Have got halfway through this type of post a few times but never quite finished it, instead deleting it. Rather than just list the transfer names, instead musing on what shape and how we might play next season and the gaps we have. I have got the impression from things Roy has mentioned that he fancies us in what I would call the 'Liverpool shape'. A 433 that is Defensively sound with 4 at the back focused mainly on protecting the centre (i.e. strong CBs with a midfield 3 in front of them that can provide a shield when under pressure) but then in front of them 3 forwards all able to break away and score. Offensively we would capitalise on breaks and when on top use the full backs to provide the width and crosses pushing high while the midfield probe etc but providing cover. The higher we can defend the better against the weaker teams but capable of dropping deeper if we need to (the realities of life in the PL). The midfield 3 would most likely comprise 1 supplementing the attack more often than the other 2. This could well be Schlupp and (don't take the mick) he showed some nice signs when he dropped into the hole behind the striker a few times before his injury. His ability to strike the ball and willingness to get into the box/shoot make me optimistic.
The quality of the front 3 being key as they have to be able to hold up the ball and also create openings. We cannot continue with players that struggle to take or create chances.
So how does our current squad fit that? I doubt we can do this in one season and suspect there will be compromises galore but we have to fix the lack of goals in the side and so every player coming in has to have goals on their resume.
Off we go.
Goalkeepers
Guaita
Hennessey
Henderson (or a swap)
GKs are OK but ideally we would swap Henderson for a high potential keeper but not a priority today.
Full Backs
Ward
Aanholt
Mitchell
Ferguson
Bit nervous that it might prove a season too early for Tyrick to be starting regularly and so hoping Patrick makes an early return and stays fit. Having only seen glimpses of Ferguson I am not sure if he is right or not. Let's hope so. Both he and Ward can play right or left and so that protects Tyrick if the wheel was to 'fall off'. Will these offer enough of a threat? PVA is spot on but..... a risk we have to take I think.
OK - so now it gets tricky because we can't sustain/afford so many CBs. So I would jettison 2 of them and move Kouyate back to a CB role. I have kept JT and MS but TBH it could as easily have been the others. If we had scope I would look for a young CB quality prospect to add for development but don't think we have the £ unless they are a really cheap gamble.
Centre Backs
Tomkins
Sakho
Kelly
Kouyate
Midfielders
Milivojević
McArthur
McCarthy
Reidewald
Schlupp
New
The new midifelder would need to be a quality first pick candidate with goals and assists but not another Meyer/Ozil-like defensively. i.e. they need to be able to do the work and win the ball in the PL etc. i.e. - we can't support an all out number 10 without upgrading a lot more other positions
Forwards (in a 3)
Ayew
Benteke
Zaha
New CF
New WRF
New WLF
If Wilf leaves then he also needs replacing but with someone with goals in their locker.
Re the new slots. I don't think Pierrick will be ready for this season and so He may well be the 7th option dependent on loans and available cash. We just have to have a goal scoring option in the middle and two more wide forwards again with goals.
That controversially means that we should be moving on
Cahill, Dann, Meyer, Wickham and Townsend.
It's not that I don't rate or like these players, more that they don't really fit and keeping them is a compromise. TBH it's harsh on Dann, Cahill and Andros. I suspect we will end up keeping Townsend but he won't score the goals we need as a wide forward. If we keep Meyer as well I think we will struggle without losing a forward to supplement the midfield offensive quality. I know Meyer has a lot of 'fans' on here but after 21 starts, 25 more appearances and 3000 mins of opportunity we needed to have seen more than we have to keep him. 'He plays 'nice' with Wilf isn't enough. If Wickham is seriously fit etc. he might make one of those slots if we are short of cash but I suspect it's one season too late now.
I doubt we will get the quality in these purchases that I would like and see us picking up Niasse and Hendrick because they are both out of contract. TBF I doubt Salah, Firmino and Mane would come would they?
I doubt Wilf will stay and I am worried if he does in a way. Primarily because he simply isn't himself and unless his head shifts 180 degrees i can't see anything good for either of us. Also as a wide forward, neither he nor Andros attempt to get into the box enough. They have spent their careers hanging wide and don't appear to be able to adapt.
The other changes will be left to next year.
One way of looking at it and obviously there are oodles of others.
The quality of the front 3 being key as they have to be able to hold up the ball and also create openings. We cannot continue with players that struggle to take or create chances.
So how does our current squad fit that? I doubt we can do this in one season and suspect there will be compromises galore but we have to fix the lack of goals in the side and so every player coming in has to have goals on their resume.
Off we go.
Goalkeepers
Guaita
Hennessey
Henderson (or a swap)
GKs are OK but ideally we would swap Henderson for a high potential keeper but not a priority today.
Full Backs
Ward
Aanholt
Mitchell
Ferguson
Bit nervous that it might prove a season too early for Tyrick to be starting regularly and so hoping Patrick makes an early return and stays fit. Having only seen glimpses of Ferguson I am not sure if he is right or not. Let's hope so. Both he and Ward can play right or left and so that protects Tyrick if the wheel was to 'fall off'. Will these offer enough of a threat? PVA is spot on but..... a risk we have to take I think.
OK - so now it gets tricky because we can't sustain/afford so many CBs. So I would jettison 2 of them and move Kouyate back to a CB role. I have kept JT and MS but TBH it could as easily have been the others. If we had scope I would look for a young CB quality prospect to add for development but don't think we have the £ unless they are a really cheap gamble.
Centre Backs
Tomkins
Sakho
Kelly
Kouyate
Midfielders
Milivojević
McArthur
McCarthy
Reidewald
Schlupp
New
The new midifelder would need to be a quality first pick candidate with goals and assists but not another Meyer/Ozil-like defensively. i.e. they need to be able to do the work and win the ball in the PL etc. i.e. - we can't support an all out number 10 without upgrading a lot more other positions
Forwards (in a 3)
Ayew
Benteke
Zaha
New CF
New WRF
New WLF
If Wilf leaves then he also needs replacing but with someone with goals in their locker.
Re the new slots. I don't think Pierrick will be ready for this season and so He may well be the 7th option dependent on loans and available cash. We just have to have a goal scoring option in the middle and two more wide forwards again with goals.
That controversially means that we should be moving on
Cahill, Dann, Meyer, Wickham and Townsend.
It's not that I don't rate or like these players, more that they don't really fit and keeping them is a compromise. TBH it's harsh on Dann, Cahill and Andros. I suspect we will end up keeping Townsend but he won't score the goals we need as a wide forward. If we keep Meyer as well I think we will struggle without losing a forward to supplement the midfield offensive quality. I know Meyer has a lot of 'fans' on here but after 21 starts, 25 more appearances and 3000 mins of opportunity we needed to have seen more than we have to keep him. 'He plays 'nice' with Wilf isn't enough. If Wickham is seriously fit etc. he might make one of those slots if we are short of cash but I suspect it's one season too late now.
I doubt we will get the quality in these purchases that I would like and see us picking up Niasse and Hendrick because they are both out of contract. TBF I doubt Salah, Firmino and Mane would come would they?
I doubt Wilf will stay and I am worried if he does in a way. Primarily because he simply isn't himself and unless his head shifts 180 degrees i can't see anything good for either of us. Also as a wide forward, neither he nor Andros attempt to get into the box enough. They have spent their careers hanging wide and don't appear to be able to adapt.
The other changes will be left to next year.
One way of looking at it and obviously there are oodles of others.
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