Squad for the Championship

[Jazzy_Jeff]

We will have an exodus like we did after the last relegation.

 

We will have to build a team around Souttar, Nelson, Woyo, JJ, Skipp and Fatawu.

 

Lots of loans, frees and budget signings.

 

Huge points deduction and financial restrictions. Going to be fun. 

[JJD_LCFC]

On 27/12/2024 at 15:20, LCFCJohn said:

I think we still could have a good squad for the level.

 

Goalkeepers

Stolarcryk - needs a new deal as it runs out on 2026

Assuming Hermansen goes for PSR reasons (and because he is too good to play in the Championship again), and we do the right things and don’t offer Ward or Iverson new contracts! We could need a new keeper to challenge JS. Third keeper from the academy.

 

 

Cover/new rb - he has been doing well at PV so wonder if he will step up. Can b play RWB as well.

 

Unsure what will become of Ricardo as he has a year left until 2026. I am unsure we need 3 right backs but also can we rely on a young Brandon Cover coming through and an injury prone Ricardo. Could be too much to put on Cover so still thbom

we need a new RB. 

 

Nelson - hopefully returns well from injury but was doing really well.

Okoli - should be good at that level.

Vestergard - still has 2 years left so can’t see him moving on. Doesn’t seem to be a bad egg as such but hopefully wages will reduce with relegation. 
Coady - same as Vestergard.

New CB - get Faes out the club and replace. 
 

Souttar - we done need 6 CB’s so the new CB might depend on whether Souttar stays at Sheffield United if they go up or goes elsewhere. Or if we could shift Vestergard or Coady as Souttar could replace on of them. I suppose we will be sitting on 6 CB’s come the summer and if you want new blood, we need to shift two, Faes plus one of the above 3.

 

LB is unknown. I’d be happy with Kristiansen plus a new. Looks like Thomas still has a year but is clearly done here despite the fact I have really wanted him to succeed. Probably a new CB but keep Thomas as back up if VK goes or if VK stays, bring in competition and lose Thomas. 

Skipp - probably won’t be able to shift him after a year but can probably be a strong player at Championship level despite being indifferent this season. Depends if he is a ‘good egg’ and hard working etc. Any kind of attitude, thinking he’s better than he is etc I’d try to move him on. Also unsure of wages here.

Winks - contract up in 2026 so not sure what happens here but purely from a playing point of view he’d be good to keep.

 

Soumare/Ndidi/Choudhury are all unknowns. You’d probably part ways with all if you could as part of a clean slate and bringing new faces in. Unsure how likely it is but at the same time, if their heads were in the right place, they can all offer something. You don’t want to keep all 3, maybe one or two.
 

ATTACKING MIDS

Bilal - it wouldn’t surprise me if we had offers for him. Hopefully we can keep as he’d be excellent but might be a PSR casualty.

Alves - will he ever play?

 

WINGERS/WIDE FORWARDS

Fatawu - hopefully the injury means we keep him. 
Mavididi - hadn’t really proved himself this season so assuming he doesn’t get other offers, we know he can do it in style at that level.

 

STRIKERS

Vardy - got to try and keep him.

Cannon

Unsure what will happen with Vardy and Daka. I like Daka but it might be best if we could part ways with him going into his last year of wages wise it is more financially viable to replace.
 

 

Release out of contract

WARD!!

Iverson

 

Sell and get away from the squad (at all costs).

Faes

Justin

 

Sell but less urgent than above (or selling is unlikely so realistically we probably keep some of all of these)

Daka

Soumare

Vestergard and/or Coady 

Ayew - unlikely to go but one year left and could offer something as a squad player/experience if he is the right character.

BDR - Same as above with Ayew but 2 years left.

Braybrooke - based on getting no minutes for a long time now isn’t going to make it so we should get him gone for the sake of him having a career all.

Thats just a run down of what we have now but it’s really difficult without concept of who might go and the likelihood. You could put loads in the ‘bin’ list but realistically, many probably won’t so it’s looking who can still offer at that level and keeping those who at least could show the right personality for the fight. 

Thank you for your reply. Even though maybe wary to discuss relegation it is great to hear other perspectives. 
 

I agree Hermansen will be sold. He will not want another year in the championship when we can see he is easily premier league level. Chelsea or man city could be in for him. 
 

I do rate Jakub Stolaryck. And feel a season in the championship will actually do him well. 
 

I would imagine we keep Ricardo and then possibly the new signing from Parma for the RB role. Struggle to see Ricardo being sold with another injury. 
 

Souttar and Nelson would be a decent CB. Sell Faes, and then we will likely have to keep coady and vestegaard. 
 

I would keep VK if he wants to stay. When he went to bologna it was thought he didn’t want to change his role. I think he will do well next year. Possibly keep Thomas for a season as well as back up if possible. 
 

i would try to keep Winks for the season again. As well as Ndidi. Possibly even soumare as that is a strong cm for the championship.

 

Ayew and Reid can be decent squad players or even Ayew starting striker if others are sold / released. 

 

I can see Faes, BEK, Hermansen and Cannon being sold. I would personally keep Cannon for next season but I fear our board want him gone now. I would also keep Okoli and play him now. I might be wrong but I think he has far more potential than any of our current cbs. that should bring in 50 - 60 million for those 4.  Hopefully that is enough with PSR now. 

I think a loan move for Alves and Sammy Braybrooke is essential. They need matches and a loan to league one / two would be ideal for both. Staying here and not playing games is benefiting no one. 
 

fatawu and mavididi we know can do well in the championship. Depending on how Fatawu recovers from a long term injury. 

Of can remove the players with bad attitude and bring together a youthful squad who want to play for our team. Could be another exciting season ahead in the championship. 
 

 

 

[RowlattsFox]

Last time we went down we had sellable assets. This time we have Mads and that's about it. Faes will go, maybe even on Jan but who's going to want anyone else? 

[Lesta2014]

1 minute ago, RowlattsFox said:

Last time we went down we had sellable assets. This time we have Mads and that's about it. Faes will go, maybe even on Jan but who's going to want anyone else? 

BEK?

[RowlattsFox]

Just now, Lesta2014 said:

BEK?

Maybe, but whilst he's been a bright spark, has he done enough to warrant a move? Probably got a decent enough reputation to get a move back to Europe. Would like to keep him for a season in the championship though. 

[Lesta2014]

18 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

Maybe, but whilst he's been a bright spark, has he done enough to warrant a move? Probably got a decent enough reputation to get a move back to Europe. Would like to keep him for a season in the championship though. 

I’d want to keep him, think in a team that can actually pass properly and create chances he’d be very good. 

[Jazzy_Jeff]

BEK would be unreal in the championship, can see him/agent pushing for a move though.

 

I think Faes, Vestergaard, Mads, VK, Ndidi, Soumare, Winks will all definitely go.

 

Wouldnt surprise me if we try to shift several others. 

[Pliskin]

We’re only two points from safety….. how about we start these threads later of necessary? 

[Gubbins]

6 minutes ago, Jazzy_Jeff said:

BEK would be unreal in the championship, can see him/agent pushing for a move though.

 

I think Faes, Vestergaard, Mads, VK, Ndidi, Soumare, Winks will all definitely go.

 

Wouldnt surprise me if we try to shift several others. 

Nobody and I do mean nobody is going to come in for vestergaard and I don't really see anyone coming in for sideshow or ndidi either. The rest will be loans abroad at best. Hermansen aside we don't have any players who will be obviously sold and I include bek in this. He's hardly playing well enough to guarantee a team coming in for him.

[Jazzy_Jeff]

16 minutes ago, Gubbins said:

Nobody and I do mean nobody is going to come in for vestergaard and I don't really see anyone coming in for sideshow or ndidi either. The rest will be loans abroad at best. Hermansen aside we don't have any players who will be obviously sold and I include bek in this. He's hardly playing well enough to guarantee a team coming in for him.

I can see a German/italian side come in for Vestergaard. Clubs will be swayed by the fact he’s still an international. Same with Faes.

 

Ndidi and Winks will both have interest as will be relatively low cost. 

[Tommy Fresh]

57 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

Maybe, but whilst he's been a bright spark, has he done enough to warrant a move? Probably got a decent enough reputation to get a move back to Europe. Would like to keep him for a season in the championship though. 

He's was very good against Man City, if the price was right he'd have prem clubs lining up for him

[Tommy Fresh]

26 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

We’re only two points from safety….. how about we start these threads later of necessary? 

You were the king of doom last season when we were more than 2 points clear of the chasing sides 

[Gubbins]

1 minute ago, Jazzy_Jeff said:

I can see a German/italian side come in for Vestergaard. Clubs will be swayed by the fact he’s still an international. Same with Faes.

 

Ndidi and Winks will both have interest as will be relatively low cost. 

Ndidi and vestergaard were both free in the summer and noone came in for them. I don't see a season of constant defeats, crap performances and infrequent appearances raising their stock. Maybe a newly promoted club goes for Winks but again he's hardly looked good this season has he?

[Bordersfox]

Just now, Tommy Fresh said:

You were the king of doom last season when we were more than 2 points clear of the chasing sides 

Pliskin is one of the most wildly extreme posters on the forum.  Veering from extraordinary over optimism to complete despair over the course of a weekend.  

 

Once you've made peace with this his posts are usually very entertaining and occasionally make a lot of sense.  

[Gubbins]

3 minutes ago, Tommy Fresh said:

You were the king of doom last season when we were more than 2 points clear of the chasing sides 

King of doom this season as well i believe when Cooper was in charge.

[davieG]

What about the transfer embargo the EFL seem happy to dosh out, looks like it'll be most of the U21s

[Iwebema]

50 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

We’re only two points from safety….. how about we start these threads later of necessary? 

I love your optimism that we will even gather another 2 points total the rest of the season 😅

 

Joking aside it's definitely not over.... but it is hard to see how and where we pick up points after last night. I've definitely lost faith, I of course would love to be wrong but we've seen enough football to know where this is heading I think. The gap between our back 4 and strikers to the rest of the premier league is enourmous.

 

One thing is I hope the board are thinking about this now and not deluding themselves that it will be fine, need to start preparing now for the worst, make signings with a view to next season, my worry is we will spend money on players who don't want to play in the championship and no one else wants them because we've overpaid them.

[adejo92]

59 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

We’re only two points from safety….. how about we start these threads later of necessary? 

People still think we might stay up?

 

Christ! 

 

Not a chance! Only positive is that Southampton are so sh1t so we don't finish bottom. 

[Paninistickers]

24 minutes ago, Iwebema said:

Joking aside it's definitely not over

It's not over because of our points situation,nuts over because  We have regressed from last season. We aren't as good when we needed to be slightly (but not much) better than last season.

 

Missing fro last season are: 

.

1.KDH was unavoidable due to the mess we'd got ourselves into 

 

2. Fatawu, Wilf, Mads, Ricardo are all really bad luck (but you have to plan for always being two players short) 

 

Add to that two amateurish, ill thought through managerial appointments and further add signing three palace and Fulham reserve players. 

 

We just aren't good enough. We are on a par right now, with this 13 or so available players with Sheff Utd last season 

 

 

[lcfc sheff]

                      JS

 

woyo Nelson *NEW CB* *NEW LB*
                *NEW CM*
          BEL                *NEW CAM*
fatawu      *NEW STR*   Mavididi

 

something like that I’d imagine (hopeful we keep Fatawu and BEL)

[JJD_LCFC]

There needs to be a huge turnover within the squad. After relegation surely even our board can start to plan for the future. 
 

I would like to create a team around 

 

Jakob S

 

Ricardo, Okoli Souttar Kristensen 

 

Winks 

Belal, Ndidi 

 

Fatawu Daka Mavididi

 

Hermansen will be sold. Too good for the championship 

 

coady needs to leave. Nelson can be 3rd choice 

 

Wayo can rotate FB positions possibly with James Justin too. 
 

Faes removed at any price. Just get him off wage bill. 
Vestegaard can do a job in championship but long term planning needs to leave

 

ayew and Reid unfortunately we will likely be stuck with

 

macateer should have been sold in January. We will not get any decent offer for him again. 
 

braybrooke, Alves and hopefully Monga can play some part next season. 
 

Vardy might still do a year in the championship.

makes the Cannon decision look so poor to sell him whilst in the championship and will likely need a striker without much finances.

 

Skipp will have to stay as hard to move him on. 
soumare will depart and Hamza will likely play a part in the championship. Wage bill has to drastically come down and we will have a weaker squad than last years team. Ipswich look stronger as well. 
 

hugely need changes in the boardroom to bring any sort of cheer and support back to our club. We still have a decent team next season who can do well. But if fail to get promoted next year we will stay in the league for a number of years. 

[5waller5]

On 27/12/2024 at 00:46, 420Hashish said:

Vardy 1 year extension.

Almost inevitable and an almost inevitable disaster

[ronnup]

We will easily challenge again.  Move Mads on, maybe BEK sadly.  Buy some defenders. The midfield are nore than capable, and with Stephi, Alves, Abdul and the old boys we will have enough firepower with the addition of one good striker 

 

Then we will come straight down again. Repeat. Yawn 

[murphy]

Isn't this just the same as the 'who goes' thread? 

[LCFCJohn]

Stolarcryk/new/academy as third choice

 

Coulibaly/Justin

Nelson/Vestergard

Souttar/Okoli

New/Thomas

 

Try and get rid of Coady/Faes/VK.

Unsure what we do with Ricardo.

 

Skipp/Winks

New/New

Choudhury

 

Probably sell Ndidi and Soumare

 

Fatawu/Alves

Bilal (realise this is a long shot) /new

Mavididi/Monga

 

Probably stuck with Reid and Ayew

 

New/new - need to start afresh striker wise

 

There’s a good basis there. I think if Nelson and Souttar come back from injury well, that makes use so much stronger in defence already. If we can have a manager who can work on being stronger in the full back areas I think we will be ok defensively.

 

Big areas to address might be central midfield and obviously strikers.