Counting Chickens

[Professor]

IF we go up, and IF the plan as stated, is to be a force in the NpC from the outset, how many of the current squad would be first choice in the Championship side?
Davis, Richardson, Fonte, Dickson, Schneiderlin, Chamberlain, Lambert, Barnard? Anyone else? Is there another Academy product of the Walcott/Bale/Chamberlain quality to add to the list? How many quality signings are needed? Three, Four, Five?

If the ultimate 5 year aim (4 years now) is a team for the top half of the Prem, it's going to need a lot of investment not just to get to the top of the Chamionship, but to avoid being just another yo-yo club.

[LGTL]

Can't believe you missed out/forgot Lallana!

[farawaysaint]

Jaidi would probably be first choice for another year, Harding could very well be our first choice LB.

[eurosaint]

Pulis ?

[lambertsrightleg]

lallana, chaplow, butterfield

[eelpie]

It's time to reassess Joseph Mills. Anyone know how he is doing at Donny?
In fact I reckon we should recall him now. With so many injuries he could be LB, releasing Dickson on left wing. Coudn't do worse than we did at Rochdale.

[NickG]

we pretty much matched Millwall last season. Since then we have probably improved our squad more than them. They are doing ok?

Don't think there is huge gulf in style or ability if team is well set out.

[(not THE) Kevin Moore]

It's time to reassess Joseph Mills. Anyone know how he is doing at Donny?
In fact I reckon we should recall him now. With so many injuries he could be LB, releasing Dickson on left wing. Coudn't do worse than we did at Rochdale.

Injured by the looks of things, got crocked in Jan and (according to wikipedia) doesn't seem to have played since, he has 16 apps and 2 goals for Donny this season.

[Deppo]

It would be damaging to our team to make too many changes. Anyway, Julian H. Cope told me he had a dream that we didn't go up this season and his dreams are always prescient. So there's no point in even discussing this.

[adrian lord]

Midfield needs bolstering and more pace at the back perhaps to deal with quicker forwards. Goalkeeper?

[adriansfc]

This is the fifth time I've seen this thread started.

Our team would be largely the same, if we have any sense. Quality over quantity in terms of signings, 3 or 4 max.

[Bakovnetski]

Guly and Forte....keepers or not?

[Deppo]

Guly and Forte....keepers or not?

I think they are wingers.

[Dimond Geezer]

Guly and Forte....keepers or not?

Not. Both attacking midfielders.

[West End Saint]

This is the fifth time I've seen this thread started.

Our team would be largely the same, if we have any sense. Quality over quantity in terms of signings, 3 or 4 max.

I really hope that we are discussing this thread again in June & we have got over the line !

I would agree that we don't need wholesale change 2 or 3 Quality signings at least 1 in centre midfield a winger & a striker but our squad at the moment could compete.

Norwich & Leeds have not made loads of signings & they are right up there challenging Millwall are also doing ok I firmly believe we would do very well fingers crossed we get to find out

[stcappy]

He has definately been playing for them since Jan. I saw him at swansea having diverted there when on route to the original Rochdale game. Nathan dyer made him look a complete mug - and definately our third choice left back on what I saw. That said the three times I have seen dyer this year he has looked a class above Scott Sinclair each time who is allegedly one of the outstanding players in the NPC this year. I really think Dickson and harding are better options.

[Alanh]

Look at it from the perspective of the squad and you can see 5 - 6 players leaving - Holmes, Connolly, Forecast, N'Guessan, Puncheon, possibly one of the three left backs and possibly Stephens if he doesn't cut it in his few games here. You would expect us to replace them all with better to challenge for first team places. Personally I've also got my doubts about the ability of some of the current first teamers for the nPC so I would not be surprised to see 5 - 6 new players come in should we get promoted, possibly more if we decide that we need specific attributes that are not already in the squad.

[Alanh]

I really hope that we are discussing this thread again in June & we have got over the line !

I would agree that we don't need wholesale change 2 or 3 Quality signings at least 1 in centre midfield a winger & a striker but our squad at the moment could compete.

Norwich & Leeds have not made loads of signings & they are right up there challenging Millwall are also doing ok I firmly believe we would do very well fingers crossed we get to find out

Both have made about 7 signings since they were promoted and they have obviously strengthened their first teams successfully.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

It would be damaging to our team to make too many changes.

You're right. It wouldn't be the same team without them.

[West End Saint]

Both have made about 7 signings since they were promoted and they have obviously strengthened their first teams successfully.

There have been 2 transfer windows since they have been promoted they are both playing the majority of players that got them promoted from League 1 Norwich havent spent much at all & Leeds havent spent mega money.

Yes they have both brought players in & shipped quite a few fringe players out however they are still in the mix with mostly the same team as last season & Leeds lost there top Striker to Everton.

So with the squad we have and a few additions we should do well just hope we get the chance to show it.

[Alanh]

There have been 2 transfer windows since they have been promoted they are both playing the majority of players that got them promoted from League 1 Norwich havent spent much at all & Leeds havent spent mega money.

Yes they have both brought players in & shipped quite a few fringe players out however they are still in the mix with mostly the same team as last season & Leeds lost there top Striker to Everton.

So with the squad we have and a few additions we should do well just hope we get the chance to show it.

Mostly fair points, but the point remains that we are likely to see more additions to the squad than the 3 - 4 that some people seem to think based purely on us losing some players whose contracts will expire, are too injury prone, are deemed surplus to requirements or want to leave. If 6 players leave the squad for these reasons I think everyone on here would expect them to be replaced with better quality regardless of whether we pay big money for them or do it over one or two transfer windows.

FWIW I think that we'll need (based on who I think will be leaving the club) two wide players to replace N'Guessan, Puncheon and Holmes, if AOC leaves that will be another pacy wide player needed, a fast striker to replace Connolly and complement the other options that we have, a new keeper (not sure if 1st or 3rd choice), a new attacking central midfielder and possibly a new defender, subject to Adkins thoughts on which of our current group of defenders are up to it.

[West End Saint]

Mostly fair points, but the point remains that we are likely to see more additions to the squad than the 3 - 4 that some people seem to think based purely on us losing some players whose contracts will expire, are too injury prone, are deemed surplus to requirements or want to leave. If 6 players leave the squad for these reasons I think everyone on here would expect them to be replaced with better quality regardless of whether we pay big money for them or do it over one or two transfer windows.

FWIW I think that we'll need (based on who I think will be leaving the club) two wide players to replace N'Guessan, Puncheon and Holmes, if AOC leaves that will be another pacy wide player needed, a fast striker to replace Connolly and complement the other options that we have, a new keeper (not sure if 1st or 3rd choice), a new attacking central midfielder and possibly a new defender, subject to Adkins thoughts on which of our current group of defenders are up to it.

Agreed that is likely we will see more than 2 or 3 new players some like Chambo we wont want to lose & we are short of quality wingers hence the diamond system we have been playing.

It would be good to keep the spine of the team in place I dont think we need a total rebuilding job in the summer but you could make a case for changing a lot of our players IF we manage to get up the squad we have got should & could do well.

Has Kelvin had his day ? I think he has done enough to stay our number 1 I have been as frustrated as many with him at times, don't get me started on the crosses he should deal with but he has done a good job & is a decent keeper & Bart is good back up

We do lack quality in centre midfield, we do need wingers & a Striker I think we are ok at the back

[sugarbabe64]

Can everyone please stop signing ' we are going up ' whenever we take the lead at least until ,if and when we are definitely promoted ffs

[Window Cleaner]

There have been 2 transfer windows since they have been promoted they are both playing the majority of players that got them promoted from League 1 Norwich havent spent much at all & Leeds havent spent mega money.

Yes they have both brought players in & shipped quite a few fringe players out however they are still in the mix with mostly the same team as last season & Leeds lost there top Striker to Everton.

So with the squad we have and a few additions we should do well just hope we get the chance to show it.

If you look at Norwich's side from last Tuesday you'll see about 3/4 players who were there last season.
A lot of new players,some signed, some on loan but a vast improvement on last year. Just think if we added say Surman and Ward and had Lansbury on loan from the Arse plus Pacheco and Vokes...well we wouldn't look too dusty either.We'll definitely need a central defender, probably a right back and no doubt a striker.

[revolution saint]

Can everyone please stop signing ' we are going up ' whenever we take the lead at least until ,if and when we are definitely promoted ffs

What have you got against deaf people?

[tonibell]

Personally speaking or typing I think the team will remain the same less Jose Fonte who will be sold to Newcastle.
The team will be exactly the same the same to start another season in division 1 after we miss out on promotion

[dickyhale]

Personally speaking or typing I think the team will remain the same less Jose Fonte who will be sold to Newcastle.
The team will be exactly the same the same to start another season in division 1 after we miss out on promotion

Counting Chickens