Future Planning

[robbiez666]

One of the most important elements I look at every transfer window is future planning.

If you want to use the euphemism of being on a journey, we need to be looking at improving the side every year. Not just in the short term (this season) but also in the medium term (next 3-4 years).

The Academy is obviously a major part of this, whether it's for bringing players through or generating revenue.

So, every summer, I look a year ahead. What players will we have going into the 2019/20 season. Let's assume that we'll be in the same division.

I find it a good way to look at what we should be looking to do in the transfer market now.

GK

Moore - 29
Eastwood - 22

Defenders

George Baldock - 26
Enda Stevens - 29
Jack O'Connell - 25
John Egan - 26
Kieron Freeman - 27
Richard Stearman -32
Rhys Norrington-Davies - 20

Midfielders

John Fleck -28
John Lundstram - 25
Lee Evans - 25
Ryan Leonard -27
Paul Coutts - 31
Mark Duffy - 33
Ricky Holmes - 32
Nathan Thomas - 24
Regan Slater - 19

Forwards

Leon Clarke - 34
David McGoldrick (if option taken up) - 31

Now, there are obviously players (Billy, Bash) who you'd assume will sign a new contract and also Academy players who are likely to come through. Whether Norrington-Davies, Slater and Eastwood will be anywhere near the team will depend on how they do on loan.

GK

Assuming Moore won't suddenly be our number one we could really do with bringing in a keeper on permanent terms next season.

Defenders

We've got a good age mix in defence. We can debate ability all day long but we'd surely need to look at LWB is Norrington-Davies doesn't excel.

Midfielders

It's notable that our two attacking midfield options are knocking on a bit. It is a position which is traditionally easier to get a good young loan in, but we could really do with looking to sign some young blood.There are question marks around Evans, Lundstram and Leonard but it remains to see whether they'll be the same if Coutts regains full fitness and his previous form. Worth noting that he'll be 31 then though.

Strikers

This is the area with the huge gaping morass. As things currently stand, we'd have a 34 year-old Leon Clarke as our only striker. We really need to b ring in at least one younger striker this window. Then probably another in January. It would be suicidal to start next July needing to sign 3/4 new strikers.

So, whilst using the loan market has its benefits, we really need to bring in players permanently before we kick off the 2019/20 season in the attacking midfield and up front. We've actually got a good age balance in half the side. We could also do with signing a permanent keeper and stop relying on loans. Whether the players we have will be good enough, only time will tell.

 

[Rodley]

So we need a new striker then?

 

[Redhead]

Semple, Ty Smith, Gilmour.

 

[Ricky]

Selling Brooks and not permanently signing someone comparable would be very poor from Wilder.

 

[robbiez666]

Semple, Ty Smith, Gilmour.

You could add Graham to that list as well but didn't include them as they're involvement will be dependent on how their loans go.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Selling Brooks and not permanently signing someone comparable would be very poor from Wilder.

...at which point we'll realize £12m was woefully undervaluing what we had!

 

[Houston_Blade]

Selling Brooks and not permanently signing someone comparable would be very poor from Wilder.

We can’t sign someone comparable though because according to some Brooks is worth more than the £12m we sold him for. We haven’t got that money.

 

[Ricky]

We can’t sign someone comparable though because according to some Brooks is worth more than the £12m we sold him for. We haven’t got that money.

By comparable I mean a good, young attacking player with good potential. Whether that's a striker or attacking midfielder. Not necessarily a like for like.

 

[west_yorks_blade]

Selling Brooks and not permanently signing someone comparable would be very poor from Wilder.

Why does he have to be permanently signed though? Why not achieve what we want via loanees?

 

[nopigfansintown]

...at which point we'll realize £12m was woefully undervaluing what we had!

That was obvious at the time, no?

 

[Ricky]

Why does he have to be permanently signed though? Why not achieve what we want via loanees?

Because loanees won't be ours in 10 months time.

You've got to use the opportunity a big transfer fee brings to build a squad.

 

[west_yorks_blade]

Because loanees won't be ours in 10 months time.

You've got to use the opportunity a big transfer fee brings to build a squad.

But lets say they help get us up but wouldn't cut it at PL level, we'd be glad to get shot of them then.

We then build the squad based on a PL strategy and budget, rather than having to try and jettison a championship squad.

 

[Ricky]

But lets say they help get us up but wouldn't cut it at PL level, we'd be glad to get shot of them then.

We then build the squad based on a PL strategy and budget, rather than having to try and jettison a championship squad.

Then if you're not promoted, the loans are a waste of time and money. Gambling on promotion is not a very smart strategy in a league like the Championship.

And if players we'd signed permanently contributed to a promotion, we'd have no problem offloading them - without making any loss.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

That was obvious at the time, no?

Think we're going over old ground but anyone who thinks we could get a direct replacement for similar/less money is spending too much time on Championship Manager!!