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However the prospect that players such as Alan Marriott, Gary Taylor Fletcher and Ben Futcher may be in the same frame of mind as Yeo will doubtless give Imps fans a real shake. Whilst promotion in the summer would ensure that some of these players may stay, failure in attempts to escape the basement division will see the better players at the Bank leave for pastures new.
There are two plusses for the fans as news of Yeo's comments reaches the terraces. Firstly the players interested in leaving will be pushing themselves that little bit harder to impress visting scouts which can only be of benefit to the side. Their extra efforts may give the Imps the leg up to League One, ironically ensuring certain players stay!
Secondly and without wanting to sound ungrateful for what he's done for the Imps, would City REALLY miss Simon Yeo next year? He's clearly after an expensive deal possibly over two years be it from us or another club. At 31 he's not exactly a spring chicken and that electric pace that has served him so well for the past three years won't be around for ever. In twelve months time we could find a costly white elephant sat in the reserves. It could be that with Asamoah looking just as tricky and just as quick, Yeo's absence won't be as notable as people think it might. The same goes for other positions in the side. Ben Futcher is rumoured to want away and he has been transfer listed for almost a whole season. With Gareth McCauley and Jamie McCombe as well as Beevers the Imps rear guard hasn't ever seemed as formidable. The same can be said of Alan Marriott as his deputy Simon Raynor may be an unknown quantity but he's an excellent keeper waiting for his chance in the side. I don't think any Imps fans would turn on Marriott if he decided to seek employment higher up the leagues, but his loss may not be as bigger impact as some will think.
There are of course players the Imps cannot afford to lose, with three names standing out in particular. Paul Morgan is the lynchpin of a tight defence, effortlessly turning in competent and consistent performances on a weekly basis. He's made one mistake all season, namely the push on Glynn Hurst just three weeks ago at Notts County. His organisational skills keep opposition strikers at bay and without him the remaining players seem to lose their shape. Richard Butcher's tireless scheming in midfield is eclipsed only by Peter Gains often sublime technique. The two players have often found themselves swamped against three or four men but have had to work hard to win the ball and even harder to create openings for the front three. Gainy has managed to add a combative edge to his tenacious close ball skills and intricate passing ability, and whilst Richard Butcher hasn't hit as many goals as last season his workrate has kept on increasing to a point where almost every move from the middle of the park seems to involve him winning and distributing the ball.
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