Kevin Nolan
When Kevin Nolan joined us four years ago it was quite a move for him, as we had just been relegated. Since then he has scored thirty goals in 139 appearances, a much better strike rate than he had at Bolton. However, his form this year hasn’t been so good and it’s easy to assume that age has caught up with him. He’s 33 in June. His contract is up and will not be renewed, I imagine. VERDICT: LET GO
Mark Noble
At the age of 28 Mark Noble is at the height of his powers, with more than 300 games behind him. It would be unthinkable for him to be sold, but stranger things have happened. A lot depends on the new manager, but for me he should be the new club captain. VERDICT: KEEP
Alex Song
At Christmas you’d have found it difficult to find anyone who wouldn’t have wanted to keep Alex Song but his form since then has been average to say the least. He’s certainly not worth the £100k a week he is said to command. He wants to stay in London so a new deal is obviously a possibility but I’d have thought unlikely. There’s no doubt he’s a quality player, and I have enjoyed watching him, but he is consistently inconsistent. VERDICT: HEART SAYS KEEP, HEAD SAYS FORGET ABOUT HIM
Cheikhou Kouyate
He’s been a revelation, and he should be our key midfielder next season. It’s handy that he can help out at centre back too. VERDICT: KEEP
Stewart Downing
A bit like Alex Song, he was excellent in the first half of the season but his form faded in the second half, especially when he wasn’t playing at the top of a diamond. He scored six goals this season,a big improvement on his single goal in the previous season. But at 31 you have to wonder how much longer his pace will last. If we sold him now we’d recoup most of the £6 million we paid for him. VERDICT: SELL
Matt Jarvis
Matt Jarvis cost a whopping £10 million and has never really fulfilled his early potential. He’s only scored 4 goals in 75 appearances, a pathetic return for a £10 million winger. One wonders if we’d recoup more than thirty per cent of that. VERDICT: SELL
Morgan Amalfitano
Amalfitano has done well despite not being given a huge number of games. His great asset is his ability to play out wide or through the centre. VERDICT: KEEP
Diego Poyet
With Kevin Nolan gone Diego Poyet might break through. He impressed whenever he played and certainly didn’t ever let anyone down. I’d like to see more of him. VERDICT: KEEP
VERDICT
With Noble and Kouyate first choice players in a midfield three, we need a top class ballplaying midfielder and another defensive midfield player. I also think we need more speed on the wings.