So.. post relegation the first job will be to offload the crap... sell the big assets and get that wage bill down massively....... I've had a think about who is likely to be out the door and I've come up with the following: Steven Taylor – out of contract Marv- out of contract- gone Obertan- out of contract- gone Sammy Ameobi – out of contract Haris Vuckic – out of contract Manu Riviere – £1M Yoan Gouffran – Free (the only way to get rid) Remy Cabella- £6.3m (fee agreed) Seydou Doumbia – expiration of loan spell Fabricio Coloccini - Free (wouldn't command a transfer fee surely?) Georginio Wijnaldum – £15M (we should get back what we paid based on the first half of the season. Moussa Sissoko – £10M (he's still rated by other coaches apparently) Florian Thauvin – £7M (big drop in value but a high earner apparently) Andros Townsend – £8M – release clause (certain to go IMHO) Papiss Cisse – £2M (probably heading to Russia Daryl Janmaat – £7M Krul- £8m - I'm certain he'll go. That lot will bring in about £64m I reckon. We'd likely spend less than half of that on replacements to get us out of the championship but on much lower wages. I'd also like to see us fully utilise the loan market. Maybe we can convince Townsend to stay if he were to be loaned to a PL team for a season to allow us to make a fist of coming back up?... thereby enhancing his value too? I'd also like to see us take a couple of PL 'old timer' type players to help bolster the squad. There will be **** loads of comings and goings I reckon but as long as we also bin Charnley and Carr I'll accept it as a necessary process on many levels. Thoughts?
I really like the comment on Townsend going on loan to a PL club, I think he could generate interest and if he didnt have the £8m release clause we would manage to do it, but it will be difficult as he has played so well recently. I tried to think of other players where that would be applicable, but its difficult, maybe Krul? but if we are in need of money we are more likely to cash in. I think Siem De Jong will go, no more than 3-4m Aarons can leave on a free this summer if he choses to Ayoze, im really torn as to whether he will stay, I think he will go tbh Saviet, cant see him staying Tiote off to china/russia? Sammy Ameobi has to go as does Bigi, Vuckic & Curtis Good. It doesnt leave us will many and depending on our managerial position, who realistcally can we attract?
Those, Sams and a whole lot more ACS. I don't think Mbemba and Mitro will be sticking about either. You can't blame them.
I actually think Mitro and Mbemba will stay to be fair. They are young enough to 'wait and see'. Mitro is certainly mad enough and if he does stay and then bangs **** loads of goals in he will be a ****ing god amongst men. I also have a strange feeling Tiote's failed move in January has been a reality check for him and that he may end up staying too.
The new manager is the key here. This next appointment is crucial to get right. If it's wrong then we become the 'new Leeds' and years in the wilderness beckon. The board have shown their astounding ineptitude over countless occasions and quite frankly, i'm dreading what the dribbling buffoons will come up with next. This relegation is just history repeating under Ashley - a succession of poor appointments followed by a good one, far too late.
If Benitez stays then most of our players will aside from Sissoko and Janmaat. Taylor and Coloccini can both **** off though.
It will be very hard to get rid of Coloccini. He is earning c. £4m/year here I believe but what would any other club pay him? £1.5m max? I could see him possibly going on loan somewhere and we pay £2.5m+ of his wages. He really needs to **** off though because he is a total drag on the squad - he's slow, he's not committed, he's error prone, injury prone, and he's a truly awful captain.
I think Ameobi has another year on his contract - I could see him being in the squad. Aarons may still be here and I could see Thauvin coming back tbh.
I'm still in my glass (less than) half empty mode and this is my worry too. We are consoling ourselves with the fact that relegation is at least a chance to shift the deadwood from the squad. My worry is that what we will end up losing is anyone with the remotest signs of green shoots and being left with just the complete deadwood.
Post the last relegation Ashley insisted on it. However... Our January signings apparently insisted on the clauses being removed. I'm therefore convinced that the likes of Colo and Riviere will have a massive drop in wages when we drop.
That's what I thought, so was surprised to read it. Can't say it's anything I have read anything definite about mind.
That would be good news. Would be even better news if we could shift them. I don't have any feelings of hate towards them. Colo was a big player for us for a while and deserves a bit of respect when he goes. He's past it and just **** now, but deserves some appreciation for the past. Riviere was just **** in general and probably couldn't believe his luck at getting signed. Not his fault that Graham Carr thought he was a world beater.
