At the time of writing, we sit 2nd top of the league. Second top!
That's the result of a team with some top players, backed up by workers who do the grind, and managed by a quietly spoken master of the game.
There's some in the squad who have had minimal game time this season and have little chance of getting more than tiny amounts of playing time going on into the future.
This is a tough moment. The group are family and some have given the club the best years of their professional lives.
But if we want to strengthen - and I guess our owners do - then the squad needs some work.
So who would you thank, and now sell / retire from playing staff / free transfer in January?
My thoughts for outgoings, in no particular order:
Dubz - 33
Mark Gillespie - 30
Loris Karius - 29
Jamaal Lascelles - 29
Paul Dummett - 31
Javier Manquillo - 28
Jonjo Shelvey - 30
Matt Ritchie - 33
Jacob Murphy - 27
Ryan Fraser - 28
There can't be much sentiment if we want another striker / left sides player in, or to give younger players with potential to get playing experience.
That's the result of a team with some top players, backed up by workers who do the grind, and managed by a quietly spoken master of the game.
There's some in the squad who have had minimal game time this season and have little chance of getting more than tiny amounts of playing time going on into the future.
This is a tough moment. The group are family and some have given the club the best years of their professional lives.
But if we want to strengthen - and I guess our owners do - then the squad needs some work.
So who would you thank, and now sell / retire from playing staff / free transfer in January?
My thoughts for outgoings, in no particular order:
Dubz - 33
Mark Gillespie - 30
Loris Karius - 29
Jamaal Lascelles - 29
Paul Dummett - 31
Javier Manquillo - 28
Jonjo Shelvey - 30
Matt Ritchie - 33
Jacob Murphy - 27
Ryan Fraser - 28
There can't be much sentiment if we want another striker / left sides player in, or to give younger players with potential to get playing experience.
