I don't think we need to be looking for straight replacements for everyone given we have too many in some positions already.
Midfield is definitely an area which needs attention though. I think Slater, Seri and Traore are good but those behind them don't really offer any competition at all. If we get a mid or long term injury to any one of those 3, there's not a suitable replacement. Midfield is a position you need to stack to have a good season too as the energy levels need to stay high
I think if we get Bird the midfield will be complete. Seri, Slater, Bird and Simons all more than capable of playing in either of the two deeper roles. Tufan and Traore can also fill in deeper if required.
Yep, one in and then maybe a speculative PL loan if need be for numbers but without an over reliance on them if we get to Deadline Day with an injury or two, but really don't think we need to be carrying the number of players we had this season past. Attacking ranks need more depth than midfield.
Simons did well in his short period but over a longer period it's a risk. Tufan's future seems to be up in the air. I'm not sure he's a LR sort of player. The hard bit as a fan is trying to figure out what's happening when we don't really know. The expectation within the club may be that both Greaves and Tufan move on. That's gives you a completely different summer to if they don't
Of course, which is why I'm going on who is at the club. If Tufan leaves we absolutely look to replace him and his role. If Docherty leaves, I don't think that place needs to be replaced in the squad as a like-for-like, which is what I contended with in your post. Simons is a good strong bench option, and as you say while we can't guess what's going on behind the scenes, I'd hazard a guess at the fact we gave him a permanent deal suggests we rate him.
How can you say that with such authority lol. Are Lansbury, Clark, Campbell a top 6 midfield? They just got promoted with Luton.
It was and that midfield had everything, you had the workrate of Garcia and Marney, the guile of Hughes and the grit of Ashbee. It was very well balanced, it's a completely different game now though
Bird and Seri in front of a solid back 4, with Traore at number 10. I’d say that’s got top 6 potential. Who we sign as attacking reinforcements will decide if we can compete or not imo
Only one of those started the Play Off final and Lansbury only played 10 times all season. It conveniently misses out Nakamba who really is Marvelous at this level. Clark is a really good player and Id take Campbell in a heartbeat for us. I've always quite liked Mpanzu too.
Nothing convenient, I just picked out the players listed as mids on their page who had made the most appearances. Looks like it might not be up to date though as it only had him down for 8 for the season which doesn't look right. Point being that a midfield unit can be stronger than the sum of its parts which a side like Luton can show. To dismiss our midfield so out of hand is really quite stupid. Without the injuries we'd copped this season we'd have been on the verge if not in the Play Offs with what we had, let alone anyone we bring in over the summer.
But it's not the starting XI, it's what's behind it and that's what makes you successful. If Seri misses 20 games, you're relying on a kid who's played less than 15 senior appearances. If Traore gets another injury we don't have another midfielder that can create chances in the final third. Bird would be a good one, We desperately need another no.10, and by all indications it seems to be a priority.
But that Luton midfield is very effective at what it does, it's been playing a similar way for years and it's incredibly well balanced. Ours isn't. There's no partner for Seri, we lack experience especially in English football and we lack that grit you need. Luton prove you don't have to spend the earth but you've got to get that balance right and we haven't yet.
I'm fully aware of that, but you keep saying #6? Which is a centre half, well it always has been/ was when the shirts were number 1-11.
First game is away to the canary’s First home game is against the massive Boxing Day is home game against Sunderland Last game is away to Plymouth
