Champagneblade
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It doesn't seem like we are going to be going crazy on the recruitment and it may be a case of 1 in, 1 out.
Looking at the personnel we have it seems clear we are a bit light in central midfield and the centre of defence yet loaded in attack and at wing back.
For that reason, and given certain positions are more costly than others I do wonder if a transition from 3-5-2 to 3-4-3 is in order.
It's a progression which is only gradual but it immediately reduces the need for one central midfield player whilst adding one further spot for the plethora of strikers.
I'd still see a top quality left centre back as a matter of priority but as at right now you could comfortably go with:
Ramsdale
Basham Egan Robinson
Baldock Berge fleck RND
Brewster Sharp McGoldrick
The keeper situation will take care of itself depending on Rammers leaving, and either sourcing internally or externally.
On the right we have Baldock, Bogle and Seriki and could even consider Baldock going if Celtic get real though I'd be happy to keep him as a dependable high level performer.
Out wide Norrington-Davies excites but you've also got Stevens and Lowe as senior pros there, not to mention Osborn.
Egan and Basham in a three is a no brainer and you've got Robinson who did well at the end of the season. You've also got Norrington-Davies who could deputise for the unfortunate O'Connell but clearly he can't be first pick left wing back and first pick left centre back simultaneously so the quest for Davies makes sense.
You then just need to pick 2 midfielders. I put Berge and Fleck, but Norwood and Fleck did well together before at this level. Osborn can also come in and so too Slater. If Berge goes then you can understand the links to Hourihane though he is left footed.
Up front you then open it up to both strikers and wingers.
You could have McBurnie and Sharp competing for the central role. This also removes them working together which simply hasn't worked.
McGoldrick spent a lot of time drifting left and cutting in anyway last season so this remains an option and also opens up an avenue in games for Freeman to play more conventional left side when needed. On the right I think Brewster can play across the line and has shown he's a decent passer of the ball. It would also play more to Burke's conventional game as a winger.
Jebbison provided a huge boost but if he is breaking through then what he needs is games. With so much at stake, are we prepared to sacrifice Sharp or McBurnie to achieve this? I'd say a League One loan would be ideal. Likewise Hackford may benefit from some men's football at either League 2 or even non league. I think Tyler Smith will also move on based on there simply being too much traffic in front of him, though if bids come in for others then this may well change.
It still then leaves Mousset and N'Diaye. The latter is difficult to bank on while his contract remains unsigned though he would seem to be a potential successor to McGoldrick. Hopefully he can sign up.
Then good old Mousse. Potentially the most explosive of the lot but you are a brave man who banks on Mousset to carry you through 46 matches. I just have the feeling he moves on.
But the point here is there the above gets done with minimal recruitment and still puts out a decent XI with depth.
It will still leave questions to be answered if this team went up but in the words of John Maynard Keynes, the celebrated Economist, "in the long term, we're all dead". So let's not get overly concerned with any future seasons!
Looking at the personnel we have it seems clear we are a bit light in central midfield and the centre of defence yet loaded in attack and at wing back.
For that reason, and given certain positions are more costly than others I do wonder if a transition from 3-5-2 to 3-4-3 is in order.
It's a progression which is only gradual but it immediately reduces the need for one central midfield player whilst adding one further spot for the plethora of strikers.
I'd still see a top quality left centre back as a matter of priority but as at right now you could comfortably go with:
Ramsdale
Basham Egan Robinson
Baldock Berge fleck RND
Brewster Sharp McGoldrick
The keeper situation will take care of itself depending on Rammers leaving, and either sourcing internally or externally.
On the right we have Baldock, Bogle and Seriki and could even consider Baldock going if Celtic get real though I'd be happy to keep him as a dependable high level performer.
Out wide Norrington-Davies excites but you've also got Stevens and Lowe as senior pros there, not to mention Osborn.
Egan and Basham in a three is a no brainer and you've got Robinson who did well at the end of the season. You've also got Norrington-Davies who could deputise for the unfortunate O'Connell but clearly he can't be first pick left wing back and first pick left centre back simultaneously so the quest for Davies makes sense.
You then just need to pick 2 midfielders. I put Berge and Fleck, but Norwood and Fleck did well together before at this level. Osborn can also come in and so too Slater. If Berge goes then you can understand the links to Hourihane though he is left footed.
Up front you then open it up to both strikers and wingers.
You could have McBurnie and Sharp competing for the central role. This also removes them working together which simply hasn't worked.
McGoldrick spent a lot of time drifting left and cutting in anyway last season so this remains an option and also opens up an avenue in games for Freeman to play more conventional left side when needed. On the right I think Brewster can play across the line and has shown he's a decent passer of the ball. It would also play more to Burke's conventional game as a winger.
Jebbison provided a huge boost but if he is breaking through then what he needs is games. With so much at stake, are we prepared to sacrifice Sharp or McBurnie to achieve this? I'd say a League One loan would be ideal. Likewise Hackford may benefit from some men's football at either League 2 or even non league. I think Tyler Smith will also move on based on there simply being too much traffic in front of him, though if bids come in for others then this may well change.
It still then leaves Mousset and N'Diaye. The latter is difficult to bank on while his contract remains unsigned though he would seem to be a potential successor to McGoldrick. Hopefully he can sign up.
Then good old Mousse. Potentially the most explosive of the lot but you are a brave man who banks on Mousset to carry you through 46 matches. I just have the feeling he moves on.
But the point here is there the above gets done with minimal recruitment and still puts out a decent XI with depth.
It will still leave questions to be answered if this team went up but in the words of John Maynard Keynes, the celebrated Economist, "in the long term, we're all dead". So let's not get overly concerned with any future seasons!