Bye Bye Oster

[Royalee]

Nah nah, nah nah nah nah, heyyyyyyyy, goodbye!

Useless Welsh prick.

[I was there at Elm Park]

As for De La Cruz, it's a shame to see him go. He's been rather good overall, and with Halls off too, doesn't that leave us with just Murty, Rosenior and Shorey? De La Cruz should have had his deal extended.

Still got Golbourne too though there have been suggestions that his contract runs out this summer as well. I think we might sign a new left back to replace Shorey but if Rosenior stays it wouldn't surprise me if him or Murts play there next year.

[biscuitsrus]

Looks like Little is going to have to find some new friends to talk to after training.

Sidwell gone, Shorey going, Oster gone..........Oh dear Glen.

He gets all the company he needs in Ladbrookes.

[dantheloyalroyal]

I think we might sign a new left back to replace Shorey but if Rosenior stays it wouldn't surprise me if him or Murts play there next year.

Well, if Shorey does go and we don't replace him, we're going to be rather thin. I'm guessing Golbourne is going to be of more use in the Championship than he would have been in the Premiership, but still, I think we're going to need a bit more pace at the back in the Championship for going forward. Rosenior has it, but i'm not sure about Shorey and Murty. We'll see...

[biscuitsrus]

Nah nah, nah nah nah nah, heyyyyyyyy, goodbye!

Useless Welsh prick.

Harsh but fair!

[Royal Rother]

Ivar, Sodje and Bennett to go - poss Sonko as well.

2 from Bikey, Cisse, Duberry and Pearce would be fine with me. No need for more than 4 Central Defenders in the CCC surely?

Get rid of Ivar? Are you mad? The only way I could say that happening is if a Premiership club come after him, which maybe a promoted side might but otherwise I couldn't see that happening.

The 1st team squad has to be cut (presumably to circa 24?) - if we are keeping Duberry and Little I just have a feeling Ivar (equally aged ) might be moved on. Space needs to be made for some of the younger players and sentiment seems to have played too big a part in this year's choices. Anyway, Ivar hasn't exactly pulled up trees this year has he and Cisse coped brilliantly with Man Utd's attack so should be able to cope with the CCC perfectly well.

I'm only speculating of course but there's bound to be some surprises...

[TommyF]

I think it's encouraging the players that we have let go, because it makes room for better players to come in. I personally really like DLC and also liked Oster, but I do think we can reshape the squad to better suit next season.

It seems like alot of people have overlooked the fact that we have gone from being the least attractive side to sign for in the premiership to one of the best 2 or 3 in the Championship, especially given the credit our playing style gained us over the 2 seasons prior to the one just gone.

If Copps stays, players who are excelling in their current mediocre Championship side but not attracting interest from the Premiership will see us (for next season at least) as being one of their best bets at reaching the Premiership, especially as Birmingham seem to be self destructing at board level.

Roll on next season. A good close season will help blow the blues away (clarification, by blues I mean the sad sort)

[Royal Rother]

I doubt we are making room for more players to come in, more a case of cutting the cloth for a new budget. Playing staff has to be cut.

[TommyF]

Expensive, premiership playing staff has to be cut - but we still need a squad that can cope. I'm (naively?) hoping that we now build a squad that can compete next season and expect much of the cut-backs to be around the corporate side of the club (ie: back room). Fingers crossed we will have a few new faces to replace those that have gone that are willing to fight for a place in the first team and are just waiting to prove a point. That is, afterall, how we got into the premiership.

[papereyes]

Coppell said something about a squad of about 20 being his preferred size.

[dantheloyalroyal]

I'd personally like to see a few of the academy/reserve players breaking through, as well as new signings. Perhaps not as first time regulars, but the occasional subsitute appearence would be encouraging. If it doesn't happen, it does make you wonder whether there is any point in an academy, or at least at the U18 level.

[Stranded]

Nah nah, nah nah nah nah, heyyyyyyyy, goodbye!

Useless Welsh prick.

I didn't know you were Welsh...

[royalsteve]

Gutted that Ecuador's Pele is leaving - his goal against Sheff Utd last season will live in the memory for a long time!!

yeh i thought he'd stay but didnt realise he was 34, so maybe that was a factor.....dont think he'll have a problem getting another club tho

[royalsteve]

So, uh, who made these decisions to release these players while the status of the manager is in limbo? Was it Coppell...even though he could be leaving anyway? Is this a sign that Coppell is staying? What if he leaves, and the new manager would have wanted to keep these players?

yeh does seem odd doesnt it.....hope this means coppell is staying

[andrew1957]

Coppell said something about a squad of about 20 being his preferred size.

The PL squad last season was only 24 players. There were another 20 players but these were mainly out on loan or young.

I think we will still have a squad of 24 next season - enough for two players for each position but this may include some of the youngsters coming through.

[andrew1957]

So, uh, who made these decisions to release these players while the status of the manager is in limbo? Was it Coppell...even though he could be leaving anyway? Is this a sign that Coppell is staying? What if he leaves, and the new manager would have wanted to keep these players?

yeh does seem odd doesnt it.....hope this means coppell is staying

The club probably already know if he is staying but have not made it public yet for some reason. For all we know Coppell probably made all these decisions.

[royalsteve]

A vacancy now exists with the departure of Johnny 'scapegoat' Oster.

Any ideas who it will be?

You are absolutely spot on though - there will be one. The boo boys can't live without a scapegoat!

Bring back Keith Jones I say!!

Whoever plays worst over an extended period of time?

so, hunt or shorey...unless they leave....which would be a shame, but cant see them staying....would be happy with £10+ million for both

[royalsteve]

It would take some pretty blinkered vision to see Oster as one of our better players.

He certainly wasn't our worst in every game but the ignorant twats who comprise the boo boys treated him as such!

kinda agree, but he'd do something good, then something bad....his problem is he tried to hard, kept the ball and didnt pass it, then lost it....he was no wose than shorey or hunt when he played

[andrew1957]

Gutted that Ecuador's Pele is leaving - his goal against Sheff Utd last season will live in the memory for a long time!!

yeh i thought he'd stay but didnt realise he was 34, so maybe that was a factor.....dont think he'll have a problem getting another club tho

If Coppell has decided to stay he will be looking at being back in the PL the season after next in which case there is not much point keeping a player that is likely to be too old by then. Little and Duberry are exceptions to this because in the case of Little he has been brilliant for us and he could make all the difference next season if he regains fitness and in the case of Duberry it is recognised that centre backs have a much longer potential career - often playing at the top level to 36 or so.

[AF1]

John Oster - a 21st Century Michael Meaker - whilst usually shit, I always cheered for you, hoping you'd show up all the (unters around me booing you