Club trained players next season Santiago Whiteman Austin Tanganga Skipp Parrott Association Trained Foster Davies Rodon Sessegnon Spence Johnson Maddison So we will certainly not have to have unfilled places in the squad. Very few actually add very much though.
I’d say only Forster, Maddison and Johnson are guaranteed to be here next season. Rest are either likely to be up for sale or ask for moves themselves.
Couldn't help but notice Dan KP had a piece about us needing to sign a Rodri-like DM this summer in today's Standard
I’ve gotta feeling he’ll ask to leave, same as Skipp. Skipp ain’t kicked a ball in almost 2 months, Davies in about 6 weeks and the club’s been linked with more players in their positions. Just don’t see a future for either at the club. They’ll be good signings for the right teams though.
Davies seems to be planning for his post playing days as a coach or manager. Defoe is known to be interested in becoming a manager so maybe Davies will replace him as our under 18s coach?
Yeah I think Davies would make a good coach/ manager, seems a really smart guy which is a rarity for footballers but I can’t see him retiring from playing just yet, still got a solid 3 years in him I reckon. That’s why I think he might seek a move this summer, surely won’t wanna spend his remaining years on the bench practically every week(?). For what it’s worth I’ve got zero issues with him staying but I don’t see him playing for us much any more yet he’d start for a good number of Prem sides and equivalents.
We had this discussion a few weeks ago as I recall and I still think he's already got his future mapped out and won't have 2nd thoughts about moving into coaching and management. He's got a couple of really good role models for making that move sooner rather than later as well: Ange was 30 and Mourinho 31 I think. As you say, he's a clever bloke and I think he's sees a 3 or 4 year 'apprenticeship' and taking a top job when he's in his mid-30's. And he'll make a bloody good coach imho.
Ange and Jose were both **** footballers though so made the management transition earlier than most. I’d be very surprised if Davies retired any time soon when he’s still got a solid 3 years in him at Prem level.
I’m pretty sure Jose even said as such in an interview . Safe to say he’s had a slightly better management career though, lol.
We need two, in my opinion. Nobody in our squad plays it well at the moment. Maybe somebody older and one of the various wonderkids we've been linked with.
Here's one for you DH.... Did you know that if Timo Werner had shot John Lennon, the ex-Beatle would be 83 today!