PlymouthFox

Ben Mee has retired.

Efl deadline for retained lists is today so we should see some sort of announcement from the club soon. Although we'll probably get a fine or points deduction for not doing this on time knowing our lot.

Jay Rodriguez released from Wrexham. Never been prolific I know, but surely could do a job in league one, if only as an experienced squad player coming off the bench, with another new forward starting and a youngster alongside Rodriguez on the bench.

He was great in Les Miserables though.

I know it's common sense that all the loan players will leave, all the out on loan players will return, and given relegation, all the out of contract players will be allowed to move on ... but does anyone know when the official statement from the club regards retained and released player lists will be?

All the broadcasters & journalists making reference that we have been relegated to the third tier 10 years after winning the Premier League. Well Derby County managed it in 9 after winning the old First Division in 74/75. Small wins.

Wouldn't be surprised to see him staying and playing as a left winger next season after selling Mavididi, which wouldn't be horrific if it meant Joseph at RB and Aluko at LB.

According to transfermarket website his loan contract expires at end of June, whereas the other 4 loans we have all expire at end of May. Not sure what that indicates ref which year accounts, but maybe it's a month later due to what you've said?

Even with the loan with option agreement we have, it still involves somehow finding £4m we don't have.

All players, coaches, and owner/directors need to take accountability for that shambles of a 2nd half. The problem is, nobody will, and it will be a case of picking the same players and letting the same thing happen until the end of the season. It's a repeat of 3 years ago when we got relegated when there was no fight as everyone knew they were getting their big money moves anyway. This season we have 12 players' contracts expiring in the summer (including loans) so of course the fight isn't going to be there. A few others will know they can or will leave in addition to those 12. And then the remaining players are the kids that have been thrown in probably 2 years before they should have, and none of whom are actually good enough. On top of that we have an interim manager clearly out of his depth, who is also the person that led the squad for most of pre season, so can the poor fitness levels be pointed that way? And then we have the talentless bunch of people at the top responsible for allowing the club to get into this mess..

Just popped up on Sky Sports News that he's having his medical.

Half the squad are leaving for nothing next summer if we're not careful. Would be sensible to try and get at least a few million for Daka/Soumare/Winks in January. Hopefully Brentford or West Ham get desperate in midfield.

Ahead of Begovic or just as 3rd choice?

Not even a mention of obligation clause.

Probably won't be straight away. He'll need a little time.

Regardless of past potential, he is clearly not fancied by the current coaching staff basing their selections on current form/ability within the squad available. However, as a promising academy product on a prosumably low salary, it should be the club's duty to do what is best for Alves's future rather then the club. If he goes out on loan, has a good season, builds some form and confidence, but we fail to get promoted, then welcome back. If the former happens but we do get promoted, or if he has an unsuccessful loan, then let him go next summer for a fair price and with everyone's thanks and best wishes.

If the McAteer deal goes through, like others have said it puts us in a strong position re negotiating a price for BEK. What we need to be really careful of though is verbally agreeing a load of offers for him over the next 9 days, but getting nothing over the line, and then having a pissed off player underperforming for the rest of the season.

Sell McAteer. Buy Keller.

The club will rebuild the confidence and morale of the fans by bringing in a couple of loans on deadline day, with those being a new 4th choice right back from Angola and 5th choice centre back from Lithuania.

I have never been a huge fan of Winks, but he was by far the best player on the pitch in the 2nd half. Giving him the freedom to have a more box to box role with Soumare staying deeper brought out his best, but I also think BEK is a bit more effective when playing a bit deeper than the number 10 role, especially seeing as he doesn't take any of the dead balls. So I wouldn't be against selling either Winks or BEK for PSR reasons and having the best interests of the club in mind moving forward, but what would be a huge loss and have a major impact on this season is if they both went. Up until yesterday I believed we had enough in our squad to negate the need to reinvest any sales income, but if BEK and Winks both get moved on, we are in trouble without bringing in at least one Brownhill esq type replacement.