With everyone talking about all the potential departures, it got me thinking about the squad as a whole and do we have the strength in depth to be allowing players to leave? Also, with all the proposed rumoured signings were else do we need to strengthen> so my question to Not606 is: who would you make surplus to requirements? With a decent offer who do you think may go? And what areas do people think we need to strengthen? Here is a list of our current first-team squad (taken from safc.com); Iâve put in brackets next to the names who I think will/may go and my reasons why: Goalkeepers: Keiren Westwood ,Vito Mannone Defenders hil Bardsley (Gone, obvious) ,Carlos Cueller (Sell, too inconsistant) ,Modibo Diakete, Valentin Roberge, Wes Brown ,John O'Shea Midfield: Cabral,David Moberg Karlsson ,El-Hadji Ba ,Emanuele Giaccherini,Lee Cattermole,Sebastian Larsson (Sell if not going to give a new contract),Craig Gardner (same as above) ,Jack Colback (same as above),David Vaughan (sell) ,Alfred N'Diaye,Adam Johnson,James Mcclean (sell, not good enough), Stephane Sessegnon Strikers: Jozy Altidore ,Steven Fletcher,Ji Dong Won (sell if not going to give a contract), Connor Wickham (sell and cut our losses. Unfortunately I donât think he will ever realise his potential with Sunderland. If DG was 4th choice striker that must mean CW was 5th or 6th). Based on my opinions we have only 16 first team players. LB & RB are obvious positions to fill but if the rumoured transfers of Catts and Big Alfy are true and the contracts of 4 other CM's running down leaving them susceptible to bids, this will leave us very light in the middle (hence the reason i canât see Catts or Alfy going). However, I do admit Iâm fans of Larrson & Gardner and think would be useful squad players. Whether they would accept a new contract for the role is another matter. In addition, we seem very light up top as well, so would require at least 2 more strikers. Unfortunately after all the excitement and 10 new recruits being brought in(some for development squad), we still look paper thin. Realistically how many more players can we afford to bring in? Obviously this is all very speculative but i believe keeping the current squad together we need at least 4 more players.
Were massively thin and still full of ****e, it'll take a good few windows to change that and get it all clicking. We've discussed endlessly the full back problem we need loads of the ****ers so looks like we're going to have midfielders who play better at full back than in midfield as back up. Meaning we'll lose them both at the end of the season for jack **** as Jack won't sign and to give Gardner a new contract would in my opinion would be lunacy. I'd let carlos go and sign JoS long term replacement while there's still time for the young lad to learn off the master. Who also possesses pace and good ballwork skills and is willing to take in JoS's wisdom on reading the game, talking and organising. I think larsson will get a new contract as Paolo rates his attitude, I wouldn't but we're up against a barral regarding how thin it is so maybe I would unless I want another player to walk for free which I don't. Vaughan has got to go but may not, may walk for free, who knows, My head is battered and I haven't even finished the midfield. Despite all the positive work being done it's still a big mess! WHY HAVE WE ALLOWED SO MANY CONTRACTS TO EXPIRE AT THE SAME TIME!?!?!?!?!?! ARGHHHHHH!!!!!!
canny complex analysis for me like, but spot on in most respects, pickford travelled to asia so he is not out of the keeper set up, looking likely that vaughan, bardo, ji & n'daiye will go, wickham, gardner, catts & colback are pure spec imho. peruzzi and mavrias will get over the line this week, once these are put to bed we will move on again, still think there is something in cissokho and rose, also huddlestone. plus there will still still be **** loads going on in the background
In terms of contracts Bri i think all the manager changes have obviously let this happen. Bruce signed all those players whose contracts are expiring. I’m presuming Marty (if still in charge) would have given ne contracts or sold them depending on his thoughts/plans,etc. However, due to his departure it means Di Canio needs to reassess what Marty and Bruce did, however this time we haven’t got the luxury of time on our side. As for Pickford PDC, he wouldn’t necessarily go under the 25 due to him coming through the youth setup would he?
Suppose its needs must, considering we only have 2 first team goalkeepers meaning a youth product will be given the 3rd spot.
We have young Jordan Pickford at 19. England international. Too young for first team football but we should give him a couple of games in the cup next season or bring him on for cameo apps if we can.
I've been thinking along similar lines, but my squad set-up looks like this with Bardsley being the only certainty to leave.... It's a squad of 27 players, although at least 5 of these are U-21 (Pickford, Ba, Cabral, Whickham & Mandron), which leaves us with a senior squad of 22, 10 of whom have 'home-grown' status (and we need a minimum of 8). So we have 3 places to fill in the senior squad - with 2 full backs and a nippy striker an absolute necessity. If we do continue to replace 'like-for-like' we have to be aware of the home-grown cap, so can't keep shopping abroad. Reds are a certainty to go, blues could also go out due to fitness/inconsistency/expense. Greens more difficult to replace for the money or PDC love-in with Larsson. Goalkeepers: Keiren Westwood, Vito Mannone, Pickford Central Defenders: John O'Shea, Modibo Diakete, Valentin Roberge, Wes Brown, Carlos Cueller Fullbacks: Fookin nee-one..... Utlility (FBs/Midfielders): Jack Colback, Craig Gardner Central Midfielders: Cabral, Alfred N'Diaye, El-Hadji Ba, Lee Cattermole, David Vaughan Attacking Midfielders: Stephane Sessegnon, Emanuele Giaccherini, Adam Johnson, David Moberg Karlsson, James Mcclean, Seb Larsson Strikers: Jozy Altidore, Steven Fletcher, Ji Dong Won, Connor Wickham, Mandrone The squad is a lot better, but as PDC has said he doesn't want to change the base too much from what he has as he blends the team to his style/identity/fitness and and work ethic. ......and i've been off sick with flu, and had nowt better to do!
Bri - its all related mate. The fact that the contracts are expiring at the same plus, plus the fact that its a massively under-achieving squad is the very reason PDC has started buying so many so early. This next stage is selling/off-loading and is all part and parcel of re-organising the funding for a final bout of buying in the last couple of weeks. I think there's another 5 or 6 to come in yet. There's gonna be 4 new teams in the Premier this season. Its a hell of a gamble!!
Oh I know the present situation mate, It's just the way thing have been done in the past is having a massive bearing now. Letting so many players contracts expire at the same time has led to whatever we do being a risk. It's a case of change everything or flush millions down the toilet. It's not good enough. Even when I play football manager I never let more than two players expire in the same season. I plan contracts carefully to avoid this sort of thing. It's a mistake that should not be repeated again ever.
Unfortunately the premier league is too unforgiving to give teenage keepers cameos. As for cup games i imagine it would be either Mannone or Westwood depending on who is the backup keeper. At Pickfords age he is there to get on the bench if one of the other 2 get injured.
I think he's getting first team training because that's what he'll be getting when he goes on loan for the season. Kind of getting him used to training around older experienced players. Maybe?
Possibly? If he goes on loan i would expect an automatic recall clause incase anything happens to the other two.
I'm getting sick of supporters of other clubs on forums saying that we will do a 'QPR' this season! The squad needed a massive overhaul because if we relied on last seasons shower we would be relegated this season anyway! We might still struggle this season, but at least we have a chance!
I must admit that if we started now I feel like we are no further forward. With the loss of Mig and Bardsley I think is only balanced with the 1st team additions we have made. Full backs as always is a problem especially with the potential loss of Bards, Colback and Gardner (2 of them coming into last year of contract so may be forced to sell). The spine looks stronger but we need to sort the fullbacks as the balance will be all out, heres hoping to some more quality signings before kickoff!
Chin up mate, theres plenty of time yet... Plenty of time to get a couple of decent full-backs in, plus another 3 or 4 on top, (CMs and a striker)... Lets see what he's got to say after the first proper competitive friendly tomorrow!
Ha no dont get me wrong I think we will get stronger but right now as a first team I think we are possibly only a baby step forward. Id be worried if we started the season now but like you say I do think, and god we need, some fullbacks! Also lots of new signings and I gotta be truthful I couldnt say how good they are especially together, exciting but nervy times ahead
I think Cabral, Giacc and Altidore take us further than baby steps, and with better cover for CB positions we're probs 60% of the way there...but 40% is quite a bit to sort out.
Laing should be added to that list. he will play at the highest level at CB. He like Pickford etc should get a few cup games at least.
