.... Wainwright & Massey according to todays Daily Star

I'm not too sure about this, Massey yes...... Wainwright i'm not so sure about

IMHO we need to be tying other players up to contracts right now (eg. Boyle, Rangi etc)

Can't fault Wainwright's effort or recent performances..........

Other way round for me wainwright has been solid this season nothing special but you wont get any better for what we can afford to pay a sqaud player.

Massey on the other hand, well maybe its just me but i honestley cant see what he offers the team, i barely notice him when he is on the pitch appart from when he makes an error (compared to boyle who has an istant impact). i can see more potential in gledhill and walker myself, but if massey is staying i hope he goes on and proves me wrong.

Not the two players I'd be rushing to extend the contracts of, as Wainwright is someone I like as a player for effort and as Mick Morgan said recently on commentating the Bradford game, he sort of epitimises Cas in that he isn't the fastest or the best, but what you see is what you get with him.
Massey is someone hasn't impressed me too much, and is probably being kept as he is cheap and home grown. TM seems to have given him afew chances in the first team but hasn't really done anything to impress me, but as he is only young, and forwards generally mature and get better with experience and age, I think he may be worth another year or two to show his potential.
I can't help feeling though, as much as I like Wainwright, that perhaps we should be looking for a better winger- unless he is going to be kept as back up, but having said that, alot of fans suggested when he last got his contract extension that he would be a "squad player", but he seems to be our first choice winger.

Not at the start of the year. TM favoured a backline of McGoldrick, Dixon, Evans, Shenton, Owen. However, Owen has now made the full back slot his own leaving a space on the wing that Wainwright has again filled admirably.

I wouldn't argue against a 1-year deal for both the players in question. Expect to see Massey spend most of the year in the North-East.

As for those asking why these players would be signed ahead of others. I imagine that contract negotiations happen with several players in parallel. However, some will be easier than others and therefore signed sooner. It's not surprising that Massey, who with all due respect won't be inundated with other offers, agrees to sign quicker than, for example, Boyle who by all accounts has several offers to mull over.

Judge our incomings and outgoings at the end, once all activity is over.

Reckon both signings are fine, I thought Massey did ok when he made his debut in the team but seemed to be slightly overawed in his most recent outings, but is one for the future and definitely has potential.

As far as Michael Wainwright is concerned, I am pleased we are re signing him, he never gives less than 100% (sorry I'm not one of the 110% brigade) and I have to be honest in saying that he has improved his game tremendously since he first appeared in a Cas shirt, when I believe he was what could be classed as " one of the better National League wingers"

At that time IMO, Michael had a number of defensive frailties, I thought his positional sense was poor at that time and was exposed when we returned to Superleague, but he's improved beyond recognition and his positional play is now one of his strengths, and I have to say as we have seen in the last few games, his defence is excellent.

The only negative thing that anyone can say about Michael, is that he hasn't got the electrifying pace some wingers have, but I believe he more than makes up for it in other areas and he's no slouch.

I have never seen a winger (or any other player) with a bigger heart, he is definitely worth another year (if the story is true), well done to Michael and to the club for not making him wait until the eleventh hour this time around!

In terms of contract extensions, I don't know if anyone heard the RL phone in with Terry Matterson last night, (I didn't!) but according to someone on the other board, Terry hinted that one player we were hoping to announce something on soon was Rangi Chase- did anyone else hear this, or can shed any light on what he actually said?
Another thing that was apparently said is that we are only probably going to sign 2/3 more players in the off-season.

you mean theres no one else dont you ?

Fully agree with evey word.

No. I believe Richard Owen to be in excellent form at the moment.

Except McGoldrick who played well there at the start of the season and was only moved because off injuries in the half backs.

Sounds like rangi will be with us a bit longer than another 12 months.....fingers crossed