IMO to avoid issues like last season - Minimum RCB - Obvious. Back up CF - Wilson ****e and Osula not ready. Isak can't stay fit throughout a season even without european fixtures, he needs rotation. RW - Murphy 30 going on 31, we want an upgrade really. Murphy is a fine back up for next year. Back up CB - If we sign a young RCB. We'll have Botman and him, but 3 older CB's as back up only who will all potentially be gone by next summer. Lascelles may be 32 before he gets a run of games next year after over a year out. Schar and Burn 33 going into next season, 34 before season ends. This age is where it really starts to decline a bit. I'd not be happy going into next season with a bunch of older lads as our only back up with more fixture stress. Especially if Botman is having issues again. Time to bring in the newer generation is now, not when these back up CB's become too old and crock. Desirable additions Back up fullback - Trippier will be gone probably. Targett and Krafth as our back up is not good enough. Back up CM - Anyone here not happy with Longstaff/Willock as our first choice back up? It's the difference between world class and bang average PL player.
We need a starting GK. We need a starting RCB. Centre backs all good. Full backs - nothing really required this season unless we sell Targett. We don't need to replace Trippier, we have Krafth and Shahar. No starting CMs but we need a replacement for Longstaff. We need a starting right winger and a better back up winger than Murphy, unless we use youth. Beck up striker but one who can actually act as a starting striker if need be.
I think you've confused Wilson and Isak there - Isak has played 27 out of 30 premier league games and 35 games in total this season. And he could have played more, and was just rested for some of the early league cup games. Wilson on the other hand is always injured, and has needed replacing for a while. Thankfully he's off in the summer and then we can get a proper replacement. Wilson isn't ****e cos he doesn't have the chance to be ****e cos he's never playing. He's just not there ever.
You need at a basic level a first choice, competitive backup and a young player in every position except maybe GK. So it’s what we’ve all said, we need a new starting RW, GK and RCB with a better backup CF, then maybe replacements if anyone leaves.
Honestly I'd rather sign three good players than trying to cover too many holes and end up with 5 or 6 wastemen. I'm really not getting a hard on for positions! If a player is better than what we have in any position that's good isn't it. I don't think many had Joelinton down as midfield enforcer when he signed. I think we look at things in an idealistic way, which is to say we need RW, CB, GK striker, etc, as if the clubs shopping on aisles.. The truth is the clubs operating in a fluid market and they'll get the best players they can, if and when they are available, in the time frame available, and in no particular order. If you can catch a fish you grab the ****er at that time or risk getting nothing at all. If it was down to some fans they'd end up settling for too many 'that'll do' players, trying to cover too many positions, and we'd end up with a side packed out with mediocre players and upto the eyeballs in FFP for 5 years.
It's probably more a realism thing than it is his dream scenario. Once we have signed quality at RW (£50m ish), GK (£30m ish) and RCB (£50m ish), we'll be scraping about to find the money for a better backup CF. There almost certainly won't be enough left over for x2 backup CB options as well. I'm starting to wonder if we might go for Cunha at £63m to cover CF and RW for us. Then Huijsen for £50m. Trafford for £25m - £30m. Done and dusted. If we even have that much to spend... And I'd be delighted with that window to be honest
Absolutely the right way to go if that's the 3. This thirst to pack out the squad with 'he'll do' s' or 'back up' players won't get them anywhere. The right players or nothing is the way forward in my opinion anyway. If you settle for second and third best you'll never be first.
Burn and Schar world be our back up CBs. They are currently our starters. We don't need to be buying another one at this stage especially when we have a couple of youngsters, who should really be included in the first team picture now let alone next season
I've seen the rumours about Cunha being the number one priority, but I just can't see it. He's a 10, mainly, or a CF and then at a push left winger as he cuts in. Can't see how we spend £60m+ on Isak's backup. Can see us going for City/Chelsea cast offs instead - Delap, Garcia, Madueke, Trafford.
My post says we need one starting CB. Botman will be back. That means our current starting CBs become our two back ups. We then have at least 2 quality youngsters who should be in and around first team now
