A winger similar to Thomas and a tough tackling centre mid. I like the way our 3 central midfield play, but we still need another option in there.

We're really going to need another wide player assuming we keep neither of Luke James or Jake Gray. But yes, strikers and a centre back. Can't help but feel Rhys Oates might have made up Hignett's mind today over another year.

Higgy will probably have to release double the amount of players he brings in to create a budget to get us in the top 7.
which shudent be a problem if Coxalls ambitions are true!
A smaller squad of better players.

Goodbye
walker
Eddy Abby
kudos
richards
green
oates
fenwick


nearney
denton
bingham
worley
harrison

Nearney has just signed a new deal. Would keep Oates and Walker off there too.

Oates has gone after that 'performance'.

Only young though and won`t be a on a fortune, give him another year.

First time he ever played upfront for us?

Yeah he missed two great chances but he is young and raw, very surprised if he is released.

Agree about two strikers one similar to Paynter and one with a bit of pace who can also play on the right, Adam Jackson and a central midfielder who can see a positive pass and tackle someone hard when he needs to!

Thought Oates looked lost when he came on.
On a good day we would have beat them with the chances we created.
Bates going off was the turning point today


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James was on the last defenders shoulder making a good run about five times today, not always when a midfielder was on the ball. We either checked back and passed sideways or held onto the ball. I like Woods, Hawkins and Featherstone they have all played very well this season but none of them create or score enough. I'd like to see the three of them fighting for a place against someone who does.

I thought James' running off the ball was terrible, epitomised by his running away from Oates in the last five minutes when he didn't have an easy pass. James clearly lacks confidence and did nowt for me. He worked hard, but not in an intelligent way. I was impressed with the midfield three, and Woods in particular did some good stuff going forward in the second half; the balls chip mentions above came from him. The one that put Painter through was spot on.

That phase of play you mention was in the forefront of my mind when I posted, nothing wrong with his run a very simple three yard pass left and was clean through and James looked massively frustrated by not getting it. Oates is Northern League standard player at best. James didn't have a good a game today though and in summing up he's been at the club since January and scored one goal, it isn't good enough two weeks ago I'd have said sign him but if our ambition is to challenge next then he's not been good enough in terms of end product as much as I like him.

As I said though I like all of our midfield players who played today
individually but collectively over a season we need more in terms of creating and scoring goals from that area of the pitch if we want to improve.