5 or 6

[Rudders]

He was playing superbly in fact before his injury.

Zero goals, zero assists or very near. He is a decent defender who got done regularly with the ball back over his head in behind. I like him but looking dispassionately at it offers virtually nothing going forward and far less attacking output than Lowe. A risk as first choice I would say!

 

[ormester]

5 or 6 makes sense covers the loans going back and the extra spaces on the bench.

Really have a horrible feeling that this summer is going to be like Norwich 2019/2020 season, hardly spend anything and get hammered every week.

They spent I think it was 18m we need to spend at least 50 on quality

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

After I'd posted it I was worried if that sounded racist. But TBH, there are tons of box-to-box mids in the PL that are African, African descent.

Coulibaly - could he step up? He seems to have the energy. Maybe not the quality ??

Biggest challenge for Coulibaly is he doesn’t have the trust / confidence of the gaffer(s) - not a criticism but he’s just not getting any/enough game time - interesting to see if that changes @ ‘udders / brum

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

Top scorer in a team that scored very few goals.
6 was not an impressive return. He had very few impressive games in the PL.

I like McBurnie a lot. Seems a great lad and I think he has something to offer... but not from the start.
I think he's a decent (but not great) Championship striker.
He absolutely isn't a PL striker that you can rely upon.. He isn't quick enough or strong enough and his goalscoring and link-up play is nowhere near a level that would make up for the lack of those attributes.
Very few PL defenders would worry about coming up against him.

Aye
And the upgrade is:-
How much:-

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

Zero goals, zero assists or very near. He is a decent defender who got done regularly with the ball back over his head in behind. I like him but looking dispassionately at it offers virtually nothing going forward and far less attacking output than Lowe. A risk as first choice I would say!

Aye
But his primary task was /will be defending - an alien concept to Lowe who’s “attacking output” is also (extremely) limited
Opponents don’t even need to play ball over Lowe - just run past / away/ through him while he hangs back (in no man’s land & 20 yards in from the touchline) contemplating what (not) to do
There was a similar (nonsensical) ‘debate’ on t’other side until Jud proved that, albeit exciting ((when they come off), fancy twists & turns are no substitute for the ability to defend

Reckon RND will be best @ LCB which then makes the need for (@ least) a competent L (W?)B even more important

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

If it is just 5 or 6 then I'd probably go for something like this

CB/LCB: John Brooks
LWB: Brandon Williams
CM/RCM: Ellyes Skhiri / Mady Camara ..... or if Berge must stay, LCM: O'Brien
CM: Doyle
LCM/AM: McAtee
CF: Gyokeres / Wood / Diallo / Guirassy

Which means sticking with Wes in goal and keeping the likes of Davies (fine by me), Lowe (not fine), Basham and probably at least one of Osborn and Fleck

There would be positives for keeping the squad together as much as possible but not if it's at the expense of bringing in a couple of important players who are up to the level

Gykores is destined for bigger / better / richer clubs than us (sadly)
Wood is surely McB without the enthusiasm but double the cost

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

There’s nothing wrong with that if they’re the right championship players. I’m not sure spending £10m on Bogle & Lowe was right. We needed to bring in a better version of Stevens and Lowe was miles off.

If Villa want £20m for Cameron Archer then that’s pretty much the same as what OMac cost, get him signed.

A borrow might be viable / sensible ?

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

After I'd posted it I was worried if that sounded racist. But TBH, there are tons of box-to-box mids in the PL that are African, African descent.

Coulibaly - could he step up? He seems to have the energy. Maybe not the quality ??

Not sure if he fits the ‘criteria’, & in time honoured ‘seemed decent agin us’ tradition the (ex Manure) ‘Side Show Bob’ fella @ Brum may be affordable ? albeit I haven’t the foggiest what they paid for him

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

https://substack.com/app-link/post?...Q.TNjhuI3wNqz13j6OLA1fFtEaSahVX9Y5vYx41POgHv8

 

[Mouth of the South]

https://substack.com/app-link/post?...Q.TNjhuI3wNqz13j6OLA1fFtEaSahVX9Y5vYx41POgHv8

Some good shouts in there Mackem - I particularly like Johansen and Chong as players. Gyokeres would be a perfect replacement for Sharp I expect he'll receive better offers.
The list is very Uk focussed though - I expect we'll see more arrivals from European markets that (in theory) offer more bang for Utd's buck.

 

[Blade56]

There's at least half a dozen we should release.

I’d like to replace my kitchen, bathroom, car and wife. Can’t afford to do all of it so have to keep some of those things as they still function and serve their purpose.

 

[dellasthunderbolt]

I think we have to have a different approach for different areas of the pitch.

I think you can afford to go cheaper and for either English lower league potential or foreign market for defenders. Low risk and high reward.

Midfield we have to the links to the Man City lads and I think there plus loans might be best idea.

Upfront I would put eggs in one basket in terms of a striker who will likely get us 10+ goals. Easier said than done but mistake I think we made last time was a lot of forwards as opposed to one good one. McBurnie decent, Sharp not gone yet, Brewster - who knows and the the huge potential of Jebbison and Osula (and Marsh behind them).

 

[Mouth of the South]

I think we have to have a different approach for different areas of the pitch.

I think you can afford to go cheaper and for either English lower league potential or foreign market for defenders. Low risk and high reward.

Midfield we have to the links to the Man City lads and I think there plus loans might be best idea.

Upfront I would put eggs in one basket in terms of a striker who will likely get us 10+ goals. Easier said than done but mistake I think we made last time was a lot of forwards as opposed to one good one. McBurnie decent, Sharp not gone yet, Brewster - who knows and the the huge potential of Jebbison and Osula (and Marsh behind them).

Ndiaye?
Jebbison and Osula need Champ loans next season
Brewster the same if he manages to get fit.
Sharp is done at that level - he won't score in the Prem.
McBurnie I like and I think he'll play an important role next season.

 

[Houso]

Some of the Luton lads may be worth a glance if we don't go up. Adebayo, Morris, Bell all have impressed me.

Also, wouldn't be averse to a look at Sory Kaba (though he's older than I thought).

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

Some good shouts in there Mackem - I particularly like Johansen and Chong as players. Gyokeres would be a perfect replacement for Sharp I expect he'll receive better offers.
The list is very Uk focussed though - I expect we'll see more arrivals from European markets that (in theory) offer more bang for Utd's buck.

Aye
If only I was the author
Although to give myself some credit I had made a shout on this thread for Chong, just couldn’t recall his name ( or was it Cheech ?) & I’d also ‘said’ Gyokeres will go bigger / better / richer.
The Rovrum lad does seem to get regular good reviews - as did Eddie Colquhoun’s grand bairn although he’s had a bad injury recently I believe

(Most) Locals up here would be apoplectic if we took Neil & from what I’ve seen of him live (admittedly only agin ourselves & a lower league Sheffield side) + tv he has ‘the makings’ - think Fleck of old (or Satdi gone?) & already got a red card @ t’Lane on his CV

There’d also be Stewart @ SOL (if he’s ever fit) - Gyokores ‘lite - NOT a ‘target man’ think more Deane (or McB !) intelligent hardworking & no little skill with a good finish. - FootballclubformerlyknownasRangers ‘interested’ so may not be feasible

‘Big club’ interest in keeper whispers too.

O’Nien (LB) has got a great attitude (salt& steel - a la Furious)is another to think about

Not saying get em all but certainly reckon this has to be our market as, excluding Stewart, not really prominent outwith the locality (yet) - we’ve got a bit of time as the next horse n cart doesn’t leave the frozen north for a month & the local scribe is still struggling with the newly installed printing press which doesn’t accommodate his additional digits -
Mind even with those ‘challenges’ he’s more insightful intelligent & articulate than ‘scoop’ Shields.

 

[andy m]

Some people think we're targeting top 6 or sommet.

We ain't bringing in 10 new players in 1 window.

Our goal is a 17th or better finish.

We will be bringing in some talented bargain youngsters, mixed in with some loans.

That way in case we do go down the loans go back and off the wage bill straight away.

The youngsters from outside UK can either help us challenge for promotion in championship or be sold on for profit.

Do you work in our recruitment team?

 

[Mouth of the South]

Some of the Luton lads may be worth a glance if we don't go up. Adebayo, Morris, Bell all have impressed me.

Also, wouldn't be averse to a look at Sory Kaba (though he's older than I thought).

Although not owned by them Nakamba improved them massively since he joined on loan in Jan and is exactly the type of aggressive, energetic midfielder Utd have frankly needed for years.
I can't see him getting anywhere near Villa's team and considering he cost them £12m and is on a basic of around £30k he may be a viable option.

 

[Mouth of the South]

Bournemouth came 2nd in the championship. Added 5 or 6 first team players in the summer window. Then a takeover and new owner invested big money ( by lower prem standards) and it's paid off. I suspect we will aiming for similar

True BB although they also signed 7 in the Jan window

 

[BrisBlade]

I can guarantee that Hecky already knows who he thinks can and can’t do a job in the PL. Whether he can execute his 1st choice transfer strategy is another point entirely. Hecky isn’t going to announce departures on Radio Sheffield. For one it’s disrespectful, and two, he may have no choice but to keep certain players.
Basham won’t go anywhere. He has another year left on his contract and is cover for a very specific position.
Norwood will be offered new terms. He will be valuable cover in the midfield. Plus he offers a lot in terms of younger player development.
Osborn will stay. Good age and versatile.
McBurnie stays. Back up and option from the bench.
Fleck, Enda, Sharp, O’Connell are the ones that will potential leave in the summer.

Spot on I reckon.

If (and its a big if) we get Doyle and McAtee back and it's just Fleck, Enda, Sharp and O'Connell that leave, our four priorities seem to be LWB, LCB, left mid (or a good box to box like Choudhury) and CF. Strikers are expensive and we've got a few in development, so thinking that's probably the other loan along with Macca. I reckon we should be looking at $10 - $15m a pop for the permanents (including Doyle), so $50m sounds about right. I'd be OK with that sort of investment if it materialises.

 

[Andy67]

There's no way everyone is staying for starts.

Needs must

 

[Andy67]

Spot on I reckon.

If (and its a big if) we get Doyle and McAtee back and it's just Fleck, Enda, Sharp and O'Connell that leave, our four priorities seem to be LWB, LCB, left mid (or a good box to box like Choudhury) and CF. Strikers are expensive and we've got a few in development, so thinking that's probably the other loan along with Macca. I reckon we should be looking at $10 - $15m a pop for the permanents (including Doyle), so $50m sounds about right. I'd be OK with that sort of investment if it materialises.

Not a chance 50m nowhere near.

 

[Andy67]

I have a horrible feeling that Osborn is going to be offered an extension.

I get the desire to not want lose the current togetherness in the squad but a group with a shot of staying in the Prem needs to be assembled - I'm afraid there should be no place for the majority of those out of contact i.e. Fleck, Stevens, JOC, Robinson Sharp (unless in the form of a coaching role) and the aforementioned headless chicken.

Without which we will not have much of a squad.

 

[Andy67]

Gykores is destined for bigger / better / richer clubs than us (sadly)
Wood is surely McB without the enthusiasm but double the cost

25 m not a chance.

 

[FTPE]

Gykores?
I'd go in at £15m, rising upto £18-20m if we stay up.

I think Archer would cost even more, plus Villa don't need the money and Boro will probably win the playoffs.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I’d like to replace my kitchen, bathroom, car and wife. Can’t afford to do all of it so have to keep some of those things as they still function and serve their purpose.

It's an ok analogy, except now imagine your bathroom is beyond its warranty period and is leaking downstairs into your kitchen, the kids are crying and the Mrs wants to leave you for the bloke over the road because you've not got a pot to piss in and he's got a decent cory on him...

I've no doubt we will hang onto some of our old guard due to finances... but they are past it at PL level, a lot of them were past it at top-end Championship level.
A lot of our lads are made of biscuits, we've seen that over the last couple of seasons which means we'll be reaching into the cupboards and wheeling out the old timers. Not a good place to be.

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

25 m not a chance.

Aye
Not even on planet Dozy ?!?

 

[Frank the tank]

It's an ok analogy, except now imagine your bathroom is beyond its warranty period and is leaking downstairs into your kitchen, the kids are crying and the Mrs wants to leave you for the bloke over the road because you've not got a pot to piss in and he's got a decent cory on him...

I've no doubt we will hang onto some of our old guard due to finances... but they are past it at PL level, a lot of them were past it at top-end Championship level.
A lot of our lads are made of biscuits, we've seen that over the last couple of seasons which means we'll be reaching into the cupboards and wheeling out the old timers. Not a good place to be.

Is that analogy supposed to be in comparison to our promotion winning team ?

 

[Mouth of the South]

Gykores?
I'd go in at £15m, rising upto £18-20m if we stay up.

I think Archer would cost even more, plus Villa don't need the money and Boro will probably win the playoffs.

Out of interest, how much would you offer the player and how would you persuade both him and Coventry to accept the offers despite them receiving higher from elsewhere e.g. Everton and Leicester - aspects often forgotten by armchair CEOs?

 

[Frank the tank]

Out of interest, how much would you offer the player and how would you persuade both him and Coventry to accept the offers despite them receiving higher from elsewhere e.g. Everton and Leicester - aspects often forgotten by armchair CEOs?

West ham were told £20 m in march
Dont think anyone has actually put in a bid for him.

 

[FTPE]

Out of interest, how much would you offer the player and how would you persuade both him and Coventry to accept the offers despite them receiving higher from elsewhere e.g. Everton and Leicester - aspects often forgotten by armchair CEOs?

I'd tell him to watch Leicester vs Everton tonight.
One's getting relegated this season, both are garbage.

Ndiaye has already turned Everton down this season. If the guy picks a club because of money alone then he's not for us anyway.

I'm still not saying we'll get him, but if we can't get players from the Championship then I don't know where else to get then from.