Muzzy stay or Muzzy go

THE name Mustapha Carayol is on every Gasheads lips at the moment.
Muzzy as we affectionately call him.
Let's be honest, we football fans struggle over names with more than one syllable.
This 22-year-old wonder on the wing gave Rovers fans a bit to shout about towards the end of a season that, thankfully, petered out.
 I say thankfully because before the Buckle burst, we looked hell-bent on a flirt with non-league football.
Then, thanks to the common-sense coaching of Shaun North and the wide-eyed experience of new manager Mark McGhee, we pulled ourselves out of the nose-dive and to the safety of mid-table. During the closing stages Rovers fans even had the delights of celebrating a 7-1 win at home to Burton and a 5-1 conquest of Accrington Stanley. And Muzzy was well to the fore in those games, setting up plenty of chances with his intricate skills.
Now, apparently, Championship clubs are knocking at our door, trying to prize him away from us.
Despite some strong comments to the contrary, I don't think the magical Mr McGhee is too concerned really.
He built up Carayol massively from the time he stepped through the Memorial Gates, insisting he was key to our future and an indispensable member of the team.
He did this in public. In the press.
It helped build up Carayol's confidence after a far-from-impressive start in a Rovers shirt, turning him into a matchwinner.
And it helped expand his reputation throughout the Football League.
What was McGhee really thinking as he looked ahead to building a squad for next season?
Was he determined to hold on to Carayol, or trying to bump his price up for the inevitable transfer scramble which would come at the end of the season?
Let's be honest: We have a very shrewd man at the helm now. Someone who has masterminded a number of promotion campaigns in his years in the managerial game.
He knows that one or two brilliant individuals won't make you a team capable of challenging for promotion.
He also knows that for all his praising of the side towards the end of a disappointing campaign, they finished in the bottom half of the table and showed a weaknesses in character exploited by other teams regularly on their travels.
No sooner had they produced the big result against Accrington than they capitulated woefully at Dagenham and Redbridge.
Their top show against Burton was immediately wiped off by a poor display at Port Vale.
Consistency is the key to promotion, plus a team mentality hopefully supplemented by one or two individuals with a bit of star quality.
I think McGhee realised as soon as he saw the pace and skills of Muzzy that he was an asset who, sold wisely, could get him nearer the team he REALLY wants at Rovers.
His assertion he would like most of the players he had last season back for the next campaign was good management, because it kept confidence high at the time.
I'm not sure he really meant it, though, and I think it will be fascinating to see how he constructs a team for next season, with or without Carayol.

A word for the good Lord. Byron Anthony was the biggest name out of the door when McGhee announced his retained list.
Not always the most popular player, I could never fault Anthony for effort.
This is a man who took the field one weekend even after doctors advised him not to play.
He was a star in our promotion season and even at the start of our relegation campaign showed some impressive form.
 Unfortunately, I think some less committed people let the team down and Byron, for one, lost his form and confidence.
I suggested in an earlier entry that he might earn legendary status as a Gashead. It may not seem likely after our last two seasons, but in years to come I think people will recall him with affection and welcome him back if he finds another club with which to extend his career.
What Byron really needed was a leader alongside him, a Steve Elliot character. Well, Steve Elliot, to be honest.
Everything went downhill after we decided to let him go.