We were having a discussion on the terraces yesterday about the current squad and if any, would you get rid of anyone. Last season we could name at least half a dozen (if not more) but all the players we have signed at the start of the season have justified their contracts. I put forward one name who we were undecided on because of the weekly errors he makes but we really do have the making of a good solid team.

One thing which is going unnoticed is the tackling from Ellis, who reminds me of Sam obst in that his size doesn't stop him from being one of the best tacklers in the side.

Fancy us against anyone outside of top 2 and that's home and away!

Loving the number of young and British players in the side justifying their places. The last four matches we really seem to have clicked - wish I could have been there on the terraces!

I can’t think of anyone I would change at the moment except for a big hard hitting prop. We seem to have nice balance at present. If anything we have room to offload some fringe players.

Said that this squad of players should have been doing better than they are some time ago when you look at who we had.Its taken some time to get everyone on the same page of the song sheet but now it appears its happened.I just hope we can sign Sykes for a couple of years.Like how he gets in the right place to cover any breaks in defence and hes certainly saved a few trys this season and its let Smith play his game well.

Kudos to Tim Smith who has answered his critics (me included

) in the best way possible - the team are on the same song-sheet but he is conducting masterfully!

Said it from the start he was looking after his half back partner so could not play his own game.Everything we did came through him and since Sykes went to be his half back partner its let him play his own game.Credit to the forwards who have turned the wick well up and its giving Smith the platform and time to be the general we need.One thing I did like that I saw yesterday was that Lee Smith backed big Ali up a couple of times and we made good yards just as he did at Leeds.

I appreciate all the, "Well I wouldn't change a thing" attitude now we have found some form, but in all seriousness if we want to improve going forward then it is inevitable that we're gonna have to replace some of the current squad.

It's not really the kind of time to be singling out players who you'd replace though at this stage in the season IMO. I'll leave that to Agar and focus on this season for now.

Probs find only a couple of players coming in next season at most but the important thing is when we bring another player in he has to be better than what we have already.Should always be looking at who is/could be available and be prepared to get the quality player trouble is that quality is not always available when you need it.

would be nice not to have a massive turnover of players for a change

Not sure I agree with that. I think Ellis is not a great defender, nowhere near as good as Aiton or Obst. Sure he nails a few but he misses to many for me. He's often caught out of position with his arms flailing. Maybe he's still a little rusty so I'll give him the benefit - but for me he needs to tighten up.

In terms of our attacking game Ellis has been brilliant.

Sorry to contradict you but that's how I see it.

I think our defensive improvement has been due to a number of factors. Aiton being injured has forced them to do their job. Hudds and Cas were there to be beaten. Our attacking game is so much better now we are defending far less.

Maybe critics should give players more time, especially pivot players?

Not being mentioned much in the media - how typical when you consider the bum licking Cas, Leeds and Wigan have had in the past.

Hopefully we can sign up Moriano for a year or two longer. He looks to have found some good form and fitness this past month and his yard gains have been impressive.

Be good to see Johnson at wakefield still next year too.

I think the squad is pretty good and if the salary expenditure is to be increased next season by 100k/200k then we only need to add 1 or 2 quality players to compliment what we have already.

This years First Team Squad:

1 - Richie Mathers - keeping depends on salary - not worth (to us) the money he is allegedly on at Cas
2 - Peter Fox
3 - Dean Collis
4 - Vince Mellars - Not sure we've had VFM here but on 3 year deal so probably stuck with him
5 - Ben Cockayne
6 - Isaac John - Same as Mellars - needs to step up but will he get the chance?
7 - Kyle Wood
8 - Oliver Wilkes
9 - Andy Ellis
10 - Andy Raleigh
11 - Ali Lauititi
12 - Steve Southern - Been good when he's played but has probably cost us a lot more than he should have for what we've had out of him
13 - Danny Washbrook
14 - Paul Aiton - New contract, definite wage increase
15 - Kyle Amor - Out of our hands but would like to keep (probably cost us more than this year)
16 - Paul Johnson
17 - Danny Kirmond
18 - Motu Tony - No point keeping - has he even played this year?
19 - Frankie Mariano - OOC, keep but probably going to cost more
20 - Tim Smith - New Contract, probably increased wage
21 - Matt Wildie
22 - Kyle Trout
24 - Dale Morton - Not sure whether to keep, again someone who has not played, wage maybe better spent elsewhere
25 - Matt James - Needs to be playing more or moving on, no point paying him to not even make the bench.
26 - James Davey - I like Davey but with Ellis, Wood, Aiton and probably Wildie ahead of him, do we keep?
27 - Danny Cowling
28 - Adam Slater
29 - Russ Spiers
31 - Liam Kay
32 - Chris Annakin
33 - Lucas Walshaw
34 - Paul Sykes - Would definitely like to retain but again may end up paying more if he is ours rather than on loan
35 - Lee Smith



Looking at that we are likely to be spending that extra 100-200k on just retaining the squad we have.
Not sure how many home-grown you need in the squad but again that might force our hand in terms of retention of some of the players.

Think Fordy has it spot on.

The couple of imports that have been major disappointments we are stuck with for next year. (unless they are willing to move on free of charge).

Morton and Davey aint required.

we need a big robust prop imho, it all depends on a few players to what we do too,i.e sykes,amor, mathers, and is southern staying or going, will issac john step up to plate for next year? will be interesting to see what developes over comming months, think we got good basis of a very good team just needs a few tweaks to take us to next level, but i ain't the coach

one thing for sure it certainly a roller coaster ride supporting wakey and i guess next year will be no different

Ive got it wrong with agar whos turned it around well in this past 2 months and fair play to him, but i still cant be having mathers as our fullback, his defence is shocking at times and if we do want to be pushing for a top 6 spot etc in future years then this is a position we need to sort out. Id like to see cockayne or lee smith at fullback next season.One or 2 younger kids who arent going to make it should be released for theirs and the clubs benefit longterm.

Hows John been getting on in the reserves, anyone know?

I really dont get this Cockayne at fullback. Open play running he would be great i agree but there are some reasons he should be kept on the wing.

I would not be as confident with Cockayne under the high bombs and players rushing at him. Mathers to his credit has the experience to deal with these types of situations.

He also has the opportunity to attack in broken play when he chases back for kicks from his wing position anyway and does so well.

The structure that has been employed for the past month with the ball is working and our two wingmen have been spot on at executing this.

On kick return it follows, Mathers---- Fox----Cockayne---the yard gains and speed of play have been immense and afforded us good field position in games.

Why change any of this structure if it works?

On the topic of mathers, a month ago i would have not been bothered if he didnt get a contract but said thanks for the effort. My opinion of that is changing as the season draws to a close.

He is very good under the high ball under pressure, supports well and comes into the line. The only niggle is that he can shirk or mis-time the odd tackle when there is only him between a player and the line. But on the other hand can pull of some cracking tackles.

I would like to hope we can keep mathers in the full back role and give the likes of Kaye/Grayson another season and learn from mathers what he has to offer.

Sykes is playing well and would be happy to see him in a wakefield shirt next season.

Hope we hear some player news soon.

I hear Mortons left the club.

Watched him the last two games, the first he looked very sharp, full of running and passing but last week he looked a little of the pace.

He seems to have no pattern and plays off the cuff, jury still out but i don't see enough for him to displace anyone at the moment.


That said i would like to give him the off season to see if he settles.

He was at the game on Sunday but stands in the crowd instead of with the other players on the balcony, that said it would be a shame as i always liked him and suffered more from a rubbish inside him more than anything else, however with Sam Fletcher in the reserves looking very good Mortons time may well have come.

I must say I'm impressed with Ellis's distribution and defence. He has certainly not been 2nd and 3rd man in on many of his tackles and his defence is top notch much like Aitons. He has hit hard players bigger than him and effected a good tackle.


In alot of ways he is similar to Aiton. Was surprised but a good luxury to have indeed.