Trying to attract some of the talent bandied about is part of the reason I think we have to finish this season strongly. For all we can point to overachieving last season, or being such an exciting project, players' careers are short and they have to make decisions about the immediate opportunities offered, and it's a lot easier to attract the best players when you're qualified for Europe and coming off an exciting season with positive momentum - and not one that was a real step back from the previous year.

Bowen would be a dream, but agreed he's almost certainly going to Liverpool. Onana definitely fits the profile of a DM, and can take advantage of a shaky situation at Everton. Albeit him having a lot of suitors. Ederson from Atalanta is another we've been fairly regular linked with.

Robinson and Henry would be good options, although think the cost would be prohibitive and be a lot of interest. Lloyd Kelly definitely has been on our radar, and should be now. Can play LB or LCB and contract is up in the summer, again though because of this be a lot of interest.

I'd be very surprised if we managed to get someone like Pino. Summervile would be an interesting one if Leeds don't come up. I think RW is going to be one of if not the most expensive market for us this summer, that and left back we need first team starting quality. The rest is mostly to increase quality of depth, and a more specialised DM. I can see Wilson being moved on, maybe as a make weight for Toney/Solanke.

I am very concerned that Joelinton has played his last game for us with his contract situation. And Bruno's supposed release clause means we could be replacing both of them in the summer, so considerable work for whoever the new Ashworth is going to be. Those two alone could potentially command 160-180m in sales though, so should help on the PSR front at the very least, and with amortisation rules could help fund the next rebuild.

Sounds like there is some interest in Onana who'd be good, and wouldn't be mega mega money. Robinson from Fulham I think is decent.

Neto / Bowen / Olisie I'd take in a heartbeat but would be big money. I can see Bowen going to Liverpool if Salah goes to occupy that right sided attacker spot. Don't think he'd be in budget. Neto I think would, and he looks class.

[quote="Bodacious Benny" post_id=917440 time=1709047443 user_id=140]
Yeah, I think with Pope + Karius we're fine (regardless of if Dubravka stays or not).

Agree that new LB and new CB are needed, I'd still get a specialist DM in though.

RW definitely needed, and striker too.
[/quote]

Yeah fair point. Instead of getting a Ritchie replacement just have Big Joe or Willock playing LW (if needed) and have Gordon as first choice competing with Banes. RW definitely crucial.. Love Miggy but don't think he's gonna take us to the next level we need a Neto/Olise/Bowen type player who can assist/score consistently. Murphy as we all know can be a handy squad player and young Minteh can come in pre season and see if he's good enough to be in and around the squad too, while Anderson can cover the right-hand side if needed too as he's played there before and looks OK.

GK : Pope, Karius/Dubra, ??
RB : Trips, Tino, Kraft
CB : Botman, NEW CB?
CB : Schar, Burn
LB : NEW LB, Targett

CM (DM) : NEW DM, Big Joe
CM : Bruno, Miley, Longstaff
CM: Tonali, Willock, Anderson

RW : NEW RW, Murphy, Minteh??
ST : Isak, NEW ST
LW : Gordon, Barnes

[b]Realistic targets [/b].. players that we could get not Kylian Mbappes' or Haaland type players OK <laugh>

[b]Potential NEW CBs :[/b] Pascel Struijik, Bella-Kotchap, Lacroix, Joe Gomez, Trevoh Chalobah, Lloyd Kelly, Eric Garcia, Zeno Debast, Ozan Kaback (Mainly under 27s with good potential)

[b]Potential NEW DMs[/b] : Rueben Neves, Joao Neves, Onana, Florentino, Andre, Mohamed Camara, Alan Valera, Nicolo Rovella, Fabinho (mainly under 25s with good potential apart from Fabihno whos 30)

[b]Potential NEW LBs : [/b]Estupinan, Theo Hernandez, Rico Henry, Tyrick Mitchell, Renan Lodi, Antonee Robinson (mainly under 27s)

[b]Potential new RWs [/b]: Neto, Bowen, Olise, Nicolas Gonzalez, Johan Bakayoko, Bryan Mbeumo, Yeremy Pino, Marcus Edwards, Summervile, Ritsu Doan (all mainly under 27s)

[b]Potential new STs [/b] : Jonathan David, Elye Wahi, Guirassay, Nketiah, Toney, Solanke, Folarian Balogun, Evanilson, Jonas Wind

I think all of these players would either improve the starting XI or improve the overall squad quality.

Potential outs include Ritchie, Dummet, Lascelles, Miggy/Murphy and Wilson. if a good offer came in for Longstaff I wouldn't say no to either but we need home grown/certain amount of English players so can't sell them all.

Yeah, I think with Pope + Karius we're fine (regardless of if Dubravka stays or not).

Agree that new LB and new CB are needed, I'd still get a specialist DM in though.

RW definitely needed, and striker too.

Is a strong team that but no way is Meslier going to swap being the starting goalkeeper for a team (likely) to be in the prem next season, to at best be competing with Pope for the berth next season. I think Karius has shown enough that he's an adequate backup, would like to see him keep his place as the deputy going forward.

[quote="Don Sholeone" post_id=917400 time=1708895891 user_id=188]
Yankuba Minteh got another 2 goals tonight, good chance he will be part of the squad next season to bolster that RW
[/quote]

This. Wouldn't be against selling BOTH Murphy and Miggy if it means we can get one quality winger(Neto, etc) and possibly have Minteh as a understudy while on the left we got Gordon and Barnes. Move the likes of Ritchie, Dummet and potentially Lascelles (Burn can become 3rd choice).. get a quick pacey athletic ball playing CB to be Schar's understudy and we need to decide what's gonna happen with Hall if he leaves or he goes.. don't think we're gonna spend 30 mil on him by the looks of it so a new LB to compete and upgrade on Targett is a must. Tino will eventually take Trippier's spot but it'll be interesting too see if it'll be next season or the one afterwards as Trips isn't getting any younger(will be 34 in sep this year) so next season could be his last before Tino takes over permanently.

Miley and Longstaff can be good back-up/squad players to Willock, Bruno, Tonani and Big Joe (if he goes a physical DM is a must). Young Anderson can also play CM and out wide so will be a handy squad player too. In the striker department obviously keep Isak he should definitely be 1st choice (when fit) and sell Wilson to bring in someone like Solanke / Toney to partner/compete with Isak. Then we'll be looking strong in all departments to mount a top 5/4 challenge. Maybe let Dubra and Karius go to bring in someone young and fresh like Illan Meslier from Leeds has all the makings of a future top class goalie at the tender age of 23.

GK : Pope, Meslier and 3rd choice (Gilpsie/home grown goalie??)
RB : Trippier, Tino and Kraft
CB : Botman, NEW CB (Sell/dont renew Lascelles contract)
CB : Schar, Burn (Dummet out)
LB : NEW LB, Targett

CM : Big Joe, Longstaff
CM : Bruno, Miley, Anderson (can cover the wings too)
CM : Tonali, Willock

RW : NEW RW, Minteh / Murphy? (sell Miggy to rasie funds)
ST : Isak, NEW ST (sell Wilson)
LW : Gordon, Barnes, new young LW (Ritchie replacement)

That me looks like a strong enough squad to compete in Europe (if we end there) and go for the top 5/4 again. Quality over quantity. <ok>

Yeah the fight definitely seems to have gone across the pitch.

[quote=Sanchino post_id=917360 time=1708810170 user_id=163]
Yeah onto the next one. Even at 2-0 felt like game over. Shows there's levels to being a title contender / CL regular (Pool, City, Arsenal) and then there's CL hopefuls (Villa, Spurs, Man United, us). We're nowhere near title contenders or CL regulars. We need to maintain a consistent level of getting into the top 6 then building our way into being top 4 regulars then title contenders.. this project is still a very, very long way to go. I say a good 5-10 years for us to consistently maintain European football / trying to challenge for a league title. Let's just be grateful that those BruceBall / Ashley days seem long gone. <awe> <gent>
[/quote]
I agree on the main point of this, but I will say that we were so much more difficult to play against last season than this year. I know we don't have the depth or talent across all 11 to consistently compete at the top end of the table, but what we deserved credit for last season is being a tough match every time out - and yet this season there have been too many matches in which we're run off the park, both due to individual errors but systematic failure. Missing key disruptive forces like Joelinton exacerbate that of course, but it used to feel like we'd put up a good fight no matter who was on the pitch, and that's totally dissolved this season.

Yankuba Minteh got another 2 goals tonight, good chance he will be part of the squad next season to bolster that RW

[quote=Colly post_id=917393 time=1708882257 user_id=125]
How does his goal record compare? I realise he's very limited, but I don't think it's fair to describe him as an orthodox winger given he plays on the right and doesn't actually possess a right foot. Regardless he absolutely needs to be improved on, and it really is the case that Murphy does that already.
[/quote]

23 in 170. 4 more than Gray and Reid, 3 less than Redmond.

If he was a winger with a good goalscoring record and hit double figures every season, his terrible creative output would be forgiven. But in reality his goalscoring is on par with every other average winger (and that's with him boosted by almost half his goals coming last season).

I wouldnt be surprised if his wife spends most of her days stopping him walking round in circles hes so one footed.

I dont think I've ever seen a player with such a shocking weak foot and or lack of confidence in it.

Hes been a great servant, hard worker and during his purple patches was a joy to watch actually but he needs moving in asap.

How does his goal record compare? I realise he's very limited, but I don't think it's fair to describe him as an orthodox winger given he plays on the right and doesn't actually possess a right foot. Regardless he absolutely needs to be improved on, and it really is the case that Murphy does that already.

[quote=ALF post_id=917386 time=1708879486 user_id=65]
Challenge for people.

Almiron has 6 assists in 170 PL games. Can you find another winger with a record that bad?
[/quote]

To add to this. I initially mentioned this to someone just as a point to highlight how bad he is, then got thinking whether anyone actually is as bad as him.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid has 6 assists but in 119 games. Others that you'd think might be poor like Nathan Redmond, Demarai Gray and Jacob Murphy are well clear.

[quote="Bodacious Benny" post_id=917390 time=1708880424 user_id=140]
[quote=ALF post_id=917386 time=1708879486 user_id=65]
Challenge for people.

Almiron has 6 assists in 170 PL games. Can you find another winger with a record that bad?
[/quote]

What’s Antony’s at Man U per game?
[/quote]

He has 2 assists in 45 games. So if by some miracle he reaches 170 games in the PL, he's currently on track for 7/8 assists at that point.

[quote=ALF post_id=917386 time=1708879486 user_id=65]
Challenge for people.

Almiron has 6 assists in 170 PL games. Can you find another winger with a record that bad?
[/quote]

What’s Antony’s at Man U per game?

Challenge for people.

Almiron has 6 assists in 170 PL games. Can you find another winger with a record that bad?

I think it’s clear we need a big refresh in summer and some of the hard working but limited players moved on to free up funds.

Almiron’s stats for a winger are back to being embarrassing after a purple patch the first half of last season and it’s time to move him on for someone who can contribute from the RW. Someone like Neto would be great (probably expensive), Adingra from Brighton looks a prospect.

Wilson as said in Jan has to be moved on while we can still get some money. He’s into his 30s so if we can sell him and get someone like Solanke it’s an absolute no brainer.

If Joelinton goes then a physical midfield presence is a must. Miley will be a good squad player next season but shouldn’t be considered a regular starter yet. Obviously we’ve also got Tonali to come back and Willock will make a difference too. Longstaff is playing like he knows he has no competition for his spot at the moment.

In defence we need a quick centre back and a left back. Lascelles can go if Burn becomes third choice CB.

I opted to introduce MrsOT to The Producers instead.

After the movie and a few wines I spotted her dancing in the kitchen to Springtime for Hitler <laugh>

[quote="Don Sholeone" post_id=917354 time=1708809171 user_id=188]
We are barely clinging onto top half, we have been absolute s**** and all I hear is excuses constantly. If Chelsea weren't playing in the cup there would have been a good chance we would have fell into the bottom half of the table this weekend.
[/quote]

Not beyond the realms of possibility, but if Wolves ,& West Ham win their games then we'll be in the bottom half come Monday evening. Wolves next weekend could be a big 6-pointer! ;)

EDIT: My bad, we only drop to 10th should Wolves & West Ham win.

EDIT: As I edited first time Wolves took the lead, down to 9th.