We know we're pretty much done for January signings, so the management will be starting to think about what they want to do in the summer (for the out of contract players at least) As things stand, for next season we have this as our squad: GK: McGregor, Oxley LB: Figueroa, Townsend CB: Chester, Davies, McShane RB: Rosenior LM: Brady, Boyd CM: Meyler, Huddlestone RM: Elmo, Aluko ST: Jelavic, Long, Sagbo, Proschwitz We're also meant to have an option on Livermore at £3.5M Jakupovic, Harper, Dudgeon, Bruce, Faye, Koren, Quinn, Henderson, Fryatt, Fletcher, and Jahraldo-Martin all out of contract, and Graham's loan ending. So what would you try to do? ---------------------------------------- Personally I'd: let Harper and Jak go and look to bring in a younger keeper with more experience than Oxley. Sign a younger left back to challenge Fig and provide cover if we need Fig at CB. (wages covered by the release of Dudgeon, Faye, and Bruce, where only Bruce has played this season) Sign a right back (in place of Koren on the wage bill) Take up the option on Livermore, and sign another midfielder (wages covered by Prossy and Graham's departure). If we're wanting the option of 3 in the middle I'd give Quinn a new deal as well, just so we have the depth. Fryatt can have a new deal as well so long as the wages are reasonable.
Agree mostly but I'd let Fryatt go to a decent Championship club - there will be plenty of takers. Figgy definitely needs a kick up the arse but Left-Back is a seriously niche position. Hope we can get someone to challenge him but easier said than done. Faye and Koren can leave with their heads held high. Alex Bruce? Done enough to dispel the nepotism claims I reckon - not spectacular but bloody solid! Not sure about Quinn - could be a good impact sub but don't know if he'd be happy with that status.
considering it's his world cup in brazil fig is playing ****ing horrendous, we def need a replacement next season assuming we stay up we need a good winger too, and as good as bruce has been, we need a better centre half signed agree with dids, about koren and faye... this is ofcourse if we stay up obviously
What exactly, is the latest with Dudgeon? I rather thought he might be worth hanging on to, at least until he'd had a Premier League start or two. A young man with a lot of potential, I thought.
I was looking for what we can do at a reasonable cost for next season. Unless of course Long and Jelavic don't work out I'm taking them as acceptable starters and Sagbo as one sub striker. Fryatt as the second would be good for a midtable PL side, where the alternative is to go out and buy someone else. Bruce as well would get another year, but with Fig as cover at CB if we bring in a left back (which we're in more need of) then we'd be covered to the level we have been this season (in terms of what we've actually used rather than what we've had). Next summer when Fig and Macca are out of contract you'd look to bring in another CB or two. That was my struggle with Quinn as well. With Huddlestone here any new signings are competing for one central spot, because in reality we're not going to bench Huddlestone without spending nearly £20M on the midfield, and that's not happening. With the option taken on Livermore (which I'd do for £3.5M) I can't see us bringing in 2 more capable of challenging for the starting berths in one window (with Meyler making 5 in the squad) at a reasonable cost. If we're going for someone from the bench/as cover with Meyler we'd be as well getting someone like Quinn for another season. Maybe tempt him by guaranteeing him games and saying he'll captain the second XI in the Cups (we'd be in a position to play a fair few first team squad players). It does seem a bit harsh on him to not let him go out for regular football in the Championship though. I think for what I've put we'd be looking at around £15M total spend, compared to £25M for this season, and would be without any loanees in the squad. With wages covered as I said in the first post that should clear the shortfall in the budget and let us be self sustaining.
I'd look to bring in a solid CM, a LB, a RB, a young keeper, and a creative mid. Keep Quinn and Fryatt, let the rest go.
Keep Quinn, Dudge can't be that expensive can he? I'd give him a year extension even though he's been injured for what seems an eternity. Definitely need a back up keeper for next season, Jak and Oxley won't be up to the challenge should they need to replace McGregor. Also need competition for Figgy, a new RB, get Livermore and a Centre back if Chez/Davies get's injured we have minimal cover.
Not sure you can work on next season without knowing which division we will be in. If we stay up, 3-4 out and 5 in. If we go down it will be 8-9 out in all likeliness
I see the following as players who should be around next season. Bold = First Team Regulars Italics = Cover / Bench Goalkeeper McGregor Jakupovic Right Back Rosenior (Based on current performance he's a worthy starter) Left Back Figueroa Dudgeon (But maybe loan out) Centre Back Davies Chester Bruce McShane Right Wing Elmo Left Wing Brady Boyd Quinn Central Midfield Huddlestone Livermore (If we do sign him) Meyler Forwards Jelavic Long Sagbo Aluko I'd let Fryatt, Proschwitz, Faye, Harper and Koren move on. I'd keep Jak if he's happy to stay, and look for a youth to train up as third keeper. Rosenior needs competition/cover at right back and I don't want Elmo there. Dudgeon would be a shame to lose when we don't know how he'd fare in this league but coming off this long injury I'd still sign another left back and maybe loan him out - if he does well he could come back and replace Fig long term. Centre back I'm not convinced Chester is strong enough long term but I'd keep our core four to see how they do alongside Davies for another season. I'd look for a pacey right winger to compete with Elmo and we really need another central midfielder. Left midfield and forwards I'd say we'll be fine for now. So for key signings... 1. Central midfielder (in addition to Livermore, I'd like 4) 2. Left back (to compete with Figueroa) 3. Right back (to compete with Rosenior) 4. Right winger (to compete with Elmo)
I'd see next seasons squad as close to Coat's selection Bold = First Team Regulars Others = Cover / Bench Goalkeeper McGregor Jakupovic Oxley (loan out) Right Back Rosenior (Based on current performance he's a worthy starter) Left Back Figueroa Townsend Dudgeon (Maybe loan out to get fitness back) Centre Back Davies Chester Bruce McShane Right Wing Elmo Left Wing Brady Boyd Quinn Central Mid Huddlestone Livermore(If we do sign him) Meyler Forwards Jelavic Long Sagbo Aluko I'd let Fryatt, Proschwitz, Faye, Harper and Koren move on. We need new signings/loans at RB/LB, and at RW, and a fast creative CMF.
