S-Clarke

Stern John was alright in our Pearson year, probably would have gone down a year earlier without his goals. The 'log jam of strikers' meant we had to let him go though in order for McGoldrick to bang them in for us. Idiakez was a strange one, he was a star for Derby (along with Rasiak) so when we got him in the summer we got Skacel etc it all seemed pretty impressive. That team was decent - Bale, Claus, Baird, Jesus, Rasiak, Jones, Surman, Skacel, Licka, Viafara, Idiakez, BWP, Pelle, Saganowski & Guthrie from January...and let's not forget Wright. Should have done more than sneak into the playoffs, I think we went a bit all or nothing that summer with our transfers. ''Lets go Wilde'' I think it was.

Oriol has been one of our successes in recent seasons, throughout all the dross we had to endure. But...at the start of next season he'll be 31. The club may have briefed him that we will be investing in a new number 6 in the summer to evolve his position, that's my hunch anyway. I reckon he'll stick around for next season and then leave on a free in 2023.

For teams outside of the 'super 6' it makes our lives undoubtedly harder, as the big teams have so many more opportunities to 'put a bad performance' right in game, let's be honest the reason the 'lesser' sides beat the big sides is because they have off days. More subs reduces those chances of off days. It could benefit us a bit because we play quite an intense game, so having more chances to freshen it up against the lesser sides could be a bonus - but clearly this favours the mega teams with the endless pots of money and first 11's sat on the bench.

Somewhat agree, I do think the top nations have better quality 'starters' though, maybe just not the same level of depth as us, especially at full back. Varane, Pique, Kimpempbe, Laporte etc are on a different level to Maguire, probably a different universe really.

Most sane people get the overall point he made, so stop trying to make an argument out of nothing. It's tedious.

Yeah, I can't see that happening - injuries are probably JWP's only way in, the competition in that central area is quite strong. The set pieces give him a slight edge, but I did notice that none of his corners landed right yesterday yet the one taken by Foden, when he was off, was headed in.

Didn't he provide a forward pass, which ultimately provided the assist to the winner against Croatia? I was against Phillips getting the call up originally, but you cannot deny that he was one of our stars of that summer and surprised many with his level of performances. Given Leeds have dropped off so much in his absence is probably quite illustrative of how underrated he may have been by the masses.

Yeah for sure. I don't see us spending stupid money, our scouting will still have to be spot on...but the biggest change I hope/expect to see is more flexibility. We've had too many years of having to sit down and work out who can be sold before we can even bring in a loan. Based on those finances though, and they'll prob look even better from this year, I think we're in a really decent place when you take everything into account. We've managed the last 2 years very well.

Ralph and the club have already said, and i quote... 'This takeover will enable us to act quicker and bring in new players without having to sell first''

At least most of the replies in that thread are sensible. The bloke who wrote that article seems incredibly deluded though, even their fans can see it.

I'll always see him as someone who could have done so much more, but lost the appetite and hunger to get there. I think he's been treated pretty poorly in Madrid, but he hasn't done himself many favours either and certainly has never endeared him to his fans. A couple of years he was right up there, but he couldn't sustain it. The players who sustain it over years and years and years are the ones I'd class as the best ever.

He's actually made a decent career for himself to be honest. Had higher hopes with that loan signing than Jordan Robertson.

I know what you mean, but I still think he's more than a capable player for our squad. I'd hope/expect us to bring in a starter or two in that number 10/wide role in the summer, but I'd still like Ely in and around the squad. Moussa, Redmond maybe look to move on. Potentially even a loan for Tella to get him regular football, as I'd hate to see him stagnate.

It's refreshing to have someone so committed to the cause. I strongly believe that even after he's long gone, the club as a whole will still be reaping the benefits of the approaches and systems he's put in place. If that paints me as a member of the Cult them i'm all in.

Yes, would be happy with that. He was quality for Hungary in the Euro's from what I remember. If that's the calibre of centre backs we're looking at them I'm happy.

I've always thought he was pretty decent tbh, certainly when I've seen him in the European games. Always seems to have been at Shakhtar and is the one they always point out as a threat. But if we are looking over there, from that Shakhtar side I prefer Solomon - the little Israelian winger they've got, quality. Definitely some interesting players in those leagues who could add in positions we lack.

Yeah, that's ruined it. There will be some interesting options from Ukraine and Russia due to the crappy situation out there, but players like Tete will have much higher clubs than us after them - he is a proper player, champions league level.

Confirmed he's been recalled, certainly won't play but to his credit it's a great come back on his part. Should help him earn himself a decent club in the summer. I can see him topping up the English quota at a Top 6 club tbh.

I don't think we'd have gone for someone like Raya. I wouldn't have thought Rasmus will have any input into the day to day like this anyway.

The prob is that he's not going to take a massive pay cut to stay here, he might take a little cut...but we'd still be paying someone who is 35, and pretty average, an absolute mini fortune. We need to start again with our GK's as the previous incumbents in charge of this stuff made a right old mess of the situation. This summer is our opportunity to reshape our GK's with some young blood.

Not going to lie, I was a bit underwhelmed by the January loan we made for him. Felt like a cheapo option. He wasn't particularly rated by anyone at the time and Spurs wanted rid etc. But looking back now his signing was the start of our massive scouting improvement. I guess after years of Ross Wilson and co I had no trust in our scouting, but I think the new lot know what they're doing. Matt Crocker has a huge say in these 'young' signings as he'd have seen them all/worked with them in the English age groups over the years. I think even Lyanco was someone he crossed paths with in the youth setup, as he was in the Brazilian youth teams. It's kinda exciting to see what we will do this summer, as I'm sure we're looking at players not even in our consciousness atm!

He's got his call up, alongside Mitchell. Well played KWP!

I'd hope we have money available before we sell, after our new takeover I'd be disappointed if we didn't have a £30m ish figure available 'today' to improve the squad. Add maybe £20m for Bednarek and you're not far from that £60m figure. (And the enormous wage bill savings from Forster leaving) There are players like Dael Fry who will be chepish, and even Tarkowski who'd be available on a freebie if we wanted to go down that route. Loan market is very viable as well. I didn't think we'd do much last year, but we did bring in 6 players. I can see a similar influx this year in the other area's that need it.

I'd personally look at Dael Fry instead if we're looking at champ CBs. Decent age, English, ticks a lot of our boxes. A year left on his contract in the summer, could be a decent deal to be had come the summer if Boro don't go up.

I didn't see this as being a possibility, so I'm pleased the club are actively looking at improving this position. Salisu's development will be much more rapid with a capable CB alongside him. The 3 we have (Bednarek, Stephens and Lyanco) are all backup quality CB's, none should be a starting CB for any team serious about progressing. Glad the club agree. Feels like Bednarek is being shown the door in a round about way.