Championship Starting XI - First Game Of The Season

[orangecity23]

The thought of our recruitment team and director of football trying to get half a squad in, while negotiating sales with Premier League asset strippers, plus Italian and Turkish clubs wasting people's time with offers of feck all, whilst also trying to recruit a new manager? When the last few windows have largely been comprised of spending a great deal of time to do very little at all? It's going to be absolute carnage.

Edited 8 May 2023 by orangecity23

[Vindaloo FOX]

2 hours ago, splinterdream said:

Imagine if you're top, seeing King Power lose serious money, then seeing squad value dissappear, how is rudkin and whelan still in a job, bloke must be so weak

To nice, sees his employees a mates, the club is to soft just like the players.

[STUHILL]

1 hour ago, orangecity23 said:

The thought of our recruitment team and director of football trying to get half a squad in, while negotiating sales with Premier League asset strippers, plus Italian and Turkish clubs wasting people's time with offers of feck all, whilst also trying to recruit a new manager? When the last few windows have largely been comprised of spending a great deal of time to do very little at all? It's going to be absolute carnage.

We probably won’t have enough players to field a starting 11 with days to go, knowing Rudkin.

[ozleicester]

Well, i can start as a centre half, or a CDM.... but not sure ill last 90minutes

[Tanya]

5 hours ago, STUHILL said:

Iverson 

 

Ricardo

Soutar

Faes

Justin

 

New winger

KDH

New CM

New winger

 

Daka

Iheanacho

 

Most important signing for me is that CM. Needs to be an absolute shithouse/leader 

Praying that Soutar/Faes may not be that bad in the Championship! Justin/Ricardo will be great. 

Daka/Iheanacho partnership could score a ton IMO but I accept some have big doubts on Daka. 

 

Needing 2 top wingers is a mess! But, hopefully we uncover a couple of gems. 

Tbh, that isnt a bad side, new signings pending of course.

 

Hope Vards has one more season in him.

 

Also Daka needs to regain his confidence. If he cant score a hatfull in the champ we cut our loses. 

Edited 9 May 2023 by Tanya

[WigstonWanderer]

Get Pearson in to sort us out (again) if he’d come.

[foxinsox]

7 minutes ago, WigstonWanderer said:

Get Pearson in to sort us out (again) if he’d come.

Big Nige would be great, but he said himself that that ship has sailed.

 

Sadly, I think another relegation scrap beckons in the Championship. That's how bad it is.

[dannythefox]

I don’t feel that the players is the issue it’s the manager who I’m more concerned about who will it be we need to get this right first time. We won’t have an issue getting a decent squad together. 

[teblin]

The fact that so many of the players will most probably find top flight football somewhere next season. Shows how much they have let us down this season.

 

 

[LCFCJohn]

Looking realistically (I.e players I would want to go but probably won’t). Also possibly some of these may leave but we won’t know until the summer is done.

 

Goalkeepers

Iverson (Ward/Smithies)

 

Right back

Justin/Ricardo - thinking due to injuries. If one or both do leave, we would need to recruit. Neither of these mentally, are particularly responsible for this season having not played much (which is a different concern)! 
 

Left back

Kristiansen/Thomas - I am confident these guys would be good enough for the championship. Much more priority positions to recruit to than this.

 

Centre back

Souttar

Vestergaard (May finally leave on loan)!

Need probably 2 new here if playing a back 4, maybe even 3 if playing 3 centre backs.

 

Centre midfield

KDH

Mendy - is out of contract but I’d try and keep him if the finances are right

Bradbrooke

Choudhury

 

I think Ndidi would go and Soumare probably back to France. We would need a couple of additions here.

 

Wingers/wide forwards

Start from scratch!!

 

Attacking midfield

Alves? Then start again!

 

Forwards

Daka - may go but hopefully not. Genuinely think under a new manager who could give him a run and confidence, and would good service could smash the championship.

 

So basically as far as starting 11, after defence is kind of is non-existent!!

 

I do think the guys listed above will be fine to keep. Yes they have been part of this squad but if we can bring the right manager in and the new signings can add the mental steel that has been missing, the guys listed above if they stay are the ones I think could lift this side of their game and at least have the right attitude for the most part.

[blue blood]

Question is how deep is the rot.  How big is the cancer that needs removing? How long will the surgery take?  What means do we have to do the job properly?  How long will rehab take?  We may as well start over - if we have the people, means and patience to do so. 

[volpeazzurro]

2 hours ago, Tanya said:

Tbh, that isnt a bad side, new signings pending of course.

 

Hope Vards has one more season in him.

 

Also Daka needs to regain his confidence. If he cant score a hatfull in the champ we cut our loses. 

Doesn't Iheanacho only have another 18 months on his contract? Can't see him wanting to hang around, don't blame him either. 

[volpeazzurro]

53 minutes ago, WigstonWanderer said:

Get Pearson in to sort us out (again) if he’d come.

Without the 3 of them it would be pretty pointless really and perhaps just an ill fated nostalgia trip.

[Realist Guy In The Room]

I imagine Smith will be staying on once we're confirmed as going down.

 

No idea on the starting 11 as the amount of players that will **** off will be frightening.  I don't expect these players to still be here: -

 

Ward

Iverson

Ricardo

Faes

VK

Castagne

Maddison

Barnes

Daka

Nacho

Mendy

Soumare

 

Just to shine an extra ray of sunshine on this.  I can see us badly struggling in the Championship for a couple of seasons.  

Edited 9 May 2023 by Realist Guy In The Room

[Brizzle Fox]

30 minutes ago, Realist Guy In The Room said:

I imagine Smith will be staying on once we're confirmed as going down.

 

No idea on the starting 11 as the amount of players that will **** off will be frightening.  I don't expect these players to still be here: -

 

Ward

Iverson

Ricardo

Faes

VK

Castagne

Maddison

Barnes

Daka

Nacho

Mendy

Soumare

 

Just to shine an extra ray of sunshine on this.  I can see us badly struggling in the Championship for a couple of seasons.  

I'd be interested to know why you think Smith would be kept on for next season, except as a reflection as to how clueless our Board is.

 

Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part that they'll show a bit more imagine than this!

[lcfc sheff]

433

 

                       Iversen

 

Patris (£5m) souttar New CB VK

            
                KDH Hamza New CM

 

        New RW Iheanacho New LW

 

I think, assuming we sign new players for the positions stated, the other 7 players are more than good enough to get us back up but also not charge the club a fortune in wages. Ideally we try and keep iheanacho like Fulham did with Mitrovic, but if he won’t sign a new deal this summer then he’ll have to go assuming he just has one season left on his deal.

[Guest Lcfc82]

Only ones from the 1st team squad who I think we might still keep are.

 

Iversen

Smithies

Justin

VK

Thomas - I would get rid if possible 

Souttar 

KDH

Daka

Iheanacho

 

Plenty of new faces needed

 

 

[Pliskin]

I don’t think there will be a plan. 
 

I genuinely think they will panic and won’t know what to do. First thing will be to pull the plug on the stadium expansion. 
 

Second thing will be to sell Belvoir drive, and possibly fold the female team or move them to Seagrave. 
 

Then what do you do about Seagrave? There’s no way we can afford to keep that open with the loss of premier league revenue…. So do we rent a portion of of it out to the tigers? Or shut most of it down? 
 

The parachute payments won’t really do anything other than go into covering the massive losses we will endure. 
 

Then what of the squad? Most of it will be gone, we’re now less attractive and will probably have to screw up the current list and go looking at a new set of names.

 

It doesn’t bare thinking about really, I’m genuinely worried about the state of next season. Are we even going to have a team? 

[Stuntman_Mike]

There's a case for every single player leaving, but obviously that won't happen. 

 

There's no fight in this team and everyone is jumping ship, why would people want to hang around if the chance of a fresh start comes about? The managerial appointment is absolutely critical. 

[AKCJ]

If we go down then I think we lose Maddison, Tielemans, Barnes, Iheanacho, Faes, Ricardo, Castagne, Justin, Ndidi, Soumare, Daka, Praet, Mendy, Amartey, Soyuncu, Bertrand, Vestergaard, Tete and Evans.

 

That leaves us with Ward, Iversen, Smithies, Kristiansen, Thomas, Souttar, KDH and Vardy (i.e. 3 goalkeepers, 2 left backs, one centre half, one centre mid and one centre forward).

 

Going down is inevitable, whether it be this year or the next IMO.

[pmcla26]

Iversen 

 

New RB 

Souttar 

New CB 

Thomas 

 

Choudhury 

KDH 

 

Albrighton 

New CAM 

New LW 

 

Vardy 

 

Probably will be someone like Russell Martin or Kieran McKenna as manager. 

[lcfcsnow]

5 minutes ago, Pete52 said:

Iversen 

 

New RB 

Souttar 

New CB 

Thomas 

 

Choudhury 

KDH 

 

Albrighton 

New CAM 

New LW 

 

Vardy 

 

Probably will be someone like Russell Martin or Kieran McKenna as manager. 

May as well write next season off as well if we're lining up with a 34 year old winger who can't run, score or create for a 37 year old striker, and yet I wouldn't put it past those in charge to think that's the answer.

[pmcla26]

4 minutes ago, lcfcsnow said:

May as well write next season off as well if we're lining up with a 34 year old winger who can't run, score or create for a 37 year old striker, and yet I wouldn't put it past those in charge to think that's the answer.

I’m not necessarily saying that that’s what I think is best, it’s just what I can see happening. Albrighton maybe a squad player rather than a starter, but I can see Vardy leading the line with a younger prospect as rotation, as JV won’t be able to do a full Championship season. 

[Muzzy_no7]

GK’s: Iverson, Stolarcyck, Smithies

RB’s: Ricardo, Justin

CB’s: Evans, Souttar, Faes, Nelson, Brunt

LB’s: VK, Thomas

 

Possible signings: Jacob Greaves, Ronnie Edwards, Brandon Williams

 

DM’s/CM’s: Mendy, Ndidi, Choudhury, KDH, Braybrooke, McAteer

 

Possible Signings: Alex Scott, Hjulmand

 

AMs/Wingers: Albrighton, Alves, 

 

Possible Signings: B Diaz, Chair, Dolan, Cairney

 

FW’s: Vardy, Iheanacho, Daka, Hirst 

 

SELL: Barnes, Maddison, Ward, Vestergaard,   Praet, Soumare, Castagne, Amartey. (Total should bring in 110m+)

 

Leaving: Soyuncu, Youri, Perez, Bertrand

 

Renew Mendy’s contract.

 

Manager options: Hutter, Hassenhuttl, Benitez, Robins ( if cov fail in play offs) , Knutsen, Will Still. 

[Finnegan]

Iversen - I'd replace if we stay up but he's nailed on first choice in the Champ 

JJ - think his injury history does him out of a move to escape personally. Castagne will go. 

Souttar - new signing, it's his level anyway, very little chance of forcing a move. 

Faes - won't want to stay but like Souttar probably has little choice. 

Kristiansen - mostly as above but also young enough to put up with being well paid in the second tier and it won't stop him getting an international call up. 

 

DM - tough one. Doubt Mendy would stay, we may offer Hamza a contract but he'd probably want long term. Bouba almost certainly leaving and isn't a true DM anyway. Wilf not out of contract and probably done enough to his reputation to find a move away difficult but still suspect he'll go. Be good to see him rebuild his confidence and form if he stays. Could be vital. Suspect a new signing. 

KDH - possibly even captain. Gets his biggest season to date with us. Hopefully Braybrooke is his backup. 

LW & RW - I don't know the football league well enough but can we please, please, please do a Crystal Palace and go bully some other EFL club out of the next Eze/Olise. Go all out and spend the majority of the inevitable Barnes money on a few genuinely promising options with a bit of flair on both sides. 

 

Iheanacho -  the team is built around him. Please, please, please god stay. He'll absolutely monster the second tier. He can flip us off with both hands and fvck off in to the sunset glad to see the back of LCFC for all I care if he takes us back up first attempt, he'll have earned it. A manager should only be recruited if he swears under oath that he recognises Nacho as a natural 10 and the fulcrum of the team. 

Daka - needs a season to rebuild his confidence and would absolutely monster the Championship with an attacking enough team behind him. Another one I desperately hope stays. Think he'll have options but the club shouldn't be short of income with the amount we'll likely sell. He's under contract and seems like an honest pro. As long as his agent isn't a complete tool I think he'll stay and be glad to actually get a shot at being the main man. 

 

Hopefully Vards stays, I'd more than happily give one year contract extensions to Evans, Mendy and Hamza but I doubt they'd take them. Thomas will be decent backup at that level, Ward is fine as second choice, whisper it quietly but Vestergaard is probably acceptable backup in the second tier, a couple of the kids (Alves if he recovers?) maybe get a shot. Interestingly Praet is still contracted til 2024 think he'd be useful at that level, expect he'll want to leave but then nobody wants to match his wages here so idk. 

 

I dunno. I think we have the bones of a side that'd be extremely strong for the Championship if the right manager comes in and lifts everyone's spirits. 

 

I see us making maybe a combined £120 - 160 million in sales from Barnes, Maddison, Castagne, Bouba, maybe Praet and Wilf. Wage bill should get gutted plus parachute payments. 

 

If Iheanacho and Daka go I'll be seriously panicked but otherwise I've just made myself feel fractionally better. 

 

 

Edited 9 May 2023 by Finnegan