiss McNally. Retain.
Amari Morgan-Smith. Based on recent form, release.
Kyle Morrison. Retain.
Tope Obadeyi. Release.
Tom Palmer. Retain.
Alex Penny. Oh dear, what an expensive mistake to give an injury prone player a 2 year contract.
Ryley Reynolds. Sign.
Caleb Richards. Retain.
Luke Summerfield. Retain on an appearance-based contract.
Seb Thompson. Release.
Noah Rubio. No opinion.
David Worrall. Can't decide!

Jack Hammer wrote: Tue May 06, 2025 2:30 pm Ben Beresford. Maybe controversial, but he doesn't look like a footballer to me.
Josh Bishop. No opinion.
Zak Brown. Need to retain him. Coming into his prime.
David Davis. Not for me.
Reece Devine. In contract
Christian Dibble. In contract
Paul Downing. Release
Joe Foulkes. In contract
Kobe Hall. Release
Ashley Hemmings. Retain.
Samson Hewitt. No opinion
Kam Kandola Retain.
Maz Kouhyar. Sign.
Reiss McNally. Retain.
Amari Morgan-Smith. Based on recent form, release.
Kyle Morrison. Retain.
Tope Obadeyi. Release.
Tom Palmer. Retain.
Alex Penny. Oh dear, what an expensive mistake to give an injury prone player a 2 year contract.
Ryley Reynolds. Sign.
Caleb Richards. Retain.
Luke Summerfield. Retain on an appearance-based contract.
Seb Thompson. Release.
Noah Rubio. No opinion.
David Worrall. Can't decide!

Agree with this assessment 100% Defo need a striker and a center mid general, & others depending on who goes. But the priority should be a decent striker ( in the Mark Beck mould).

Ben Beresford. Liked him when we first got him, seemed miles off it after his injury, not massively fussed if we don't see him back
Josh Bishop. Keep, still young I'd say fairly cheap too.
Zak Brown. Sticking my neck out here, 2 year deal.
David Davis. 1 year deal
Reece Devine. In contract
Christian Dibble. In contract
Paul Downing. Release 1000%
Joe Foulkes. In contract
Kobe Hall. Can't see him being good enough may seem harsh but release
Ashley Hemmings. Rumoured to already of signed but I'd keep
Samson Hewitt. Release
Kam Kandola Offer 1 year contract
Maz Kouhyar. Offer 1 year contract, would love to have him permanently, edge of your seat player.
Reiss McNally. Give him whatever he wants, class at this level
Amari Morgan-Smith. So so difficult, love the guy but not sure he can offer us much now, release.
Kyle Morrison. See McNally, fear he will go though
Tope Obadeyi. Rubbish get rid
Tom Palmer. Don't really rate him, but does the coaching side?
Alex Penny. Yeah this hasn't worked rumoured to be going to the US? Wages could be used elsewhere.
Ryley Reynolds. Would take him back on loan
Caleb Richards. Offer 2 year contract but can see him finally leaving.
Luke Summerfield pay as you play based contract?
Seb Thompson. Release
Noah Rubio. Not seen much of him not really bothered
David Worrall. Keep every day of the week

Agree with most of the choices made above. If PB stays (according to a Harriers player I spoke to at the Evesham/Malvern game yesterday he is) it won't happen but I would keep Thompson just on the back of his performance in the Trophy game against Sutton. MOTM by a country mile that game and hasn't had a look in since.

I predict that at least 3 or 4 of the players listed above will be at Halesowen or Hereford next season.

On a quite reliable grape vine I've heard AMS and hemmings going to chester and maybe dibble. Devine only one saying he will stay

George1968 wrote: Thu May 08, 2025 11:58 am On a quite reliable grape vine I've heard AMS and hemmings going to chester and maybe dibble. Devine only one saying he will stay

Given they don’t know what league they’re in that’s a bold rumour.

Is this the end?