We look a mid table outfit even with the current loan players (O'Brien, Thomas, Ayling and Greenwood)
When they leave we are immediately depleted.
That's 4 players to recruit for.
Some other players will leave given their contract situations:
McNair, Howson and Jamie Jones are all out of contract.
McGree, Smith, Dijksteel and Coulson will all go into their last year. I think it likely all will leave.
Forss is continually rumoured to be on the move (sadly)
That is 11 of the current first team squad of 28, (plus Coulson) where its highly uncertain they will be here.
Barlaser, Hoppe and Silvera are not good enough, but have 2 seasons left. Who will buy them?
If they go, they too are numbers to replace.
The bit of quality we do have could attract offers the club cashes in on.
Hackney, VdB and/or Latte Lath could be cashed in on. I hope not.
I think it will be another summer of high turnover.
I'm hoping that this summer sees a strong nett spend, not a surplus, and sees us retain the quality we have and not sell it.
Quality first team ready recruits at RB, LB, CM, LW, 10 and CF, then a bit of youthful padding, (or retaining Paddy/Howson) and we can cope with those 11 likely on their way.
It really is about the recruitment/retention decisions and the budgets set.
Take advantage of the FFP/P&S opportunity we now have and invest significantly on quality would be exciting.
Flogging Hackney, VdB and Forss/LL and buying cheap prospects would be another kick in the balls.
Absolute knackers your talking there mate.
We look a mid table outfit even with the current loan players (O'Brien, Thomas, Ayling and Greenwood)
When they leave we are immediately depleted.
That's 4 players to recruit for.
Obrien is back up for howson and Hackney.
thomas is 3rd choice LB, only signed to cover injured player.
Ayling signed because smith out for the season and dijksteel not good enough. only signed for covering smith being injured.
Greenwood, is trash and only been played because Hackney and Mcgree were injured most of the season and we sold rogers. wont be a miss at all.
losing 3 short team loans who were using as emergency cover or as a squad filler isnt going to deplete us. as soon as the other players are fit we'd be stronger than when having to play them.
Everything else you said its just you wetting the bed, speculating worst case scenario's.
We need another RB, CM, LW and CF. for the first 11. A few more back up loans deals or projects to fill the squad out again.
If Forss leaves we will replace because we'd get a decent fee.
If Mcgree leaves we replace because again we would get a decent fee.
we wont sell lath or Hackney unless we get massive money. plenty of cash to replace.
if we actually do sell all 4 of them we could buy and replace because we'd have probably around 40million mark.
if our recruitment team had that amount of money to play with, on top of the rogers sale. we would 100% be bringing is some real good players.
though that scenario wont happen and we are not in a position to need to sell. if players want to leave eg glover, mcgree, forss. then fine they can leave we will find better and improve on them anyway.