Ahead of the summer transfer window, we will need to assess the current squad and potentially do some serious squad trimming. According to NUFC.COM info (so apologies if this incorrect), the following all come to end of contract next month: - Ritchie - Dummett - Karius - Gillespie - Clark - Matty Longstaff We also have the following returning from loans (and still in contract for next season or beyond): - Hayden - Hendrick - Darlow - Kuol Are there ANY we should keep? I think the 'home grown, from own club' requirements are bigger for European competition? So we might need to keep the likes of Dummett, Matty & Gillespie, even if just for CL quotas. We also have a fair number of fringe players who have not really broken through into Eddie's squad, such as Lewis and Fraser (who appears to be heading out the door). Then we have a number of players who will be entering the final year of their current contracts next season: - Wilson - Schar - Burn - Lascelles - Krafth - Manquillo Again, who of those do we offer extentions to? And we now have a few younger players starting to look like they could break through to the senior squad - depending on who we buy & sell. But that's OK, as youngsters don't impact the registered 25 man squad.
Sorry i meant out of the first list, obviously Wilson, Burn and Schar are aswell. Probably Krafth aswell.
Karius and Kuol keep, the rest get rid. Then we have a number of players who will be entering the final year of their current contracts next season: - Wilson - Schar - Burn - Lascelles - Krafth - Manquillo All of them should be monitored to see if they can produce anything next season worth keeping on. Injuries, old age or being bang average plague these players.
Thought I saw,somewhere that Dummett had been offered a new contract Presumably to help with home grown player requirement?
I'd probably go with this (although I know 6 signings sounds a lot, so unlikely). RETAIN: Pope, Dubravka, Karius Tripps, Botman, Schar, Burn, Ashby, Lascelles, Targett, Krafth, Dummett* (IF needed for homegrown quota) Bruno, Joelinton, Willock, Sean Longstaff, Anderson, Miley Wilson, Isak, Miggy, Gordon, Murphy RELEASE: Clark, Ritchie, Matty L, Dummett* (see above) SELL: Darlow, Lewis, Manquillo, Hendrick, Hayden, Fraser, Saint-Maximin* (IF we get a new winger) LOAN OUT: Kuol, Watts, Gillespie BUY: 1x CB, 1x LB, 2x CM, 1x CF, 1x winger
It's not going to be a massive squad overhaul... they'll add some quality maybe 2 or 3 then bring in some youth players I guess.
Some of the 6 'signings' I outlined above could well be youth players. But those on the RELEASE or SELL lists above are unlikely to feature, so might as well cut wage bill and get a few pennies for player sales where we can.
Doesn't need to be dross. And we still have plenty if that to get rid of, hence the list. Cut the wage bill, get some cash in (not much, I know) and it wouldn't cost a lot to improve on them.
Mctomminay is nailed on I feel along with one or two others of his ilk ... they'll probably sign one maybe two more exciting players. Newcastle like a mix of Stoke City and Luton with a spinkle of quality.
Think the squad will look something like: GK – Pope, Dubravka, (Woodman)* RB – Trippier, Ashby CB – (CB), Schar CB – Botman, Burn, Dummett* LB – (LB), Targett RCM – (CM), S. Longstaff*, Anderson* CDM – Bruno, (CDM) LCM – Joelinton, Willock RW – (RW/CF), Almiron, Murphy, LW – ASM, Gordon CF – Isak, Wilson Five/Six signings to pad out the squad - maybe loan out Ashby and either buy another RB or retain Manquillo/Krafth but that would be my 25 man squad and after that I'd be seriously impressed if we could get say £25m for the rest of them put together Out: Darlow, Gillespie, Karius, Maquillo, Krafth, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis, Hayden, Hendrick, M.Longstaff, Ritchie, Fraser. Maybe keep Matty Longstaff as opposed to Dummy and then maybe, MAYBE Ritchie and Dummy stay around as reserves/coaches in the U23's. Then we have a number of players who will be entering the final year of their current contracts next season: - Wilson - Schar - Burn Only offer them an extension to keep them happy and no issues in the squad. If they wanted more than a year or two or to much money I'd sell to replace.
Not on the same level imho, personally I wouldn't want to go with Gillespie in any game. Woodman though is younger and far more accomplished already, he's previously won the U17 Euros, U20 World Cup and the Toulon Tournament. Just won Preston's Player of the Season and was great for them when I watched this year, even last game of the season when they lost against the scum if could have 6/7 if it weren't for him. As a second/third choice I'd be happier with Freddie.
Yeah Forster I would certainly look at at a decent price in the short term, at least he's played a few games in the last 3 years. Just think Woodman could be enticed back with the promise of Cup and European football, winning trophies, and gives you that HG players for 7-10 years at 26 y/o which gives the club time to bring in and develop talent. 25% of Gillespie's registered appearances for the club have been in the Papa Johns with the U23's
