Squad for 2025-2026

[katweslowski]

Can anyone tell me what the actual feck a contract in football means? Why are players contracted until 2026 and then can just bloody leave? I'm guessing it's clauses, like if another club pays a lot of money as a penalty/compensation, or if the club failed in some way such as relegated.

It is annoying though to see Knibbs and others listed as being contracted and then hear people talking about them leaving anyway.

[Hound]

Can anyone tell me what the actual feck a contract in football means? Why are players contracted until 2026 and then can just bloody leave? I'm guessing it's clauses, like if another club pays a lot of money as a penalty/compensation, or if the club failed in some way such as relegated.

It is annoying though to see Knibbs and others listed as being contracted and then hear people talking about them leaving anyway.

Isn’t that basically the same as it always has been?

Being under contract at least means we can negotiate a fee for them, which is massive for clubs at our level

[tidus_mi2]

Can anyone tell me what the actual feck a contract in football means? Why are players contracted until 2026 and then can just bloody leave? I'm guessing it's clauses, like if another club pays a lot of money as a penalty/compensation, or if the club failed in some way such as relegated.

It is annoying though to see Knibbs and others listed as being contracted and then hear people talking about them leaving anyway.

It gives the player and the club a certain level of protection.

The player gets an agreed wage and can't be let go early without some sort of an agreement with the club.
The club can get value out of the player when it comes to transfer fees.

[Snowflake Royal]

'If' we are allowed to strengthen, I am a little concerned at our track record when it comes to bringing in 'experienced' players to support the younger academy 'break-throughs'

I'd argue the money spent on signing on fees and wages for Hutchinson, Button, Dean, Carroll wasn't the best use of limited resources.

I understand the idea that you may need a blend of youth and experience - but given who we have (Yiadom, Wing,) I'd be happier if the investment went on different profiles.

We miss pace and power in the side IMHO.

Hutch was generally a decent shout but fell out with the management as Selles couldn’t handle conflicting opinions, Dean just got injured, and Selles again didn’t seem to like or want older pros (probably because of their experience and not being afraid to speak up), but started to look more like a player with Hunt managing the ship. Andy Carroll was decent and he did his part for the club by accepting a low wage, could have got more out of him if he kept his head down a bit more but I think he was a decent return for the outlay. Never really saw the point in Button!

I have confidence that Brian Carey’s influence will mean that any more “golden oldies” that are turned up going forward will be worth the punt.

Button makes a lot more sense as a signing having seen CBC play more first team games.

[Snowflake Royal]

Can anyone tell me what the actual feck a contract in football means? Why are players contracted until 2026 and then can just bloody leave? I'm guessing it's clauses, like if another club pays a lot of money as a penalty/compensation, or if the club failed in some way such as relegated.

It is annoying though to see Knibbs and others listed as being contracted and then hear people talking about them leaving anyway.

Isn’t that basically the same as it always has been?

Being under contract at least means we can negotiate a fee for them, which is massive for clubs at our level

Yeah, I'm not sure what the confusion is.

Since the Bosman ruling all a contract does for you is give you the chance to negotiate a fee if someone comes a calling. In theory you can refuse to sell a player, but often all you end up with is an unhappy player putting in half hearted performances.

Contract up = walk away for free
Contract = some negotiating power

[Sutekh]

Re-signing players onto new deals also usually means that player receiving a signing on fee and there's rather a lot that may be re-signed. Therefore this summer is unlikely to be cheap for the new owners.

[Uke]

Can anyone tell me what the actual feck a contract in football means? Why are players contracted until 2026 and then can just bloody leave? I'm guessing it's clauses, like if another club pays a lot of money as a penalty/compensation, or if the club failed in some way such as relegated.

It is annoying though to see Knibbs and others listed as being contracted and then hear people talking about them leaving anyway.

It gives the player and the club a certain level of protection.

The player gets an agreed wage and can't be let go early without some sort of an agreement with the club.
The club can get value out of the player when it comes to transfer fees.

Transfer means “transfer of contract” and there is a fee payable for that

A Free is the value of the contract being transferred

Once you realise that it makes sense

[Ascotexgunner]

Chem has said goodbye on Insta

Standard - doesn't mean he won't be back - not that I think he will be. 7 goals and 4 assists is not a bad return, not great but OK - so be may be on a list if he becomes available again.

TBH he isn't the wide player I'd want now. Never really took players on like he should be doing. Vickers, when given the chance to play wide right, had started looking so good on that side before being pushed wide left. Not sure I would take him back now.
If I was gonna take one player back it would be Abbey, that's because he could play as a centre back or full back. Thought he was brilliant at CB personally.

[From Despair To Where?]

I think Carroll was just brought in because we could and it added another body to see us through til the end of the season and he was the best player available. A cheap and safe short term signing.

Bodin made sense because we'd lost our top scorer and he has a half decent record at this level. He also has a connection to the club and seemed to fit in well with the rest of the squad. I think but for Knibbs and Wareham stepping up, he'd have played a bigger part. With the ownership situation cleared up we'll be looking at better players though.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Continuity is normally a good thing, but assuming not else leaves, the only positions where existing players would be a shoe in to start our opening game would be Pereira, Mbengue and the midfield 3. All other positions would be up for grabs.

Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan and Wareham have probably done end if you want to keep it resembling this year's team more closely.

[Hound]

Wareham did enough for me to extend his contract. May well get better as well

Ehibhatiomhan didn’t have the best of seasons, but was still useful. He has 12 goals from about 50 starts last two years and still only 22. Again a definite contract offer imo

[Stranded]

Wareham did enough for me to extend his contract. May well get better as well

Ehibhatiomhan didn’t have the best of seasons, but was still useful. He has 12 goals from about 50 starts last two years and still only 22. Again a definite contract offer imo

Wareham does all the dirty work you want a lone forward to do fantastically - if he can add regular goals to his game, he'll play at a higher level.

I would be quite disappointed if we don't give him another couple of years.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Wareham did enough for me to extend his contract. May well get better as well

Ehibhatiomhan didn’t have the best of seasons, but was still useful. He has 12 goals from about 50 starts last two years and still only 22. Again a definite contract offer imo

I meant in the starting XI, to allow better continuity and build upon chemistry. I think I would still have them start but with better options on the bench who are ultimately capable of taking their spot if necessary.

Agree it's a no brainer to keep them in the squad.

[Hendo]

Wareham did enough for me to extend his contract. May well get better as well

Wareham reminds me a lot of NHunt.

[katweslowski]

Yea I really like Wareham. He's highly motivated, full of energy, works hard. I think with better service and continuing minutes on the field next year, he'll get better and better.

[WestYorksRoyal]

They need to get Wareham's parents on one of the RFC pods. Seem like a great influence, and the whole family including Jayden "gets" what the club is about. Definitely want to see him stay around and be given the chance to progress here.

[Stranded]

They need to get Wareham's parents on one of the RFC pods. Seem like a great influence, and the whole family including Jayden "gets" what the club is about. Definitely want to see him stay around and be given the chance to progress here.

Agreed - and his stats in terms of goal contributions aren't too bad.

Was involved in a goal (5 goals, 2 assists) ever 216 mins - so less than once every 2.5 games. Pretty decent really, so more minutes next season (if here) should see those stats increase markedly.

[traff]

Chem has said goodbye on Insta

Standard - doesn't mean he won't be back - not that I think he will be. 7 goals and 4 assists is not a bad return, not great but OK - so be may be on a list if he becomes available again.

TBH he isn't the wide player I'd want now. Never really took players on like he should be doing. Vickers, when given the chance to play wide right, had started looking so good on that side before being pushed wide left. Not sure I would take him back now.
If I was gonna take one player back it would be Abbey, that's because he could play as a centre back or full back. Thought he was brilliant at CB personally.

Think I may have confused Chem by shouting "Jesus Christ" every time he failed to beat his man or deliver a telling ball.
Maybe he thought he was always at the games.

[Snowflake Royal]

Continuity is normally a good thing, but assuming not else leaves, the only positions where existing players would be a shoe in to start our opening game would be Pereira, Mbengue and the midfield 3. All other positions would be up for grabs.

Abrefa, Ehibhatiomhan and Wareham have probably done end if you want to keep it resembling this year's team more closely.

With all 5 senior midfielders fit, I'm not sure there's clear starters for the three spaces.

Hell of a job picking three from the five

[From Despair To Where?]

I honestly think Wareham is the best forward to come out of the academy in over a decade. I don't think he's an out and out goalscorer but his overall game is strong for someone of his age. He looks miles ahead of where Sam Smith was at the same stage of his career.