Squad audit GK - Bazunu Lis returns as back up Willy & McCarthy out RB - Tino Bree KWP sold LB - Perraud Larios CB Bednarek (don’t think anyone will buy him) Lyanco (would be an ok squad option) Simeu (only league 2 loans, but might have a chance in the championship) Stephens, DCC, Salisu & ABK all sold, obviously it would be nice to keep ABK, but seems unlikely. Expect we will need a new first choice arrival here. MID - Diallo Smallbone Alcaraz Aribo JWP, Lavia, Moi, S.Armstrong all sold. I have heard lots of theories, but I don’t think anyone truly understands the Lavia contract/buy back situation. Obviously if City can stop us from selling him until 2024 then I’d be delighted for him to stay. A defensive midfielder is probably our number one transfer priority for next year WING - Sulemana Edozie Djenepo Doyle Sold Walcott, Orsic & Tella strangely considering the current creative output, this is likely to be an area with the best depth for the championship and why I think maximising on Tellas success with a sale is the right idea FWD Onuachu Mara Ballard Sold Adams & A.Armstrong Think it’s hard to predict how either Mara or Tall Paul would fair in the championship and whether they could even form an effective duo We will need leaders in central defence and midfield. If we have the resources then a good all round striker would be a welcome addition. whoever becomes our manager next season I think they will have a squad with options to play in variety of ways. Doyle and Ballard can’t be ignored and either need to be part of the squad or on loan themselves
We have to give gametime to the likes of Doyle & Ballard next season, its the perfect opportunity otherwise whats the point? They've both outgrown PL2 football already, and a season in the championship would be a great next step for them. With that in mind, we have to get a manager who is interested in youth development.
Funnily enough, I think that a reinvigorated Ralph would fit the bill, it'll never happen though. If Forest ditch Steve Cooper then we must make all efforts to get him given his record with developing young talent.
I've said it before, but the Ralph who first came to us would have been a perfect replacement for the Ralph who ended with us. Agree on Cooper too. Ideal.
They might be as good as some people say, but being good in PL2 Div 2 is nothing like being good in even the conference let alone the Championship. Lewis Payne is a name I’ve seen a lot as someone with a bright future and he may very well have, he’s on loan at Eastleigh and made 2 appearances since Jan. The step up to men’s professional football is massive. Mara would’ve scored about 100 goals if he was playing PL2 football this year
It is indeed, you're right. But I think the fact they've been included in first team squads already, and are in an around the first team, is probably an indication that they feel they can step up at some point. I don't think anyone is expecting them to be nailed on starters, but they certainly deserve to be in and around and given the chance to step up. Mara will be a big player in the Championship, if he's willing to stay. I've said before he almost needed a Tella-type loan this season, rather than playing for us. Payne came back to us early, by the way, about a month ago now. Weird move and weird season for him. After starting the season around the edges of the first team, an impressive debut at Cambridge, then being sidelined by Jones for being too small, signed a new contract & effectively replaced by Bree, sent out on loan to Eastleigh, barely played before being recalled early. Not sure what's happened there.
Agreed. When you look at the amount of young players on loan in the Champ from Premier League teams, having incredible seasons, it fills you with confidence for the likes of Mara, Edozie, Sulemana.
Simeu's at Morecambe in League One, and doing very well by the sound of things. If you're list is how it turns out, I'm happy with Bednarek and Lyanco, with Simeu + 1 as back up. We have a guy called Nico Lawrence on loan at Torquay who is apparently doing well there. Perhaps too soon for him though.
Lawrence has just won their player of the month 2 months in a row. Very impressive there but probably too big a jump for now. I guess he'll get a league loan next year. Simeu is a good shout - if he's at L1 now, the next logical move would be championship so we'll meet him in the middle there. Can't see Bednarek or Lyanco staying if I'm honest, obviously Salisu & ABK will go, so we might need a whole clean sweep of centre-backs. Depends on whether Stephens comes back or not, I suppose.
We have a couple of lads who were in and around the first team before Doyle and Ballard. Ryan Finnigan being one, doing very well at Crewe in League Two. Diamond Edwards being the other. Made his debut in the EFL Cup earlier this season, but then suffered ACL injury. Not sure if he's back to full fitness yet.
I'd be shocked if we let all our CBs go. It's easy to say they will go, but you need buyers, and if no one meets our valuation of certain players, then they stay. Simple as that. I just don't know who will pay the 20m+ for ABK. Most other Prem clubs would have him as a back-up at best. Maybe he'll want to go back to the Bundesliga. Same, who will want to spend 12m+ on Bednarek? Stephens I think we will probably take what we can get (though I disagree that we should), because he's 29. Not sure what the hell Lyanco will want to do. Probably getting better money here than he will anywhere else though, and he'll likely be a starter if he stays.
I haven't seen Sunderland too many times this season. But when I have seen them, Diallo has invariably starred for them. Looks a quality player, at least at Championship level. I'm interested to see what Utd do with him next season - I doubt they'll include him within this first team squad, but will they be happy with him spending another season on loan in the Championship or will they be insisting that it needs to be a year with a PL club?
Bayern want ABK allegedly. I agree about teams matching our (presumably) high valuation for him. But as always if he looks to force a move then it will probably happen. I’d put him on a similar level to Lavia personally in terms of his ability/potential, he has it all to go to the very top
Speaking of Saints players on loan, i'm watching Kegs Chauke playing for Exeter in the Devon Derby against The Janners. https://cricfreetv.ws/football-live-streaming
I like ABK, but I really don’t see how he is even remotely ready to be a Bayern player and feel like a season of Championship football would be good for him. Just see him stagnating at a top level club, at the very least he needs more time at a mid table top European league club. I know he will probably go, but I just don’t see him even being close to a top of the table player yet. Lavia on the other hand I could see picking up games at that level, maybe not as a starting XI player though.
I guess it’s the age old question. Is playing games regularly for a lesser team better for your development than training day in and day out with better players/coaching but not playing often at a top team. There probably isn’t a right/wrong answer and it is an individual thing. I remember Foden saying he had the opportunity a couple of years ago to go on loan to a middling PL team but said he thought he’d improve far more coming off the bench for City occasionally but training with their squad and working with Guardiola than playing for a ****ter team. I’m inclined to agree with him, but as I say it’s almost certainly different for different players
even better, I know he was very popular from his league 2 stints winning fan praise/awards, if he is impressing again in league one then he could be worth a go alongside an experienced partner in the championship, but either way he should probably be in the championship next season. Smallbone will definitely be back in, I guess he is playing atfacking midfield for Stoke? But that’s a competitive area of the pitch for us.
