Some rambling thoughts having caught up with this thread:
First and foremost: we have a squad that missed out on the playoffs in the last couple weeks of the season. Absolutely no need to throw the baby out with the bath water as some seem to be suggesting. A few obvious holes filled, sure, but wholesale changes aren’t need imo. (Although, with the caveat that I expect a few to leave - hope to be proved wrong.)
That said, on the calls for Shodipo (should he be available) - if he were to replace a Holland, say, is he really the kind of signing that adds the 5-10 points a season, that you’re looking for? I don’t think so personally.
Long was comfortably our player of the season one year ago. His season has been ravaged by injuries and covid. To whip out a cliche: form is temporary, class is permanent. You don’t get player of the season in a year we made the playoffs, in a team with Brannagan, Taylor, a pre-GF Stevens, Atkinson etc by accident. Would be mad to get rid of him.
The defence would be massively improved with a proper holding midfielder in front of them. That was a huge error in recruitment and squad construction last year. It doesn’t demand, however, a complete haul over of defence imo.
Gorrin leaving would be a real blow. I think this league, at this level, is very horses for courses. Sure, many games a Kane sitting in and dictating play worked. But many others we needed a Gorrin type. He has his deficiencies, as any player does at this level, but he would have been first name on the team sheet jn many games this season if fit. I appreciate ‘the plural of anecdotes is not data’ and all that, but I am reminded of attending that Hull game last year, the first one we were allowed back to in about November. Maybe it was a case of not properly appreciating him before, maybe a case of being consigned to watching OUFC on iFollow for months, but seeing him in the flesh made me really impressed with Gorrin in a way I simply hadn’t before. Was everywhere. Cut out so many attacks against a team that ultimately ran away with the league. An extremely effective player from a defensive standpoint and the kind you would have in your team in any big game in this league to nullify dangerous opposition.
Finally, versatility really is a virtue. Williams was, without hyperbole, outstanding jn a number of positions this year. MOTM as RWB v Charlton (H) and my MOTM v Charlton (A) six months later at LWB, too. At this level (and someone brought up the Milner example to demonstrate that, really, at any level), there really is no substitute, regardless of a player’s technical ability (though I think that element of Williams’ game is underrated) for sheer effort and graft. A really valuable asset to have in the side and one I am surprised people are denigrating.