With all due respect it is the squad you name above which has failed to get us any further than last season when we actually reached the play-offs.
Yes we have had bad luck with injuries to key players but i fear that unless we bring in some real quality then the above set of players will drop even further behind where we anticipate ourselves to be next season. It has been a tough league it has and with the teams that may come down and stay in this division we need to bring in quite a few quality players. Imo Lidds, Stef and Lomax are not good enough and then we have the likes of Greegs and Crossley who arent exactly spring chickens. If Eardley goes then what? Thompson has been awful and is injury prone. Davies and Hughes are quality but can we keep them fit and at the club if we dont meet their expectation? If everyone of the above was to stay at the club, imo that is sending out a confusing message that what we have done this season is acceptable, and to be honest it isnt as i think we have regressed somewhat.
Out of those players named above only Crossley, Eardley, Hazell, Allott, Taylor,Hughes and Davies would be in my first eleven.(initially) Id add Gregan to those and i know it wont happen but id look for new players for rest of team and keep Lewis, Deano and Mcdonald as squad players. That would mean au revoir to Lomax, Lidds, Wolfy, Kalala, Stam and Thompson. Again not going to happen cos Lidds and Stef been offered new deals i gather and im sure Shez will give Thompson time to get fit and prove himself.
I hate to be a doom and gloom merchant but i fear us losing Eardley, Hughes and Davies at some stage if results dont go our way and what will we be left with?
I just hope we dont do any worse than we have done this year but i would love to see us have a real go next season and that means getting in the right men.