[Albion] You're in charge of the summer rebuild: who goes, who stays and who joins?

[GT49er]

The squad really needs two more defenders. Either one cd and a wb or two cds.

Personally I'd go with a central defender and wing back. Veltman can do a solid job at wb but I prefer him playing more centrally. Lamptey isn't going to play every game or even a full game every time he plays so it'd be good to have cover for that. March can play there but I want him as the cover for cucurella, who can also act as the squads fifth centre back.

So, as it stands I think the squad is only two players short - the two defenders.

Two out of three from Van Hecke, Clarke and Ostigard then. Job's a good 'un.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Whilst that is a nice 25 it ignores the fact that a few of those players will not need to be registered as they're under 21. We've used 26 players this season and looked quite light in depth at times (especially filling out the bench). I think it will look as below:

Sanchez
Scherpen/Steele

Cucurella
Lamptey
Dunk
Webster
Veltman
Van Hecke
New defender

Mwepu
Moder
Lallana
Alzate
MacAllister
Gross (likely to leave this summer)

Trossard
March
Mitoma
Zeqiri

Welbeck
Maupay
Undav
New striker

U21
Rushworth (will go on loan to Champ)
Caicedo
Kowlowsk (will spend another season at RUSG)
Sarmiento
Khadra

Think we're likely to go and get another striker if the stars align and we finish in the top ten (likely to earn us an additional £15m). I think it will probably be Brereton Diaz (or someone of that ilk) who will come in as a squad player to rotate with Welbeck (with Undav rotating with Maupay).

Yes, good point about the U21's.

I had Welbeck, Maupay and Undav as central options. As such they'd all rotate with each other which is why I didn't think we'd get another striker. If we were to get a fourth I'd hope it would be someone we would be confident(or as confident as we can be) that they'd be up to the premier league form the off. No idea if that is Brereton Diaz or someone else. I don't think it will be Zequiri though, unless he's improved considerably.

I'd also forgotten about Khadra. It'll be interesting to see what will happen with him. Based on what the Blackburn fan that pops in here every now and then said I suspect he might be out on loan again.

If Gross does leave along with Bissouma then I think we'll probably get another midfielder in too.

In terms of depth I think that will come form the U23s. If we have a 25 man squad that is all first team ready(even if some of them are under 21) plus a handful of promising younger players then I don't think Potter would want anymore players over 21. I guess it comes down to whether players like Sarmineto, Van Hecke, Mitooma, Kowlowski, Undav etc are first team ready or only suitable for the odd substitute appearance here and there.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Two out of three from Van Hecke, Clarke and Ostigard then. Job's a good 'un.

Potentially, yes. I reckon Van Hecke has a very good chance of being one of them.

Ostigard seems determined to be playing regularly and I'm not sure he'd get that here.

Clarke I'm not sure on. He's been sent on loan for three consecutive seasons to the Championship. That seems a lot, especially when he won player of the season at Derby and also at WBA. You'd assume he'd be part of our squad but we keep sending him on loan. My best guess is that we've seen something in him that suggests that decent championship player is his limit.

 

[zefarelly]

Serious rebuilt required.

All the players out. Bloom out. Everyone out.

Should’ve scored 5 on Saturday if I’m being honest.

6 or 7 really.

And we didn't beat Manure because we're brilliant it was because they didn't turn up, Ronald O was harshly treated by Dunk, De Gea had lard rubbed into his gloves, etc etc

 

[GT49er]

Potentially, yes. I reckon Van Hecke has a very good chance of being one of them.

Ostigard seems determined to be playing regularly and I'm not sure he'd get that here.

Clarke I'm not sure on. He's been sent on loan for three consecutive seasons to the Championship. That seems a lot, especially when he won player of the season at Derby and also at WBA. You'd assume he'd be part of our squad but we keep sending him on loan. My best guess is that we've seen something in him that suggests that decent championship player is his limit.

Except that he is a natural left footed left sided LCB we haven't got many of those. Maybe just for one season until an older, wiser and more experienced Roberts returns from his loan as a fully fledged first teamer.

 

[Beanstalk]

Potentially, yes. I reckon Van Hecke has a very good chance of being one of them.

Ostigard seems determined to be playing regularly and I'm not sure he'd get that here.

Clarke I'm not sure on. He's been sent on loan for three consecutive seasons to the Championship. That seems a lot, especially when he won player of the season at Derby and also at WBA. You'd assume he'd be part of our squad but we keep sending him on loan. My best guess is that we've seen something in him that suggests that decent championship player is his limit.

If Duffy goes, Clarke stays in my opinion. If not someone like Fulham will take a chance on him.

 

[GT49er]

If Duffy goes, Clarke stays in my opinion. If not someone like Fulham will take a chance on him.

Concerned that we might not be able to get a fee if that happens - I think he's out of contract, unless he's signed an extension?

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Except that he is a natural left footed left sided LCB we haven't got many of those. Maybe just for one season until an older, wiser and more experienced Roberts returns from his loan as a fully fledged first teamer.

Yes, I don't disagree. I'm just wondering why he's been sent out on loan three times to the championship, even after winning player of the season. It concerns me when the loans stop progressing. There has to be a reason. Although you make a good point about keeping him for a year until Roberts is (hopefully) ready.

If Duffy goes, Clarke stays in my opinion. If not someone like Fulham will take a chance on him.

I think Duffy's gone and Van Hecke or Cucurella wil be the next in line. If Cucurella is to be considered as a centre back option I would like us to get another fb/wb option. If he isn't then another centre back so we'd have five options there.

I'd be delighted if either Clarke or Ostigard were considered good enough to be that player.

We do have an extraordinary number of possible centre back options. Roberts, Tsongui, Dendoncker and Turns will all be looking for a spot in the not too distant future.

 

[Beanstalk]

Concerned that we might not be able to get a fee if that happens - I think he's out of contract, unless he's signed an extension?

Out of contract this summer (according to The Athletic today): Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross, Jayson Molumby (already sold), Alex Cochrane, Tudor Baluta, Lars Dendoncker.

Both Clarke and Duffy are contracted to 2023. I would imagine, that if either stay, they'd be given an extension of at least a year.

 

[Machiavelli]

There was a thread fairly similar to this a week or so ago. I'm going to say something similar to what I said on that one: the ins really depends on the outs.

The squad really needs two more defenders. Either one cd and a wb or two cds.

Personally I'd go with a central defender and wing back. Veltman can do a solid job at wb but I prefer him playing more centrally. Lamptey isn't going to play every game or even a full game every time he plays so it'd be good to have cover for that. March can play there but I want him as the cover for cucurella, who can also act as the squads fifth centre back.

Midfield depends on who leaves. If Bissouma goes(which he probably will) I'm not sure we'd get anyone to replace him but if Bissouma and someone else goes as well then we'd probably need to bring in a new player. Kowlowski I expect to join the squad but who knows how much of an impact he'll have and it'd be a huge ask for him to cover the loss to the squad of Bissouma and a.n other.

In terms of attacking players we have three strikers - Welbeck, Maupay and Undav. Does Potter want a fourth? If we bring in another striker I imagine that will mean that Maupay will be off.

If Trossard stays then we should be good in his creative position. Sarmiento seems like a similar player and Mitoma is a potential option there too. If Trossard goes then I expect his replacement will be where we spend the big money.

So, as it stands I think the squad is only two players short - the two defenders. This is what I think it could realistically look like next year.

Sanchez
Scherpen/Rushworth/Steele

Cucurella
Lamptey
March
Dunk
Webster
Veltman
New defender
New defender

Caicedo
Mwepu
Moder
Lallana
Alzate
MacAllister
Gross
Kowlowski

Trossard
Sarmiento
Mitoma

Welbeck
Maupay
Undav

It's pretty cool to know that we don't need too much. Just a couple of defenders because we're light in numbers there. We can build the squad on our terms rather than having to bring in loads of players to make up the numbers and hoping that they can provide the requisite quality. We already have the quality. Exciting times.

Good post. I'm very close to what you're saying here, but will float two alternatives:
1, I'm not convinced about going into a season with eight defenders, especially when we often start five: there's insufficient cover for injuries, suspensions, loss of form, etc. On defenders, I strongly suspect that van Hecke will be one of those new players, and there's a possibility that one of Ostigard and Clarke make it in there too, and even the slightest chance that both do. Ostigard has said that he wants to play in the past, and I think that was behind him leaving Stoke for Genoa too, but him and Clarke will in all likelihood be vying for fifth choice CB (behind Dunk, Webster, Veltman and van Hecke) or at least that's where they'll start -- the question is whether the players are happy with that, whether Potter wants them there, and/or whether their contract situation is as such that the club decides they can leave and an alternative is sought. The club also might think that Offiah is that cover at RB/RWB.
2, I think we might target a Tross alternative even if he stays. More goals from midfield and wide attack is something that we need, and as [MENTION=15182]Perkino[/MENTION] helpfully shows, Bloom has spent decent amounts in every summer transfer window. We're now in the position where we can really target quality to add to the squad.
I note that you've included 25 in your proposed squad but would add that a fair few of those will be u21 so won't have to be named in the 25 (although I'm not completely sure which ones will) which is another way of saying that the proposed additions is within the squad numbers limit.

Edit: I see you've covered most of this in subsequent posts, and agree with all you've said. Also agree with [MENTION=35332]Beanstalk[/MENTION] about Gross going sad and the potential signing of BBD (see point 2 above) although on that, I might depart from you somewhat in you placing Maupay, Welbeck and Undav (and potentially BBD) as 'central strikers': GP is more flexible than that.

 

[Beanstalk]

Yes, I don't disagree. I'm just wondering why he's been sent out on loan three times to the championship, even after winning player of the season. It concerns me when the loans stop progressing. There has to be a reason. Although you make a good point about keeping him for a year until Roberts is (hopefully) ready.



I think Duffy's gone and Van Hecke or Cucurella wil be the next in line. If Cucurella is to be considered as a centre back option I would like us to get another fb/wb option. If he isn't then another centre back so we'd have five options there.

I'd be delighted if either Clarke or Ostigard were considered good enough to be that player.

We do have an extraordinary number of possible centre back options. Roberts, Tsongui, Dendoncker and Turns will all be looking for a spot in the not too distant future.

Dendoncker to be released this summer according to Naylor. Think Roberts and Tsoungui are clearly destined for the first team but both probably need to have 2 more years on the Ben White pathway before seriously challenging. Ostigaard looks to be off back to Italy (Napoli rumour seems to have some legs).

I think it's most likely that Duffy stays, Clarke and Ostigaard go and Van Hecke returns. The youngsters will go out on loan.

 

[deslynhamsmoustache1]

Ostigard has Napoli and others sniffing around, will stay in Italy. Clarke will be sold to WBA as they need to push for promotion before the parachute payments run out as he's a good solid Championship centre half. khadra is wanted by Kompany at Anderlecht and will go. Duffy will end up in the Championship at one of the relegated clubs this season (Leeds ). What the Heck will be cover along with Rodon - brought from Spuds, who will reunite his love of the game under Potts. Maupay regrettably will go back to France. The Biss money will fund the best forward we have ever had at the club. Richards will be sold to Wigan or Sheffield Utd.
Tross signs and new deal as does Ali Mac. Gross agrees to a 1 year deal mainly as cover. Alzate year long loan to a top championship side, again, Watford, Norwich or possibly Blackburn. Kowlowski will become Lallana's protégé and as such will begin to get more and more game time as the latter concentrates on coaching and recovery. Sarmiento will have his brake out season and become a bit special, just to stick two fingers up at Benfica on all our behalf's regarding Darwin Nunez. There.. who needs Cashworth?

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Dendoncker to be released this summer according to Naylor. Think Roberts and Tsoungui are clearly destined for the first team but both probably need to have 2 more years on the Ben White pathway before seriously challenging. Ostigaard looks to be off back to Italy (Napoli rumour seems to have some legs).

I think it's most likely that Duffy stays, Clarke and Ostigaard go and Van Hecke returns. The youngsters will go out on loan.

I think you're probably right on pretty much all of that. I'm not sure about Duffy but the rest I think you've more or less got spot on.

What are the Ostigard Napoli rumours? If they're after him for their first team squad I'd assume he must be good enough for ours although the appeal of playing for Napoli is probably a bigger pull than playing for us.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Edit: I see you've covered most of this in subsequent posts, and agree with all you've said. Also agree with [MENTION=35332]Beanstalk[/MENTION] about Gross going sad and the potential signing of BBD (see point 2 above) although on that, I might depart from you somewhat in you placing Maupay, Welbeck and Undav (and potentially BBD) as 'central strikers': GP is more flexible than that.

I put those three as central strikers as I figured that while they can and do play elsewhere they also and probably primarily fall into the category of a traditional striker. For example the formation we played against Man Utd had Welbeck as the main striker in a 3-4-2-1 formation. I think that Welbeck and Maupay are currently the only two players capable of playing that role. I know Trossard has played centrally but he plays it like a false 9.

I'm assuming Undav can also play there although I'm guessing on him as I've not seen him play.

It'd be very exciting if we bought a Trossard counterpart like you suggest.

It's fantastic that we are now at the point where our signings are about really improving the team rather than having to buy multiple players to fill out the squad. I can't wait to see what we do. Or to be more precise, I can't wait until next season to see the squad that we've assembled. The actual assembling over the close season isn't that exciting.

 

[Machiavelli]

I put those three as central strikers as I figured that while they can and do play elsewhere they also and probably primarily fall into the category of a traditional striker. For example the formation we played against Man Utd had Welbeck as the main striker in a 3-4-2-1 formation. I think that Welbeck and Maupay are currently the only two players capable of playing that role. I know Trossard has played centrally but he plays it like a false 9.

I'm assuming Undav can also play there although I'm guessing on him as I've not seen him play.

It'd be very exciting if we bought a Trossard counterpart like you suggest.

It's fantastic that we are now at the point where our signings are about really improving the team rather than having to buy multiple players to fill out the squad. I can't wait to see what we do. Or to be more precise, I can't wait until next season to see the squad that we've assembled. The actual assembling over the close season isn't that exciting.

Again, agreed. All I'll say on the 'striker' issue is that GP does all he can to disrupt those careful categories. I wouldn't be surprised that if we had those four mentioned that he'd have them all playing at the same time if he thought that it would derive some advantage. Also we could say that, despite the formation you mentioned, Cucurella (often, usually, but not always) played much higher up the pitch than the other two CBs, and certainly Veltman who was playing on the other side. And I'm sure you wouldn't quibble that putting March in as a defender wouldn't be the only position that he plays in.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Dendoncker to be released this summer according to Naylor. Think Roberts and Tsoungui are clearly destined for the first team but both probably need to have 2 more years on the Ben White pathway before seriously challenging. Ostigaard looks to be off back to Italy (Napoli rumour seems to have some legs).

I think it's most likely that Duffy stays, Clarke and Ostigaard go and Van Hecke returns. The youngsters will go out on loan.

Whilst it ended in acrimony as Leeds Utd didn’t want to give White back to us and didn’t realise they were not a big enough club to sign him, they did do a fine job in continuing his development for our first team.

I’m hoping Leeds Utd go down and that we loan then Roberts for the sort of Championship development that did so well for White. They’ve had their eyes on him for a while.

However, this time, we need to make it clearer that they have no chance of signing him on a permanent if we want him back. I’d have them pay us a ‘£5m’ bond which would be refunded on his return from loan IF they agreed not to try and turn his head and make us a very poor offer to sign him on a permanent contract.

Hopefully, Leeds will be in the Championship or League One for the next decade or two and could specialise in developing players for us on loan, much like Palace and Southampton do for Chelsea.

 

[Swansman]

Out of contract this summer (according to The Athletic today): Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross, Jayson Molumby (already sold), Alex Cochrane, Tudor Baluta, Lars Dendoncker.

Both Clarke and Duffy are contracted to 2023. I would imagine, that if either stay, they'd be given an extension of at least a year.

As long as they get King Tudor on another 3 year contract, I don't give a shit what happens to the others.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

Again, agreed. All I'll say on the 'striker' issue is that GP does all he can to disrupt those careful categories. I wouldn't be surprised that if we had those four mentioned that he'd have them all playing at the same time if he thought that it would derive some advantage. Also we could say that, despite the formation you mentioned, Cucurella (often, usually, but not always) played much higher up the pitch than the other two CBs, and certainly Veltman who was playing on the other side. And I'm sure you wouldn't quibble that putting March in as a defender wouldn't be the only position that he plays in.

Yep, I agree with all that. The majority of players are capable of playing a number of positions and the designated formation at the start of the game bares little resemblance to what goes on on the pitch.

 

[Russconha]

sack everyone that was involved in our 6 straight losses and subsequent 0-0 at home to Norwich but give life contracts to anyone involved in the victories at Arsenal, Spurs and Man U.

 

[Lenny Rider]

Indeed. The only player who made Ashley Neale and Michael Mahoney Johnson look classy!

To be fair MM, Ashley Neal was to footballing dross what Fanny Craddock was to cooking.

Farrington misfired but please don’t compare him to Neal