[Albion] We're 3 players from being a top 10 side

[dazzer6666]

We all know the need to balance the books, we need to sell to buy quality. Knocky has already gone releasing £10 million, I can see March, Duffy, Jahanbakhsh, Schelotto and sadly Ben White leaving. I can also see Murray going out on loan.
That releases funds for purchases and salary, if White and Duffy go we would need another centre half, plus we obviously need a goal scorer. Bissouma needs to start and we have cover with Alzate and Stephens plus the returning Molumby.
Second guessing is difficult but the summer window could see lots of change for us.
Top ten, I'm not sure myself.

Why would we sell White and Duffy and then go looking for a CB ?

 

[dazzer6666]

Erm Wolves, Shef Utd, Burnley and Everton are all have better keepers than Ryan.

You’re joking. Wouldn’t swap Maty for Pickford.

 

[Arkwright]

Why would we sell White and Duffy and then go looking for a CB ?

Duffy isn't getting enough games, I can't see him being happy warming the bench and if White is worth in excess of £30 million can we afford not to sell him.

 

[Shins]

1. If Bernardo or March aren't fancied at left back then a new one to come in. (Jamal Lewis from Norwich, but they'll be a few after him)

2. A left footed right winger for more balance in the squad (as March is clearly not fancied there a regular starter and Ali J as a right footer not being played either) - Wanted Bowen from Hull but West ham got him. Brooks from Bournemouth would be great but see above Lewis comment. Also, as a an Ali J fan, I'm not sure we've seen him play more than 3 games in a row starting from his favoured position on the right. I'm sure lots of people on here will say, 'well he can't have shown much in training', and they'll have a point. But I can't help thinking we'll have missed out on really good player.

3. Striker to replace Murray/ add to the existing front 3. Quick and decent in the air. Hard to find!

That's three, but would like a defensive mid upgrade on Stephens as well. Not saying he's rubbish or anything, he's been excellent over the years, just think we need to do better. Given 20 mil spent on Webster and we have Dunk, I think we may see White tried in that position next year. He's quick, composed and reads the game really well. Intrigued how we'll use him as I'm not so sure we'll go 3 at the back as a few on here think. Molumby to come back as well so may not need to go onto the transfer market.

 

[dazzer6666]

Duffy isn't getting enough games, I can't see him being happy warming the bench and if White is worth in excess of £30 million can we afford not to sell him.

I can see Duffy going to get gametime for sure but not White as well.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Duffy isn't getting enough games, I can't see him being happy warming the bench and if White is worth in excess of £30 million can we afford not to sell him.

Why sell a promising young player for £30 million when it's likely to cost almost that much to replace them (and possibly missing out on double the transfer fee in 3 or 4 years time when that player reaches their prime). We don't become a top 10 side selling our best youth products, the natural progression of the squad is to bring in White to replace Duffy who I can see being sold on as he'll be looking at potentially even less game time next season.

 

[vagabond]

Duffy isn't getting enough games, I can't see him being happy warming the bench and if White is worth in excess of £30 million can we afford not to sell him.

Yes we can afford not to sell him.

We are now an established Premier League team, and we bring through players for a reason.. to save on Transfer fees.

Likely we will sell one day, but why sell an asset who, although worth £30m now may be worth double that in a couple of years if nurtured to his full potential.

I agree with you it looks certain to me Duffy will go.

 

[Machiavelli]

In my opinion we need 3 top quality players in order to become a top ten side.

1: Goalkeeper. Ryan is a ok and has done well for us, however I think we need someone better if we are going to kick-on. Preferably someone who can reach the corners.

2: Centre Mid. Someone who has the ability to score goals and become the engine in our side and really make us tick.

3: Striker (obvs). A new Glenn / Bobby. Big, strong, quick and can get us 15+ a season.

Well, I'm going to join in with the chorus challenging your assessment of Ryan. He's one of our first picks, and better players and, probably, would just about make it into the top ten PL goalkeepers -- he's there or thereabouts.
That aside, I think you're right that we need two or three quality additions to the squad, and I'd go for:
1: a striker, probably one in the mould you describe
2: a wide forward/winger
(3: in brackets because I'm less convinced on the need): a left-back or a DCM as Stephens replacement. As regards left-back, we currently have Burn, Bernardo and March that can play there, that seems sufficient to me, and I'm perplexed as to why Bernardo doesn't play more regularly, and it's about the only Potter selection that I can't fathom. As regards CM, we're well served there currently -- Bissouma, Alzate, Propper, Stephens, Molumby with Gross, Mooy and Mac Allister all capable of playing there -- but Stephens is clearly waning, and none of the others are specialist DCM.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Why sell a promising young player for £30 million when it's likely to cost almost that much to replace them (and possibly missing out on double the transfer fee in 3 or 4 years time when that player reaches their prime). We don't become a top 10 side selling our best youth products, the natural progression of the squad is to bring in White to replace Duffy who I can see being sold on as he'll be looking at potentially even less game time next season.

This!

Many posters on this thread seem to be oblivious as to how Tony wants the club to progress.
We have the third best U23 squad in the country (based on PL2 standings).
These players are now starting to join the first team squad.
I'm sure Tony would love to see a first team squad bursting with players developed at Lancing. Rather than some Fantasy Football squad assembled at 100s of millions of pounds.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I cant believe they are where they are with that strike force of 3. Sharp / McGoldrick and the big ginger lad - none of them would get near our team.

McBurnie - given that Potter played him at Swansea, and tried to sign him here, I'm sure he would have got in our team.

(They have Mousset, too)

 

[hans kraay fan club]

All are better.

Dubravka and Guaita have had amazing seasons.

They really haven't! Guaita in particular, has made some absolute howlers!

 

[Napper]

may only be 2 or 3 but you have to be pretty lucky to sign 3 prem players and they are all successes.

I'd take another season never really being in threat of the bottom 3 again.

Realistic

 

[vagabond]

McBurnie - given that Potter played him at Swansea, and tried to sign him here, I'm sure he would have got in our team.

(They have Mousset, too)

Apparently we didn’t try to sign him, which I agree was surprising...

According to our friend Swansman, Potter doesn’t like to sign former players. It’s a policy of his.

 

[dazzer6666]

may only be 2 or 3 but you have to be pretty lucky to sign 3 prem players and they are all successes.

I'd take another season never really being in threat of the bottom 3 again.

Realistic

Agree re incoming. Think we'll be doing all we can to get the younger players involved - as we already are. The one big gap is the Muzza replacement - we need a Mitrovich-type of striker to offer something different to Maupay/Connolly

Real progress for me would see us being comfortably safe next season, continuing to play the much better football we have this season and with more of the younger players becoming established - something like Alzate and White being regular starters for example. If we can get 47+ points and maybe 12-15th place I'd see that as a big success and a platform to keep moving on up. Very optimistic we can do that based on what we're seeing now.

 

[Chinman3000]

You’re joking. Wouldn’t swap Maty for Pickford.

I'm not and I would.

Well, maybe not because he inst enough of a step up and is too similar but i still think he is the better keeper.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Agree re incoming. Think we'll be doing all we can to get the younger players involved - as we already are. The one big gap is the Muzza replacement - we need a Mitrovich-type of striker to offer something different to Maupay/Connolly

Real progress for me would see us being comfortably safe next season, continuing to play the much better football we have this season and with more of the younger players becoming established - something like Alzate and White being regular starters for example. If we can get 47+ points and maybe 12-15th place I'd see that as a big success and a platform to keep moving on up. Very optimistic we can do that based on what we're seeing now.

It would be good to see us developing this type of player from our youth set up.
Hopefully Murray will join up with the coaching team to bring any prospects through.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

I'm not and I would.

Based on?

 

[Bold Seagull]

1. If Bernardo or March aren't fancied at left back then a new one to come in. (Jamal Lewis from Norwich, but they'll be a few after him)

2. A left footed right winger for more balance in the squad (as March is clearly not fancied there a regular starter and Ali J as a right footer not being played either) - Wanted Bowen from Hull but West ham got him. Brooks from Bournemouth would be great but see above Lewis comment. Also, as a an Ali J fan, I'm not sure we've seen him play more than 3 games in a row starting from his favoured position on the right. I'm sure lots of people on here will say, 'well he can't have shown much in training', and they'll have a point. But I can't help thinking we'll have missed out on really good player.

3. Striker to replace Murray/ add to the existing front 3. Quick and decent in the air. Hard to find!

That's three, but would like a defensive mid upgrade on Stephens as well. Not saying he's rubbish or anything, he's been excellent over the years, just think we need to do better. Given 20 mil spent on Webster and we have Dunk, I think we may see White tried in that position next year. He's quick, composed and reads the game really well. Intrigued how we'll use him as I'm not so sure we'll go 3 at the back as a few on here think. Molumby to come back as well so may not need to go onto the transfer market.

I agree, left back, fast winger and striker would be the 3 players I would pick out for us to kick on.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Apparently we didn’t try to sign him, which I agree was surprising...

According to our friend Swansman, Potter doesn’t like to sign former players. It’s a policy of his.

I'm fairly certain we did show an interest in both McBurnie and Dan James during the summer transfer window, how far that interest went I don't know.

I'm not sure how you can say for any certainty that Potter has a policy of not signing former players, he's only managed three clubs and his hand were massively tied with Swansea during the one season he was at Swansea as they weren't spending that much money.

 

[dazzer6666]

I'm not and I would.

Well, maybe not because he inst enough of a step up and is too similar but i still think he is the better keeper.

Edit - this is also worth looking at before you bin Maty off



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