Chewy

Exactly how I feel I'm afraid. He needs to go; the odd person still says keep him as back up, but it's out of sentiment more than anything else. He is currently back-up, and as the term implies needs to play occasionally when being backup for injuries etc. And every time he does he unfortunately proves he's simply not up to the job. He needs to be removed from the squad I'm afraid. I actually think he'd fair much better abroad than in the championship. Likely to have a bit more time to allow his footballing ability to flourish and mask the fact he can't defend. Sorry jack, nothing personal, and I want our kids to all make it, but ...

If Ralph was surprised, then I'm surprised he was. In January we were on course to finish with a total of 42 first team players (including those on loan and those whose contract was due to end this season, assuming that includes Flanagan, plus academy players who have played for the first team). So far we has lost 3, Gabbi, Davis and Seager, leaving 39, only 4 of who will count as under 21 next season (ramsay, obafemi, Johnson, valery). Only one more (Flanagan) is due to have his contract end, so 34 over 21 players before we even start. We need to shift 9 (sell or loan) to reach 25, 4 more to bring in the four players we all think we know we need (rb, CB, winger, cf) and that would still leave a working first team squad of 29 including existing known youth prospects, let alone ones that haven't broken through yet (Vokins, smallbone, whoever). We need to shift about 15 by my reckoning.

Given the global nature of the market nowadays it's really hard to know enough - there will always be a curve ball out there. Irrespective of how they turned out I'm not sure how many of us had heard of mane, pelle, tadic, Ely, vesti, Maya, gaston, Carrillo, boufal etc. All I know is that I want a reasonably experienced centre back with a mouth on him capable of giving some leadership and organisation, and we desperately need some pace up front. A centre forward with some physical presence, but still able to actually move (and score every now and then, obviously ...) would be a plus. Right back is the trickiest position. Not so good he expects to start in front of valery, stopping his progress, but good enough to play when called upon. To that end, I think a loan might work. Plus I suspect if valery has a good season he'll be a wanted man next summer, so could defer the proper replacement for a year (while saving some cash). Chances are, at least one of the signings will be someone I've very limited, if any, knowledge of.

You're completely missing the point, in that we were obviously testing him to see if he's improved from liability to being a competent backup once more, because if so it gives us a lot of extra cash to reinvest via McCarthy (who incidentally may want to leave being unhappy at getting dropped); One would assume based on the fact he's improved in training and that he's mentally recovered somewhat. Of course, you could be right and we purposefully chose him because hes not improved at all and is rubbish, throwing a game while risking his fragile mental state for absolutely no reason whatsoever. It's possible I guess ...

I actually imagine it was the opposite ... And it's not a difficult concept to grasp. We have 2 back up keepers, one good enough (McCarhy) and one who used to be but became a major liability, and we wanted to test if he's recovered. And the reason is very simple. McCarthy could command a fee of the best part of £10m, is sellable, and wouldn't need to take a pay cut to move so would be happy to go. Forster isn't sellable because he's on a fortune. So if Forster has recovered enough to be a viable number two we get McCarthys wages off our books and up to £10m to reinvest elsewhere in the team. If not, we don't. So checking it out in a largely meaningless game to see if we could add £10m to our budget, plus free up McCarthys wages is an entirely sensible move. It's worth risking the couple of million for an extra league place we probably wouldn't have got with the other results anyway. Why people fail to get this is a bit beyond me.

I actually like you're thinking there. With the added bonus that Watford do not have a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts so will be struggling next season too. However, come the kick off I'm not sure I can see myself actually wanting Watford to win.

Valery, Gunn, Bertrand, PEH, JWP, Redmond would be my six. I also rate Bednarek. And Ings and Lemina when fit and on form. Which is mostly never. If he continues his rate of development, Valery will go for very big money next summer IMHO.

I would find that move very surprising to be honest, at least at that price. Unless we're getting a windfall by selling one of the players we don't want to sell, we simply don't have the cash to take that sort of a risk this summer. He could be a mane, but equally he could be an Ely. All out for a centre back and centre forward first IMHO, then whatever's left on a right back and attacking midfielder. I know he fits the final position of those, but that much for someone entirely unknown? Not until we know what budget we have left, which we won't know until we discover how much of the dead wood we can shift, and for how much.

I do like ings, think he has a top attitude and when on form is a class above the rest of our options, however, his fitness is showing no signs of improving, and it's not just the lack of availability, it's the fact that he naturally takes time to get back up to speed after a break. When he has a break every third week or so it becomes impossible so you're just left with a lesser player. Quite frankly, sturridge, welbeck or Andy Carroll would all be just as useful. All available on a free, all likely to want high wages, and all either injured or not quite on top form due to recovering from injury most of the time ... Maybe we should sign them all up. Together with ings we'd probably have at least one fit each week.

Lots of youngsters being suggested here for starts or bench but with the play off final I doubt we'll see many of them appear. According to someone on another thread, Gallagher was due to start at West Ham but got a knock in training. If fit I'd expect him to feature, along with sims. Defence obviously depends on Maya coming back. Don't want to see Stephens again, but couldn't have bednarek and Bertrand as a back two so if Maya is out it will mean Stephens. In which case I'd like a back three. Gunn back in goal please, Targett to play, lemina also but ideally further up the field as per Newcastle game. and obviously I hope we seriously go for it. Poor opposition, poor season for us, so a comprehensive win as a send off would be very much appreciated.

Ok, many thanks, I missed that. In which case you're right he won't feature. Obviously be excellent to get the academy team promoted, but a bit of a shame we now have two crucial games for them clashing with games we could offer a chance of playing in. On balance think it's right to prioritise the play offs for the young fringe players. If targett does start and we play a back three we'll have a very offensive bench! If the team above was correct it would leave 6 from Ramsay, Romeu, Armstrong, Ely, long, Austin, sims and Gallagher I think. Guess Ely and Gallagher would miss out from those?

That looks a decent bet to me, though with Bertrand on the left and Stephens in the middle. We saw how a back four went without Maya and vesti last week and (despite the greater attacking threat) it wasn't pretty. Ramsay is the only other option, having missed last night I think he must be in the plans for the squad today, if not the starting 11. I know Ralph said about 1 or 2 opportunities for younger players, but with the play-offs it means Jones, Johnson and Vokins won't feature - don't think any others might have been considered ready even without the clash of games, although o'connor looks a very interesting prospect. Our Declan rice in a year or so? I Suspect slattery and sims will feature at some point today. Not sure about Gallagher, think Ralph has already made his mind up on him. And think lemina should play the majority of today and next weekend IMHO.

Both of those seem plausible and pretty interesting to be honest. Think I'm going to enjoy this summer!

Fantastic club servant - wish him all the very best and offer my thanks for all he contributed.

Not too fussed which games it happens in, but what I'd like to see in our two remaining fixtures is continued development of Valery, Gunn, Bednarek & Vestergaard, one outing (at least) for Ramsay & Slattery, possibly a debut for Vokins, if not more game-time for Targett, and Lemina to start both games. Beyond that I'm not too fussed. Would probably play Ings both games to try and get him on the scoresheet for confidence (assuming he is definitely with us next season). Otherwise, can't see too much to gain from chopping and changing more (it's quite a bit already). Maybe a sub appearance for Tyreke Johnson and a bit more exposure for Sims? Maybe a sub outing for Gallagher to remind possible buyers he exists??

Is Targett fit? If not, left back is an issue. I'd imagine a debut for Vokins?? Given what's been said at the pre conference, would imagine something like Gunn Bednarek Yoshida Stephens Valery Romeu PEH Target / Vokins JWP Long Redmond Subs Ramsay Forster Ings Austin Sims Lemina + 1 more (who depends on left back situation I guess)

Genuine question, are we subsidising his wages, and if so can we fine him? Taking emotion out of it, I have no major issue that a moron of a young man does something stupid on social media -it's clearly stupid, but he's hardly unique in being dumb on social media. But if we are actually paying him money, surely we can take some action?

I know the thread says squad for next season, but think this will be a 2 year operation as we won't be able to shift all of the dross this summer, not unless we're either very lucky or take a major hit on resale value. With that in mind I think we're after something like: In GK In Gunn McCarthy/Forster Lewis Out McCarthy/Forster Rose RB In (no one) Out Cedric Youth Valery Ramsay Buy AN Other LB In Bertrand Targett/McQueen Out Targett/McQueen Youth Vokins CB In Bednarek Vestergaard Out Yoshuda (*) Hoedt Stephens Unsure Jones Youth (there's a few) Buy AN Other CM In JWP PEH Romeu Slattery Lamina/Reed Out Classie Flannigan Lamina / Reed Youth Smallbone? Jankewitz? AM In Sims Out Ely Unsure Hesketh Bouffal Armstrong Youth Johnson Buy AN Other 1 AN Other 2 F In Ings Redmond Out Carillo Austin Long Barnes Gallagher Youth Obafemi Buy AN Other 1 AN Other 2 Couple of caveats - - would keep Yoshida next season and let his contract run down - the number of 'AM's we need to buy is dependant on those we have question marks over; in an ideal world they all have a part to play but I have my doubts - would rather lose Forster than McCarthy but don't see a buyer for Forster - depending on how good Vokins is, might lose both Targett and McQueen - could sell both Lamina and Reed but think we'd need cover if youth not good enough? - nobody would be stupid enough to buy Ely off us this summer, may even struggle to shift next, will probably need to loan (and subsidise wages) - might get away with just one more forward, I'm possibly being greedy - for squad depth might need to keep Long for next season (give Obafemi another year to develop) and release when his contract is up Like I say, think this will take a good 2 summers to sort. Think Armstrong will get another season, may struggle to move Carillo and Classie on this summer, may also see Stephens here for one more season. But at least we seem to be heading in the right direction, and seem to have a manager with a plan. I'm genuinely excited to see what the summer holds and how much progress we make next season. Of course, one down side is that if we do continue our trajectory under Ralph, our plans may be knackered by getting bids we can't say no to for some of those we want to keep (PEH, Redmond, maybe even Valery), but that's football I guess!

I have a good feeling about this one. Newcastle are well organised and well drilled, but now they're safe I wonder if they will try and be a bit more expansive (more influenced by their home crowd than their manager!) which might work in our favour. I'm going for a 2-1 win.

Has to Redmond for me. PEH has been very solid but seldom spectacular, and his suspensions didn't help. JWP has had a purple patch and showed some real development under Ralph but (despite what a certain someone thinks) doesn't influence enough games, at least outside of set pieces. Everton being a very obvious exception. And bednarek has been our best defender and probably most improved player this season. Granted the competition for best defender isn't fantastic, but why on earth he wasn't in the team under Hughes will be a mystery never solved. Pleased with valery and Gunn, Ings has proved he's a class above on the rare occasions he's made it onto the pitch, otherwise there's nobody worth a mention (saying that, somebody above mentioned Romeu ... why???) I actually think Redmond is a bit over-rated (that's not to say I don't like him, just not as much as some on here). He doesn't get his head up enough to see the whole picture, impacting his decision making and execution of the the final pass / shot. But he excites, scares defenders, lifts the crowd, works tirelessly and has weighed in with some vital goals. For me, it's not even a debate this season, he has put the work in and deserves this reward.

Well, there was one time he remembered to shoot ... I let out a strange noise when he scored that goal. But you're mostly right, all dribble and no product.

I'm sure if you check the stats he was far more effective than Redmond ...

Agreed except I'd imagine if we went with the second formation the last four names would read JWP Armstrong; Redmond Ings

So assuming we all want to start with a Leicester win? Don't see Newcastle going down, but keeping some pressure on ahead of our trip to st James' (refuse to use the other name) together with Leicester pushing on in the chase for 7th is probably the best scenario for us I guess.

Let's try that again, this time with the quote ... Excellent work, sir