Clear philosophy is vital. It’s been a very uncomfortable watch this season.Fair enough. I don't think Selles is awful, and he has certainly improved us since taking over from Jones but I think we need to start afresh when we go down.
Complete rebuild required. A manager with his own identity and clear philosophy. Then get rid of about 10 of the squad and bring in about 5 or 6 new faces.
I'm still to be totally convinced by Ruben, the defending at set-pieces is still poor and we don't show nearly enough invention going forward.
Instinct says they will continue to be ****, but also worth remembering Adams and Adam Armstrong have scored for fun in the Championship in the past.
We need to fight tooth and nail to retain Tella this summer as well, an attacking line up of Tella, Alcaraz, Sulemana and Adams should do the job, on paper.
We are bloated with strikers totally inadequate for the PL so might not be capable of bringing anyone in unless we offload, I really would like us to have a crack at getting Gyokeres should we go down though. Also will need a good Championship CM to compete with Smallbone and Diallo (Lavia and JWP will be gone).
That’s cos we’re **** (and we’re going down). Not because he is. We’ve been **** for years tbh
Similar. I cleaned the lounge though.The most entertaining part of the last two hours were the 15 minutes I spent cleaning the kitchen at HT.
Get rid of:
KWP*
Salisu*
Lyanco
DCC
JWP*
Lavia*
Elyounoussi (contract up)
Maitland-Niles (loanee)
Djenepo
Walcott (contract up)
Then rebuild. Those with a * only because either they will push for a move or will leave for free in 2024.
What says it all -
We were **** up to January
We spend, what was it? £60m in January on 5 players
We play a very important game against a team there for the taking
None of those 5 players start
I'm pissed at Selles but that doesn't mean I want him gone, I just want him to stop picking the rancid players that let us down time and again and not start players like Alcarez and Sulemana for seemingly no reason.I am disappointed to see people turning against Selles and I think that the wrath really needs to be directed towards Sports Republic. Back in August it felt like Ralph had a decent squad that only lacked a decent striker. The club has invested heavily in new players and then has a second attempt at investing in January. Too many fringe player have signed that are not going to get anywhere near the first eleven and , when they do, as has been the case with Big Paul and Edosie, they do not get a run of games.
For me, we were down as soon as we appointed Nathan Jones. It just reinforced my impression that Sports Republic are inept. The departure of so many members of the non-playing staff just reinforced that impression. It was a shame that Gao never put his hands in his pockets during his tenure yet the SR debacle just shows you that spending money is no guarantee of success. As owners, they have been proved to be incompetent and for all their proposed use of statistics and science, they are clearly not as smart as the imagine. They should have spent the money more wisely. SR consistantly get the big decisions wrong. I cannot see any improvement whilst they are the owners.
We were screwed up until Jan, spent £60m, BUT unfortunately Nathan Superman Jones was manger then.What says it all -
We were **** up to January
We spend, what was it? £60m in January on 5 players
We play a very important game against a team there for the taking
None of those 5 players start
That leaves a first team of;
Bazunu
Bree
Bednarek
ABK
Perraud
Smallbone/Diallo
Alcaraz
Sulemana
Tella
Edozie
Tall Paul/Mara
That's top 6 Championship already even without any additions. Probably top 3.
Get rid of:
KWP*
Salisu*
Lyanco
DCC
JWP*
Lavia*
Elyounoussi (contract up)
Maitland-Niles (loanee)
Djenepo
Walcott (contract up)
Then rebuild. Those with a * only because either they will push for a move or will leave for free in 2024.
And moreover, it gives Mara, Edozie, Sulemana, Alcaraz, Diallo, Bazunu a year of exactly the type of football they *should* have all been playing this year to learn their craft (like Tella has), which will mean they’re far better prepared for PL football next time around.
I know this will probably sound weird, but I'm be open to keeping Theo for one more season - assuming that he's willing to take a pay-cut.
My rationale is that we don't want to be signing Championship standard players on long contracts. Because if it all works out and we come straight back up, it means we're left with deadwood that we no longer need. So by keeping Theo for an extra year, we get him as a Championship squad player without worrying about trying to offload him at the end of that year.
It's not nothing to do with me thinking that he's good enough or wanting him to be part of our first XI. Just that he can be a one-year squad player.
With regards to all the CBs. I think Salisu, ABK and DCC will all have interest (maybe less so Bednarek, Stephens and Lyanco), but I think we'll be reluctant to sell all three. I can see us selling two, and keeping the other - thereby potentially leaving us with four CBs, all of whom should be good enough for the Championship.
I'd imagine Orsic will return back to Croatia. I can see someone signing Adams (they'd be crazy, but I can see it).
I'd be open to letting Stu go, but I think we might struggle to find a decent enough offer. He just isn't the same player anymore, and I think is out of contract next summer (when I doubt I'd be looking to give him a new one). If he did stay, then I'd be looking at Aribo instead.
Bazunu
McCarthy (or Lis)
Bree
Tino
DCC/Salisu/ABK
Stephens
Bednarek
Lyanco
Perraud
Larios
Diallo
Smallbone
New signing (maybe two)
Alcarez
Sulemana
Stu Armstrong/Aribo
Walcott (if willing to take a pay cut)
Edozie
Adam Armstrong
Tella (unless Burnley are willing to blow their budget)
Onuachu
Mara
If we can find the right manager, and recruit a decent CM, I'd be very hopeful about that side bringing us straight back up. Staying up thereafter though would be a different issue.