So, as we are rapidly entering the final game/s of the season, MM will have to start thinking of next season, and the squad he wants. Firstly, if we were to go up, how many of our current squad should we keep, and who could be good enough to play in the prem. Secondly, if we were to stay in the Championship, which, if any, of our squad is dead wood? Me, I would go for.. Promoted / Not promoted Gerken Keep/Keep Bialkowski - Keep/Keep Berra - Keep/Keep Chambers - Keep/Keep Mings - Keep/Keep Smith - Get rid/Keep Parr - Keep/Keep Hewitt - Loan out/keep Skuse - Get rid/Keep Anderson - Get rid/keep S Hunt - Get rid/get rid Bru - Keep/Keep Tabb - Get rid/get rid Hyam - Keep/Keep Bishop - Keep/Keep Ambrose - Get rid/get rid Murphy - Get rid/Keep McG - Keep/Keep (only if fit) N Hunt - Get rid/get rid Freddie - keep/keep
Not going to go into this further apart from to say I do not think Hyam in the premiership would be an experiment I would like to see! Will give more thoughts after seasons over.
(Promoted/Not Promoted) Goalkeepers Gerken Sell/Keep Bialkowski Keep/Keep Kenny Sell/Sell Notes: Bart and Gerken make a decent pairing at Championship level, particularly with Bart's good form lately. However, should we achieve promotion, I think a goalkeeper with Premier League experience, and a bit of proven quality, would be a useful acquisition. Defenders Berra Keep/Keep Chambers - Keep/Keep Mings - Keep/Keep Smith - Sell/Keep Parr - Keep/Keep Hewitt - Sell/Loan Notes: A natural right-back needs to come in and ideally a centre-back for cover. I'm still unsure of Hewitt's readiness at Championship level, let alone the Premier League. I'd prefer to loan him out for the first half of the season, maybe to a Championship club that finished in the lower half of the table, just so he can get a bit more experience. If we get promoted, I'd sell both Hewitt and Tommy Smith, if we get fair offers come in. An ideal defensive line-up, at both Premier and Championship levels, would be Mings at left-back, Berra and Chambers in the middle, and a new right-back. Midfielders Skuse Keep/Keep Anderson Sell/Sell S Hunt - Sell/Sell Bru - Keep/Keep Tabb - Sell/Sell Hyam - Loan/Keep Bishop - Keep/Keep Ambrose - Sell/Sell Henshall Loan/Keep Wordsworth Sell/Sell Stewart Keep/Keep Notes: Midfield is widely considered to be our weakest area in the squad, and if we have money to spend, then hopefully Mick will invest in those positions. I'd like to keep Bishop, Bru, and Skuse, all of whom have performed well over the past few months. I'd also like to persist with Luke Hyam, who hopefully has a future at the club. I think it's evident that we need more pace and creativity in midfield, particularly out wide. This is why, for me, Tabb, Ambrose, Wordsworth, and Stephen Hunt should be moved elsewhere. I'd like to see Henshall and Cameron Stewart given an opportunity to impress, but it's clear an established, proven player should come in. Strikers Murphy - Keep/Keep McG - Keep/Keep (depending on fitness) N Hunt - Sell/sell Freddie - keep/keep Notes: Regardless of where we play next season, I'd like Mick to keep faith with Daryl Murphy and Freddie Sears. Obviously Murphy is getting on a bit now, but he deserves to be shown a bit of faith after his efforts this season, and he's a crucial figurehead for our direct system, where his aerial abilities come into effect. Sears is obviously a promising player and we should keep hold of him because, with a full season under his belt, he'll hopefully be able to push on and get a few more goals next term. Noel Hunt can go, and a new striker brought in to add competition. McGoldrick should be kept if he's getting back to fitness, as he is undoubtedly a talented player. However, he has 12 months remaining on his contract, so if a decent offer comes in for him, I think it would be wise to cash in and invest in other areas.
I know he's injury-prone, but Jamie Ward has just been released from Derby. He could be a wise addition up top, he can also play on the wings, and he's 28, so he should be at the peak of his career.
