After watching us play poorly against a Man Utd team that by any stretch of the imagination isn't the greatest I was concerned about what appears to be our complete lack of team spirit and cohesiveness. Up or down there has to be a change. Scenario 1) We stay up A miracle happens and other teams start to implode leading to a few six pointers that see us scrape enough together on the last day of the season to hit 17th by one point. What does Harry do about next season because the misfits he has cobbled together are not up to the job of lifting us up to mid-table next season in my opinion. Does he stick with what we have got and work on teamwork or will he expect TF to dig deep again so that Harry can get more of his own players in? (Bearing in mind he reckoned Samba was a club deal, not his own) Scenario 2) We go down Despite all our cash the rag-tag bunch of expensive players, cheap players, old players and the gormless don't avoid the drop and we look to a season in the Championship. It would be widely expected that we'd be top of the list to bounce back up but with how many from the current squad? If reports of get out clauses are true we could see the back of many of those who have got us into this awful position. I think we are going down and deserve to go down. The football has been shocking, there are too many players to list who have not stepped up and performed, others haven't even had a decent game since arriving. Is Harry a Championship manager? Would he be first out of the door? Do we hope that the shock of relegation adds some much needed back bone and determination to ruin anyone we play in the lower division? For my tuppence worth I hope Harry stays but that the businessmen do their best with assisting some out of the door to recoup the cash we've spunked up the wall. I would like to see some stay and not rip out the heart of the team in the same way as Mark Hughes did. Regarding the team I've had a go at the following; Cesar - don't stand a chance of keeping him, up or down Green - if we lose Cesar and he doesn't get all full of himself we might have to hang on to him unless another keeper can be had Bossingwa - goodbye Traore - keep him if he wants to stay Ned - keep him if he wants to stay Samba - not sure he'd hang around but his wages may prevent anyone else taking him off our hands, I'd keep him Clint - not up to the week in week out pace of the Premiership but still has a couple of Championship seasons in him, keep. Ferdinand - work out what ever deal needed to let him go Granero - he is not suited to a team that doesn't have time on the ball, he'd be a superstar in a bigger team or one that holds onto the ball (Swansea?), don't like his attitude so he can go Adel - he's done more about his whole game in the last 6 months but not got the return for his efforts. Could be the star in a Championship team, again, so I'd hope to keep him but others would be sniffing Park - goodbye SWP - goodbye Cisse - if he doesn't want to come back let him leave Hoilett - not sure what he thinks of himself but if he wanted away from Blackburn when they went down why stay with us? Keep if he wants to stay, say goodbye if he isn't up for it Derry - could be essential in a Championship campaign but he's getting towards the end surely? Zamora - crocked when we bought him (according to some Fulham fans) crocked now and needs yet another op. Thinks he is above Championship level despite being injury hit for so long, he can go if he thinks we are minnows Remy - bound to have an escape clause, if not keep him and see if he is as full of goals as we were led to believe Townsend & Jenas - don't see either of them hanging around Mackie - he could do well in a hard working Premiership team and I'd have him in the Championship, keep if he wants to stay AJ - doubt he will ever kick a ball again, let him go Diakite - what has happened to him? Sick? Injured? Still having issues? Showed a lot of promise so maybe hang onto him and see how he gets on, could be a decent player lower down the leagues M'Bia - tries hard but not worth what we paid for him. If we can get anything for him I'd be happy to get some cash back Suk-Young - no idea what he is like, not even seen him warming up before a game!! Bothroyd - not up to the Premiership and if he wasn't so lazy he might do a job in the Championship but I wouldn't lose any sleep if he went DJ - a bit like Betty, if we go down he could be useful and at least he tries hard, keep if he doesn't want away Ben Haim - late to the party and didn't pay for him (I think) not bothered either way if he stays or goes Fabio - shame he can't shoot like his brother, we got the wrong one! Back to Manchester what ever happens I hope this isn't unfair and if you want to champion the reputation of any listed feel free.
I agree with most of what you say Grove. The only one I would disagree with is Adel. I doubt he would be happy returning to the Championship. I believe Adel will make it clear he wants to go. Not because he doesn't love the club but because he believes in his own ability to play in a top league, not a second league. If I was him, I would go too. He is our most saleable asset and I would imagine he would fetch a good price. We saw against MK Dons how much we would miss him.
I think the assesment of Jenas a bit harsh I think IF we can keep him fit would be a very good player for us and I really can not see Adel staying next season no matter what happens so lets hope we get a good price and we can find another king to his crown.
I'd keep the following from that list: Green, Onuoha, Traore, Hill, Derry, Jenas, Hoilett, Mackie, Bothroyd, Zamora, DJ. Some like Samba and Remy would go for near what we paid for them, others like Adel wouldn't want to go back to the Championship. If we can get a decent amount for those going we could build a better squad of younger, hungrier players who would have the likes of Derry, Hill and Mackie to show them what commitment is. I don't think it will happen quickly and a season or two of disappointment may be all we can look forward to...
