So, we're officially safe, and Ralph starts planning for next season tomorrow. But what would you do? We currently have a first-team-squad (those aged 21 and over, and those younger who are involved) of around 38 players. That's without bringing anyone in. GK: McCarthy, Forster, Gunn, Lewis, Rose RB: Cedric, Valery, Ramsay, Flannigan CB: Stephens, Vestegaard, Hoedt, Yoshida, Bednarek, Jones LB: Bertrand, Targett, McQueen CM: Romeu, JWP, Hojberg, Armstrong, Lemina, Reed, Clasie, Slattery AM: Redmond, Sims, Elyounssi, Boufal, Hesketh ST: Austin, Ings, Long, Gallagher, Obafemi, Carillio, Barnes Those in red are players I'd be letting go, and I'd probably be looking at a new CB (a leader in the Fonte mould), a couple of STs, an attacking midfielder (or 2), and potentially another RB. Basically, letting 19 go and bringing in 5/6 so a squad size of around 24.
Same list, though I suspect that it'll be McCarthy going rather than Forster, and I'd shift Stephens as well. I also expect that Boufal will be given a chance. As for what we need, I think we're in complete agreement. I'd also suggest that we would be well-served using any additional funds to bolster the finishing school; we've been poaching some youngsters, and it's a good way to get cost-effective depth that has a chance to be quite good in the future.
Exit; Stephens, hoedt, Forster, ellyanouso, Austin, Clasie, boufal. In reality are we going to find homes for all those players? Must purchases; Back up/competing RB CB with leadership Creative mid Striker. It’s a big ask to do in 1 window.
I’m more for tweaking than wholesale restructuring. We need to spent wisely not extravagantly. I don't think we have the budget to waste on any more duds, while the last time I think almost all our purchases worked out was 2014. My top 2 ins would be a Romeo 2.0 type midfielder (just as solid but more creative) and a back up / alternative for Valery if Cedric is going.
Listening to Ralph yesterday, I think we will have a long overdue clear out. He has already made it clear that he prefers to work with 17/18 senior pro’s, with the rest of the squad made up with academy players. You could list at least 10, that haven’t played a lot under Ralph, or probably won’t fit in with his ideas. McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Hoedt, McQueen, Lemina, Clasie, Austin, Carrillo, Gallagher. That lot would raise £50 million ish, with a couple going on free’s due to wages etc. More importantly, it would free up around £25 million in wages, add that to the savings on Gabbiadini and Davis, that would be around £32 million on wages, and transfer incomings of around £60-£65 million. We may go for the full cull and shift Long, Yoshida and Elyounissi with young replacements already at club in Obafemi, Jones & Sims?? Guess we will get to see the new vision of the club and Ralph, over the coming months. GK:- Gunn / Forster [LEWIS] RB:- Valery/ NEW PLAYER [RAMSEY] LB:- Bertrand / Targett CB:- Bednarek / Vestergaard / NEW PLAYER X2 / [JONES] [KLARER] MF:- Hojbjerg / Romeu / JWP/ Armstrong / NEW PLAYER / [SLATTERY] [REED] [SMALLBONE] AM:- Redmond / Boufal / [SIMMS] [HESKETH] [JOHNSON] ST:- Ings, NEW PLAYER X1/ [OBAFEMI] [BARNES] This would leave us with the squad of 19 with the younger players then making up the numbers.
A clear out of excess players is obviously needed to finance incomers and to reduce the squad to the manageable size that Ralph prefers. However (my favourite word) that is never as easy as we'd like. We will never be able to get the 'perfect' team of great starters and superb second choices......if we could we'd be in the top 6.... so some players will stay because they are 'good enough' and already here. I'd put Armstrong in that category. Lemina has struggled with injury, but is a good player that I would keep. Strikers are expensive and hard to find, so I would let Austin go, but keep Long because he suits Ralph's style. Ralph has had long enough to have a clear idea about the players and I think he judges temperament almost as much as skill....although even he can be surprised....see his comments about Sims. And he is able to recognise things that others haven't seen and use marginalised players by improving them...with JWP as a prime example. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when the present team and its future is discussed...I don't see Ralph as a sentimentalist. There will be some tough talking with red lines drawn through players names....much as the OP has done (but not necessarily the same ). The transfer people won't have many restful nights....can you imagine that not only are you negotiating for players you want, but searching for teams who will take a bunch of players that you don't won't....some on loan. And you will be dealing with agents who quite rightly think their client is the most important player....no balanced world view.
Good post, Fran. Two comments and a question. I'm totally with you on Shane Long. He may prefer to try his luck with someone else, and his recent return to form could make him attractive. By by the same token this same change in performance convinces me that he is very much someone who can win us games. His goal against Watford was typical of the Long I remember at West Brom - a nightmare for defenders - and I was delighted to see his old pace and aggression back. I don't get the calls for him to go. If he wants to stay, I'd keep him. Sorry, I missed the Sims comment. What was that? Ralph isn't a sentimentalist, eh? I suspect from listening to the guy you might be going for understatement of the year. My suspicion is that behind the nice guy exterior there is a very nice guy on a personal level who is ruthless when it comes to business, or have I watched too many Godfather movies? From what I have seen, I think he'll handle things with dignity when he gets people sent out in rowing boats (GF2) and his dealings won't be made public. But I also think that players will have very little doubt about where they stand.
Ralph said that Sims had surprised him and that he brought something to the team. https://southamptonfc.com/news/2019...e-southampton-newcastle-premier-league-201819
Stephens, Elyounoussi, Carrillo, Austin, Cedric, Hoedt, Clasie, Reed, Forster/McCarthy will almost certainly go. Ralph will take a look at Boufal before making a decision on him.
Why has McCarthy fallen from grace? I get that Gunn is better, but McCarthy is surely a great back up....though he may not want to be of course.
I agree in part on Long, however (Fran’s favourite word ) at WBA he was 26/27 and now he’s 32 and going to be 33 when his contract is up. A one year extension makes him 34 and a two year extension makes him 35. I’m not sure I’d want us to be paying out good wages to a player at that age where their main attributes are speed and work rate. If he was Teddy Sheringham/Rickie type the maybe.
Sims has done that on a couple of occasssions again.... we still need to see if he can bring that regularly, or more regularly. Great against Spurs, then ineffective against Newcastle. It will be inter sting to see if Ralph works his magic on Sims as his pace is an asset.
Always room in a team for a game changer....and Sims running at you is a distraction from marking our strikers.
I would definitely give Long a year's extension....there's no sign of him slowing down yet and he would feel more settled. But you know me....unlike Ralph I am a sentimentalist...I hate parting with players I'm fond of...I'd have a field at the back of the training ground where they could all run free and finish out their days playing amongst the buttercups.
It might come down to McCarthy being easier to move on. We certainly can’t afford three senior goalkeepers
Imagine if Johnny May could make the transition from rugby to football, and have him running at a full back with pace and considerable bulk?
At that age though Fran, the off button can happen quicker. If it was a simple choice then I’d wait and see what happens next year. Shane has had a great month; can’t let that drive our decisions on him. We must think big picture
We are, yet I didn’t think there was too much angst here recently. I think deep down most felt we were a lot more comfortable than last season.
