Championship 🏆 2025/26

[LCFCJohn]

21 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

In the event we actually keep all of these, this is the elements of a team that gets us promoted:

 

*

Mavididi, Bilal, Fatawu 

Skipp, Winks 

JJ, *, *, Woyo 

Stolarczyk

 

Needs a reliable striker and most importantly we really need to put together a decent centre back partnership that's going to last us a few years. Two guys that can actually defend and who aren't afraid of a scrap. 

 

At least one of them MUST be a beast in the air, ideally both. 

 

If Nelson and Souttar can do that, great, but we probably want a better option than Souttar and Nelson is never likely to be dominant in the air. 

 

Normally I'm the first to defend the players that got us out the league last time, Winks and JJ for example I'd happily give a pass to for this year. But I just want Vestergaard and Faes out of the club at this point. They need to go. 

 

Nelson’s hardly small. Not Okoli. If Souttar gets fit, I think those 3 are excellent options at centre back. I’m surprised you have therefore put both CB positions as * in your line up. For me, it is how many of Faes, Vestergaard and Coady we can shift as to whether we can bring a further option in here but I’d like Nelson to be one of the first names on the team sheet.

 

I’d also be very disappointed to see Justin or Winks in the 11. We need a proper left back, not a makeshift one who has had one purple patch since being with us.

 

As for Winks, he certainly doesn’t seem to want to be here. I’d have Skipp as the more defensive option and look for someone more box to box who can offer more going forward, someone in the KDH mould. 
 

If we played 433, you might also be able

to go:

 

Mavididi - ST - Fatawu

New - Skipp - Bilal

[Finnegan]

18 minutes ago, LVFox said:

You won't find a better centre back in the air than Souttar, similarly, if you want someone cultured alongside him, Nelson is your man. Could be a really dominant partnership. 

 

But if Souttar's all round game is never going to be good enough long term then we need to find a better option now while CB is arguably our biggest priority. 

 

10 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

Nelson’s hardly small. Not Okoli.

 

Okoli is dreadful in the air. Not only is his aerial duels won hilariously low but he fails to even track his runner and make the duel in the first place a lot of the time. 

 

Height isn't everything. Vestergaard is a crane but he's in the 32nd percentile for aerial duels which is frankly hideous.

 

Nelson is a tad better in the 57th but that's not enough. You're looking to have at least one CB well and truly in the 90s.

 

You need to have at least one aerially dominate CB for longer term premier league survival, it's why Mings used to be so vital for Villa despite having a lot of mistakes in him. 

 

I think we need two completely new CBs because I think we've ****ed around for years neglecting the position and I'm fed up of us being defensively terrible. We need two absolute horrible bastards back there, a return to Wes and Huth, that strikers are going to completely dread playing against. 

 

I generally don't tend to advocate caveman football but I think the squad needs SOME needle, we need more warriors and ideally at the back. I want Nelson to be a long term success here but he seems like a fairly nice, cultured lad. We need at least one if not more complete bastards to play with him and I don't see that in Souttar who also happens to be possibly the slowest footballer I've ever seen. 

 

18 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

very disappointed to see Justin or Winks in the 11

 

That's just daft IMO. Winks was just absolutely unbelievable in the Championship last time out. He was far too good for that level and was brilliant beating the press and getting out. He's been completely wasted this season by managers who have no use for him tactically, I can't fault him for wanting out, it's been a crap year. 

 

JJ, eh, he's fine. He's good enough. He had an absolutely torrid time with very little support at the start of the season. Would I like us to get a better left back? Yes of course but he's good enough to get us promoted and we have other positions we desperately need to fill more urgently. 

 

[filbertway]

3 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

But if Souttar's all round game is never going to be good enough long term then we need to find a better option now while CB is arguably our biggest priority. 

 

 

Okoli is dreadful in the air. Not only is his aerial duels won hilariously low but he fails to even track his runner and make the duel in the first place a lot of the time. 

 

Height isn't everything. Vestergaard is a crane but he's in the 32nd percentile for aerial duels which is frankly hideous.

 

Nelson is a tad better in the 57th but that's not enough. You're looking to have at least one CB well and truly in the 90s.

 

You need to have at least one aerially dominate CB for longer term premier league survival, it's why Mings used to be so vital for Villa despite having a lot of mistakes in him. 

 

I think we need two completely new CBs because I think we've ****ed around for years neglecting the position and I'm fed up of us being defensively terrible. We need two absolute horrible bastards back there, a return to Wes and Huth, that strikers are going to completely dread playing against. 

 

I generally don't tend to advocate caveman football but I think the squad needs SOME needle, we need more warriors and ideally at the back. I want Nelson to be a long term success here but he seems like a fairly nice, cultured lad. We need at least one if not more complete bastards to play with him and I don't see that in Souttar who also happens to be possibly the slowest footballer I've ever seen. 

 

 

That's just daft IMO. Winks was just absolutely unbelievable in the Championship last time out. He was far too good for that level and was brilliant beating the press and getting out. He's been completely wasted this season by managers who have no use for him tactically, I can't fault him for wanting out, it's been a crap year. 

 

JJ, eh, he's fine. He's good enough. He had an absolutely torrid time with very little support at the start of the season. Would I like us to get a better left back? Yes of course but he's good enough to get us promoted and we have other positions we desperately need to fill more urgently. 

 

On paper Soutter and Nelson should compliment each others game nicely if we play a back 4. 

Souttar's aerial precence coupled with Nelsons ability on the ground and decent turn of speed and recovery. Should they be allowed to build a partnership you could see it being fairly strong over time.

[Mickyblueeyes]

1 minute ago, Finnegan said:

 

But if Souttar's all round game is never going to be good enough long term then we need to find a better option now while CB is arguably our biggest priority. 

 

I dont know if its me with the old "he isnt here so must be fantastic" opinion but do you think Souttar has had enough time here to show us what he can do ? I mean the season we went down where he played a few games, he had some short comings but also did other things not so bad. He looked levels above both Faes and Vestegaard have this year. We have plenty of disatrous moments this year but I cant recall him having multiple clangers as we have had with donut 1 and 2 this year. 

 

If (and its a big if) we went up with Nelson, Souttar and Okoli, signing one more centre back - subject to multiple things of course (Nelson adapting well, Okoli developing and Souttar being the rock he has been for large parts for SU), potentially we would be in a better position than we were in at the start of this season - leaving the "quality CB signing" for the Premier League with more appeal and funds to do it. 

[LVFox]

It's a fair point you make on Souttar @Finnegan. Personally, I think he's more than good enough to get us up, and then we improve when back in PL and we can entice a better standard of CB. I also think he's easily capable of 5 goals from set pieces next season.

 

You're bang on about Winks, he was a rolls Royce last season. Think people downplay how good Mavididi was last year too.

[Jazzy_Jeff]

Russell Martins first signing will be Harry Darling to play centre back 

[Mickyblueeyes]

A lot of our players have been mismanaged this season. Yes, there is self awareness and responsibility but proper management is vital. Winks, Mavididi, Riccy P, Justin, Facundo, Vardy (how many 90 mins for a player who was scoring reasonably at the start), Okoli and even Mcateer have been managed very very poorly by either or both very poor managers we’ve had in charge. 

[LCFCJohn]

1 hour ago, Finnegan said:

 

But if Souttar's all round game is never going to be good enough long term then we need to find a better option now while CB is arguably our biggest priority. 

 

 

Okoli is dreadful in the air. Not only is his aerial duels won hilariously low but he fails to even track his runner and make the duel in the first place a lot of the time. 

 

Height isn't everything. Vestergaard is a crane but he's in the 32nd percentile for aerial duels which is frankly hideous.

 

Nelson is a tad better in the 57th but that's not enough. You're looking to have at least one CB well and truly in the 90s.

 

You need to have at least one aerially dominate CB for longer term premier league survival, it's why Mings used to be so vital for Villa despite having a lot of mistakes in him. 

 

I think we need two completely new CBs because I think we've ****ed around for years neglecting the position and I'm fed up of us being defensively terrible. We need two absolute horrible bastards back there, a return to Wes and Huth, that strikers are going to completely dread playing against. 

 

I generally don't tend to advocate caveman football but I think the squad needs SOME needle, we need more warriors and ideally at the back. I want Nelson to be a long term success here but he seems like a fairly nice, cultured lad. We need at least one if not more complete bastards to play with him and I don't see that in Souttar who also happens to be possibly the slowest footballer I've ever seen. 

 

 

That's just daft IMO. Winks was just absolutely unbelievable in the Championship last time out. He was far too good for that level and was brilliant beating the press and getting out. He's been completely wasted this season by managers who have no use for him tactically, I can't fault him for wanting out, it's been a crap year. 

 

JJ, eh, he's fine. He's good enough. He had an absolutely torrid time with very little support at the start of the season. Would I like us to get a better left back? Yes of course but he's good enough to get us promoted and we have other positions we desperately need to fill more urgently. 

 

Funny how people can see things so differently but fair enough.

 

I don’t think two centre backs, based on what we already have is at all realistic. If we shift at least 3 or maybe 4 of what we have, maybe. Nelson is going places and it’d be negligent to not have him in the team next season. I wouldn’t say no to a Wes or Hugh type alongside him but Nelson needs to play.

 

JJ,  nothing against him. I hate seeing a right footed full back on the left. When you already have a right footer winger on the left, it just makes the side so unbalanced. I just think JJ needs to move on. You say it is fine to have him at left back and ‘get by’ as we have other positions to fill but think we need two more centre backs despite having 6 on the books? 
 

Winks my issue is more with his mentality and commitment than ability. You talk about defenders that get stuck in but you need that bite in midfielder too and he is so lightweight. 

[Tuna]

Sheff Utd fans really rated Souttar

Edited 15 April by Tuna

[Richard]

Any money we have should be prioritised on a quality striker, we are too stacked in literally every other position to be buying more without getting rid first.

 

Get a cheap free goalkeeper to be backup to Stolarczyk.

A centre back if 2 of Faes, Vestergaard, Coady, Souttar or Okoli leave

A #6 if 2 of Winks, Ndidi, Soumare, Choudhury leave.

 

No one's gonna want our wingers and we have too many as it is anyway

 

[Richard]

Next season's squad as it stands:

 

[Finnegan]

1 hour ago, LCFCJohn said:

don’t think two centre backs, based on what we already have is at all realistic.

 

Depends on who leaves. 

 

I imagine Vestergaard, Okoli and Faes would all rather leave its just about them having suitable offers. 

 

If I had to put money on it, I'd say Okoli will go back to Italy on a loan deal that'll make the fanbase roll their eyes and Faes will get a move to a club on the continent. His amortisation has dropped now to a point that makes him pretty sellable. Both of them have ambitions of international careers regardless of whether we think they deserve it. 

 

1 hour ago, LCFCJohn said:

You talk about defenders that get stuck in but you need that bite in midfielder too and he is so lightweight.

 

Yeah I'm all for having a destroyer somewhere in the middle of the park but your whole team can't be blunt instruments. 

 

[LCFCJohn]

42 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

Depends on who leaves. 

 

I imagine Vestergaard, Okoli and Faes would all rather leave its just about them having suitable offers. 

 

If I had to put money on it, I'd say Okoli will go back to Italy on a loan deal that'll make the fanbase roll their eyes and Faes will get a move to a club on the continent. His amortisation has dropped now to a point that makes him pretty sellable. Both of them have ambitions of international careers regardless of whether we think they deserve it. 

 

 

Yeah I'm all for having a destroyer somewhere in the middle of the park but your whole team can't be blunt instruments. 

 

I’m all for getting rid of Vestergaard, Faes and Coady. I’d be happy with Nelson, Souttar, Okoli and a new face if they could be a starter that brings the traits you mention and plays alongside Nelson.

 

Centre midfield is a big area for us. I’d happily see a massive clear out. The only one in their own right you couldn’t make a case for being realistic to move on is Skipp. So do we look at who can partner him? I don’t think Winks is the guy. 
 

It’s not just about players being destroyers or blunt instruments. A player like Bilal is tough and gets stuck in. You can balance flair and talent with that imo. 
 

I’ll admit my view on Winks is also tarred with the Copenhagen/Enzo thing and the thing about living away but seemingly not integrating with the squad (can only be the reason for it being raised). When we have had players in the past like Kasper who came a long way, they did their talking on the pitch.

[Simonb]

3 hours ago, Richard said:

Next season's squad as it stands:

 

From that, the only two that'll fetch a reasonable fee would be Mads and Bilal, so I think we will have to cash in. 

 

I can see Wilf, Faes and Kristiansen leaving for small fees between 4 and 8m each 

 

Bouba and Okoli might be able to force themselves a loan

 

The rest, jannik, coady, Reid, ayew etc were stuck with.. unless the Saudis fancy a small bid for Ayew maybe.

 

Personally I hope every signing is 24 and under, whether they're loans or purchases. 

 

I wonder if Sheff United would fancy chucking one or two million our way to take Hamza.. he's done well so far.

[FoxinNotts]

Defence:

CB; Would be happy for Okoli, Souttar and Nelson to be our Center back choices.

 

Even happier if we shifted Vestergaard, Coady and Faes

 

We would then just need one newbie and we set in that position.

 

Fullbacks; retain Ricardo, Woyo and Thomas. Ship out Justin and Kristiansen.
 

More than good enough to win the Championship 

[Sankey93]

If we go into the season with this front 3 behind a new striker we will absolutely wipe the floor with the league imo! 

             New ST

Mavididi bilal Fatawu

 

 

[Claudio Fannieri]

It’s so hard to say who will stick around and who will leave. It will very much depend on who is the manager, remember the last time we were relegated and several players looked nailed on to leave but then ended up staying because they liked what Enzo was trying to do. 
 

As much as love BEK as a player I really can’t see him staying to play in the championship, he is a Rolls Royce of a player and will no doubt have decent options to stay in the premier league. 
 

The basis of my squad would be as follows - 

GK Stolrcyrk + New,  Bausor 

 

RB/LB - JJ, Coulibaly, Aluko, Joseph

CB - Nelson, Okoli, Souttar + New 

 

CDM - Skipp, Cartwright, Braybrooke + New

 

AM / Wingers - Mavididi, Fatawu, McAteer, Monga, Alves + New x 2

 

ST - Vardy (one more year), Evans + New 

 

6 new signings and a good mix of academy players promoted and a smattering of experienced good professionals to help mentor the young lads. 

[Quorndon_Fox]

Hopefully:

 

CEO: New

DoF: New

 

Manager: New

 

Keep

 

GK: Stolarczyk

 

Def: JJ, Okoli, Coulibaly, Thomas, Souttar, Nelson, Aluko, Joseph

 

Mids: Winks, El Khannouss, Cartwright, Braybrook, Golding

 

For: Fatawu, Mavididi, McCateer, Monga, Alves, Evans

 

I mean with 6 decent signings thats not a bad looking side to work with.

 

Sell / Get rid of:

 

Madds Hermansen (£20m-25m - cash in)

Danny Ward (Release)

Daniel Iversen (Release) 

Wout Faes (£8m)

Conor Coady (Whatever we can get)

Kristiansen (£5m)

Pereira (Whatever we can get)

Wilf (Release)

Skipp (Whatever we can get)

Soumare (Whatever we can get)

Vardy (Release) See if another prem team will take him to chase the PL record, need him off the wage bill now and have to move on

De Cordova- Reid  (Whatever we can get)

Ayew  (Whatever we can get)

Daka  (Whatever we can get)

 

Probably generate £35-40m in fees from the above and release £845k A WEEK in wages. Mad that we are paying two goalkeepers a reported £60k a week who can't even get near the bench.

 

 

 

 

[Richard]

2 hours ago, Quorndon_Fox said:

Hopefully:

 

CEO: New

DoF: New

 

Manager: New

 

Keep

 

GK: Stolarczyk

 

Def: JJ, Okoli, Coulibaly, Thomas, Souttar, Nelson, Aluko, Joseph

 

Mids: Winks, El Khannouss, Cartwright, Braybrook, Golding

 

For: Fatawu, Mavididi, McCateer, Monga, Alves, Evans

 

I mean with 6 decent signings thats not a bad looking side to work with.

 

Sell / Get rid of:

 

Madds Hermansen (£20m-25m - cash in)

Danny Ward (Release)

Daniel Iversen (Release) 

Wout Faes (£8m)

Conor Coady (Whatever we can get)

Kristiansen (£5m)

Pereira (Whatever we can get)

Wilf (Release)

Skipp (Whatever we can get)

Soumare (Whatever we can get)

Vardy (Release) See if another prem team will take him to chase the PL record, need him off the wage bill now and have to move on

De Cordova- Reid  (Whatever we can get)

Ayew  (Whatever we can get)

Daka  (Whatever we can get)

 

Probably generate £35-40m in fees from the above and release £845k A WEEK in wages. Mad that we are paying two goalkeepers a reported £60k a week who can't even get near the bench.

 

 

 

 

Largely agree except I think there'll be no interest in Ricardo, Skipp or BDCR

[Quorndon_Fox]

1 hour ago, Richard said:

Largely agree except I think there'll be no interest in Ricardo, Skipp or BDCR

Concourse sale?

[FosseSpark]

I can see us using Stolarzcyk, Ricardo, Nelson, Okoli, Cartwright, Skipp, McAteer, El Khannous, Mavididi, Fatawu next season and players like Alves, Evans etc getting game time. We will have at least 5 or 6 who were champions in the championship at the spine of the team so it's a case of who we get in to manage and what they add to deliver their way of playing. 

 

[Bilo]

Regarding the CEO, what does Apichet actually do? Is there no reason why he couldn't get the gig if Top is stretched too thin/not arsed? 

[mad biker]

59 minutes ago, Bilo said:

Regarding the CEO, what does Apichet actually do? Is there no reason why he couldn't get the gig if Top is stretched too thin/not arsed? 

How do we know that he (Apichet) and other board members are not the problem, maybe restricting or even blocking what Top would like to spend or do?

[StanSP]

Just now, mad biker said:

How do we know that he (Apichet) and other board members are not the problem, maybe restricting or even blocking what Top would like to spend or do?

How in any world do you think this is a realistic concept?

[don_danbury]

i hope we win a game