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Current Squad - Stay or Go


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If it was a straight 50/50 choice, with no, "he’ll never leave, he wants to leave, he’s out of contract, no one will buy him." Etc. Who would you keep for next season?

 

Keep

Cédric, Yoshida, Hoedt, Tadic, McC, Romeu, JWP, Lemina, Gabbi, Redmond, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Sims, McQ, Bednarek, Hesketh

 

Leave

Clasie, Stephens, Long, Davis, Austin, Boufal, Forster, Pied, Gardos, Targett, Reed

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If it was a straight 50/50 choice, with no, "he’ll never leave, he wants to leave, he’s out of contract, no one will buy him." Etc. Who would you keep for next season?

 

Keep

Cédric, Yoshida, Hoedt, Tadic, McC, Romeu, JWP, Lemina, Gabbi, Redmond, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Sims, McQ, Bednarek, Hesketh

 

Leave

Clasie, Stephens, Long, Davis, Austin, Boufal, Forster, Pied, Gardos, Targett, Reed

 

Largely agree, but wouldnt let Austin or Long go without being certain replacements are lined up

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Not that it would happen as this would be to much of an overhaul in one go.

 

Those I want to go:

 

Reed, Krueger.

Forster, Yoshida, Davis, Romeu, Boufal, Redmond, Long, Carillo, Austin, Gardos, Pied, Targett, Clasie.

 

 

Those who I think will go but would otherwise keep:

 

Cedric, Tadic, Gabbiadini, Bertrand.

 

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------------------------ McCarthy ----------------

 

---- Cedric/New RB----CB / CB------Bertrand

 

-------------------- Romeu Hojbjerg

--------------------- Lemina

 

----- Mane-esque-------- CF---------- Tadic

 

 

For me, after the last few weeks, that's how we should be. I could take or leave any of the others. I don't think any of our CB's are that bad individually, but no combination could play together as a two. We desperately, desperately need pace with quality combined, whether that's Sisto or Promes who knows, but we need a Mane type. Again, I wouldn't be against Austin or Gabbiadini being our main CF, but we need to supplement them properly otherwise they're not up to it on their own.

 

The turnaround under Hughes has completely reaffirmed by thinking all along that whilst there are definitely some weaknesses, our squad really isn't as terrible as it's looked, but we had the Premier League's worst ever manager dragon us down. Some key players added, rather than wholesale changes, and we could be back to where we were under Koeman.

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Goalkeepers:

 

Keep: McCarthy, Lewis.

In: First choice/challenger to McCarthy

Out: Forster (if someone will have him), Taylor.

 

I don't know if anyone will take Forster because of his wages though, would he be satisfied as back up through next season?

 

Right back:

 

Keep: Cedric (see below), Valery

In: New RB to challenge Cedric long term (+maybe another, see below)

Out: Pied

 

If Cedric goes (he may be wanted by bigger clubs) then we'd need to do major surgery with a couple of newbies. Valery still as youth back up.

 

Left Back:

 

Keep: Bertrand (well I would, but think he'll go), McQueen, Targett (if Bertrand goes)

In: First choice left back (like Tierney) if Bertrand goes, which may means selling Targett.

Out: Bertrand or Targett (see above)

 

Looks like Bertrand will go, do we trust in Targett and McQueen? Part of me hopes not. IMO it'll be a new left back in as first choice, and Bertrand and Targett sold.

 

Centre Back:

 

Keep: Stephens, Hoedt, Bednarek.

In: New beast of a centre back

Out: Yoshida. I'd keep him but we need a space in the squad for the new centre back and he's been linked away recently.

 

One in, one out.

 

Non-attacking midfield:

 

Keep: Romeu, Hojbjerg, Lemina (unless otherwise courted but I'd like him to stay), JWP, Davis,

In: New beast DM, possibly another if Lemina leaves or Davis retires (though I think he has another season in him)

Out: Reed, Clasie, possibly one of Lemina or Davis.

 

Definitely would like to see a Wanyamaesque signing.

 

Attacking midfield:

 

Keep: Tadic, Hesketh, Sims, Redmond (unless someone wants him for money but I'd give him one more season)

In: A creative player and a pacy winger type player. That's 2 needed here for sure.

Out: Boufal (shame but I'd rather keep Hughes than him)

 

Need more strength. Keep Tadic as he's earned it recently, but two new AM's definitely needed IMO.

 

Striker:

 

Keep: Austin, Long

In: 2 new strikers please, or one if we keep Gabbiadini but I don't see that happening.

Out: Carrillo (but I fear we're stuck with him), Gallagher (to the Championship but with a first choice buy back clause), Gabbiadini (homesick)

 

All in all, full backs and attacking midfield need the most work, but the whole backbone needs strengthening. So much work needs doing though, Hughes is right for this job.

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The only players I would actively want to sell are Forster, Carrillo and Clasie. Pied & Gardos, what happens happens!

 

Happy enough to see what Hughes can do with Redmond but I remain doubtful about his decision making. I still think Boufal is a talented player, but if Hughes isn't prepared to give him another shot then I'm fine with that. Keep Davis on the basis that fans complain about lack of loyalty and then immediately want to turf players out once they are no longer any good, and he probably is good to have in the camp (cliche I know...)

 

Bertrand is obviously a good player, but he's been with us a while and I feel his performances have been a bit... underwhelming. Not that he isn't trying, but he isn't trying to prove anything. I'd be more than happy to see him in a Saints shirt next year but if he goes and we get a good fee - preferably not to Liverpool - then good luck to him.

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They won't go but would shed no tears if the likes of Hoedt and the dreadfully overrated Hojbjerg walked.

 

If Hojbjerg is dreadfully overrated, what is your assessment of JWP? To me, he is the elephant in the room, who season after season escapes scrutiny. Is it his 7th season coming up. Better attacking players and a midfield nucleus of Lemina, Romeu and Hojbjerg would suit me next season.

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Can those who want Yoshida out explain why. And who they expect to get of the same level who won't make a fuss about being third or fourth choice, will always work his socks off and isn't just here for a paycheck?

 

Don't expect loyalty from players if that's how you want them treated.

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Can those who want Yoshida out explain why. And who they expect to get of the same level who won't make a fuss about being third or fourth choice, will always work his socks off and isn't just here for a paycheck?

Don't expect loyalty from players if that's how you want them treated.

 

Agree. In no sell list, no matter how angry I am, has Yoshida ever appeared. One of the first names on my Retain List

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Assuming that this list is accurate then we've got a busy summer ahead IMHO

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southampton_F.C.#Current_squad

 

To make it easier, the only players I'd keep would be

 

Stephens

Hoedt

McCarthy

Romeu

Lemina

Gabbiadini

Hojbjerg

Bednarek

Sims

Targett

 

Maybe keep

 

Yoshida

Tadic

Austin

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Assuming that this list is accurate then we've got a busy summer ahead IMHO

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southampton_F.C.#Current_squad

 

To make it easier, the only players I'd keep would be

 

Stephens

Hoedt

McCarthy

Romeu

Lemina

Gabbiadini

Hojbjerg

Bednarek

Sims

Targett

 

Maybe keep

 

Yoshida

Tadic

Austin

 

How many top flight teams can you name that have sold as many players in a summer as you are suggesting? Simply doesn't happen.

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How many top flight teams can you name that have sold as many players in a summer as you are suggesting? Simply doesn't happen.

 

Don't particularly care - just shows the utter ineptitude of our recent hiring and squad development that from a list of ~35 players we've only really got 13 worthy of staying at the club.

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Don't particularly care - just shows the utter ineptitude of our recent hiring and squad development that from a list of ~35 players we've only really got 13 worthy of staying at the club.

 

I don't have a lot of problem with the vast majority of the squad in terms of quality of player. I put our poor season largely down to a very poor managerial appointment. If this squad had a competent manager from the beginning of the season I think they would have been challenging for the top half of the table again. I'd prefer our squad to that of Burnley or Newcastle, both finished in the top half not due to player quality but being managed extremely well. Benitez & Dyche wouldn't have had Saints in a relegation battle if they were in charge from day one.

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Go

Yoshida, Hoedt, Stephens, Redmond

 

If any of those are starters next season then we have had yet another awful transfer window.

 

Couldn't disagree more. Yoshida is first on my sheet probably captain next season, Stephens and Hoedt are good players who will get better in a more settled club and Redmond is criticised because he attacks with speed and imagination in a team which doesn't, next season he is due a blinder

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Not sure how much you can read into the lap of honour (I'm still scarred by Pahars' farewell)...but I fear Cedric and Tadic are off. I'd like to keep them both.

 

I'd only get rid of deadwood (Boufal, Carillo) or those who want to move on for whatever reason (Gabbiadini, Bertrand, Cedric, Tadic, Yosh may be in the latter category, but hope not for any of them)

Edited by SaintBobby
typos
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Go for me.

Pied

Reed

Clasie

Austin

Carrillo

Boufal

Forster

 

 

I can see one of the CBs going, yoshida by the sounds of it. One of the full backs going, if not both. So cant see us shipping out 10 players or so.

 

Essential we keep McCarthy, Tadic, the 3 CMs. I would keep Davis for one more year. Great leader there.

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Couldn't disagree more. Yoshida is first on my sheet probably captain next season, Stephens and Hoedt are good players who will get better in a more settled club and Redmond is criticised because he attacks with speed and imagination in a team which doesn't, next season he is due a blinder

 

Enjoy another relegation battle then.

 

All of those players are massive downgrades on what we once had.

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what is your assessment of JWP? To me, he is the elephant in the room, who season after season escapes scrutiny. Is it his 7th season coming up.

 

I have to agree. Every manager since Adkins gave him his debut has picked him then after a while dropped him again. Puel was the one who stuck with him longest.

 

JWP really is an enigma. He can look quite good but most of the time you barely notice he’s playing or remember his contribution to a game.

 

Apart from the infamous dead ball specialist tag I’m still not sure what he contributes or what position suits him best. After six seasons he should by now have formed an identity within the team

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Enjoy another relegation battle then.

 

All of those players are massive downgrades on what we once had.

 

He wouldn't be first name on the teamsheet but I'd be happy with him starting. Needs a stronger, more experience partner than what we've got, which is why I'd sell Stephens. Partly because I don't think he's a Premier League standard player and partly because there's not room for 3 inxeperienced CB in the squad. Out of him, Hoedt and Bednarek, I'd lose Jack personally.

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I don't have a lot of problem with the vast majority of the squad in terms of quality of player. I put our poor season largely down to a very poor managerial appointment. If this squad had a competent manager from the beginning of the season I think they would have been challenging for the top half of the table again. I'd prefer our squad to that of Burnley or Newcastle, both finished in the top half not due to player quality but being managed extremely well. Benitez & Dyche wouldn't have had Saints in a relegation battle if they were in charge from day one.

 

You're not wrong, appointing Pellegrino was the main issue and why we were embroiled in a relegation fight until the last day of the season. However, I think it's also fair to say that everyone below Burnley were pretty poor this year. A better manager might have us further up the table but probably not far enough to 'escape' the pack, most of whom were looking over their shoulders at the bottom three for a while (Newcastle finished 10th and when we played them it felt like a relegation 6-pointer, for example).

 

Even though we might have a stronger squad than some other clubs, do we have many players that get you on the edge of your seat? In the way that, and I know that he is a bit of a one off for a club in the bottom half, Zaha does at Palace? Or Mane did when he was here? Boufal could have been that player, but now Redmond is the closest thing we have to it. His decision making always leaves a lot to be desired, to the point that he plays well for about half an hour and then you spend the next few weeks thinking "maybe we'll see that Nathan Redmond again today". We definitely need to inject a bit of pace into the side, especially now we are playing a bit more on the break and not the "possession for possession sake" football of Pellegrino.

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Couldn't disagree more. Yoshida is first on my sheet probably captain next season, Stephens and Hoedt are good players who will get better in a more settled club and Redmond is criticised because he attacks with speed and imagination in a team which doesn't, next season he is due a blinder

Well said.

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He wouldn't be first name on the teamsheet but I'd be happy with him starting. Needs a stronger, more experience partner than what we've got, which is why I'd sell Stephens. Partly because I don't think he's a Premier League standard player and partly because there's not room for 3 inxeperienced CB in the squad. Out of him, Hoedt and Bednarek, I'd lose Jack personally.

 

Agree about Yoshida. He plays well when he is alongside a dominant player as he covers the ground quickly and reads the game pretty well. Although he's not brilliant in the air, he's not a total liability like "let the ball bounce" Stephens is!

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Sell Carrillo, Boufal and Forster

 

Wouldn't want to see anyone else leave, I would be happy with some of our options but as backups only

 

I think we need a clear out. Redmond, Stevens, Forster, Davis and Long all fall short and are too expensive to keep. Boufal should be told to leave after his behavior and Reed has never shown enough promise. Obviously, the problem may be in finding clubs for them.

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If it was a straight 50/50 choice, with no, "he’ll never leave, he wants to leave, he’s out of contract, no one will buy him." Etc. Who would you keep for next season?

 

Keep

Cédric, Yoshida, Hoedt, Tadic, McC, Romeu, JWP, Lemina, Gabbi, Redmond, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Sims, McQ, Bednarek, Hesketh

 

Leave

Clasie, Stephens, Long, Davis, Austin, Boufal, Forster, Pied, Gardos, Targett, Reed

 

Austin?

 

Our top scorer and only guy that looks likely to score goals regularly, that would be stupid IMO.

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Austin?

 

Our top scorer and only guy that looks likely to score goals regularly, that would be stupid IMO.

 

There's a least minging pair of boxers in my laundry basket but they all need washing. He has 14 league goals in 2.5 years and is a perennial sick note. If he could do that in 1 season it would be lovely but he can't.

 

He reminds me of Sturridge and the people on here who said I was an idiot for not wanting him at Saints, because he would score the goals which keep West Brom up.

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Players I expect to leave:

 

Cedric (entering last year of 4 year deal)

Pied (contract expiring, won't be renewed)

Boufal (considered to be a bellend; loan to French club)

Gabbiadini (back to Italy although would like to keep if he's keen to stay)

 

Plus those who have been out on loan like:

 

Clasie (perm to Holland)

Gardos (perm to somewhere in Europe or the Championship)

Reed (perm to Championship club)

Gallagher (perm to Championship club)

 

Then there are the following players who I think we would happily sell if we got a decent offer, although they might be hard to move on:

 

Forster (overpaid)

Austin (often injured, although I doubt we would sell him, Long and Carillo in the same window)

Carillo (considered rubbish but we might have to loan him out and pay some of his wages)

Long (doesn't score enough and value will only go down, although I would keep him)

Davis (surplus to requirements but not sure if he would want to move)

Targett (maybe viewed as PL capable but if Bertrand stays then I think we would look to take the money after his decent spell at Fulham)

 

Of the above, I would want to keep Long and Gabbi but I suspect we may end up with some of the ones on the last list still being here too.

 

In terms of additions, we would need:

 

GK if Forster goes to challenge McCarthy

Starting RB

As backup RB I would use Stephens

First choice CB

Upgrade on Redmond / Boufal if possible

Striker

 

In an ideal world, that leaves:

 

McCarthy

**NEW**

 

**NEW**

Stephens

 

Bertrand

McQueen

 

**NEW**

Hoedt

Bednarek

Yoshida

 

Romeu

Hojbjerg

Lemina

JWP

 

**NEW**

Tadic

Redmond

Sims

 

**NEW**

Long / Austin

Gabbi

(plus Gallagher if no sizeable offers made)

 

Then a few youth as additional backup.

 

If the "news" are good quality and we have a manager in place that the players can get behind then there's no reason not to target "best of the rest".

 

Of course, we have no idea what our appetite to spend will be. It will probably depend on how many of the "might leaves" we can shift.

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Could Mahrez leave LCFC and be replaced by Boufal?

 

Potentially, can see them going after shaqiri to replace mahrez if/when he goes.

 

Hopefully see the back of-

boufal

carillo

one of the cb's( I feel they're all of a similar level)

Forster - This is the big one for me, we cannot justify having a keeper on 70k plus warming the bench.

Davis

Forster

as well as shipping out some youth players.

 

Trim the squad and bring some exciting talent in

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Potentially, can see them going after shaqiri to replace mahrez if/when he goes.

 

Hopefully see the back of-

boufal

carillo

one of the cb's( I feel they're all of a similar level)

Forster - This is the big one for me, we cannot justify having a keeper on 70k plus warming the bench.

Davis

Forster

as well as shipping out some youth players.

 

Trim the squad and bring some exciting talent in

 

Don't forget Forster.

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There's a least minging pair of boxers in my laundry basket but they all need washing. He has 14 league goals in 2.5 years and is a perennial sick note. If he could do that in 1 season it would be lovely but he can't.

 

He reminds me of Sturridge and the people on here who said I was an idiot for not wanting him at Saints, because he would score the goals which keep West Brom up.

 

1 in 3 for us and that is with a lot of meaningless sub appearances and two fairly negative managers.

 

Even with his injury problems, it would be madness to get rid of a proven PL scorer.

 

Sturridge has played 14 league games in the last two years, Austin has played 38 so it's no comparison at all. He appeared 23 times this season and Pellegrino sat him of the bench for the first 10 games of the season, not playing him so he could have had closer to 30 league games which is hardly a 'perennial sick note'.

 

------------------------------

 

We are also not going to ship anywhere near as many as people are suggesting here.

 

Can't see more than about 3-4 actually being sold and a few of the ones out of contract will leave.

Edited by tajjuk
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I’m probably in the minority here, but I wouldn’t want a mass exodus, even though the players have let themselves down for a vast amount of the season. I’d be looking for a couple of tweaks, evolution not revolution.

 

If I could I’d bin Gabbi & Carillo, I’d keep long as he offers a different option, and bring in 2 strikers, one of which will be our number one, no doubts about it. The vast amount of any money needs to be spent on this, and it needs to be quality. Whether Gallagher is up to being the other is down to Hughes, I haven’t seen him play enough to really comment.

 

The centre 3 are plenty good enough, given decent tactical set up and management. Tadic, Redmond I’d keep, so replace Boufal with a wide midfield man. JWP is an ok squad man, but he’s at the crossroads of his career. Whether Reed is good enough for a squad place is again something I can’t really say.

 

Ideally I’d like to keep the full backs, but can’t see it. As frustrating as they are, they are internationals and have experience and ability. A proper manager will get more out of them than Pell did. Pied will obviously go.

 

The centre halves is the interesting one for me. I like Stephens & Bednarek , think they’ve got potential. They’ve played ok under Hughes. Hoedt is the difficult one. He’s shown signs of improvement under Hughes, plays on the left of a 3, maybe worth keeping. Which leaves us with Yoshida. We need a leader in there, in the centre, Yoshida ain’t that. We need somebody to help the youngsters, look at how much better they’ve been with a dominate keeper, add a central defender whose the same and maybe the 3 youngsters can flourish. Stephens/ Bednarek can take the right side. Therefore, if such a player exists, I’d like to see a centre half, that could also play on the left of a 3, but mainly plays centrally. So I’d options would be; Right hand side Stephens/ Bednarek or even Yoshida . Central; Yoshida/ new bloke. Left; Hoedt/ new bloke. That’s 5 centre halves, maybe a bit too heavy, but that’s what I’d do.

 

The keeper situation is simple, keep them both. FF is perfectly acceptable as back up.

 

Basically I’ve added a proper striker, a real deal. A dominate centre half, and a replacement for Boufal. Plus possibly a couple of nippers up front and in midfield, and full back . That’s it. I don’t see the point in throwing the baby out with the bath water.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Don't particularly care - just shows the utter ineptitude of our recent hiring and squad development that from a list of ~35 players we've only really got 13 worthy of staying at the club.

 

Nearly half of that list is part of the under 23 squad and you'd keep Hoedt who with Carillo has been the worst of the lot???

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Nearly half of that list is part of the under 23 squad and you'd keep Hoedt who with Carillo has been the worst of the lot???

 

Yes, I'd keep Hoedt. Yes he sometimes plays like a pig on roller skates and drops the occasional clanger, but there's a half-decent centre back hidden in there and I'd keep him for another season to see if he can mature. I think he needs and experienced CB alongside who can bring the best out of him.

 

Carillo on the other hand, there's something very dodgy about that signing IMHO.

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I’m probably in the minority here, but I wouldn’t want a mass exodus, even though the players have let themselves down for a vast amount of the season. I’d be looking for a couple of tweaks, evolution not revolution.

 

If I could I’d bin Gabbi & Carillo, I’d keep long as he offers a different option, and bring in 2 strikers, one of which will be our number one, no doubts about it. The vast amount of any money needs to be spent on this, and it needs to be quality. Whether Gallagher is up to being the other is down to Hughes, I haven’t seen him play enough to really comment.

 

The centre 3 are plenty good enough, given decent tactical set up and management. Tadic, Redmond I’d keep, so replace Boufal with a wide midfield man. JWP is an ok squad man, but he’s at the crossroads of his career. Whether Reed is good enough for a squad place is again something I can’t really say.

 

Ideally I’d like to keep the full backs, but can’t see it. As frustrating as they are, they are internationals and have experience and ability. A proper manager will get more out of them than Pell did. Pied will obviously go.

 

The centre halves is the interesting one for me. I like Stephens & Bednarek , think they’ve got potential. They’ve played ok under Hughes. Hoedt is the difficult one. He’s shown signs of improvement under Hughes, plays on the left of a 3, maybe worth keeping. Which leaves us with Yoshida. We need a leader in there, in the centre, Yoshida ain’t that. We need somebody to help the youngsters, look at how much better they’ve been with a dominate keeper, add a central defender whose the same and maybe the 3 youngsters can flourish. Stephens/ Bednarek can take the right side. Therefore, if such a player exists, I’d like to see a centre half, that could also play on the left of a 3, but mainly plays centrally. So I’d options would be; Right hand side Stephens/ Bednarek or even Yoshida . Central; Yoshida/ new bloke. Left; Hoedt/ new bloke. That’s 5 centre halves, maybe a bit too heavy, but that’s what I’d do.

 

The keeper situation is simple, keep them both. FF is perfectly acceptable as back up.

 

Basically I’ve added a proper striker, a real deal. A dominate centre half, and a replacement for Boufal. Plus possibly a couple of nippers up front and in midfield, and full back . That’s it. I don’t see the point in throwing the baby out with the bath water.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Agree with this. I don’t think the squad is that bad, it’s just been badly managed. A bit of a shake up up front and a replacement for VVD and Hughes can get this lot up where Burnley are. Think many on here don’t really understand how exoensive it is to have such a high turnover of players.

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