Completely agree. Talk of a clear out seems way overboard. This is not the squad that was promoted under Lambert with some League One players. I wouldn't want to see any of the first XI or current bench let go if we are promoted, so any clear out would just be the likes of Becchio who we've been trying to offload for months. We would need 3-4 top quality additions maximum IMO (at the moment I am thinking a CB/RB, a left winger/LB, a striker). Much better than burning £20m on signing 8 players barely better than what we have. But I think that's very much a wait for the summer.
Me too, completely agree and really don't understand why anyone would think we need a wholesale clearout - sounds like a recipe for disaster to me that does. I honestly think our current squad is significantly stronger and with more depth than that of last season, and with the addition of three or four quality players we should (on paper at least) be well equipped to more than hold our own should we be promoted this season. A relegation was always part of the five/seven year plan, and when you look at how Fulham and Cardiff dismantled their squads last summer massive credit has to go to McNasty and the board for only losing a few - whilst bringing in a big wedge of cash doing it (Leroy, Snodgrass).
....and don't forget Munky that's basically what Worthy did when we went up under him, then look what happened !
I'm also surprised anyone is still question Martin at CB. He definitely struggled earlier in the season but so did our whole defence. Since AN came in, brought back Bassong and made us a more stable all across the pitch, Martin has been brilliant. Seen as he is played there for Scotland and our last 2 managers have felt it's his best position, seems to me he is well deserving of that place.
I'd go for something along the lines of this (spoilered for long list): Spoiler Keep GK - John Ruddy GK - Declan Rudd RB - Steven Whittaker CB/RB - Russell Martin CB - Michael Turner CB - Ryan Bennett CB - Sébastien Bassong LB - Martin Olsson DCM - Alexander Tettey CM - Jonny Howson CM - Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe CM/LM - Bradley Johnson CM/ACM - Tony Andreu RM - Elliott Bennett RM/LM - Nathan Redmond RM/LM/CM - Graham Dorrans FW- Josh Murphy ACM - Wes Hoolahan FW - Lewis Grabban FW - Cameron Jerome FW - Gary Hooper Not Sure CB - Ignasi Miquel FW/LM - Kyle Lafferty FW - Ricky van Wolfswinkel Youngsters / Loan out GK - Remi Matthews CB - Adel Gafaiti LB/LM - Harry Toffolo CM - Cameron McGeehan CM - Louis Thompson RM/LM - Jacob Murphy RM/LM - Conor McGrandles FW - Carlton Morris FW - Jamar Loza Get rid GK - Mark Bunn CB - Carlos Cuéllar LB - Javier Garrido CM - Gary O'Neil FW - Luciano Becchio
Don't quite understand the two parts I've highlighted in bold. What do you mean by us always bottling it "when it really matters"? I'd say we haven't yet got to the part that really matters, that being our position in the league after the final whistle of the final game, and with the way we are building up momentum at the perfect time I'd say we're well on track to be in pole position when it really matters. And do you really believe that if we lost two more games 1-0 against bottom half opposition we'd find ourselves back outside the play-offs and ten points off the top? Think you need to top up your glass chap, looks a bit half-empty to me
I can see where CC is coming from with regards to us bottling it earlier in the season. Before AN came in we had several chances to make oppositions pay for slipping up in games but we capitulated (Can't remember the exact matches but we could have pulled away at the top very early on and had multiple chances to get back into the playoffs before AN arrived). With us having the chance to go second before the Wigan game and losing it suggests we're not entirely over it. However, I see no way AN will let the levels drop for more than 1 game, you just have to look at the response against Millwall.
Interesting list JK. On current form I'd say that Cuellar is likely to be kept ahead of Turner, who hasn't had a look in (he's not injured is he?) I probably tend to agree on Garrido, though I wonder whether we might just keep him. It's difficult to know whether Olsson will still want to leave. Agreed on O'Neil, though I know a number of people were keen on him when he came in and he hasn't done a bad job, but I don't think he's necessarily that useful. The only other changes I would make to your list are moving E Bennett, R Bennett and Andreu to "not sure". I also suspect a couple of the youngsters will be let go - no point holding back their careers if it's quite clear they're not going to get into the first team. Very much looking forward to Louis Thompson joining us, although such a shame he got injured...
After Bassong Whittacker Hoolahan and Grabban being brought back from the dead career wise, I have absolutely no clue as to what Alex will do in the Summer as regards to releasing or selling players.
It's not as if we were outclassed last season is it? Had we finished 20th and say ten points adrift I could see the argument. I think this season we might have survived quite easily.The way things are shaping up survival could well be low 30's.
That is an excellent point regarding the manager's ability to bring the best out of players and get some of the more difficult characters back into the fold. I presume there must be some ruffled feathers in the camp (Turner going from No.1 CB to not in the squad, Murphy and Redmond falling down the pecking order a bit) but I haven't heard any obvious signs of dissent from within the camp although I suppose it is quite difficult to whinge when the team is on such a belting run.
Completely agree with you. There is some utter dross in the PL. Six or seven teams should have been relegated with us last season...
Although Murphy and Redmond have dropped down the pecking order, I actually think this is much more sensible from Neil. It's easy to pick holes in Hughton's and Adams' times as manager, but I think one thing they definitely got wrong was thinking that just playing Redmond was somehow being tactically astute. He's still too young to be used anything other than (relatively) sparingly IMO. Too much responsibility on young shoulders
Exactly most were calling Turner the best CB in the league but he rarely gets a game now and I feel a bit sorry for Josh, I hoped he would be brilliant for us this season and start most games. As you say they can't complain if the team is winning .
All the games matter not just the ones at the end of the season, 3 points is 3 points. If we'd had taken our chances, earlier in the season, w'ed be top by now. Well if we lost 2 games and those around us won then that would put us in 7th and outside the play offs. It's really irrelevant how many points we are behind as 7th is still no chance of promotion. Anyway I'm sure there's no need to be concerned and we will definately win the league, no problem! To be fair we're on a good run and things are looking good, but a few injuries to key players and things could change pretty quickly.
It's interesting that I type that I think we will need a significant clearout and this gets translated to a wholesale clearout.
