The pictures of the first day, and the players who attended, got me thinking who I'd want to keep and what areas of the team require some recruitment. I believe the players below are worthy enough to be retained and worked with for the forthcoming season. We've all seemingly agreed that we can't tear the entire team apart, and we need to phase out the deadwood effectively. Retain Robert Green - GK Brian Murphy - GK Danny Simpson - RB Luke Young - RB Nedum Onouha - CB Clint Hill - CB Yun Suk Young - LB Adel Taraabt - CAM Jermaine Jenas - CM Park Ji Sung - CM Shaun Derry - CM Junior Hoilett - LW/RW Hogan Ephraim - LW/RW Loic Remy - CF Andy Johnson - CF Bobby Zamora - CF Youth Players who qualify automatically for a place in the 25 Man squad Peter Skapetis - CF Michael Harriman - RB Max Ehmer - CB Frankie Sutherland - CM In Robert Green we have a keeper who's achieved promotion in the Championship and with a run of the games and some confidence could be solid. Suk Young looked very comfortable on the ball in the Olympics and should start at LB. Simpson could prove a shrewd bit of business at RB. Nedum Onouha, although erratic at times, has the ability to play in this division and with his pace can snuff out a lot of forwards. I would keep Hill and Luke Young to provide some experience in the dressing room and in the key fixtures throughout the season. Adel Taraabt is the everlasting question mark. With Loic Remy staying till at least Christmas, we HAVE to keep Taraabt for now to provide him with service. Jermaine Jenas should be made captain this season and start when he can. He's tidy in possession and feels he owes the club for taking a chance on him. He's captained Spurs under Harry and should do so with us. If we can get Park fit, and replicating displays that we saw against Southampton away, then he'll prove a valuable member of the team. Although admittedly disgusted with Hoilett's displays last season, I can't deny that he doesn't have natural ability. I'm hoping Steve Mclaren will be able to tap into it and make him more consistent. If that's the case then there's only one beneficiary here. QPR. I'd keep Ephraim in the squad as he's a player with a point to prove, and we could do with a few more of them going forward. Derry is retained for similar reasons to Hill. Loic Remy will be with us until Christmas. He simply has to play and in the right system with the right service will score plenty of goals. No doubt in my mind. I think Zamora's off field contribution and experience is vital in changing the squad mentality. He'll be more at home in the Championship, and the news that he doesn't require an operation is encouraging. A season free of injury and Bobby will do a job. Andrew Johnson for me is our wildcard. The man could prove a good plan B coming off the bench with his pace, direct running and finishing. In the Championship you need players like this. I would be looking to use Peter Skapetis in pre season and give this kid some game time. 21 goals in 26 games last season tells its own story. Sell Julio Cesar Stephane Mbia Samba Diakite Esteban Granero Jose Bosingwa Armand Traore Shaun Wright Phillips Anton Ferdinand Joey Barton Angelo Balanta Alejandro Faurlin Jamie Mackie I'm well aware this trigger some debate, but here's my reasoning. We all know and accep that Julio Cesar is leaving, and no-one wants to keep Barton, Bosingwa, Ferdinand or Granero. Most will fetch fees, and others are much needed space freed up on the wage bill. Mbia has to go because he's indicated he would like to leave, has disciplinary issues and his play acting irritates many people. Diakite is clearly homesick and should follow Mbia back to France. We would be avoiding a Newcastle french contingent problem here. Armand Traore has had his chance as far as I'm concerned. Seemingly too interested in the football celebrity lifestyle and not professional enough. He's also unlikely to be fit over 46 league games. Shaun Wright Phillips is a bad apple, and is another who's had his chance. I'd try and sell asap. Angelo Balanta struggled in League One last season, not good enough unfortunately. My controversial choices are selling Mackie and Faurlin. I don't think Mackie would be in our first 11, and he doesn't seem too content with a place on the bench. Move him on. I questioned Faurlin's ability to play in England when Michael Carrick sprinted past him like he wasn't there at Loftus Road. A likeable character, but we can't afford to be charitable now. Transfer Targets Harry Maguire - Sheffield United - Centre Back - 2 full seasons in League 1 with 6 goals to his name. Only 20 years old and has potential to play in the top flight. Richard Dunne - Free - Centre Back - Give him a 1 year contract, he provides a bit more steel to our defence and would work well under Redknapp. I'm sure he'd chip in with some goals as well. Andros Townsend - Tottenham, Right Wing/Left Wing - Out of favor at Spurs, and other teams put off with his gambling issue. No better place for him. He'll know he'd get guaranteed game time and he acknowledged the love from QPR fans on twitter tonight. Jake Livermore - Tottenham, Centre Mid - Deemed surplus to requirements at Spurs, has the ability to provide goals from midfield. Only 22 years old. Josh McEachran - Chelsea, Centre Mid - Left footed, can certainly pass the ball, and in need of regular football. We could provide that. Marvin Sordell - Bolton Wanderers, Centre Forward - Hasn't really settled up North, he's a London boy, hit 15 goals for Watford two seasons back, 22 years old.
Be surprised if Remy is still here even if he has a forthcoming court case. Already saying in the papers that he is off. I would keep Faulin but he needs to score more goals. Even with your transfers in really don't know if we would be top 2. Last season expected top half and look what happened
Can't dispute your selections much. Only Faurlin and Traore I personally would question, but otherwise I think you are spot on.
suk young will be gone. didnt even make the bench last season. can't see whats changed during the summer.
Thanks for all that. A good read. I believe Balanta has already gone?? Definitely keep Faurlin. Probably Traore too.
For me, it would have to be Faurlin to stay and, possibly an unpopular choice, I think SWP could do good things in the NPC.
I would keep Traore, Mackie and most definitely Faurlin, all three are more than good enough for the Championship. Have Hill & Derry got yet another season in them? With the imminent departure of Samba we need a couple of central defenders.
Looks far too midfield heavy, no doubt that we need to buy quality defenders. Not quite sure how we can go 50 or more games with 1 left back. Glad escapegoat isn't involved in recruitment, we'd capsize! He's actually managed to make our squad even more unbalanced.....
Definitely should keep Faurlin & Mackie, both have experience at Championship level, and importantly desire and passion for the club, which in my mind compensates for their lack of ability. We also know that in their day both can make valuable contributions. I would consider Traore as another one to keep, particularly as we are short at left back. Would love to see Townsend sign for us and one strong centre back, not keen on Dunne though, quite like Macguire though.
Top call on McEachran. Think he would thrive in the Championship. We need another LB though, Traore probably not that interested. I would add another striker with experience at that level. It's gonna be a long season....
Agree with most others, that as I read your post I thought I would keep Mackie, Faurlin and Traore. Mackie, because of his work ethic, which might be let down slightly by his ability in the Premiership, but in the Championship he can be very effective. Faurlin because his composure on the ball and ability to pick a pass is well worth having in the side. Traore, mainly because he's a decent enough player, and at the moment you've left us with only one left back...which seems risky to me! Love the look of almost all your signings...except Dunne. Surely the past few years have proved that ageing players who are getting toward the end of their careers, are usually not worth the experience they bring with them. The younger ones look good though.
Good call EscapeGoat, enjoyed that. Only two exceptions for me though, Faurlin and especially Mackie need to stay. They are at the very top of my list of who can really help us next season. Mackie alone will score around 10-15 goals which will be crucial to our chances of promotion. On Traore I'm 100% behind you, the sooner he's off the better. BUT, only of we can bring in at least one new leftback depending on Suk Yung's involvement. Your list of targets is very good. All obtainable and most with future potential. I'd be more than happy to be proved wrong about Traore, unfortunately I'm afraid that is a risk that will cost us. Anton Ferdinand, being one of his biggest critics since the day he signed, I would be inclined to give him a chance at this level. He seems to care for the club and badge, could be a good person to have around imo.
I see you're point about the left back scenario, although I know Onouha and Luke Young can both play there if necessary and there's a handy left back in the Under 18's who's name I cannot recall. We can always utilise the loan market.
Get Taiwo back on loan. Loved to watch him play for us, always with a smile on his face, and played for the badge
I'd want to retain Cesar, Bosingwa, Granero, M'bia, Traore, and Ale from your list if we cut their wages dramatically, and we don't get great offers for them, which we probaly will for Cesar. Definitely want to be quit Anton, Barton, Green and Park. I'd prefer we replaced both BZ and AJ, and we do need at least one good new CB to replace Samba. Maybe Mackie can do a job in the Championship, SWP as well, if he retains his speed. Diakite is a big ?
