in truth there’s holes all over the pitch which need filling as the first choices are not good enough for a top 6 spot never mind top 2. We probably have 8 good players to build next season around (Dieng, Fry, RVDB, Hackney, Jones, Forss, McGree, Latte Lath) with the jury out on some others (Bangura, Smith, Lenahan, McNair, Clarke, Azaz, Coburn). We need at least another 8 including 2 starting full backs, a proper Howson replacement CM and a quality striker. We need to get rid of some of the dead wood in our squad (barlaser, Engel, dijksteel, Coulson, silvera, hoppe, Gilbert) and all of the loanees
What needs to happen over the summer then?
- Thread starter Scrug
- Start date
Agree with every word of that
I can't see one transfer window being enough to bring in the quality we would need to be competitive next season, especially if we were to lose the likes of Hackney, Rav, McGree and Forss.
Of the loans I don't think Greenwood or Thomas are the answer. I'm not sure about O'Brien. Ayling depends on what the situation is with Smith.
I don't think Engel or Barlaser are good enough either.
Depending on how many leave we could need quite an overhaul.
Of the loans I don't think Greenwood or Thomas are the answer. I'm not sure about O'Brien. Ayling depends on what the situation is with Smith.
I don't think Engel or Barlaser are good enough either.
Depending on how many leave we could need quite an overhaul.
swordtrombonefish
Well-known member
Sun, warm bones, garden and home repairs...preparation for winter
Smogonsea
Well-known member
McGree and Forss will leave in the summer. We need to hold on to Hackney and VDB. Would be massively worried if we lose all 4 of them. In addition I personally think the Jones as first team option is over. He has one good game in 10 and makes too many poor decisions. We need to vastly improve our midfield.
As others have said, it will be more than one window for this squad to look like top of the table competitors.
As others have said, it will be more than one window for this squad to look like top of the table competitors.
viv_andersons_nana
Well-known member
We need to put all of our money into strengthening the team, not padding out the squad. I think desperately need a right back, central defender, central midfielder, winger and a striker. On top of that you’d look to do two really high quality loans a la Ramsey and Archer.
Smoggyonthesolent
Well-known member
We've loads of pace, just can't get it on the pitch together. We need quality on the ball and a finisher. Latte should of scored his 1 on 1 earlier in the game.
Beverleyred
Well-known member
Take a holiday, have a picnic, forget about the tribulations of transfers for a week or two. OK, don’t - your choice 
Alwaysaborolad
Well-known member
Same as what needed to happen last summer, but we didn't, after the top scorer in the league was sold, and quality loan players returned to their respective clubs, we should of bought two or three quality players, that can hold their own in this relentless league.
But we didn't replace any of them with quality players, instead we bought several average players, most of them unheard of, and most not Championship level. Only Dieng and DVB were good additions, selling Rogers was a bonus, but we need to invest wisely.
What I think needs to happen, we need quality players rather than quantity, we tried the quantity approach this season and it hasn't been a success.
But we didn't replace any of them with quality players, instead we bought several average players, most of them unheard of, and most not Championship level. Only Dieng and DVB were good additions, selling Rogers was a bonus, but we need to invest wisely.
What I think needs to happen, we need quality players rather than quantity, we tried the quantity approach this season and it hasn't been a success.
dooderooni
Well-known member
I fully expect a few high profile outgoings and doubt there'll be a warchest of any description. I keep hearing about all the FFP headroom, but I can't see us ploughing a load of money into the squad. We've made plenty of money on Tav, Spence, Chuba and then Rogers and I very much doubt that there's much of it left that hasn't already gone into the running of the club.
Another window of speculative punts and we'll probably take up the maximum number of loans in an effort to improve the quality of the squad, but they might well only happen at the end of the window and we'll have to hope they are more like last season's loans than this.
Another window of speculative punts and we'll probably take up the maximum number of loans in an effort to improve the quality of the squad, but they might well only happen at the end of the window and we'll have to hope they are more like last season's loans than this.
Simply red
Well-known member
2,000 drop in footfall works out at a loss of £800k paying £400 per season ticket .Season ticket sales down 20 %. Belts will need to be tightened.
17,000 x £30 ticket rise is £510k , so the increase has back fired and cost the club £300k . ( presuming the 2,000 who have dropped out have done so because of the ticket increase )
Bad business and greedy . Look after the fans and they look after you.
atomicloonybin aka ALB
Well-known member
It's been a dispiriting season, and we'll have players who don't want to stick around for more of the same in front of declining crowds. Worst case scenario is that we lose four mainstays - Hackney, VDB, McGree and Forss. Maybe Fry and Jones too. The Forss one is disappointing if true of those, because he's potentially a player you can build a team around if he wasn't injured all the bloody time.
I wouldn't keep any of the loanees, though I have a feeling that we've already agreed for Greenwood to join. Ayling, O'Brien (and move on Barlaser in such a case) maybe. Thomas was an absolute waste of a loan move.
Don't think Paddy will stay on much reduced terms. Those who've barely played like Dijksteel will likely want a move.
So, it's pretty thin. Howson can't go on forever and the fact we always look a better team when he's in is pretty damning of the other midfielders, and we might be hoping that two players who are also on the wrong side of thirty (Lenihan, Smith) can come back from a season where they haven't played.
There'll by necessity be almost Strachan-esque amounts of churn. And we know how that worked out. Do we believe really that the current regime can identify the 8, 9, 10 players who can adequately replace what we'll lose, AND go on to mount a serious challenge at the top of the table? Never mind whether the money is available - and someone said to me yesterday, with confidence, that there was a "war chest". But you have to spend it well, and not on the likes of Kris Boyd and Willo Flood.
I'd also say, once the playoffs are definitively out of reach, give some of the youngsters a go.
I wouldn't keep any of the loanees, though I have a feeling that we've already agreed for Greenwood to join. Ayling, O'Brien (and move on Barlaser in such a case) maybe. Thomas was an absolute waste of a loan move.
Don't think Paddy will stay on much reduced terms. Those who've barely played like Dijksteel will likely want a move.
So, it's pretty thin. Howson can't go on forever and the fact we always look a better team when he's in is pretty damning of the other midfielders, and we might be hoping that two players who are also on the wrong side of thirty (Lenihan, Smith) can come back from a season where they haven't played.
There'll by necessity be almost Strachan-esque amounts of churn. And we know how that worked out. Do we believe really that the current regime can identify the 8, 9, 10 players who can adequately replace what we'll lose, AND go on to mount a serious challenge at the top of the table? Never mind whether the money is available - and someone said to me yesterday, with confidence, that there was a "war chest". But you have to spend it well, and not on the likes of Kris Boyd and Willo Flood.
I'd also say, once the playoffs are definitively out of reach, give some of the youngsters a go.