Big changes NOT required in the summer....

[chavdonk]

In terms of forward minded central midfielders I honestly think we're sorted. King will hopefully get back to his old form under Pearson, I think it's far too soon to write him off. Drinkwater looks like an excellent catch and Danns has shown he can be a real asset. If anything I think we actually need a spoiler in the centre of the park, someone to break up the play and give the opposition's creative types something to think about.

i think we released one of these in january under the name of Yuki Abe...

[Kitchandro]

Central midfielders are largely not good enough for the first team. I'd still question whether Danns is as he's only had a couple of months of good form, but at least he's making a good case. Drinkwater may be and I'd like to see what he can do in the remaining matches. I've accepted Wellens is past it. King has not developed into the player he should have been and it's not just going to all go right for him at the drop of a hat. He's got to seriously pull his finger out or watch his potential come to nothing. He's got to really work hard because at this minute I'd say he isn't good enough for a promotion chasing team. His all round game is pretty poor.

Even if that lot were good enough we still lack a proper creative attacking midfielder which is necessary.

Then we need to look at pacey wingers - Marshall and Gallagher aren't very quick though both are good enough for the squad IMO, Marshall may be good enough to start though he's not really proved anything yet. Dyer isn't good enough for the Championship. I don't care if he's quick, we should be aiming higher than someone who's just quick and nothing else. I could just about stomach him as an impact player but if we're still starting him next season I'd be extremely concerned. Don't think there'd be room for him on the bench if I'm honest.

Then we need a right back because Peltier isn't good enough. I won't write off all the centre backs because we don't necessarily need amazing players to be a good unit. But they still need to perform better. I'd get rid of Mills because he's a bad egg. And Tunchev because he's clearly deadwood. That leaves 3 if I'm not mistaken and we need at least 4.

I'm happy with our strikers.

I'm adamant that we need these players:

Winger

Attacking creative midfielder (Izzet mk2)

Right back

Centre back

We could use a holding midfielder but it's not essential if we get the defence sorted out and the midfield naturally tracks back. But the midfield should offer more protection. If we are going to concede goals, we need to be more creative at the other end, and we need to pass the ball better, so a bit of pace and creativity is a must. I don't think we're crying out for a big man, that should be the last option and when you've only got 5 subs and can only use 3 of them, there are plenty of other qualities I'd rather inject into the team before someone who can win some flick-ons but who can't hit a barn door.

There are players who are deadwood and there's no point them being here:

Howard

Moussa

Paintsil

Tunchev

Vassell

Weale

And then there a those who aren't good enough for the first team and can't fit on the bench, or are no longer wanted:

Wellens

Dyer

Mills

We don't need a major overhaul as such, but you're crazy if you think we don't need significant changes to the first 11. We've been inconsistent/average all season and it's clear we are lacking in certain areas with regard to personnel. I don't know about everyone else but I'm tired of seeing players who don't excite me or make an impact on matches on a regular basis, and I'm tired of seeing players who take 3 touches to get it under control, or ones that look like they don't know what they're doing. We need a team with purpose and one which is full of true professionals with a good attitude and specific qualities that can change and win matches.

[Kitchandro]

i think we released one of these in january under the name of Yuki Abe...

No we released someone called Yuki Abe but from what I remember he was weak in the tackle and strolled around making little impact most of the time. Exactly the kind of player we don't need.

[StanSP]

i think we released one of these in january under the name of Yuki Abe...

No we released someone called Yuki Abe but from what I remember he was weak in the tackle and strolled around making little impact most of the time. Exactly the kind of player we don't need.

Added to the fact we didn't really have much choice because he wanted to go back home anyway (all his family are back there I think). No point keeping an unsettled player at the club who has his mind elsewhere, especially when it comes to family.

[chavdonk]

There will be a big defensive overhaul in the summer I am sure of that.

Mills, Bamba and Tunchev will all move on in my opinion with new centre halves arriving.

I noticed a few here suggesting Dyer should be sold and replaced.

What on earth is that about? He has been superb.

No he hasn't he's worked hard, which should be what every single player does as they earn a lot of money for doing something they love doing, he doesn't have the quality on the ball he cannot cross it, he's meant to be a winger!

[ThurnbyLodgeFox]

Can't see many changes. My starting line up would be

Kasper

Peltier Mills SSL Konchesy

Marshall Danns King Dyer

Beckford Nugent

Morgan, Powell (Crewe), Schlupp, Drinkwater and Waghorn

I'd like to see someone like Jay Rodriquez coming in. Young, passionate and a 'Pearson player'. Can see Wellens, Howard, Logan and Weale all leaving. I'd like to see Mills back in cause I think he is quality, just needs a slap now and again. Reckon Bamba is Premier League bound. Next season is OUR season

[Kitchandro]

Can't see many changes. My starting line up would be

Kasper

Peltier Mills SSL Konchesy

Marshall Danns King Dyer

Beckford Nugent

Morgan, Powell (Crewe), Schlupp, Drinkwater and Waghorn

I'd like to see someone like Jay Rodriquez coming in. Young, passionate and a 'Pearson player'. Can see Wellens, Howard, Logan and Weale all leaving. I'd like to see Mills back in cause I think he is quality, just needs a slap now and again. Reckon Bamba is Premier League bound. Next season is OUR season

Not if we're playing the same team as this season! How do we expect to vastly improve if we're still playing the tried and failed lot?

[Guest Col city fan]

Not if we're playing the same team as this season! How do we expect to vastly improve if we're still playing the tried and failed lot?

Why do people keep saying this?

Next season COULD be our season but we're prob gonna be up against the likes of Wolves, Wigan, QPR?

I think it's pretty likely that the Championship is going to be tougher next season than this one.

[ThurnbyLodgeFox]

Not if we're playing the same team as this season! How do we expect to vastly improve if we're still playing the tried and failed lot?

change in manager, fall out with players... hopefully it will be 'water under the bridge' next season

[Happy Fox]

Why do people keep saying this?

Next season COULD be our season but we're prob gonna be up against the likes of Wolves, Wigan, QPR?

I think it's pretty likely that the Championship is going to be tougher next season than this one.

Those relegated clubs will be in turmoil at the start of the season, we can capitalize and get a good winning run which is vital you only have to look at Southampton the amount of points they accumulated in those first 15 games was very good and this is what we should be aiming for, and hopefully the squad of players will all be accustomed to each other provided we keep the nucleus of the squad, i.e Kasper, Konchesky, Danns, Drinkwater, Morgan, St Ledger, Marshalll, Nugent and Beckford.

[Kitchandro]

change in manager, fall out with players... hopefully it will be 'water under the bridge' next season

So you don't think we have any weak links in the starting 11 then? As long as we bring back Mills everything will be fine?

It's not like we've really challenged for promotion and have narrowly missed out, it's been an abject failure. I just can't understand why anyone would think the team we have will miraculously start performing to the level required for promotion.

[ThurnbyLodgeFox]

So you don't think we have any weak links in the starting 11 then? As long as we bring back Mills everything will be fine?

It's not like we've really challenged for promotion and have narrowly missed out, it's been an abject failure. I just can't understand why anyone would think the team we have will miraculously start performing to the level required for promotion.

I think you could say that if it were the team from the beginning of the season. But it's not. Our inconsistency is down to the fact we can't keep an unchanged team

[Kitchandro]

I think you could say that if it were the team from the beginning of the season. But it's not. Our inconsistency is down to the fact we can't keep an unchanged team

But under Pearson we've not chopped and changed for the sake of it, we've chopped and changed because we've played badly. What about all the players who have clearly not looked very good this season. Peltier? Mills? Wellens? King before his injury? Dyer more often than not? Gallagher more often than not?

Can you honestly say that all of those have looked good enough? It can't be all about changing the team because it hasn't changed that much throughout the season, yet I cac count the number of impressive all round performances on one hand.

[ThurnbyLodgeFox]

But under Pearson we've not chopped and changed for the sake of it, we've chopped and changed because we've played badly. What about all the players who have clearly not looked very good this season. Peltier? Mills? Wellens? King before his injury? Dyer more often than not? Gallagher more often than not?

Can you honestly say that all of those have looked good enough? It can't be all about changing the team because it hasn't changed that much throughout the season, yet I cac count the number of impressive all round performances on one hand.

I agree with Gallagher and Wellens.. but I think Peltier has looked poor because of Gallagher and the fact he is always out of position. Mills I think is the best defender at the club, just needs to cut his ego. Dyer is a good impact sub, but are there any better that we could actually get? Not really. King just needs confidence, and Pearson will give him that.

[Happy Fox]

I expect King to be one of the options next season, Wellens for me is past his best and needs to go, A defensive midfielder is what we are lacking imo, our midfield has a soft spot and too many times this season it has been cut through by the opposition, A Lee Bowyer type figure ( maybe past it) but that sort of defensive midfielder is what we need, not so much a hothead and a thug but just someone that can bully the opposition and steal the ball effectively. A target man isn't someone I particularly think we need but it can be useful when we need a Plan B Howard doesn't have the ability perform that role anymore so I am not necessarily advocating a player at the very best at this role, but someone like a certain Mr Heskey would be ideal for us. Then the winger situation a LW better than Dyer please. RB lets get Gunter from the red shite.

[J.Lisemore]

I also agree with the OP.

Kasper.

Peltier / back up RB.

Morgan.

SSL

Konch

Marshall / back up RM.

Danns / New CM ( I'd go for Shaun Derry)

Drinkwater

Dyer/ New LM.

Beckford.

Nugent.

I think given time, the core of the team we already have should be good enough to get promotion. But as others have pointed out, the mentality isn't there at the moment.

[Bugg]

Peltier should be the back up right back. His positional play is so poor.

[ThurnbyLodgeFox]

Peltier should be the back up right back. His positional play is so poor.

because of Gallagher imo

[Kitchandro]

I agree with Gallagher and Wellens.. but I think Peltier has looked poor because of Gallagher and the fact he is always out of position. Mills I think is the best defender at the club, just needs to cut his ego. Dyer is a good impact sub, but are there any better that we could actually get? Not really. King just needs confidence, and Pearson will give him that.

woah woah woah....Peltier has looked poor when playing with Marshall as well. We can't just keep pinning things on the old scapegoats, it's not right. HE has been poor, not just looked poor, he's played poorly, him, as an individual.

Clearly we have completely differing views on Mills so all I'll say is; if he's the best defender at the club we really have got problems.

We can get better than Dyer, take your pick from almost any Championship winger. McCleary, Hammill, Phillips (if Blackpool don't go up) Townsend (maybe on loan), Stewart, to name 5.

King just needs confidence? So does every player. Gallagher needs confidence. Weale needs confidence. Akinbiyi needed confidence.

[Bugg]

because of Gallagher imo

No, it isn't because of Gallagher. It is all down to Peltier

Peltier has a tendency to roam up field and then forget to move back to his correct position when we lose possession, what is Gallagher supposed to do? I am not a massive fan, but blaming Gallagher for Peltier's flaws is a load of crap.

[ThurnbyLodgeFox]

woah woah woah....Peltier has looked poor when playing with Marshall as well. We can't just keep pinning things on the old scapegoats, it's not right. HE has been poor, not just looked poor, he's played poorly, him, as an individual.

Clearly we have completely differing views on Mills so all I'll say is; if he's the best defender at the club we really have got problems.

We can get better than Dyer, take your pick from almost any Championship winger. McCleary, Hammill, Phillips (if Blackpool don't go up) Townsend (maybe on loan), Stewart, to name 5.

King just needs confidence? So does every player. Gallagher needs confidence. Weale needs confidence. Akinbiyi needed confidence.

We obviously do about Mills.

Dyer isnt the best we could have, but what is the possibility that we will actually sign any of the one's you mentioned?

[Kitchandro]

We obviously do about Mills.

Dyer isnt the best we could have, but what is the possibility that we will actually sign any of the one's you mentioned?

Why not? Forest have had a poor season and we can pay McCleary more than them. We can pay Phillips more than Blackpool can and if they don't go up it's a possibility. Townsend has been on loan at two Championship clubs this season, so it's possible. Hammill hasn't cut it in the Premiership and Wolves will probably be relegated, he's on loan at Middlesbrough I think. Stewart is a Pearson old boy and I would not be surprised if we went for him again, though I don't rate him as much as the other 4.

Of course there are plenty of others, some youngsters perhaps like Townsend who are looking for a chance to make a name for themselves. Once the season starts fresh we're still an attractive proposition in this league.

[J.Lisemore]

IF Peltier rediscovers his form, we'll have a good player. Its a big if though.

Lets face it, hes had alot to live up to in replacing Kyle Naughton.

[jamesmilner]

no changes ,small changes = mid table again !

[Greg2607]

I think this all comes down to the 'time to gel as a squad', 'short termist' stuff..

If, by definition, you feel that consistency is the name of the game then you would change very few players, if any actually?

If you feel that the existing crop, pound for pound, is not gonna be good enough to get us promotion you'd be looking to make some key changes.

I think I'd make one or two and that's it.

Don't forget, what we've had, so far, has resulted in twelfth place.

I don't disagree with any of this....but just felt I needed to point out generally (and not to you col) that Birmingham had a 47 player turn around this year..... They seem to be doing ok!!!! it's about how your players apply yourself and the ability of the manager to choose winning tactics that the players can carry out. by definition of our league position, we haven't done either of those things well enough.