Some general observations about the squad next season now we are pretty much safe.

I think its clear we need to sell/let go a serious number of players for the first time in a long time if we are going to progress as a club.
We have a strong nucleus of players but need to make room in the 25 man squad.

Im thinking

Tierney
Ayala
Ward
Barnett
Butterfield
Jackson
Becchio
Camp
Garrido
Vaughan
C Martin
T Adeyemi

This would leave the following squad which we could add more quality with buys, free agents and loans.

Ruddy
Bunn

R Martin
Whittaker
Turner
R Bennett
Bassong

Fox
Howson
Tettey
Johnson
Hoolahan
Snodgrass
Pilkington
Surman
E Bennet

Holt
Kamara
Van Winky

Yep.... thats just 19 players

You could make a case for keeping either Tierney or Garrido but its clear we need a quality LB.

Maybe make a case for keeping Ayala who is young and looked decent and would make a decent CB back up.

That would take us to 21 players which would leave room for 4 additions as well as 2 loans.

My shopping list would be

(1) Left back

(2) Def midfield player who can possibly score 2-5 goals a season. (or at least shoot within 30ft of the goal!)

(3) Fast as f**k winger as we lack pace on the counter against most sides.

(4) 1 more striker, possibly a different option such as Hooper. or maybe take a chance on Rhodes if Blackburn go tits up chicken tilt as I expect them to do and we can get him cheap.

Plus fill in a couple of high quality loans.

As I mentioned before I feel we have decent nucleus of a squad but are maybe 4-5 players away from transforming the squad from an end of season perennial relegation candidate to teams like WBA and
Swansea who have been safe for a while.

Those teams defensively are not much different to us but have done well in the buying/loan markets.
They have found that extra bit of attacking quality that we currently lack.

Long and Lukaku for WBA

Michu and De Guzman for Swansea

Posted By: usacanary, Apr 21, 06:38:06