To be honest, the main signing I think we should all be hoping to get over the line soon is Johannes Spors.
On Juric, I'm more and more of the opinion that we need him to stay. We need a major clear out of the squad and he's clearly already reviewed the squad and has ideas about who he rates, who he's going to play and so on. I expect he also has ideas about the type of players we need to sign. That means we can get on with making changes as soon as the season ends. If we hire a new manager in the summer that may delay the rebuild. It may take time to get him in post, he may want to take time to see players in training or even in matches etc etc
So in summary; bloated squad with inadequate, Championship quality (?) & players that don’t fit the requirements. An academy system that has pretty much failed - given our historical breeding ground image. Of course, Dibling could go a long way as just a single positive but I think it’s still fair to say we’ve been very underwhelming - yes I accept a couple of sales helps the coffers but it’s far from what I’d certainly hoped for. All SR’s fault? probably not but but they are massively culpable. As a few have said, we seem financially stable but even if true, that could be totally wrong or could change in a flash. I truly hope Solak is finally getting to grip with the **** HIS management team have nurtured. It’s probably fair to assume he’s going to be here for a couple more seasons & for me, I’m just praying he gets the appointments right so they can sort the mess out.
Ward-Prowse Forest loan terminated. Stranger things have happened (4 year contract - 50 championship assits next season swinging the ball into Tall Paul and a revived Ross Stewart)
I'm assuming and hoping this is another loan. I get that our squad needs trimming and most of our players aren't good enough for the PL. But it seems insane to be considering getting rid of players that have proven themselves in the championship like Archer & Armstrong.
Putting too much faith in an unproven manager is what got us into this mess in the first place. We need to make the decision at the end of the season whether Juric is the one to take us forward. Not now. What we really need to focus on is keeping the players who will get us goals next season. Right now it seems we are flogging them all for no reason.
If it happens we have gone from a potential front line in the Championship of Archer, BBD, Armstrong to needing a whole new front line. Would be very short sighted to put it kindly
Quite simply, unless we get an offer which is so massive it can't be turned down, we shouldn't be selling any player who would be an asset to us next season in the Championship. And especially if they're an attacking asset. Whether it's Diaz or Archer or Armstrong or whoever. Loan (with no option/obligation to buy) = fine. Sale (or loan with option/obligation to buy) = bad. Signing (or retaining) Championship level players for the PL is bad enough. But then not retaining those players for the Championship would be criminal.
It really does feel like a fire sale! I get it tbf. Get some decent loan fees and save wages whilst also either getting players to find good form before next season or put themselves in the shop window.
The only one that has any been in anyway confirmed as likely to happen is SAA unless I’ve missed something?
I'd say what got us into this mess in the first place was chopping and changing our manager every few months. In any case, Juric is a hell of a lot more proven than Martin was. He's spent multiple seasons managing smaller clubs to relative success in one of the top European leagues. That's really not comparable to Martin's record when we appointed him. I'm not suggesting Juric should be given a cast-iron guarantee that he'll be in charge next season but I generally like what I've seen from him and there would be significant risks to bringing in a new manager. Right now it seems to me there are a lot of rumours, as there are on most deadline days. As always, most of them will be garbage. We've barely flogged anyone this month. The only players who've actually left during this window are BBD (on loan, might return), Cornet, Edwards (on loan, probably will return). Sam Amo seems likely to go. The rest is largely rumours and gossip.
