After Poyet was talking about things could get drastic with regards to the transfers. I am not sure it is helpful Poyet coming out and saying that as it sounds like we are not far off becoming desperate and surely all that does is gives the clubs we are trying to negotiate players with a stonger hand in the negotiations. I do think though that by next weekend we must have atleast 3 or 4 new faces in because it is important we hit the ground running this season. As for the title of this post, 9 or 10players required? I think we do need that many in the summer we lost both our back up goalkeepers (Westwood and Ustari), both our right backs (Bardsley and Celustka), our left backs (Dossena and Alonso), two centre backs (Cuellar and Vergini). 3 cm's (Ki, Colback and Gardner) and one of our best players in Borini. It also seems clear that Roberge, Diakite, Cabral, N'Diaye, Graham and Scocco do not feature in our plans for this season. that leaves us with.... GK - Mannone, Pantilimon, Pickford RB - Jones, ???? LB - ????, ???? CB - Brown, O'Shea, ????, ???? CM - Bridcutt, Cattermole, Larsson, ????, ????, Ba CM/AM - Gomez W - Johnson, Giaccherini, ????, ????, Mavrias CF - ????, Wickham, Fletcher, Altidore
I think 5 or 6 tops. Maybe a couple of those loan signings. I'm sure he will fill some spaces with the kids and then wait until January if needed. marrs at rb, n'diaye (hopefully cb), Watmore may get a squad number as well. We definately need Left Backs and an Attacking (box to box) midfielder.
I think if this is the case we are going down. injuries and suspensions happen. The premier league is a hard slog esp. over Christmas and there is the cup competitions to think about as well. unless some of the players that look like they will be off (Roberge, Diakite, Cabral, N'Diaye) stay then we need a good few. You cannot take risks in the premier league on squad size because it can bite you big style. Poyet has said he wants a squad of 23 a few times now and personally I think we have about 13-14 with Watmore, Mavrias and Ba on the fringer. All who will mostly spend a next season on loan
I think 6, I personally think at least one of Diakite or Roberge should be retained. We won't get 2 left backs, one is a miracle for us, if we sign Rodriguez we will only need 1 more in midfield. I'm inclined to think Scocco out one in and we are fairly happy up top. So, for me, 1 CB, 1 LB, 1 RB, 2 MID, one striker. Maybe a couple on loan on top.
Adding that up above you want 27 top players at our club!!!!! Champions league teams struggle to have that many. Another 2 to 4 players in the right areas and hopefully use some of the U21 squad to aid development for me.
Pickford has gone on loan for the season, I would imagine Ba will as well and Mavrias I think will probably be on the fringes
You've left half our squad out marra, no Diakite, no Roberge, no alfie, no cabral, no Karlsson, no Greaham and no Scocco. I know they're not in plans but we need to accept we may not be able to move all these on and we won't be bringing anywhere near that amount if signings while they're on the books. Until we're shot of them we need to accept they're part of our playing squad. We won't add 9 players to the squad and add to the wage bill till we shift some of them. These players are unfortunately make or break players for us this season. If we can't get shot we'll need to use them and kiss good bye to any replacement
34 when you add the senior members who are not on that list with guarantees of being able to sell them.
3 in so far, another 3, maybe 4 max needed. Let's not forgot some of the kids coming through, if Gus thinks they're ready, they're ready. You guy's who get the games will have seen them, the likes of Watmore, Mavrias, etc.
Im also a big believer in pushing the kids, giving them some pressure of having to perform in a few games, filling the squad with average players will not give them the breakthrough or that pressure. It is a fine line between having enough seasoned pros or not for a long campaign but the only way the academy can improve is if we use it more at the top level.
Think a few will be getting a push this year like, Agnew and Honeyman look handy. I'm not expecting the world Raw, three permanent signings and I'll be happy, add a couple of clever loans back end of the window should see us with enough, we still need shot of the deadwood.
Baring in mind there will be Mandron, Honeyman, Watmore, Mavrias, Ba & Gooch who could do potentially do a job in the first team
