I'd divide our squad into the following groups
Group 1: Top four quality
Modric, Bale, King (if fit), Van der Vaart, Assou Ekotto, Gomes (I know most won't agree but his blindingly good saves more than make up for his errors imho), Gallas, Dawson, Pavlyuchenko (just about), Friedel (just about)
Group 2: Top four potential very soon if continue improving
Sandro, Huddlestone, Walker, Kaboul, Lennon, Dos Santos, Assou Ekotto, Corluka
Group 3: Top four potential in longer term
Rose, Caulker, Townsend, Kane, Khumalo
Group 4: Good quality back-up
Cudicini, Crouch, Defoe, Palacios, Hutton, Bassong, Naughton, O'Hara, Kranjcar, Pienaar
Group 5: Not making the grade/on the decline
Jenas, Keane, Bentley, Alnwick
So the plan should be to keep Groups 1 to 3, sell group 4 players to fund better ones and dispose of Group 5 for whatever we can get.
This all seems reasonably consistent with who we are linked to so far (eg Bassong plus money for Cahill) so I'm happy seeing where it will turn out.
I think a squad containing all of groups 1 to 3, three or four high quality signings and the two or three best of group 4 would have a good chance of top four next year and develop into something really exciting thereafter.
Group 1: Top four quality
Modric, Bale, King (if fit), Van der Vaart, Assou Ekotto, Gomes (I know most won't agree but his blindingly good saves more than make up for his errors imho), Gallas, Dawson, Pavlyuchenko (just about), Friedel (just about)
Group 2: Top four potential very soon if continue improving
Sandro, Huddlestone, Walker, Kaboul, Lennon, Dos Santos, Assou Ekotto, Corluka
Group 3: Top four potential in longer term
Rose, Caulker, Townsend, Kane, Khumalo
Group 4: Good quality back-up
Cudicini, Crouch, Defoe, Palacios, Hutton, Bassong, Naughton, O'Hara, Kranjcar, Pienaar
Group 5: Not making the grade/on the decline
Jenas, Keane, Bentley, Alnwick
So the plan should be to keep Groups 1 to 3, sell group 4 players to fund better ones and dispose of Group 5 for whatever we can get.
This all seems reasonably consistent with who we are linked to so far (eg Bassong plus money for Cahill) so I'm happy seeing where it will turn out.
I think a squad containing all of groups 1 to 3, three or four high quality signings and the two or three best of group 4 would have a good chance of top four next year and develop into something really exciting thereafter.

