So presuming we don't self implode and manage to get say another 10-12pts+ we should be looking at PL football next year, so the planning will start to get underway.
Who is good enough to stay and who really needs to go. Next year will be completely different, teams wont come to St James park thinking this is the biggest game of their year, teams wont sit back defend and try and counter us, it will be a bit more of a role reversal if anything, I did think we required wholesale changes and Rafa is no stranger to the transfer market, but do we need as big a squad next year. 8 less league games but then these could be countered by more cup games?
Have to go
Haidara
Goufran
Murphy
Sameobi
Good
Saviet
Riviere
A Armstrong (Loan!!)
Woodman (loan)
Mbabu
Thauvin
should go
Sterry
Atsu (find someone better)
Gamez (doesn't really play)
Selz (loan)
Colback
hanley
Dummett (been great this year, found his level)
lazaar (unless he's soo good rafa doesn't wanna draw attention to him?)
Anita
Should stay
Rolando Aarons (last change saloon)
Clark
Lascelles
Hayden
Diame
Perez
Elliot
Darlow
Krul
Mitrovic
De Jong (last chance)
Yedlin
Must retain
Mbemba (best Cb in the squad)
Gayle
Shelvey
Ritchie
Doesn't leave many in the stay camp, so bodies and quality is severely required in my opinion, but it depends what our ambition is. Right now I would take 14th upwards and start from there, grow and build something
Who is good enough to stay and who really needs to go. Next year will be completely different, teams wont come to St James park thinking this is the biggest game of their year, teams wont sit back defend and try and counter us, it will be a bit more of a role reversal if anything, I did think we required wholesale changes and Rafa is no stranger to the transfer market, but do we need as big a squad next year. 8 less league games but then these could be countered by more cup games?
Have to go
Haidara
Goufran
Murphy
Sameobi
Good
Saviet
Riviere
A Armstrong (Loan!!)
Woodman (loan)
Mbabu
Thauvin
should go
Sterry
Atsu (find someone better)
Gamez (doesn't really play)
Selz (loan)
Colback
hanley
Dummett (been great this year, found his level)
lazaar (unless he's soo good rafa doesn't wanna draw attention to him?)
Anita
Should stay
Rolando Aarons (last change saloon)
Clark
Lascelles
Hayden
Diame
Perez
Elliot
Darlow
Krul
Mitrovic
De Jong (last chance)
Yedlin
Must retain
Mbemba (best Cb in the squad)
Gayle
Shelvey
Ritchie
Doesn't leave many in the stay camp, so bodies and quality is severely required in my opinion, but it depends what our ambition is. Right now I would take 14th upwards and start from there, grow and build something



