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Summer evolution, not revolution

D

DonaldDownTheWing

Striker
We’ve got 13 or 14 players who have shown throughout the season that they have more than enough ability for the Premier League. What we don’t have is a full squad capable of that level.

Working on the basis that none of the Crown Jewels are sold, what do you want us to do in the summer?

For me -

A new CB. Ballard and Alderete have been a great pairing this season but there’s little competition for their place. I’d like someone to come in and challenge them for a starting berth.

A new RB - Hume is a perfectly able defensive RB, but he offers very little going forward. When you see someone like Jiminez at Bournemouth or Munoz at Palace, that’s the level of player I’d like to see competing with Mukiele.

LB - Someone to directly challenge Reinildo.

A new CDM - Xhaka’s quality has never been in doubt. We struggled without him when he was injured and even he is allowed the odd poor game. He won’t be able to play 40+ games next season either.

Winger - hopefully Adingra will be sold. Angulo, Talbi, Mundle & Ta Bi are all work in progress, but I’d like us to go and sign a really first rate winger who is good 1v1, can beat a man and cut in or go outside. Rayan cost Bournemouth £35m. That kind of level.

Creative midfielder - As it stands ELF is our most creative player and we need someone to push him on, challenge him but also share the load.

Strikers - Obviously the hardest position to get right, and a lot of who you buy to play up front is dictated by the style of play you want.

Outgoings -

Jones
Cirkin
Geertruida (won’t stay)
Isidor
Adingra
Mayenda (championship loan)
 

DonaldDownTheWing said:
We’ve got 13 or 14 players who have shown throughout the season that they have more than enough ability for the Premier League. What we don’t have is a full squad capable of that level.

Working on the basis that none of the Crown Jewels are sold, what do you want us to do in the summer?

For me -

A new CB. Ballard and Alderete have been a great pairing this season but there’s little competition for their place. I’d like someone to come in and challenge them for a starting berth.

A new RB - Hume is a perfectly able defensive RB, but he offers very little going forward. When you see someone like Jiminez at Bournemouth or Munoz at Palace, that’s the level of player I’d like to see competing with Mukiele.

LB - Someone to directly challenge Reinildo.

A new CDM - Xhaka’s quality has never been in doubt. We struggled without him when he was injured and even he is allowed the odd poor game. He won’t be able to play 40+ games next season either.

Winger - hopefully Adingra will be sold. Angulo, Talbi, Mundle & Ta Bi are all work in progress, but I’d like us to go and sign a really first rate winger who is good 1v1, can beat a man and cut in or go outside. Rayan cost Bournemouth £35m. That kind of level.

Creative midfielder - As it stands ELF is our most creative player and we need someone to push him on, challenge him but also share the load.

Strikers - Obviously the hardest position to get right, and a lot of who you buy to play up front is dictated by the style of play you want.

Outgoings -

Jones
Cirkin
Geertruida (won’t stay)
 Isidor
Adingra
Mayenda (championship loan)
Click to expand...
Would rather get shot of Diarra than these 2
 
Pretty well all agreed. We need to strengthen in virtually all positions to provide competition and to better manage injuries.
Absolutely massive summer transfer window for the owner and DOF both in terms of above and retention.
 
Last edited:
Ch1982 said:
Very little to disagree with. Priority for me would be wingers who contribute offensively as well as do their jobs defensively. That’s where the majority of our spend should be going imo.
Click to expand...

I think the wings are clearly our weakest area at the moment. We had no wingers in the starting 11 last night.
 
Mayenda hardly gets a look in these days. I'd be looking to find a way to play him. Doesn't he play right wing for Spain U21s? But yes, another centre half, defensive mid to learn from Xhaka, right winger and another forward. Then its about comings and goings. 50 million for Sadiki I'm taking it.
 
DonaldDownTheWing said:
We’ve got 13 or 14 players who have shown throughout the season that they have more than enough ability for the Premier League. What we don’t have is a full squad capable of that level.

Working on the basis that none of the Crown Jewels are sold, what do you want us to do in the summer?

For me -

A new CB. Ballard and Alderete have been a great pairing this season but there’s little competition for their place. I’d like someone to come in and challenge them for a starting berth.

A new RB - Hume is a perfectly able defensive RB, but he offers very little going forward. When you see someone like Jiminez at Bournemouth or Munoz at Palace, that’s the level of player I’d like to see competing with Mukiele.

LB - Someone to directly challenge Reinildo.

A new CDM - Xhaka’s quality has never been in doubt. We struggled without him when he was injured and even he is allowed the odd poor game. He won’t be able to play 40+ games next season either.

Winger - hopefully Adingra will be sold. Angulo, Talbi, Mundle & Ta Bi are all work in progress, but I’d like us to go and sign a really first rate winger who is good 1v1, can beat a man and cut in or go outside. Rayan cost Bournemouth £35m. That kind of level.

Creative midfielder - As it stands ELF is our most creative player and we need someone to push him on, challenge him but also share the load.

Strikers - Obviously the hardest position to get right, and a lot of who you buy to play up front is dictated by the style of play you want.

Outgoings -

Jones
Cirkin
Geertruida (won’t stay)
Isidor
Adingra
Mayenda (championship loan)
Click to expand...
Hahaha, your avatar 🤣
 
craigypants said:
Mayenda hardly gets a look in these days. I'd be looking to find a way to play him. Doesn't he play right wing for Spain U21s? But yes, another centre half, defensive mid to learn from Xhaka, right winger and another forward. Then its about comings and goings. 50 million for Sadiki I'm taking it.
Click to expand...

I just think he’s not PL level yet. Younger than Isidor so has time but I think he’d benefit from a full season being the main man.
 
DonaldDownTheWing said:
We’ve got 13 or 14 players who have shown throughout the season that they have more than enough ability for the Premier League. What we don’t have is a full squad capable of that level.

Working on the basis that none of the Crown Jewels are sold, what do you want us to do in the summer?

For me -

A new CB. Ballard and Alderete have been a great pairing this season but there’s little competition for their place. I’d like someone to come in and challenge them for a starting berth.

A new RB - Hume is a perfectly able defensive RB, but he offers very little going forward. When you see someone like Jiminez at Bournemouth or Munoz at Palace, that’s the level of player I’d like to see competing with Mukiele.

LB - Someone to directly challenge Reinildo.

A new CDM - Xhaka’s quality has never been in doubt. We struggled without him when he was injured and even he is allowed the odd poor game. He won’t be able to play 40+ games next season either.

Winger - hopefully Adingra will be sold. Angulo, Talbi, Mundle & Ta Bi are all work in progress, but I’d like us to go and sign a really first rate winger who is good 1v1, can beat a man and cut in or go outside. Rayan cost Bournemouth £35m. That kind of level.

Creative midfielder - As it stands ELF is our most creative player and we need someone to push him on, challenge him but also share the load.

Strikers - Obviously the hardest position to get right, and a lot of who you buy to play up front is dictated by the style of play you want.

Outgoings -

Jones
Cirkin
Geertruida (won’t stay)
Isidor
Adingra
Mayenda (championship loan)
Click to expand...
No point signing any wingers as RLB plays central midfielders ahead of them
 
Can’t see us attracting ghisolfi over and not giving him money to spend. Think it’ll be another busy one with a lot of outgoings. Need quality depth
 
DonaldDownTheWing said:
We’ve got 13 or 14 players who have shown throughout the season that they have more than enough ability for the Premier League. What we don’t have is a full squad capable of that level.

Working on the basis that none of the Crown Jewels are sold, what do you want us to do in the summer?

For me -

A new CB. Ballard and Alderete have been a great pairing this season but there’s little competition for their place. I’d like someone to come in and challenge them for a starting berth.

A new RB - Hume is a perfectly able defensive RB, but he offers very little going forward. When you see someone like Jiminez at Bournemouth or Munoz at Palace, that’s the level of player I’d like to see competing with Mukiele.

LB - Someone to directly challenge Reinildo.

A new CDM - Xhaka’s quality has never been in doubt. We struggled without him when he was injured and even he is allowed the odd poor game. He won’t be able to play 40+ games next season either.

Winger - hopefully Adingra will be sold. Angulo, Talbi, Mundle & Ta Bi are all work in progress, but I’d like us to go and sign a really first rate winger who is good 1v1, can beat a man and cut in or go outside. Rayan cost Bournemouth £35m. That kind of level.

Creative midfielder - As it stands ELF is our most creative player and we need someone to push him on, challenge him but also share the load.

Strikers - Obviously the hardest position to get right, and a lot of who you buy to play up front is dictated by the style of play you want.

Outgoings -

Jones
Cirkin
Geertruida (won’t stay)
Isidor
Adingra
Mayenda (championship loan)
Click to expand...
The striker situation and the preferred style of play needs addressing first. Then you create a team around that philosophy.....is it a hold up man, a runner in behind or someone who can do both....and what level are we going for... established or potential.... established you are looking at 50 million with high wages with probably little sell on fee or do we go down the potential genius route
 
Last edited:
columbo70 said:
The striker situation and the preferred style of play needs addressing first. Then you create a team around that philosophy.....is it a hold up man, a runner in behind or someone who can do both....and what level or we going for... established or potential
Click to expand...

Style of play is huge aye. I watched Bournemouth on Thursday night and have seen them a few times this season. Their movement, runners off the ball, how fluid they are etc, is really impressive.

Now we’re not miles behind in terms of points so it’s not like they’re much better than us, but we’re very rigid and don’t have many technicians.
 
craigypants said:
Mayenda hardly gets a look in these days. I'd be looking to find a way to play him. Doesn't he play right wing for Spain U21s? But yes, another centre half, defensive mid to learn from Xhaka, right winger and another forward. Then its about comings and goings. 50 million for Sadiki I'm taking it.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure Mayenda does enough defensively, that's potentially one of the reasons he isn't playing there for us.

Others have mentioned Diarra, hopefully this is an example of a player needing a season to settle then we see his true qualities next season. Could be the case for a few of them.
 
DonaldDownTheWing said:
Style of play is huge aye. I watched Bournemouth on Thursday night and have seen them a few times this season. Their movement, runners off the ball, how fluid they are etc, is really impressive.

Now we’re not miles behind in terms of points so it’s not like they’re much better than us, but we’re very rigid and don’t have many technicians.
Click to expand...
You can have a plan B....but you buy for plan A....huge decisions to be made in summer regarding Brobbey, Isidor etc and how we create. And in that do we spend £60 million on one player knowing we probably won't have any profit if we sell him on. These wingers need to produce next year that we've invested in....like I said major decisions. At the moment I don't know what our creative philosophy is when we play.
 
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