He's been excellent since Conor became head coach, and I am sure that Conor wants us to take up the extra year option. We'd find it very hard indeed to get anyone else as good as Humphrys.
With the amount of turnover I'm hoping will happen I'd keep Humphrys just as a known factor. You can't replace over half of the team and expect them all to work out. He's done better in his proper position and Hourihane can clearly use him effectively, so let's stick with him.
He was played out of his natural position by the previous manager. I think Hourihane is getting a tune out of him. I’d have him for another year if and only if, Conor wants him.
I reckon he's nailed on for a league 2 team minimum. His record was decent before his permanent spell with us. Even his goals per minute in his loan with us. Someone from that league will take the gamble. Strikers are hard to come by.
On Humprhys, I'd keep him. Wasn't impressed in a striker roll, but Conor putting him in his natural position has worked a treat - whod have thought it?!
I get where people are coming from. Just walks back to with head down too often when we lose the ball
Humphrys - definitely a talented player. Skillful, great finisher, very hard to defend against when he's on song. Worst case scenario - he really is lazy and had a fire lit under his arse when he realised he needs a contract for next season, either with us or someone else and he wasn't going to be getting it due to his rancid performances from about December til March. Best case scenario - he was badly affected by the illness he suffered from mid-season. He's only just coming back to full fitness. This has coincided with him being played in his correct position, hence his upturn in form. My personal opinion is that the latter is far more likely, simply because the amount of effort needed to make it in professional football is off the scale. For the vast majority, if you're fundamentally lazy you'll have dropped out of the came completely long before your mid 20's. I'd like to see us keep him. Obviously Conor Hourihane has a far better idea as to which scenario is closer to the truth, so I'm happy with whatever he decides. Max Watters is a tricky one. His entire Barnsley career was summed up with that breakaway to make it 5-1 near the end. A blistering turn of pace, followed by a disappointing finish. At this level, Max Watters should have all the attributes to score double figures every season with the right service. He's incredibly quick over short distances, often gets in good positions in the opposition box, and can (sometimes) finish. I still haven't worked out whether his finishing ability is genuinely random, or whether he suffers from a chronic lack of confidence. One of our biggest problems this season has been a lack of pace going forward. No movement, even when counter attacking we've often started going backwards due to lack of options, which is painful to watch. Barry Cotter was a massive asset yesterday, for that exact reason. Defenders are frightened of pace. Unfortunately Barry has no idea what to do with the ball (but that's another question for another thread). It stands to reason that Max Watters should be a similar asset for his pace alone. But he often drifts out of games to the point I forget he's playing, and he probably finishes off about a third of the chances he should bury at best. He's still under contract, so if Conor thinks there's something to work with then I trust his judgement. I wouldn't be surprised to see a parting of ways though.
The b-line towards the fans looked like a fair well to me. And with Conor saying for the last couple of weeks that 'disscutions all well under way' regards next season.. I'd say SH knows exactly where he'll be next season People want change but without changing.. to bring in new some of the old must go.. And unfortunately others don't want who we don't want.. only the ones we do. Something else Conor said in the last few weeks about.. short term loss for long term gain ... You've already been told they'll be departures.. so id be bracing myself
If we don’t trigger the extra year for Humphrys the only reason can be his wages. He can be frustrating but he’s got bags of talent and a lot to offer when played in his natural position. We’ll struggle to find better.
I'd keep Humphrys if we were shipping Watters out for definite. One year at a time extension deal though because if we offer more he'll get comfy and back to his lazy ways.
I don’t know what I’d do with him. There’s no doubting his talent. He’s definitely good enough but do I trust him to give his all over a season? No chance. That leads us to the next question. If we do release him, who replaces him? That’s where the dilemma comes as I’ve got no faith in Sormaz to sort us out with a decent replacement so it might be worth keeping him. But I don’t think he’s earned or deserved a new contract & I think he’s a very lucky boy if he gets one.
I guess this should boil down to what formation Connor wants us to play. A front 3, we need to look to trigger our option. With him the wide player. If Connor wants to shift to 442.... I don't see him in the team at all
You can still offer more even out of position. Bone idle at times and you could also question if he has been playing for a contract here on elsewhere in the last 6 or so games.
I’d like to see him stay, he’s got the quality of a Championship player he just needs to improve his fitness and consistency. I’m not sure what’s going on though. I thought we had the option to extend him but from listening to what Conor said yesterday it sounds like there’s some sort of negotiation going on so maybe it’s not that clear cut. Hopefully we get some positive news on it next week.
