I would be more than happy for a new No. 1 to come in but think it is a case of get to the back of the queue for Johansen - Top goalie and zero chance he stays at Rotherham in L1Presuming we’re staying in the Championship next season we need to still do a lot of work with this squad to enable it to compete at the top.
Goalkeepers:
Out: Wilson, Moore
In: Need to spend some decent money on a top keeper. It makes a huge difference. Need to find the next Kieran Westwood and the impact he made when we signed him. Johansson at Rotherham probably going to a Euro side in the summer but would happily take him:
Defenders:
Out: Binks, Jay Dasilva
In: probably two at the LB/LWB position. A younger Jake Bidwell type and a proper LWB option.
Also, we need someone more experienced than Thomas and a Fadz replacement. Likely to pair with Kitching.
Midfield:
Out: Sheaf. Controversial but not ever getting a full season is causing us issues. Also summer would be the time to get maximum value from him and continue the reinvestment.
CoH won’t be here so that is a decision that will be made by him.
Palmer: An enigma and isn’t the future. Move him off our wage bill.
Kelly: Writing is on the wall
In: The next Sheaf, the next CoH, some more cover in the DM and attacking mid position. Also look at another right sided winger.Left will be covered by Mas
Strikers
Out: Godden and Taveres. One isn’t at this level anymore and the later isn’t going to be at this level.
In: We need 2 strikers in, one being at a level they’re regularly scoring goals and the other an upcoming younger talent.
All in all a very busy summer.
A name to keep an eye on: Mathias Kvistgaarden.
Heard something?A name to keep an eye on: Mathias Kvistgaarden.
Can’t go into next season with one striker and one RB or frankly shit keepers
A £1M transaction is a £500K in old money from last year?Also I’m not convinced by this splashing £4m+ on players. I don’t think we’ve done significantly better than when we were buying £1m players so I’d restrict the scouting team and get them to focus on bargains again not £8m strikers and £5m L1 players. More Torps and Sakas.
There is no chance EMC plays in centre midfield.Each year many (including me) produce lists of 6-8 playing positions highlighting all the gaps. Then, last summer excepted, we have added a couple maybe and a loan or two, but still continued upward in the League.
Better to think in terms of the absolute top priorities, and they are where we are weak as defined by being substandard in our best 1st eleven.
Assume EMC, Wright and Simms all play, as given the money spent on them it would be mad if they weren't. Also O'Hare goes
I come up with something like this. Other opinions are available
Collins
MVE - Kitching - Thomas - Bidwell
Sheaf - Torp - EMC
Saka - Simms - Wright
Squad: Wilson, Burroughs, Da Silva, Lati, Eccles, Palmer. Everybody else is substandard - Kelly, Godden, Tavares, Howley etc
What shouts is 1. A goalkeeper who commands his area and has quicker distribution 2. A left back as solid as Bidwell in defence but better at going forward. 3. Cover at centre-back (this could be a loan). 4. An alternative to Simms (again possibly a loan).
King has to get his head around how useful loans can be - we ended up acquiring Sheaf, O'Hare and Vik. McNally and Doyle were a major part of last season's run
Think you're being a bit OTT on a couple of things. Collins isn't sh*t, and Latibeaudiere, Eccles and Burroughs can cover RB or RWB if we need them. Don't think it's realistic to expect two players of MvE's calibre in that position.
A cheap freebie or a young gamble there is fine for when MvE needs a rest.
Collins has been unable to consistently displace Wilson. We can do better IMO.
If DK and MR think we've got enough cash to upgrade on Collins without compromising priorities (CB, CM, CAM, Fwd), fine. We can always theoretically do better, but that's true of everyone in the squad e.g. LB and LWB.
RE: the RB spot, I'd rather we get CB and CM filled-out with specialists so Latibeaudiere is RB cover unless we're massively in the sh*t with injuries in other positions. Feel like you're expecting us to spend more than we can / will is all.
I think we need 25/26 players over a season, that’s roughly what we use and we’re one of the lowest in the division. The arse end of that is Allen Tavares and the kids, the second tier needs to be good enough and specialised enough IMO. We have no cover for MvE or Torp or Simms or Saka or Collins really. O’Hare and Binks are off and IMO we need a better LB.
If we want to try in the cups and sustain a playoff push I think we need 8 players of quality in.
I think we need a combination of both.Also I’m not convinced by this splashing £4m+ on players. I don’t think we’ve done significantly better than when we were buying £1m players so I’d restrict the scouting team and get them to focus on bargains again not £8m strikers and £5m L1 players. More Torps and Sakas.
I think we need a combination of both.
Players are available for £1m for a reason and normally it’s because they are inconsistent or unproven. You therefore increase the risk with them. If they are £1m because their contract is due expire then that is different.
Once we start paying above £3m is dramatically reduces the competition for the player, and the valuation implies a higher degree of potential or track record.
Kitching has proven to be miles better signing than DaSilva and Lati who have both been extremely underwhelming imo.Im just not sure we’ve got better value from: Wright, Simms, MvE, EMC (TBD), and Kitching as we have from Torp, Saka, Thomas, Dasilva, Lats, Collins
The former came in at over £20m plus add ons, the latter less than half that if we want depth I think we need to load up on the riskier signings for it.
Kitching has proven to be miles better signing than DaSilva and Lati who have both been extremely underwhelming imo.
if its 8 Da Silvas or 3 Kitchings i know which I would prefer.And Saka is better than all of them. That’s why I’m saying in the round. Where have we got better value. In the summer if it’s a choice between 8-9 £1m type players and 2-3 £3M I know which I’d prefer.
if its 8 Da Silvas or 3 Kitchings i know which I would prefer.
Kitching has proven to be miles better signing than DaSilva and Lati who have both been extremely underwhelming imo.
Also paying £5m for L1 players really sticks in my throat. We sold Maddison and Wilson for £3M
That’s was 8 years ago.Also paying £5m for L1 players really sticks in my throat. We sold Maddison and Wilson for £3M
That’s was 8 years ago.
Transfer fees have exploded since then ….. Championship clubs were not selling midfielders for £15m back then either.
Unlikely imo.Has anyone seen much of Obikwu, he looked good in preseason, know if he’ll make the mark?
Yes Ricky-Jade jones, just what we need, another striker who can't score.Collins | Wilson
MvE | Burroughs
Thomas | Lati
Kitching | new CB
Bidwell | Dasilva
Sheaf | Eccles
Torp | new CM
Sakamoto | new RW
new CAM | Palmer
Wright | EMC
Simms | new ST
Thats 3 additions, and 2 players per position, potentially could bring in another CB and have Lati as a flexible player and maybe get another who can do multiple positions as well. Then I’d check the loan markets to see if there’s any quality players available that we wouldnt be able to otherwise get ahold of.
In terms of who I’d like to see come in
CB - Binks (however its unlikely, so maybe Charlie Cresswell)
CM - Armin Gigovic, Swedish number 8 playing for Midtjylland could be a good understudy to Torp
RW - Tyrhys Dolan
CAM - Ianis Haji
ST - Ricky-Jade Jones
Yes Ricky-Jade jones, just what we need, another striker who can't score.
Also paying £5m for L1 players really sticks in my throat. We sold Maddison and Wilson for £3M
That’s was 8 years ago.
Transfer fees have exploded since then ….. Championship clubs were not selling midfielders for £15m back then either.
8 goals and 4 assists this season, 21 years old, can play across the front line and in CAMYes Ricky-Jade jones, just what we need, another striker who can't score.
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