IF we don't go up, will the summer squad turnover be too disruptive?

[Alf Bentley]

I know this is premature and we still have an outside chance of making the play-offs...but realistically it's unlikely.

Ignoring Hull and Reading (easily catchable), in 10 games we need to make up 8 points on at least 2 other teams. So we'd need to go on a spectacularly good run and see 2 other promotion contenders lose half their games.

So, if we miss out, which of the current squad will still be 1st team contenders next season and will it be too much of a turnover?

Probables: Wellens, Gallagher, Dyer, Bamba

Possibles: King (50-50), Abe (50-50), Naughton (probably not), Weale, Ricardo, Hobbs, Vassell, Waghorn, Schlupp (?)

Unlikelys: Tunchev (hope I'm wrong), Yakubu, Mee, PVA, Bruma, Vitor, Howard, Berner, Oakley, Neilson, Moreno, N'Guessan, Kennedy, Lamey (tho' some may be on payroll)

That looks like a hell of a squad turnover to me!

Sven has gambled big time on promotion this season (maybe under instruction from the Thai owners). He's gambled on the loan market. He's gambled on alienating established Championship players (Fryatt, Hobbs, Berner).

If we don't go up, will the summer rebuilding job be too big for Sven's talent (assuming he stays) and the Thais' wallets?

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

All this cliche about players needing time to 'gel' is often used as an excuse for a lack of quality or a side with no cohesion at all, because they aren't good enough. I remember it being used so much in our relegation season. If the players are high quality, they won't need any more than a pre-season to bond and learn how each other play.

I reckon five permanent signings (max) and a few loanees peppering the squad will be the most likely outcome, and I have faith in Sven to bring in decent players who'll compliment one antoher. If they're good enough, it shouldn't matter how long they've been here.

[CKB]

Like i keep saying i truely believe the Thai's will back and back big again this summer with the aim Premier League simple... It is then up to Sven to rebuild and i have faith he will get in the right players on perminant deals and a couple of loanees

[cc_star]

The only thing that concerns me about building a squad good enough for the top 2 is the relegated teams surely can't be as bad again. The results the bottom 5 are getting against much better teams leads me to believe one or two of them will runaway with it.

Secondary concern is that the Thai's have also considerably overspent this season, wonder if the overspend is money bought forwards from next years budget as a gamble on going up?

[StanSP]

We need to build a spine of the team, and maintain that so we can build around it. Right now, with the defence being juggled about here and there due to various reasons, it all seems a bit disorganised.

We also need to settle on a formation that works AND a plan B should teams suss out what the regular formation is, which is likely of course. It's the mark of a good and successful team to have a back up plan when things start to go pear-shaped. Currently, we do not have one. Sven's attempted at changing from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 playing a diamond in the middle. Fair enough, it worked pretty well against QPR on Saturday, and fair enough for him trying to mix it up a little in an attempt to stifle opposition, but it seems to have backfired.

Regarding the squad turnover which could possibly happen, it depends how quick Sven (I'm hoping he's here next season!) is in reacting to finding players to fill the gaps from this season. Depending on how he rates Yak til the end of the season, it's likely he'll put a bid in for him. Yak's fallen out with Moyes and wants to leave (along with Yobo apparently). I wouldn't mind him on a permanent. Naughton is a priority though. Hopefully he recognises that we are a largely successful team as well as him being influential in it. I'm sure Sven has some persuasive powers (not just money) to lure him here. I for one would be delighted should Kyle be signed permanently.

As for Howard, Berner, Oakley, Neilson, Moreno, N'Guessan, Kennedy and Lamey - none of these are 'Sven' players. By that I mean they're either not young and from Premier League clubs (Naughton, Mee, PVA etc etc) or they don't come with bags of experience (Ricardo, Yak, Vassell). So I can see all of them leaving simply due to age and the fact they don't form part of the squad Sven is building. I'm still undecided on Tunchev. I've always had the feeling that being out for so long will have major detrimental effect on his game. He won't be the same player as 2 years ago, and I'm not sure he'll still be able to cut it. He's lost out on 2 years of football, it's as simple as that. But then I keep thinking that it'd be harsh on him should he leave without being able to prove himself to Sven. I'm just glad I don't have to make a decision on him!

I'd like King, Schlupp (the future!), Abe, Gally and Wellens to stay. King is pivotal and will be pivotal to any near-future success we have. Simple as that. He really does get the ball and scores the goals. He's too influential to sell or cash in on right now. I hope that he sees that we need one more chance to get back in the Premier League. I would be heartbroken should he leave us for a mediocre Premier League team. I just hope he realises that if Sven had started in August, it's most likely we would not have had such a poor start to the season amongst all the unrest.

As I mentioned before, I hope we sign Naughton, and I think we'll sign Yakubu. I reckon 3 more permanent signings will do the job. I can't see Ricardo staying beyond the end of the season, and Weale does need competition BUT I'd prefer Weale as first-choice. I don't hate Ricardo but I don't think Weale's been treated fairly recently. A solid left-back would be needed too. I wouldn't mind PVA on permanent, but with Ashley Cole ageing, I reckon Chelsea will want to nurture him their way. Another midfielder to compliment King and to provide the goals with him (so as not to rely on King too much once again) would be welcome too. Someone with a bit of creativity, flair and skill. Someone who can turn a game around in an instant - someone like Taarabt but not as arrogant!

Lastly (this post was longer than I wanted/expected it to be!), I think we should keep Vassell, but another striker is a must. I'm not sure who it could be, but we need a proven goalscorer, whether he's English or foreign, I don't care. Starting from next season, our out-and-out strikers would be Vassell, Yakubu, Waghorn and I think one more (as well as Schlupp who can play there?) would be perfect for next season.

All that said, I'll trust Sven with what he decided to do as I'm sure he has the best intentions of the club at heart. He won't want to disrupt the squad obviously, but he'll want to make his mark on it.