January and the Summer

[Jonzey01]

Keen for people’s sensible thoughts on what we should do in January and in the summer this year across the club.

 

For me changing the manager now isn’t going to get us anywhere. He has brought through and developed young players within the team, and got us organised against the big teams the 433 works well in these games, as we were very open previously and last season and never really looked threatening for long enough.  

 

Our inability to set up and break down the Cardiff’s, Palace’s and Fulham’s of the world is worrying which is why I would like to see the below.

 

For me he should be moving on the Okazaki’s, Kings, James, Jakupovic and Slimanis of the squad with a view to signing 2 more premier league experienced players. Get them off the wage bill and spend the money wisely, we aren’t that far away from being a really good side.

 

Puel generally had been decent in the window, with Ricardo, Evans, Maddison all being decent signings, you’re not going in the wrong direction signing players like them if we can add two more in key positions I can see us cementing our place in the top 10.

 

However, why we have not signed an effective second striker in 4/5 years is beyond me. Someone like a Josh King or Callum Wilson, Danny Ings, Charlie Austin wouldn’t be a bad place to look, to allow us to play to our strengths getting the ball forward quickly when on the break.

 

An experienced winger who is more reliable and consistent than Gray, Ghezzal or Diabate would be great. Harvey Barnes back would help.

 

Why we showed no interest in Felipe Anderson or Yarmolenko in the summer is beyond me, as we were keen on Sigurdsson the year before for similar money. 

 

What are peoples sensible thoughts on plans for Jan/ Summer?

[KrefelderFox666]

January is in Winter

[mozartfox]

This window is all about shifting as many as we can off the wage bill. No point in bringing anyone in other than the two loanees.  

 

Next summer we have several contracts expiring, so that is generic culling.    No sentimental Contract extensions should be granted. 

 

Between now and June our scouting network need to get busy looking for this much-needed striker and creative midfielder and a couple of young potential gems.  If Harry goes, this cash needs to spent wisely.

[The Doctor]

Needs another striker, CM and winger desperately. Nothing left to play for but where between 7th and 11th we finish so probably worth giving Harvey Barnes a chance on the latter. Sell as many pointless players (Ghezzal, James, Iborra, Silva, Benalouane, King, Okazaki, Fuchs) as we can, no extensions for those out of contract at the end of the season. 

[Gazza M]

The Jan window must be to get as many unwanted players out and gone as possible. The one thing we need above anything else is a striker and I would concentrate solely on that as a signing objective. I would recall Barnes also. 

The summer we will need 6 or 7 strong signings for sure. 

[surrifox]

Doubt if CP needs telling this - it must be tricky when you’ve got the likes of Benalouane and his coterie of “likers” banging on about being given a chance and they’ve done all they can in training to justify selection when they’re clearly just not good enough . If that’s the vibe around the place we’re well rid of them and that extends to the rest of the old guard who have nothing left to offer .

 

if the future is ( as it should be )with young players then continue with that policy . There’s nothing left to play for now . We can look at a marquee signing or two in the summer market 

[brucey]

I’d leave Barnes at WBA for now, particularly since there’s no more cup games. Keep Puel and give him the summer window to see what he can do. A bunch of out of favour and out of contract players leaving frees up squad space and wages. Puel plugged the most glaring holes last time and he may be able to plug the new hole (striker). Don’t mind Morgan and Simpson getting a year’s extension. I guess the transfer strategy will depend partially on if we make Europa. Slightly concerned that league results will start to tank, towards the end of last season it felt to me like the players were really not keen to finish 7th and have the extra games.

[Nicolo Barella]

When does Benalouane leave?

[mozartfox]

5 hours ago, brucey said:

I’d leave Barnes at WBA for now, particularly since there’s no more cup games. Keep Puel and give him the summer window to see what he can do. A bunch of out of favour and out of contract players leaving frees up squad space and wages. Puel plugged the most glaring holes last time and he may be able to plug the new hole (striker). Don’t mind Morgan and Simpson getting a year’s extension. I guess the transfer strategy will depend partially on if we make Europa. Slightly concerned that league results will start to tank, towards the end of last season it felt to me like the players were really not keen to finish 7th and have the extra games.

Morgan’s and Simpson another year? After that performance - Why?  We have to move on.

 

[Hanan96]

5 minutes ago, mozartfox said:

Morgan’s and Simpson another year? After that performance - Why?  We have to move on.

 

If maguire left then we have soyuncu, benkovic, and evans as cb

Would rather have him as 4th cb rather than signing new cb. The money can be used at another place

 

 

But if maguire stays, then sayonara.. 

[mozartfox]

What about a young Darnell Johnson instead of a 36 (Thirty Six) year old CB?

[Gwyn]

Don't forget we've still got that lad from the rezzy's who looked good before he got injured. Can't recall his name right now, but he looked pretty sharp, both footed too

[Bert]

I think we need to sign a striker now that can do Vardys job (he’s irreplaceable) when he comes off or is ruled out, with the vision of whoever it might be being a long term replacement. 

 

In the summer we need a squad overhaul. Luckily it’s already quite clear who will be on their way and I know the club are already in the process of looking at new player recruits. 

 

As for the manager, barring some truly awful results he’s going to be here until the summer at least and should we not make Europe then he should go. I can see what he’s trying to do and regardless of how we play and how inconsistent we are what he’s done in developing certain players has been fantastic. 

 

Rome wasnt built in a day. Sadly the weight of expectation has changed massively since we won the league. The price of success eh? 

[volpeazzurro]

11 hours ago, surrifox said:

Doubt if CP needs telling this - it must be tricky when you’ve got the likes of Benalouane and his coterie of “likers” banging on about being given a chance and they’ve done all they can in training to justify selection when they’re clearly just not good enough . If that’s the vibe around the place we’re well rid of them and that extends to the rest of the old guard who have nothing left to offer .

 

if the future is ( as it should be )with young players then continue with that policy . There’s nothing left to play for now . We can look at a marquee signing or two in the summer market 

Yes agreed. We need the fire sale of ill bought ill fitting players and that won't sit well with Benalouane and his ilk. Why are we surprised that there is some discontent in the camp?  It's entirely predictable and a process that has to be gone through, not a time to wimp out now. This includes Silva and Iborra who sadly, are just not up to the Premiership yet it's going to cost the club dearly financially and it's not, as some people forget,  an imaginary bottomless financial pit. The seemingly new youthful purchase model has got to be the way forward, albeit with all the inherent inconsistencies of younger players. For once in our history we need to stick to the vision and plan or we'll merely remain in this middle group of 'also rans' until history repeats itself and we're relegated.