Post-Season Review - Rovers Players Out of Contract
By Mark Ridgway
May 5 2009
As the season ends for Rovers, perhaps earlier than most will have hoped, Mark Ridgway takes a look at the squad members who are out of contract this summer and assesses their performances this season and whether or not he feels they are worth retaining or releasing.
With the 2008/09 season now at a premature end for Tranmere and with the summer transfer rumours already beginning to surface, Mark Ridgway takes a look at the players in the Rovers squad who are out of contract this summer and assesses how they have performed in the season just gone and ponders whether they will remain at the Club next season.....
Antony Kay
Apps: 49, Goals: 12
The most high profile player that may leave this summer is skipper Antony Kay. He's been playing in central midfield this season and has been superb, also finishing top scorer with 12 goals.
The driving force of the team and someone who also spurs on others around him, Kay has scored against the best in Leicester and Leeds as well as two last minute winners against Brighton and Walsall which were priceless in Rovers play off attempts.
In Summer 2007 Kay was released by Barnsley and Ronnie snapped him up, a move that proved to be a superb piece of judgement from the Rovers Manager.
The rumours escalating currently are that he is set to leave with Huddersfield, Preston, Burnley and Peterborough all being mentioned as possible destinations for Tony as it appears Rovers will be unable to meet his wage demands.
Steve Jennings
Apps: 49, Goals: 3
Along with Kay, Jennings missed only two games in the whole campaign and has played alongside Kay in central midfield for most of this season. Jenno has been an ever present in that position this season having worked with Paul McLaren in the previous campaign.
Although his goal tally could be higher, he makes up for it with 100% passion, grit and determination. He does the dirty work of battling but also sets up plenty of attacks.
After the Scunthorpe draw which saw Rovers miss out onthe play-offs, Jenno appeared to be the most devastated of the whole team as he is Tranmere through and through after starting his career here.
This season has been a strange one for Jenno, as he played the whole season on a game to game contract and never fully committed, at first it appeared his head maybe else where but he got his head sorted and was a key man throughout.
Ben Chorley
Apps: 50, Goals: 1
With 50 appearances this season for Rovers, Ben was the most used player, missing just one game. He was a revelation at centre back after looking shaky and unreliable last season, but this season he was superb and a rock solid defender.
He scored his only goal away at Hartlepool with a decent looping header. He's worked mainly with Ian Goodison to great effect this season and with the Jamaican re-signing hopefully it will persuade Chorley to commit as well, but with rumours of personal life this is also put in doubt.
Danny Coyne
Apps: 43, Goals: 0
Danny Coyne has yet again been Mr Reliable in the Tranmere goal and has only missed the first two games and a handful of games in February due to injury.
Danny has made key saves through the campaign, none more vital then the string of stunning saves he made against Yeovil at home to keep Rovers play off hopes alive. Its unsure whether he will re-sign but most hope he will.
Charlie Barnett
Apps: 32, Goals: 3
After a slow start to his Tranmere career, Barnett made the left side of the midfield his own for the second half of the season and was a class act. He was thrown in at home to Carlisle and has never looked back since.
He scored vital goals against Peterborough and Hereford and also provided one of the moments of the season with a quality goal to give us the lead at local rivals Oldham in March.
The former Liverpool trainee is being tracked by a number of teams but has also been offered a new contract by Rovers and his agent has stated that he is unsure where Charlie will end up next season.
Eddy Sonko
Apps: 41, Goals: 5
Sonko had been Mr Versatile this season playing at right midfield, left midfield and also upfront. He always gives 100% and is appreciated by the fans. He has shown he can score goals by scoring a great goal away at Huddersfield and a brace at Hereford to name a few.
However, some feel the Gambian International is not good enough and would be better off being released. It is still unknown whether Rovers will offer him a new contract so like many his future is in the balance. He was signed on a one year contract from Walsall last summer.
Chris Shuker
Apps: 31, Goals: 3
Shuker has had a season to forget in many ways having been in and out of the side and never really hit any form. He had a few good games during October but apart from that he was quiet and sat out the second half of the season with a broken arm.
He did score a great goal away at Leyton Orient and followed it up with a impressive run and finish against Crewe . However Shuker was in a poor run of form during March and fans turned against him when he first booted he ball at them at home to Swindon and the showed ‘v signs' to travelling fans away at Hartlepool.
With rumours of a bust up with Ronnie Moore it is unlikely that he will be offered a new contract and could well be on his way.
John Achterberg
Apps: 8, Goals: 0
John provided reliable cover for Danny Coyne this season after being called upon eight times. Rovers were left in safe hands when Coyne got injured in February and Achterberg kept his much wanted clean sheet at home to Swindon in the 1-0 win.
John is also key behind the scenes and had a successful testimonial in March when many fans turned out to thanks the Rovers legend. It is likely that he will sign a new contract but whether he will play on next season or just stay on as background staff is still unsure.
Luke Waterfall
Apps: 1, Goals: 0
Luke is one of few players not to start a game this season for Rovers and with the injury problems in the squad it's a bit surprising that Luke wasn't called upon at some point.
Waterfall has been getting rave reviews from Reserve Manager Shaun Garnett and the fans but still his first team debut eludes him. He also had an unsuccessful spell on loan at Altrincham where he made on subbed appearance away at Weymouth . It is not known weather or not he will re-signing next year.
Ryan Shotton
Apps: 36, Goals: 5
Ryan spent the season on loan from Stoke and was an ever-present for Rovers when he was here. Playing mainly at right-back he occasionally played centre back and impressed.
He was also vital offensively by scoring five league goals including key goals at Colchester, Carlisle and Huddersfield. Also for the second season running a defender won Rovers goal of the season award with Ryan's thunderbolt at home to Colchester winning him the award.
Rovers fans would love to see him return and if Stoke are to stay in the premiership there's no reason why he may not return.
Danny Mayor
Apps: 3, Goals: 0
Danny spent a short spell at Prenton Park during March on loan from Preston and although he only played three games, he was very impressive. He set up Bas Savage for a goal at Northampton and starred in Rovers massive win at home to run away leader Leicester before he was injured against Huddersfield.
Rovers' fans haven't seen much of him but he seems a decent player and if we were to re-sign him he could be a great player for us, this will be made more likely if Preston get promoted to the Premiership having just made the play-offs.
Players Signed Up
Ian Goodison - the Tranmere legend took a pay cut to sign a new two year contract at Rovers keeping him here until summer 2011.
Aaron Cresswell - the left back has impressed this season and scored at home to Bristol Rovers. He recently signed a new two year contract.
Terry Gornell - the striker is one for the future after impressing on loan at Accrington he scored against MK Dons for Rovers and also has recently signed a new two year contract.
Chris Greenacre - the man has been a great servant to the club over the last four years, but he's struggled with injured and plans to make a fresh start with Phoenix in New Zealand . All Rovers fans will want to wish him all the best and thank him greatly!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:05:23:47:14 by Deadly Submarine.
also can anyone tell me how on earth Sonko managed to net 5 times?!!
Jennings-The engine, i think next season the team should be worked around him.
Chorley- Probably as captain should we be able to prize him away from the MLS, this season best defender in the league IMO
Barnett-Most raw talent, we may be his stepping stone to bigger things but not just yet, gotta keep him.
Coyne-Still a season or two left in him at this level.
Hopefuls/doubts:
Waterfall- i dont have a clue about him really???
Shotton-If we could keep hold of him would be great.
Mayor- Could be a replacement for either Shuker or Sonko if one/both of them were to leave.
Shuker-Not sure what we should do with him, i think its a bit of a gamble and in our financial state, we can't afford to gamble
Just leave:
Sonko- Not good enough.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:06:10:24:22 by rich_trfc.
Also, We must keep hold of Chorley. He will be our captain next year and has been my player of the season. One of the best defenders in our division IMO.
We should also do our best to keep hold of Coyne and Barnett and keep Waterfall and Holmes on new one-year deals, but I think Shuker, Sonko and co. should be released.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:06:10:48:57 by Matthew the rover.
he played alot of football this season and i feel ronnie likes him and sees something we dont!