pure pontification but if, just if......we ended up in the premier league for the 2013/2014 season. which of our current squad (including loanees) are good enough to hold their place for games against the likes of manyoo, man city, chelski etc?
Chester, Koren, Elmo, Quinn and Aluko are the certainties for me. Brady, Dudgeon, Fryatt, Hobbs are all in the 'probably' pot for me.
Yes: Chester, Hobbs, Elmo, Rosey, Brady, Cairney, Quinn, Koren & Aluko. Maybe: Faye (fitness would be very questionable), Evans, Dudge, Prozzy, Simmo, Fryatt & Jakupovic. No: McShane, Bruce, McKenna, Oli, Mclean & Cullen. Mostly pure speculation of course and I've probably missed a few that don't feature very often.
Apart from perhaps Fryatt, certainly none of our forwards - Proschwitz, Cullen, Simpson and McLean - 169 City league games between them, and a brilliant 23 goals
I probably would only add 1 or 2 signings, handle relegation gracefully after 1 season, plough some money into a new academy. Build again, from a better base.
I defiantly think that Hobbs, Chester, Koren, Brady, Aluko and Fryatt are all quality, plus Quinn and Elmo. I think these players would do a good job for us in premier league should we get there.
I concur. We could also stay up that way if other teams implode. Use the prem money to buy the stadium only and invest in youth development. Go back to the land issue at a later date with a stronger hand.
I read that as Karren Brady and had a mini heart attack, Proshwitz is obviously not good enough from what we've seen of him. But if we do go up he's only 50% through his city career between now and then. Plenty of time to find his feet, however unlikely that seems.
From our current squad (loanees included), Koren, Chester, Elo, Aluko, Quinn, Hobbs and possibly Brady, Cairney, Dudgeon and Evans would cut it in the premier league for a side of our stature. We would of course need to strengthen our squad within sensible means to improve our chances of survival. If we do go up it'll be a battle to stay up though as Norwich and Swansea have shown you don't need star names to survive in the top flight.
I would have included Meyler but as it looks like he's heading back to Sunderland I missed him off the list. Stockdale would be there as well should he return.
Brady, Elmo, Meyler, Stockdale all perm and I think that's a long way towards having a premier league standard 11. plus the socks off striker we'll secure in January of course.
Hang on a minute. Koren - Not good enough last time in the Prem. Elmo, Meyler - On loan cause they cant get in a lower Prem club. Rosenior - Been there done it, but was he good enough last time?? Quinn - Big jump from League One to Championship then Prem a season after for any ball playing midfielder?? Ash did it but was a different type of player - kicking lumps is the same in any League. Fryatt - Come on people, his lack of pace would be highlighted in the same way Wayne Browns was. I'd have Aluko, Hobbs and Chester down as maybe, I don't think we have any stand out players that we could say any lower end Prem team would take from us apart from these 3 maybe. Don't want to be negative but we are not that good yet, this is a very decent Championship squad and thats all at the minute.
you can't go and buy a complete new team, look at QPR. On the other hand, look at Reading ! - stormed the championship last season and they are nowhere near good enough !
How do you come to the conclusion that Koren wasn't good enough in the Prem last time? He played well for West Brom every time I saw them and a lot of their fans were sad to see him go. He only left as they had too many central midfielders. Elmo is out of favour with MON, doesn't mean he can't hack it. Meyler was mostly sent here to get back to full fitness. Rosey has played about 100 odd games in the Prem and that was when he was a lot younger, he looked a top prospect at Fulham and showed he's capable. Quinn has played in the top tier before with Sheff Utd, from his performances for us he looks like he could make the step up. I agree Fryatt's lack of pace would be an issue in certain situations but don't forgot what he's really good at. Fryatt loves to have a few touches and play the ball around, the extra time on the ball you get in the Prem would most likely benefit his game. We'd definitely need a good 4/5 new first team players to come in or else we'd go a similar way to Reading so far this season but I don't think all our players would look out of their depth.
Terrible thread this got me all pissed off, sorry bft. Really enjoying our season and maybe Been champs!! But thinking of next season-oh ****ing hell.
i did make it clear that it was hypothetical and in no way expectational. no difference between this and a transfer thread really is there?
Just seen Brad Guzan have a decent game in goal for Villa and ship 8 I don't much fancy seeing how Jakupovic fares
