Current Squad - Post Released List

[Chali 2na]

Thanks to Wilder's interview yesterday, we've got a good idea what next year's squad is going to look like.

Based on the video of him planning the 17/18 squad, it seems Wilder (sensibly) likes to have at least 2 options in each position. He also mentioned in yesterday's interview that he'd like to have a squad of 25 players.

That would leave us with something like this:

GK
(New player)
Simon Moore
Jake Eastwood

RCB
Chris Basham
(New player)

CB
John Egan
Richard Stearman

LCB
Jack O'Connell
Kean Bryan

RWB
George Baldock
Kieron Freeman

LWB
Enda Stevens
(New player)

CM
John Fleck
John Lundstram

CM
Ollie Noorwood
(New player)

AM
Mark Duffy
(New player)

ST
Billy Sharp
(New player)

ST
David McGoldrick
(New player)

That leaves us with 23 players, I could see the final 2 players being:

• A left footed centre half who can complete with Kean Bryan and Richard Stearman.
• Another option in central midfield.

In addition to that, I reckon that he'll want the new RCB to be capable of playing RWB in emergencies, just incase GB or KF can't make the step up.
So by that logic, I reckon we're in the market for 9 players. Let's hope our budget stretches that far

 

[Ricky]

I don't see why 25 players is necessary.

There are less games and there's less Saturday - Tuesday.

We have an excellent record keeping players fit.

If we insist on taking the squad to 25 it will mean stretching the budget further and compromising on quality.

A squad of 22/23 is about right.

 

[mancunianblade]

Eastwood HAS to be either loaned out or moved on

 

[mancunianblade]

I don't see why 25 players is necessary.

There are less games and there's less Saturday - Tuesday.

We have an excellent record keeping players fit.

If we insist on taking the squad to 25 it will mean stretching the budget further and compromising on quality.

A squad of 22/23 is about right.

Think the intensity would mean we need as much depth as we can get, also think Wilder will be cautious of having to few players after the whole Coutts injury derailed us last season, last thing Wilder needs is us mid table around XMas and we get a season ending player to a key player and we get relegated.

 

[Ricky]

Think the intensity would mean we need as much depth as we can get, also think Wilder will be cautious of having to few players after the whole Coutts injury derailed us last season, last thing Wilder needs is us mid table around XMas and we get a season ending player to a key player and we get relegated.

22 allows 2 in every position, and that's not accounting for player versatility.

 

[Whiston Blade]

I don't see why 25 players is necessary.

There are less games and there's less Saturday - Tuesday.

We have an excellent record keeping players fit.

If we insist on taking the squad to 25 it will mean stretching the budget further and compromising on quality.

A squad of 22/23 is about right.

We do have a good record with recent fitness and injuries but that doesn't mean they can't or won't happen and if it does, a 22/23 man squad would be stretched if we lost a couple of players for a significant amount of time. Whereas a 25 man squad gives us a couple more options and a bit of wiggle room.

In Wilder we trust (a 25 man squad is the right way to go).

 

[mattbianco1]

Luke Ayling can do RWB or RCB

Kalvin Phillips can do CDM or CB

That's two i'd be looking at.

Then of the relegated clubs are any of these achievable?

Huds
Mooy - CM or CAM
Pritchard - CM or CAM
Williams - CM
Depoitre - ST (Target man)

Fulham
Are any of theirs realistic? Maybe not as they didn't need any money before and noww with parachute payments...

Cardiff
Etheridge - GK
Reid - CAM or ST
Zohore - ST (Pacy)
Mendez-Laing - Wing, CAM or ST (pacy)
Gunnarsson - CDM

Will Newcastle listen to offers for Dwight Gayle?

All those above offer at least competition in those positions

 

[Houso]

Would be a huge surprise if Bryan was anywhere near the squad. I'd imagine a season loan to a League 1 side; Champ at a stretch.

 

[Chali 2na]

I don't see why 25 players is necessary.

There are less games and there's less Saturday - Tuesday.

We have an excellent record keeping players fit.

If we insist on taking the squad to 25 it will mean stretching the budget further and compromising on quality.

A squad of 22/23 is about right.

22 allows 2 in every position, and that's not accounting for player versatility.

I'm going off what Wilder said in his interview. It seems he wants a 25 man squad.

Eastwood HAS to be either loaned out or moved on

Why? He's 3rd choice keeper: That would mean we'd have to sign even more players.

I don't any decent keepers would want to come in as 3rd choice either.

Would be a huge surprise if Bryan was anywhere near the squad. I'd imagine a season loan to a League 1 side; Champ at a stretch.

I agree, but as of right now, he appears to be in the squad.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Freeman will be on his bike I think. Just because he's not transfer listed doesn't change that.
Bryan will be nowhere near the squad.
Eastwood I suspect will leave, he's doing his career no favours being our 3rd choice with no loan moves.

That would take us down to 13 which seems a logical number to build from.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Cardiff
Etheridge - GK
Reid - CAM or ST
Zohore - ST (Pacy)
Mendez-Laing - Wing, CAM or ST (pacy)
Gunnarsson - CDM

Etheridge is the only one of those I’d consider. Reid and Zohore have shown they aren’t up to the level, NML is only effective as an out and out winger, and Gunnarson is already heading abroad.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

I see LWB more of an issue, Stevens has no competition, plus he's a more than capable deputy at LCB should he required.

 

[Houso]

In terms of the 25 man squad, Wilder always seems to want two players for every position, three in some cases.

I can imagine him bringing in 2 or 3 younger players from League 1 clubs as a more long term punt.

 

[Chali 2na]

Freeman will be on his bike I think. Just because he's not transfer listed doesn't change that.
Bryan will be nowhere near the squad.
Eastwood I suspect will leave, he's doing his career no favours being our 3rd choice with no loan moves.

That would take us down to 13 which seems a logical number to build from.

I understand where you're coming from, but can you honestly see us signing 12 players?

 

[mancunianblade]

Why? He's 3rd choice keeper: That would mean we'd have to sign even more players.

I don't any decent keepers would want to come in as 3rd choice either.

They don’t have to come in as 3rd choice.?

For me we sign Henderson and a free transfer. The free and Moore battle it out for a place in the match squad.

My reasoning is Eastwood is older than Henderson (only just) he will be 23 next season with only 5 FL appearances to his name.Being third choice isn’t good for him or his career and if the worst should happen I don’t think anyone would be comfortable with him being the deputy in PL games.

 

[Akinbiyi]

I understand where you're coming from, but can you honestly see us signing 12 players?

I don’t see us having a squad of 25 for a start. Maybe 23.

But I think after the released list yesterday we’re going to do more business than most of us thought, me included. Cranie And Coutts in particular.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Signing 9 - 10 new players all capable of improving our squad isn't going to be cheap. I wonder what's going on in the background with this talk of investment, something big maybe on the way.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

I understand where you're coming from, but can you honestly see us signing 12 players?

We need to sign as many as are needed to have a competitive squad. £30m isn’t going to cover half of it.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Thanks to Wilder's interview yesterday, we've got a good idea what next year's squad is going to look like.

Based on the video of him planning the 17/18 squad, it seems Wilder (sensibly) likes to have at least 2 options in each position. He also mentioned in yesterday's interview that he'd like to have a squad of 25 players.

That would leave us with something like this:

GK
(New player)
Simon Moore
Jake Eastwood

RCB
Chris Basham
(New player)

CB
John Egan
Richard Stearman

LCB
Jack O'Connell
Kean Bryan

RWB
George Baldock
Kieron Freeman

LWB
Enda Stevens
(New player)

CM
John Fleck
John Lundstram

CM
Ollie Noorwood
(New player)

AM
Mark Duffy
(New player)

ST
Billy Sharp
(New player)

ST
David McGoldrick
(New player)

That leaves us with 23 players, I could see the final 2 players being:

• A left footed centre half who can complete with Kean Bryan and Richard Stearman.
• Another option in central midfield.

In addition to that, I reckon that he'll want the new RCB to be capable of playing RWB in emergencies, just incase GB or KF can't make the step up.
So by that logic, I reckon we're in the market for 9 players. Let's hope our budget stretches that far

glad someone has done that - makes it easier to speculate !

It's going to be a longgggggggggggg summer.

UTB

 

[1066blade]

We do have a good record with recent fitness and injuries but that doesn't mean they can't or won't happen and if it does, a 22/23 man squad would be stretched if we lost a couple of players for a significant amount of time. Whereas a 25 man squad gives us a couple more options and a bit of wiggle room.

In Wilder we trust (a 25 man squad is the right way to go).

Just remember they'll all be a bit older/slower and up against fitter opposition, additional cover is a must.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

We need to sign as many as are needed to have a competitive squad. £30m isn’t going to cover half of it.

definitely yes to first part.

above £30m? - we are putting up smoke and mirrors at present then.

Competitive means quality where needed - which points to above £30m. Hope you are correct - we need to stay for at least Y2.

UTB

 

[Grizzly blade]

Eastwood and bryan need to be playing now, hanging around not playing isn’t what they need.
Send them both on loan.

So that’s another keeper and another defender needed.

So I expect 9 will be arriving, all upgrades on what we had last season to either push on those we had starting or replace them.
Wilder, Knill and Mitchell have a huge task identifying the players to fit the mould, and
Bettis has the huge task of negotiating for them!

 

[Ricky]

If it must be 25 then hopefully it's a case of keeping the likes of Lundstram, Freeman and Bryan to make up that extra 3 rather than making 12 or 13 new signings. But their wages won't be minuscule for players who'll never play.

 

[Chali 2na]

They don’t have to come in as 3rd choice.?

For me we sign Henderson and a free transfer. The free and Moore battle it out for a place in the match squad.

My reasoning is Eastwood is older than Henderson (only just) he will be 23 next season with only 5 FL appearances to his name.Being third choice isn’t good for him or his career and if the worst should happen I don’t think anyone would be comfortable with him being the deputy in PL games.

I get your reasoning, but how many capable, free-transfer keepers are there out there who will be willing to potentially be a 3rd choice?

I don’t see us having a squad of 25 for a start. Maybe 23.

But I think after the released list yesterday we’re going to do more business than most of us thought, me included. Cranie And Coutts in particular.

I'm only going off what Wilder said. Unless I heard it wrong, he suggested he'd work with 25 players in yesterday's interview. We should probably base our speculation on that...

I agree that the (surprise) departures of Cranie and Coutts implies we're going to be doing more business than I first anticipated.

We need to sign as many as are needed to have a competitive squad. £30m isn’t going to cover half of it.

Without wanting to be rude Nic, what's your point?

If £30m (arbitrary figure) is our budget, it's going to have to stretch that far, isn't it?

 

[Chali 2na]

If it must be 25 then hopefully it's a case of keeping the likes of Lundstram, Freeman and Bryan to make up that extra 3 rather than making 12 or 13 new signings. But their wages won't be minuscule for players who'll never play.

That was what I was assuming in the first place

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Without wanting to be rude Nic, what's your point?

If £30m (arbitrary figure) is our budget, it's going to have to stretch that far, isn't it?

My point is that in your initial post, you'd detailed 8 possible gaps in the squad. I disagree and think even with those gaps filled with theoretically good enough players, we're still short of the desired quality. I'm looking at 12, but I wouldn't want to limit myself to a specific number. I wouldn't want to start a championship season with Bryan being 2nd choice for any position, let alone a premier league one.

£30m has been mentioned on here as being our transfer budget. I'm saying that to bring in the quality and numbers, we're looking at £70m. If we try and bring in 10 or more players for £30m, we're wasting the money and spreading it too thin. There's a reason that promoted teams are given £100m when they are promoted, and it's not for banking. I've detailed in another thread the players who I would want to bring in and their evident quality level. I don't think that that level of player is pie in the sky and is certainly a level we should be aiming at if we want to stay in the league.

 

[Hunter_999]

Luke Ayling can do RWB or RCB

Kalvin Phillips can do CDM or CB

That's two i'd be looking at.

Then of the relegated clubs are any of these achievable?

Huds
Mooy - CM or CAM
Pritchard - CM or CAM
Williams - CM
Depoitre - ST (Target man)

Fulham
Are any of theirs realistic? Maybe not as they didn't need any money before and noww with parachute payments...

Cardiff
Etheridge - GK
Reid - CAM or ST
Zohore - ST (Pacy)
Mendez-Laing - Wing, CAM or ST (pacy)
Gunnarsson - CDM

Will Newcastle listen to offers for Dwight Gayle?

All those above offer at least competition in those positions

This is a great list. But Depoitre is a big man who can’t hold up or score. Warnock-Raquel he would be.

 

[Chali 2na]

My point is that in your initial post, you'd detailed 8 possible gaps in the squad. I disagree and think even with those gaps filled with theoretically good enough players, we're still short of the desired quality. I'm looking at 12, but I wouldn't want to limit myself to a specific number. I wouldn't want to start a championship season with Bryan being 2nd choice for any position, let alone a premier league one.

Unfortunately, I think you have unrealistic expectations in terms of the level of quality of the squad a newly promoted side can assemble.

You claim you want 12 players - and I'd agree in an ideal world. However, I can't see it. I also have my concerns about bedding in that many players with the existing squad - just look at Fulham.

£30m has been mentioned on here as being our transfer budget. I'm saying that to bring in the quality and numbers, we're looking at £70m. If we try and bring in 10 or more players for £30m, we're wasting the money and spreading it too thin. There's a reason that promoted teams are given £100m when they are promoted, and it's not for banking. I've detailed in another thread the players who I would want to bring in and their evident quality level. I don't think that that level of player is pie in the sky and is certainly a level we should be aiming at if we want to stay in the league.

I agree, and I hope our budget is closer to £70m than £30m.

However, we probably should manage our expectations slightly; last years only comparable newly promoted team, Cardiff, spent £45m - one would assume we'll operate at a similar level, whether we like it or not.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

However, we probably should manage our expectations slightly; last years only comparable newly promoted team, Cardiff, spent £45m - one would assume we'll operate at a similar level, whether we like it or not.

£45m divided by 8 is £5.625m per player averaged out, which is probably the pond in which we are fishing. That buys you something in a band that encompasses the top tier of the middle level of championship players and the bottom tier of the top level.

If our rumoured strategy of listing the top 5 players in every position in the championship is true, it would match up with this. We’d try and find 6 undervalued performers and 2 jewels. 6 Egan’s, a Maupay & a McBurnie.

 

[sheffielder]

You can’t just fill the squad with anyone. We have to have 3 members of the 25 that were trained with the club since 16 or came through the academy. I think Eastwood and sharp are about it, so probably someone like slater has a late squad filler unless we bring someone back who was previously trainees by the club.