So with the following guys released/not being offered a contract, what do we need for next season Released: Elliot Hewitt Jack Marriott Contracts not offered yet: Paul Anderson Richard Chaplow Noel Hunt Stephen Hunt Darren Ambrose Contract Extension (Just for Spanish): Jay Tabb personally, shocked tabby got offered something and Ando not. So by the looks of it, we need another RB, Wide midfielders, creative Central midfields, that's got to be the focus for the close season.
Tabb had a clause in his contract activated due to appearances or something so tbf he earned it.......doubt he will be in the initial first team plans.. I think main target s will be wide midfielders........... Defence is sorted...maybe a RB. Central mid ....Bish and Skuse. UpFront......Murph Sears and Goldy.
Its more adding depth in squad now for us, that really cost us around January/Feb time, murph was playing with an injury and it would have been nice to be able to rest some players. defensively, we are ok if everybody is available, but it would only take a couple of injuries and we are stretched. Its going to be an interesting few weeks for us.
It all depends, I think, on how seriously ME wants us to get into the Prem. If he truly wants it he's gonna have to spend and not rely on possible loans or quick fixes. Let's hope he is willing to do so.
Yes I think its put up or shut up time for ME, he either builds on this squad and we continue to progress or he keeps his hands in his pocket and we go backwards again.
" defensively, we are ok if everybody is available " Are we? 3 clean sheets in the past 25 I read somewhere. I think we need a new keeper/ new RB/ possibly a new partner for Berra/ Holding mid and winger. I think Mings will be sold, and depending if McGoldrick signs a new deal he could be off. Same with Bishop if big ££££ comes in. Hoping Cressy goes for big ££££ so we have a lovely windfall on the way. I think Matt Clark will replace Mings @ LB, Benyu could be in the squad, Donnolly and the Irish lad whose visa will be sorted and is meant to be as good as the Bish. Bring it on. * Wouldn't be surprised to see Chaplow/ N.Hunt back yet. No point offering them a deal now and wasting two months or so wages on them.
tbh westie, defensively we are ok if Tommy plays on the left and berra on the right as was the first half of the season, why they switched Christ knows.
That also linked with us playing 4-3-3 with McGoldrick fit. McGoldrick is key to the team in many areas, even defensively, as the ball sticks to him like glue and he takes pressure off people. 4-4-2 no McGoldrick and much more direct = a shattered midfield and a defence getting deeper and deeper.
I agree that a new, quick right-back is one of our most important summer requirements. I think Luke Chambers is a capable defender, who will play more consistently in his natural position in the centre of defence, but as an attacking outlet down that flank, Chambers let us down with some erratic crossing. Elliott Hewitt has been released, so I imagine that Mick must be looking to bring in some reinforcements down that side, otherwise we're going to be left short in that area again. A central midfielder could be crucial. If we're playing a 4-3-3 formation, I imagine Skuse, Bru, and Bishop (should we keep hold of him) are our first choice trio. But having another player who can provide creativity, while remaining composed on the ball, is important, especially considering Bishop is still young and developing, and Bru is prone to inconsistency. We arguably need two more central midfielders to help out in that respect. If we're playing 4-4-2, a winger is a necessary purchase. Is Henshall ready? Will Stewart avoid the fitness problems that dogged this year? Having pacey, creative threats down the flanks are a crucial component to the 4-4-2 formation, and it's something I think we sorely lack. Regarding Bart in goal, I think we could do better, but he's a capable Championship-level goalkeeper and he has kept us in games with an array of fine saves, before his mistakes in the play-off semis. I believe it's better to invest in other areas. Our strikeforce is looking potent and, when fully fit, an attacking trio of McGoldrick, Sears, and Murphy will be the envy of most of our league opponents, especially considering their goalscoring form over the past couple of seasons. I believe every club should have four strikers in their squad, at the least, so bringing in some kind of support for the season ahead would be a welcome move. Should Mings leave the club, and I think it's looking likely, then we need to sign a new left-back as we don't have a talented, ready-made replacement.
Parr I think is capable to take over from mings, perhaps even a bit more consistent, and with clark as back up, then on the left we should be ok. agree with nuggets on the RB situation, really needs looking at unless mick has faith in Kyle Hammond stepping up to the first team. we have Hyam can cover Skuse, but agree we need at least 1 other creative central player, plus some width.
Fair point about Parr, Guru, he slipped my mind. Hopefully Clarke would be ready to step in for support, he needs to be given minutes this pre-season. True, Hyam can cover for Skuse, although his form before his latest injury was a little worrying. But yes, a creative player, or two, is what we need and a couple of wingers. Sadly, I'm not sure how Mick is going to address these shortcomings on a budget. Of course, should Mings and Bishop leave, and Cresswell secures a move to a bigger club, then Evans will hopefully redirect the funds to something resembling a transfer budget.
if mings goes and cressy get snapped up by citeh, we could be looking at roughly 12million at least cold hard cash by my reckoning. I would hope that at least 4 million could be set aside for team rebuilding in either wages or transfer fees.
Agree with most of what has been said. I feel we could do with a better GK. Priority position as it has been for the past 6/7 years is RB, David Wright was the last time we had an established RB and that's 7 years ago, it's getting ridiculous!!! Then we definitely need some wingers on both side unless others already in and around the squad can step up. I also feel we need at least 1 more CM who is a playmaker. Skuse doesn't control a game, Bru is decent but that's about it, he's a good squad member and Bishop is young so you're not going to get consistant performances yet. We need someone who is able to take the pressure off of us and keep the ball, not even someone neccessarily creative just some who can control the tempo of a game (I still think if asked and coached properly that could be Skuse). Shame Varney got injured as I though he looked a handy player to have, either as a wide player or striker. I feel we could do with at least 1 more striker also, if Murphy gets injured, we're very direct but have noone to go direct to then also if Sears gets injured we don't really have anyone who can stretch the back 4 (Varney could play both of these roles)
I thought we looked poor alot of the time when McGoldrick was in the team this season. I thought particularly with him and Murphy upfront together we looked really static. Under Mick previously we have been a solid team who heavily relied on the individual brilliance of the crosses from Cresswell and McGoldricks wonder strikes, this season we look more cohesive as a unit going forwards and I felt McGoldrick was still trying to do it all by himself and actually it meant he lost the ball alot or shot from silly positions when he could've played a simple pass. It'll take me some convincing next season that we weren't wrong in selling him to Leicester for £££. For me Sears and Murphy have to play with McGoldrick only coming in as part of a forward 3 or behind the 2 strikers.
Might get shot down for this one, but if we get a bid of around 3million for murphy, should we sell? he isn't getting any younger plus will he reproduce his goals from this year.
We were wrong to not sell him for the ridiculous fee we turned down ( a lot more than the £7 mill people were on about ) but we're a far better side with him than without.
No I don't think I'd sell Murphy. Whilst I'm still not convinced he's the best player around, he had an exceptional season last year and that's come from good coaching, alot of hard work on his part and a settled environment and a run of games in one position. Since ME has been here we've had far more talented players than Murphy but since ME has been here not many strikers have been in an environment that is condusive for them to flourish until now. Yes I think we were very wrong not to sell him. No doubting talent wise he is one of if not our best player, however I feel often with him in the side we look a little unbalanced, would be interesting to see him in a team with Sears (although we'd have to change the way we play). I still think Murphy/Sears looks a really balanced partnership
