How many of this squad starts next season?

[Jehovah]

A very successful season, however we did concede a fair amount of goals. I think leaving the squad the same would result in a reality check. I remember when we had Ched and were destroying everyone in league one, we played Birmingham in the cup at home and lost 0-4. We need about 6 signings for me, all of whom would be pushing for a spot in the first 11.

 

[Davalon]

I didn't say we should start from scratch Davalon

I said the club should stop the policy of signing sub standard players to fill in gaps because we appear to have a half decent team

I'd rather sign players that are immediately going to put Sharp, Fleck, Coutts, Duffy and Carruthers etc under pressure than just fill in when one of them gets injured

If we do that the overall squad improves

I agree totally with that but realistically we won't be able to go out and bring in better, or even as good, than what we have for every position.

Likewise assuming CW will have a similar approach next season (being positive rather than Cloughesque) then continuity with improved tweaks as we go on would seem more likely.

 

[Torrix1889]

New GK for me....Moore has been better than Long but not outstanding....looks bloody dodgy at times!

Although he has had an excellent season I don't think Freeman will make the step up defensively and that will be his downfall to squad player at best. That is unless Bayford comes back on the right if a defensive 3.

Carruthers for Duffy in midfield with Coutts and Fleck is good enough.

Lafferty capable on the left but needs competition

Billy won't play 46 games next year....really hope Lavery grabs his chance and becomes the main striker, probably with Ched/Sharp/Hanson alongside.

 

[JJBlade]

are Barcelona dumping all 11 first team players ...errr no

cant see real dumping Bale and Ronaldo unless its a 9 figure fee

You're obviously doing this deliberately to be an arse

I have never said the entire team needs replacing

I have said that any player signed should be an improvement on what we have got in all positions instead of making do with what we have and signing some shyte as cover

 

[Smirth]

Moore will start but will have proper competition hopefully.

After that, I expect:
Freeman
O'Connell
Basham
Lafferty
Coutts
Fleck
Carruthers
Sharp

Which means a new centre half and a new striker needed (not just Evans, I hope). I would hope we have a new LWB to replace Lafferty eventually and I expect that will be Joe Riley. Lafferty will start the season but hopefully Riley is good enough to take his place in the side.

And that team with a couple of additions will be a decent Championship starting 11.

 

[Barney]

Definite:

Sharp
Fleck
O'Connell
Freeman

Maybe:

Moore
Duffy
Coutts
Carruthers
Wright
Basham

 

[blade too long]

I have never said the entire team needs replacing

"We need better players in at least six positions and preferably all eleven positions" was wxactly what you said

so all eleven positions isnt a full team ?

are there more players in a championship side
we will struggle if we only have 11 and theyve got more

 

[JJBlade]

"We need better players in at least six positions and preferably all eleven positions" was wxactly what you said

so all eleven positions isnt a full team ?

are there more players in a championship side
we will struggle if we only have 11 and theyve got more

Like I said you're deliberately trying to be an arse
You don't need to try really, it obviously comes naturally

 

[jt64]

All depends on what the objective is. Personally, I'd be happy with a mundane mid table/lower mid table season, for which I think we could use a GK/CB/CM that can challenge for a first team spot, and maybe someone who can play either wing back. Don't think that forwards are that big a priority with the tools we have (and, potentially, what's been rumoured to be coming in already), and I think a lot of what we have will suffice for Championship squad depth. If we're not scoring enough at a higher level then that can be addressed in January. Spend on 2-3 players in the key positions that can make a difference.

Also got to consider the loan market - we should be able to get better players at a higher level, and these can be used to flesh out the squad and not involve spending a bunch of cash

 

[tyneblade]

Jesus Christ

WE NEED BETTER PLAYERS in every position, it's something that successful football clubs are doing 24/7

Successful clubs don't get bodies in, they don't sign cover, they don't sign squad fillers, they sign players with a view to replacing the player who currently has the shirt.

We HAVE been shit for decades when compared with similar sized clubs, no major trophy for 90 odd years, no European football ever, less time spent in the top division than all similar sized clubs, and it has been totally down to signing shyte players instead of adding quality

Real Madrid and Barcelona need better and better and better players and they never stop looking for them

So should we, most of our current squad will get their chance to move up but there's no room for sentiment

Bournemouth should be our template, we've got the "one of our own" manger, we've seen him and his staff coach a lethargic rabble into the fittest and best team in the league. All we need now is one more promotion.

Of course we need some new players but we've seen Bournemouth start and finish two premier league seasons with a league one defence. Great coaching, inspirational management and a competitive budget are the key combined with a manager who genuinely has our interests at heart. The greatest football pleasure for me, at at age 54, is not worrying about this stuff for the first time i can remember. If Chris says "his replacement is already at the club" i'm going to believe him.

 

[Torrix1889]

Moore
Freeman Lafferty/New signing
New signing/Brayford New signing/Lafferty

Coutts Fleck Carruthers
Sharp New signing

No Jack O'Connel. ....seriously?

 

[Wardy1889]

My Squad:
GK: Moore, New GK- Sell Long;
Def: Wright, O'Connell, Basham, Freeman, Lafferty, Brayford?, New CH, New WB - Sell Wilson, Hussey, Brayford?, K. Wallace;
Mid- Coutts, Fleck, Carruthers, Duffy?, Whiteman, Reed?, New DM, New AM. Sell/ Release Scougall, Duffy?, Reed?, O'Shea;
Fwd: Sharp, Clarke, Lavery, Evans, Done? New Fwd. - Sell/ Release Done?, McNulty, Hanson;

 

[Ricky]

7 for me, probably to become 6 or less by the end of 2017.


- - - - - - - - - - - Moore - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - Basham NEW O'Connell - - - -

Freeman - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -NEW

- - - - - - - Coutts - - - - Fleck - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - NEW - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - Sharp - - - -NEW - - - - - - -


It's not practical or realistic to only sign players who will go into the starting 11. But what you should try to avoid is signing players who have no real chance of breaking into the team.

We'll need at least 6 signings, probably more like 8, because after departures we'll have a squad of around 16 established first team squad players. So not every signing is going to be a guaranteed starter. And it's wrong to say we'll need very few signings.

Ideally we'll sign the following...

Goalkeeper who can challenge Moore and possibly replace him. Example Neil Etheridge - Free
Centre back who's proven in the Championship, experienced. Example Chris Baird - Free
Centre back who can play right back and possibly wing back. Example Jason McCarthy - Loan / 250k compensation
Left wing back with athleticism. Example Amari'i Bell - Free
Central midfielder with athleticism and defensive ability to push for a start. Example Tom Adeyemi - Free
Attacking midfielder who can play centrally and out wide. Example Marcus Maddison - £2.5m
Winger with pace and trickery. Example Nathaniel Mendez-Laing - Free
Striker to take over as the main man who can also play with Sharp. Example Sam Gallagher - Loan / £2.5m
Then there's Ched Evans too.

That would be 9, and I'd say at least 7 would be absolutely necessary. It would be more than 9 if a number of them couldn't play different positions. Signing Evans bumps the number up, and isn't one I think Wilder would go for if it was purely football based. Other than that though I think the others would all be necessary. Probably leaving us with a (good) squad of 24/25 plus the youngsters.

GK: Moore, Etheridge, Long(?), Eastwood
CB: O'Connell, Basham, Wright, Baird, McCarthy
RB/RWB: Freeman, (McCarthy), (Basham)
LB/LWB: Lafferty, Bell, (O'Connell), (Maddison)
CM/ACM: Coutts, Fleck, (Basham), Carruthers, Duffy, Maddison, Whiteman, Baird, Brooks(?), Reed(?)
RM/LM/RW/LW: Mendez-Laing, (Maddison), (Carruthers), (Duffy), (Bell)
CF: Sharp, Gallagher, Evans, Lavery, Clarke, Hanson

 

[Ricky]

GK: Moore, Etheridge, Long(?), Eastwood
CB: O'Connell, Basham, Wright, Baird, McCarthy
RB/RWB: Freeman, (McCarthy), (Basham)
LB/LWB: Lafferty, Bell, (O'Connell), (Maddison)
CM/ACM: Coutts, Fleck, (Basham), Carruthers, Duffy, Maddison, Whiteman, Baird, Brooks(?), Reed(?)
RM/LM/RW/LW: Mendez-Laing, (Maddison), (Carruthers), (Duffy), (Bell)
CF: Sharp, Gallagher, Evans, Lavery, Clarke, Hanson

Correction:

GK: Moore, Etheridge, Long(?), Eastwood
CB: O'Connell, Basham, Wright, Baird, McCarthy
RB/RWB: Freeman, (McCarthy), (Basham)
LB/LWB: Lafferty, Bell, (O'Connell), (Maddison)
CM/ACM: Coutts, Fleck, Adeyemi, (Basham), Carruthers, Duffy, Maddison, Whiteman (?), (Baird), Brooks(?), Reed(?)
RM/LM/RW/LW: Mendez-Laing, (Maddison), (Carruthers), (Duffy), (Brooks), (Bell)
CF: Sharp, Gallagher, Evans, Lavery, Clarke, Hanson

28 there if Long, Reed and Brooks stay. 25 established first team players. Quite a lot but I think it's the sort of number Wilder will aim towards - it's been a similar number this season. And he will rotate, and we will probably start with different formations more often.

 

[blade too long]

Like I said you're deliberately trying to be an arse
You don't need to try really, it obviously comes naturally

How does that work
You write Id change all 11 and Im being an arse
Classic
Unless you forgot you wrote it

Probably best you get that checked .first signs and all that

 

[brownie4583]

No Jack O'Connel. ....seriously?

Forgot to put him in
Brayford/New signing
Jack
New signing back 3

 

[Houso]

I think we have a very strong spine (which is something we lacked for seasons hence our stagnation).

I cannot for the life of me understand the posts of sign 7-11 new first team players.
a) we can't afford it (you're talking an outlay of 10million+)
b) it shouldn't happen (ripping out the aforementioned spine of the club is unfair and unwise)
c) it won't happen (Wilder is the sort of manager to offer incentives and reward good performances. We've just gone up, easily, and he's not going to say thanks but fuck off).

I think we'll see a handful of players coming in to challenge the first 11, maybe one or two big signings, but if we start slow he'll mix it up. Those looking at the likes of Bournemouth, Leicester, Southampton and even as far back as Swansea are right.

Conjecture about replacing half of the first 11 may be fun, but it's utterly pointless (in my very humble opinion). Look at it this way; at the start of the season the majority of us thought that the likes of Freeman, Coutts and even Bash would be given little chance in a new Wilder team. They started the last game of the season and are now quite likely to be starting the first of next due to performances throughout; that's the Wilder way and thank fuck for that.

 

[davidblade]

Wigan had a new goalie, new right back, two new centre-backs, and a midfielder new in for their first game of this season.

And, looking at their side in their most recent game, they just had centre-half Morgan, left-back Warnock, and midfielders Jacobs and Perkins still in their starting eleven.

Basically, they gutted their successful side from 15/16 and then failed miserably.

Would hope we'd be making as few changes as possible, certainly to start off with.

Yes I think the best way of playing it is buy 3/4 really good players maybe more but start with essentially the team that won the league, if we're having a bad start play the new ones and buy more in the August transfer window.

 

[Bartleby]

In fairness I partly agree with JJBLADE but equally starting almost from scratch again would be suicide.

You need to strengthen but you also need to keep continuity when you've been successful. Changes ideally need to be gradual.

I don't expect big things next season but I do think we'll be OK. Time to start building towards challenging at the right end but we don't have a Brian Deane and Ian Bryson for starters so it will likely take time.

My thoughts exactly - strengthen yes, but rip the spine out of such a successful and bonded team and we'd lose that momentum that could see us in the top 6 next season.

 

[siblade]

I think we have a very strong spine (which is something we lacked for seasons hence our stagnation).

I cannot for the life of me understand the posts of sign 7-11 new first team players.
a) we can't afford it (you're talking an outlay of 10million+)
b) it shouldn't happen (ripping out the aforementioned spine of the club is unfair and unwise)
c) it won't happen (Wilder is the sort of manager to offer incentives and reward good performances. We've just gone up, easily, and he's not going to say thanks but fuck off).

I think we'll see a handful of players coming in to challenge the first 11, maybe one or two big signings, but if we start slow he'll mix it up. Those looking at the likes of Bournemouth, Leicester, Southampton and even as far back as Swansea are right.

Conjecture about replacing half of the first 11 may be fun, but it's utterly pointless (in my very humble opinion). Look at it this way; at the start of the season the majority of us thought that the likes of Freeman, Coutts and even Bash would be given little chance in a new Wilder team. They started the last game of the season and are now quite likely to be starting the first of next due to performances throughout; that's the Wilder way and thank fuck for that.

Couldn't agree more, I think a lot of people are in for a shock personally.
3 or 4 quality signings I reckon.

 

[Ricky]

Anyone thinking we won't spend should consider that it's looking likely we'll have £6m+ coming in from the Walker and Maguire sell on clauses. In addition to that the board surely wouldn't dare not give Wilder an adequate budget.

And anyone doubting that we'll sign a fair few players should just have a quick look at how many senior players we'll have left after the expected departures, and bear in mind that we'll want at least 22. If we don't sign at least 6, we'll leave ourselves short.

 

[brownie4583]

Moore
Freeman
O'Connell
Basham
Coutts
Fleck
Carruthers
Sharp will all start
Lafferty/Ricky Holmes lwb?
New signings CH,CF,GK
Duffy,Lafferty,Lavery,Evans?,Hanson in squad
Done,McNulty,Scougall,Long,Wright,Hussey,Clarke,Brayford ? to go
Probably need 4 or 5 good players to be added to the squad.

 

[Houso]

Anyone thinking we won't spend should consider that it's looking likely we'll have £6m+ coming in from the Walker and Maguire sell on clauses. In addition to that the board surely wouldn't dare not give Wilder an adequate budget.

And anyone doubting that we'll sign a fair few players should just have a quick look at how many senior players we'll have left after the expected departures, and bear in mind that we'll want at least 22. If we don't sign at least 6, we'll leave ourselves short.

Signing 6 players in total is fine. Signing 6 first team players better than what we have is unrealistic. Signing 11 first team players better than our first 11 is fucking crazy.

 

[brownie4583]

Signing 6 players in total is fine. Signing 6 first team players better than what we have is unrealistic. Signing 11 first team players better than our first 11 is fucking crazy.

I reckon 7 or 8 of the present team will start next season

 

[coaxingstar71]

Although I don't think it will happen, I think it would be interesting to see how the current squad would fare in the Championship.

I think we need a new CB as EEL will return to Wolves, I also think that signing needs to have the organisational qualities of Jake Wright. I think we need a defensive midfield enforcer type as we don't currently have one. Probably another striker too.

Will be interesting to see what loan deals we might do. Might see Joe Riley return, but still think we'd need competition for Lafferty and Freeman.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Brayford.

I think we'll sign O'Shea too. No transfer fee and can't imagine his wage demands will be that high. Decent squad player to have around and he does chip in with a few goals.

 

[Ricky]

Signing 6 players in total is fine. Signing 6 first team players better than what we have is unrealistic. Signing 11 first team players better than our first 11 is fucking crazy.

Agree on the last bit. But it's not too unrealistic to expect 6 signings who will ultimately become first team regulars, if not straightaway.

I'm certain we'll sign at least 6 anyway. If I had to guess now I'd say we'll sign 8.

 

[Darthblade]

It would not be unreasonable to suggest that Tufty's next signings will be intended to be for the first eleven in certain key positions ...... or at the very least capable of challenging current positions at the same level of quality ......

I would therefore expect ...... GK, RWB, LWB, CH x 2, AM, CF x2 if we are serious about establishing ourselves in the Championship rather than simply trying to finish above the bottom 4.

I'm assuming that Done, McNulty, Scougal, Hussey will be sold / released and that EEL / Chapman / Riley / JoB will return to their parent Clubs.

UTB & FTP

 

[Slim Man]

People are really underestimating just how good Coutts, JO'C and Freeman could be given the right blend of players to play with.

Don't rule out Basham either, he was outstanding against Southampton at home and that's the best side he's ever played against.

 

[Houso]

Agree on the last bit. But it's not too unrealistic to expect 6 signings who will ultimately become first team regulars, if not straightaway.

I'm certain we'll sign at least 6 anyway. If I had to guess now I'd say we'll sign 8.

Thing is, there are no guarantees of "better than first the first 11" unless you spend a great deal of money.

I agree that we'll see players capable of challenging for the first 11, but I think we've simply got to rein in expectations a touch in terms of those likely to walk straight in.

 

[Ricky]

Thing is, there are no guarantees of "better than first the first 11" unless you spend a great deal of money.

I agree that we'll see players capable of challenging for the first 11, but I think we've simply got to rein in expectations a touch in terms of those likely to walk straight in.

No guarantees, but you can do a lot with free transfers. Also bear in mind that those moving out will free up space on the wage bill, in addition to an increased budget and the likely bonus from the Walker/Maguire sell on clauses. We should have more than enough to bring in a number of quality players, especially with the value for money Wilder's capable of getting - we will have been looking at players whose contracts are expiring for a while now.