Just had a discussion with some people. If we were to stay up who do you think would go down and out of those 3 teams who would you realistically like to take off them to either boost the squad or add something. For example my opinion was: Cardiff: Caulker or Noone Fulham: Sidwell (and thats a stretch honestly I would take none of them) my last relegation spot would be between two teams (providing it hopefully isn't us) WBA: Berahino Norwich: Redmond I tried to fit this around positions we need but seen as the respective teams didnt have anyone better I just went for who I thought would be decent.
I think you need to look harder at the younger players we have at Fulham. There's some great talent there, even if our first team is quite old and weak! That said, our best player at the moment looks to be on loan from Spurs. So maybe you could do that again next season.
cardiff - eikrem, fabio, caulker, noone, maybe mutch west brom - Myhill (nostalgia and all that), sessegnon, beharino fulham - stekelenberg, bent, kakaniclic, all players i would have if money wasn't a problem.
I'm still surprised they let him go out on loan, considering they are still in Europe, he would have been very useful.
I would've had Holtby here to be honest. I kind of excluded loan players even though in theory they are more available
You do not want Darren Bent. Believe me. I mean, I'm very happy he scored, but you're much better off with the strikers you currently have.
Cardiff -Caulker would fit nicely with Davies I think, but would it be better than the McShane - Davies pairing for how much he'd cost? -Mutch, Noone and Wittingham are all useful players but I'm not sure they'd be any different to Boyd and Quinn - add depth but not increase our quality. Fulham -I'd agree Sidwell is the only one who'd be worth a look but if we sign Livermore I'd still prefer Hudd and Livermore in the middle. Norwich -Bassong isn't a bad central defender to play next to davies. They have kept 8 clean sheets with him playing this season. -Redmond potentially as a right midfielder to compete with Elmo for that spot as we do need a second player there. West Brom -Myhill back as a backup for McGregor (though Harper expected to stay next season). I do think Foster is better than Myhill but he'll want to be a #1. Sunderland -Adam Johnson as an option for either wing. -Alonso as a left back to compete with Figueroa. Those are the players I think could fit into our squad. Others like Berahino have good potential but I see him as very similar to Aluko and there's no point signing someone we don't need. Right back (competition for Rosenior) Left back (competition for Figueroa) Centre back (strong partner for Davies) Right midfield (competition for Elmo) Those are the positions I can see us strengthening in the summer. Note for the defensive positions I'm not suggesting we need a new defence but we are a bit light at fullback if either Rosenior or Fig get injured so we do need cover there and in the middle I think Faye will be gone, Chester needs more time to grow into this league and Bruce can probably move on. I'd be happy to see Caulker or Bassong in to partner Davies with McShane and Chester both capable rotation/cover.
Sidwell was a stretch to be honest, its funny now that Long has left WBA that I wouldn't really want any other than maybe Berahino and maybe Myhill back. I think every other point you made a agree with
Re RB, I'm hoping that Burnley don't get promoted cause Keiran Trippier would solve that problem. Best RB outside of the PL and better than most in the PL.
Fullback is a tricky position and I'm not convinced we could actually sign anyone better than Rosenior. We could easily spend £5m and get someone who's no better but we do need another in that position so we're not forced to changed system if Rosenior is injured/suspended. The problem though is any backup would have to be both A) Willing to be backup and B) Still a good player so we're not screwed if they do play. The ideal system is two fairly even players who fight for the shirt and get it based on meritocracy, similar to how our 2nd centre back spot has changed around through the season and how Clyne and Chambers work at Southampton: Whoever plays keeps the shirt as long as they're playing well. If they drop performance the other comes in. Can be difficult keeping both happy though. Still, I can't see anyone in those teams who I'd say is a better right back than Rosenior. Trippier is a good schout but I expect them to go up.
What would our chances be of having boaz back if they got relegated. I know we've got haper as a backup next year more or less, but thats only next year and there's no guarantee of wba getting back in at the first time of asking
I think if we didn't have Harper for another year, Boaz would be a dead cert to return if WBA went down.
Depends on him. If West Brom go down they may well lose Foster, leaving Myhill as first team starter in a championship team pushing for promotion. I'd say that would keep him there. If they go down and Foster stays I can't see him staying as backup in the Championship so he'd have to either find another Championship club to be the #1 or move to a Premiership team like us as backup. He still has a few good years in him as a #1 somewhere so I wouldn't be rurprised to see him push for that option after benchwarming at West Brom for the majority of his time there.
Never mind players... Look at the run-ins Norwich Run in 11/02/2014 A WEST HAM 23/02/2014 H SPURS 01/03/2014 A ASTON VILLA 08/03/2014 H STOKE 15/03/2014 A SOUTHAMPTON 22/03/2014 H SUNDERLAND 29/03/2014 A SWANSEA 05/04/2014 H WEST BROM 12/04/2014 A FULHAM 19/04/2014 H LIVERPOOL 26/04/2014 A MAN UTD 03/05/2014 A CHELSEA 11/05/2014 H ARSENAL Last four games...OMG Sunderland run in 12/02/2014 A MAN CITY 22/02/2014 A ARSENAL 01/03/2014 H WEST BROM 08/03/2014 A LIVERPOOL 15/03/2014 H CRYSTAL PAL 22/03/2014 A NORWICH 29/03/2014 H WEST HAM 05/04/2014 A SPURS 12/04/2014 H EVERTON 19/04/2014 A CHELSEA 26/04/2014 H CARDIFF 03/05/2014 A MAN UTD 11/05/2014 H SWANSEA Just look at those away games!!! Horrible...Poor Dirty Macs
