So with the season approaching its end, and having secured safety (short of something incredible), what do you predict our ins and outs being in the summer? What areas do we think need strengthening and which need trimming? Both full back positions need looking at. Kelly and Riise have been alright recently, but long-term, are they the answer? I'd like to see a solid right back brought in and Briggs given a chance. Midfield is tough, it depends who goes and who stays. If everyone stays then I think we'll be fine, if Dempsey and/or Dembele go then we'll need replacements. Or perhaps we can rely on Kaca, Frei, Kasami and Ruiz to step up? All have lots of potential, and I'm not sure they'd be a worse bet than getting another player in who would need to settle etc - unless we can get an established PL performer. Like David Silva, perhaps Up front I think we could do with a reliable striker, you know, the sort that scores goals. Perhaps if Bent grows disillusioned with life at Villa? Pog may well stay but we could still do with more options. Obviously between now and the end of the season players like Kaca, Trotta et al could do the business and we may find we don't need as many players as we thought. Discuss.
Good points Bidley. Think our team is puzzle in all positions next year and that's because on the number of players we have on loan or potentially leaving for new challenges. Up front. Pog is on 6 months and he might attract other clubs. AJ has not signed a new contract. The only one firm is Sa who we have seen very little since his start at Norwich. Depending on Pog staying we need someone up front if AJ departs. Also what about Trotta? Can he be the squad player we need? Midfield not clear either. Murphy is to sign a new contract yet. Diarra is on 6 months and not sure if we have an option to extend from the club side. Sidwell is out and not sure about his future. Dempsey and Dembele have been discussed already. Can the rest step up? Not sure and will be a big risk. Potentially we need to cherry pick from the teams destined for championship. Two FB are a must. Both right and left. Not sure if Brigss ready to step up unless I am missing something. Both Kelly and Riise have been sufficient for us but we need something of better quality to add more dimensions to our game. Especially now that we can play through the middle. A lot of work for Jol and team.
I do hope that there aren't too many that leave for greener pastures as I think the 'team' have made good progress this year. With the introduction of Jol, once again this season was one of transition and we need now for some consistency and loyalty with a gradual move to replace players like Murphy who is still so key to our play. Ruiz has shown signs of coming good and we have some great young players coming through. I see AJ going and perhaps Dempsey and so even if the Pog stays I think we will need backup there. I really do hope we can hang on to our top players as we will have a very promising season next time round.
The priority has to be holding on to one of Dembele and Dempsey. We can afford to let one go and continue our progression (although ideally both would stay). My personal preference is Dembele- simply because his value will continue to increase, whereas I think this is Clint at his peak. After those two we should look to sign up Pog and Diarra, providing the wage demands are reasonable. I think that Davies could have a value in the window, particularly to teams coming up. I like him a lot, he was an integral part of the Europa run, but he's not going to get much playing time and we have Frei / Kaca coming through the academy. Hopefully Brede wont be a worry, he's not been as good as the season before so hopefully the bigger clubs look elsewhere again. Right back could do with strengthening, although Grygera didn't look too bad earlier in the season and Kelly is decent back up. I wonder how Duff would fare at left back as he gets older. I'd like to see how Briggs is getting on before bringing in anyone new. Riise needs to up his fitness though- if he can. His brother can be moved on. Of all the positions I think midfield is our strongest - we don't need to add much if Diarra stays - one of Sidwell or Etuhu can move on, preferably Dickson. We've still to see Kasami and Gecov play regularly. I'm not really sure what to do up front. AJ has looked sharp, although his form could dip. At the minute he might be worth £5m if we got lucky, more likely £2/3m - on his current wage he is an expensive substitute- I'd move him on. Everything else depends on how MJ sees Ruiz. We either bring in a decent squad player as competition or splash a bit on a second goalscorer, ala Newcastle. Berbatov could be an interesting one, depending on his current wages, although with him and Ruiz together there wouldn't be much off the ball movement.
Some great points here gents. The name of the game will be clearing out the deadwood whilst retaining a bit of continuity. A delicate balance for sure. I wouldn't be surprised to see another season of transition. The more I think about it, the more I think we still need a Demba Ba-type player. Pog's been great but he needs to show consistency, such a shame he's injured.
I know that one man does not make a team,but the value of Clint Dempsey this season to FFC has been invaluable I tend not to agree to often with the match of the day pundits,but a quote by Hanson and endorsed by the others, stated that this season,Dempsey in their opinion was the best attacking mid fielder in the premiership. Fully agree,I hope he stays at least for another year,does the club need to make financial savings ?, if so there is some dross within the club that could be taken off the payroll.
Thanks Oldnslow - The article is interesting. MJ's: "Makes We haven’t scored a lot of goals over the last couple of years with our strikers, so I think Clint has made himself indispensable" looks all part of the man-management/negotiation approach. Certainly, we'd like to keep Dempsey+Dembele, who have both really shone this season, and would be upset to lose both (yet alone one of them. I remain a great fan of Danny Murphy, but have doubts about Diarra as a good long-term replacement. Although injured, I still reckon Sidwell could be part of the solution. At the back, I look forward to having a fit Grygera. I’ve not seen Briggs for a while. Up-front, AJ still looks likely to go, so Bent plus another? Having all the younger players is encouraging, although which will shine after a while remains an open question. Silkship is right - Everything else depends on how MJ sees Ruiz C O Y W
Morning all, I think it would be amazing if we could keep the team as is at the moment. There is a dargument to tbe for some extra quality though, enhancing what we already have. GK Schwarzer / Stockdale CB Hangeland / Grygera ?? CB Hughes / Senderos RB Kelly / Grygera ?? LB Riise / Briggs CM Murph's / Diarra CM Dembele / Etuhu ??? LW Demps / Kaca RW Duff / Frei SK/AM Ruiz / Demps / Frei SK Pogrebnyak / AJ / Sa / Trotta Defensively, we have also got Chris Baird and Rafik Halliche Midfield - Sidders, Kasami, Davies, Gecov, Riise jnr Looking at that list, there are some players that perhaps do not fit the bill. Whilst I think Etuhu does a job, he will go. As will Halliche and Riise jnr. That leaves some other possible candidates - Bairdinho, Sa, AJ, Sidders. Assuming we can keep hold of Demps and Dembele then it be essential to tie down deals or Murph's, Pogrebnyak and possibly Grygera and Diarra ( who has showed signs he oozes class ). We need to have another solid centre back, definately another right back. Midfield is packed full of talent. Some fire power up front x 2. I think Jol we be working with the development squad coaching staff to see who can be loaned out to get some first team experience and check in on Hoesen in Holland. Exciting times lay ahead for our club and hopefully some long overdue stability in the coaching setup. Ali Mac has to earn his money to keep hold of the double D's - Demps and Dembele. COYW
If no one leaves, I disagree that we need a centre back - Hangeland, Senderos, Hughes, Baird and Grygera provide five strong options, plus the possibility of Briggs (his natural position) and Burn pushing for inclusion. Grygera looked good at right back before his injury, but I'd still like to see us sign a younger right back, preferably one with pace and a good cross on him. As for other positions, it's hard to tell until we know who is ready to step up from the development squad. I'd like to see us sign another striker, even if Trotta gets (and takes) his chance in the last few games of the season.
Mostly agreed froggy. I do think we need a striker though, as I doubt AJ will stick around. Centre back is another murky area. Are we happy with Hangeland/Hughes/Senderos? I am, and I'd welcome someone like Dan Burn being promoted and given chances next season alongside them.
El Capitaino, I too would love to see the likes of Burn breaking through into the first team, Alex Smith seems to be playing alot in the development team and scoring some goals too. I suppose I feel that Bairdinho does not fit into what Jol wants from a centre back. He seems to like a centre back who van pass the ball out of defence as well, henve why Senderos gets alot of games. Hughes is palying excellently at the moment but I fear if he gets an injury it may put him back a bit. Just thought some fresh, younger legs could give us another option back there. That said I totally agree about Briggs, if he gets time as a centre back he could be exactly what we need.
Don't you think Bairdinho has that kind of passing game, Froggy? I think Hughes deserves to keep his place on current form, but long term I rate Baird and Senderos above him precisely because of their passing ability. Alex Smith is an interesting thought at left back. It would be good to see him get a game or two before the season is out.
Agree with many of the later comments - especially after Bolton/tonight - you can see that Frei and Kaka are capable - though still need nurturing and bringing on. Whilst I have been critical of Riise - he has been better tonight. I like Kelly and Grygera (if he recovers/stays). The main issue is retention rather than recruitment. If Pog signs up and has a good medical prognosis then we might be ok with him and Rodders and Sa as back up - remeber we rarely play with two out and out strikers
Candidates from the 25 to go are (my opinion) AJ, Davies, BH Riise, Halliche and Somogyi - some space for new additions/promotions
After a year off due to my friend moving away, I have renewed my season ticket holder status for next year. Very much looking forward to it. It's weird dropping from 21 games a season to 2! I will also be going to the Reading & Southampton away games (assuming the Saints come up). So here's hoping we have a good summer.
This transfer window should be seen as an opportunity to clear out the deadwood and lower the wage bill and average age of the squad. That means that the likes of Etuhu, Davies (even though I love him), Halliche, Somogyi, BHR and AJ should all be shipped out. Those players alone would save us somewhere near 150k per week on wages alone, which could be invested in new players contracts or improving those deserving of extensions (Dempsey, Dembele) Jol will most likely spend the pre season preparing our youngsters for the season ahead. So giving game time to Frei, Kaka, Briggs, Stockdale and Trotta, with maybe Tankovic and Banaga (?) making bench appearances next year for us. I don't think much investment is needed to be honest. Sign Pog, if Dempsey goes then Ruiz could step up into that role, but if Dembele goes we will definitely need to sign someone. Also get Murphy and Diarra on a longer deal, he has been quality since he's come here.
I'm with Bandit on this - we don't need an overhaul of the team unless several key players opt to leave. I'm probably in the minority here, but I don't see a glaring need for any additions at the back. Riise has been quite good, I think, in the last couple of months. Despite his age, he's not getting beaten for pace very often. Kelly is good enough at RB for me. The one area I worry about is middle midfielder. We're blessed for the moment with Murphy and Diarra, but are >30. Long ago I would have given Murphy's role to Sidwell, but Sidwell's been injured all year. I'd love to see us pick up a very young but talented middle midfielder to be mentored by Murphy. And if Pog leaves we've got big problem, we'll certainly need to find another top-quality striker, with AJ as backup.
I'd still like us to sign another CF, even if Pog and AJ stay. I also think that if we can get a better right back in, we should. Kelly has been solid enough but perhaps we could do better. Riise is getting on a bit, and Briggs is supposedly a better centre-back or even winger so wouldn't be a shoe-in for left back either. Both full back positions can be improved.
I'd be keen to throw some youngsters in now and see what they do. I think they'd surprise a few people. Agree with all comments in terms of full backs. The Pog, Demps and Dembele will stay. I've got a funny feeling they will.
