The youngster clearout begins

The attempts to reduce the squad numbers below 20, yet still keep enough 'quality' and 'experience' is starting to take on a new direction. The direction being taken is a look at the contracts that some of the younger players are under, with them coming to an end, via various means...

'Word on the street' has it that many of the youngsters that we have will be 'sacrificed', I just seriously hope that this is done for the right reasons - and not just so 'better known' players can be brought in?

Yep, I know we need experience in our squad as we CANNOT afford to go down again although experience and quality are not the same thing - granted if we are bringing both and these kids lack both, and a desire to perform, fair play let them go and get them off the wage bill for a more senior player that can offer us something for similar money to these well paid, yet seemingly quality lacking players...

Steve Cotterill yesterday confirmed, in The News, that 'there has already been some decisions on a few' with Paris Cowan-Hall having already gone and Danijel Subotic was not far behind: 'Paris Cowan-Hall has gone. Subotic will be coming to a conclusion.'

Cowan-Hall, from what I have seen of him, has not developed physically or as a player over the past 12-months so as much as I had high hopes for him I can see why, it is also 'said' that he was keen to leave anyway, so everybody's 'appy, right? Subotic, well in all honesty he was a strange one anyway - from what I hear he offers very little.

Jordan Hughes and Gael Nlundulu will soon be going too: 'there's Nlundulu and Jordan Hughes, too. Those guys will all be finishing now.

'We need players who are strong enough for the Championship.'

Nlundulu is a guy that was 'expected' to do well, but it does 'seem' as though he is one of those that has been earning VERY good money for a very long time, perhaps his wages have not been justified over this time. Hughes is not someone I can recall much of at all to be honest.

If these guys are on decent money, but will not make it, then - as already said - if it is for the right reasons then that is understandable although I would prefer us to have a team full of untried kids if they will offer more than seasoned professionals, these names mentioned as going/gone do seem to be 'fair enough' though.

I am a 'little' worried by a few names that further 'word on the street' says could go, as I do feel we would regret that but time will tell what happens with this...

The one thing that does concern me is the fact that most of these guys are under contract, so how have we managed, or will we manage, to convince them to move on?

Ok, they might not be 'good enough' in the coaches opinions, although I cannot see anyone 'willingly' giving up their contract so some, or all, of this would have been paid up? Given our position how could we actually justify paying someone up to leave - mutually beneficial to all would be good, but you do not get many 'mutual' moves in football these days really do you!

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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