Next Seasons Players?

[Toronto Blade]

Prince Abdullah's stance on player sales will please Chris Wilder

The Blades boss said last week that he does not want to lose any of his players next season in an attempt to mount an immediate promotion challenge

www.examinerlive.co.uk

 

[guancheblade]

Tyrone Mings got a move after his big injury. Not likely but not possible IMHO

Especially considering our collapse has been attributed to JOC's loss which makes him look all the better player!

Mings is and always has been a hype machine. He could score an own goal every week and still get called up to the England squad.

Also the collective demise of the current Blades team could negatively stigmatise JOC's reputation. It might be fair to assume that he aint and won't be anywhere near the player he was last season given what his teammates are currently up to.

 

[robbiez666]

I posted this elsewhere

As I see it, whatever Chris does about formation and style of play, we need to build a team who can get us up in the next two seasons and once up will have the talent to improve to stay in the Premier League. Tough ask at the best of times. We know we aren't going to be in a position to go up and buy ready-made PL players, especially with our current limited recruitment system. Is this doesn't change then we'll never be able to stay in the top flight long-term.

Of the current squad I would keep, sell, release

GK - Ramsdale (k), Verrips (s), Foderingham (s), Moore (r), Eastwood (s) - I would judge the potential to keep Eastwood and Verrips on how their loans go. At this stage, they'd need to have a storming half year to stick around.
DF - Bogle (k), Egan (k), JOC (k), Basham (k), Jags (r), Bryan (r), Rodwell (r), Baldock (k), Lowe (k), RND (k), Stevens (s), Robinson (k) - What we do with the defence will probably depend on what formation we will play next season and whether there's any interest in Egan or JOC. If we continue with 3 CBs then I'd keep Robinson as cover until his contract runs out. Ditto with Basham. We need to blood someone who will start over half the games there with Bash covering in several positions. If we goes to a flat back 4 then all bets are off as I don't think we have one CB good enough to play there at the highest level. It's harsh on Stevens but he's contracted until 2023 and not going to be good enough in 22/23.
MF - Norwood (s), Fleck (k), Lundstram (r), Freeman (s), Berge (s), Osborn (k), Slater (r) - Again, this slightly depends on how we'll play next season but I'd keep Osborn around as he's a good squad player at Championship level. Teams are going to sit back deep against us so Burke's usefulness is very limited so I would sell, unless he changes formation.
FW - Sharp (k), McGoldrick (k), Mousset (s), Burke (s), Brewster (k), McBurnie (k), T Smith (r) - If we can get our money back for Brewster then do so. I don't know whether he'd want to stick around at this level. I'd keep Sharp and Didzy until their contracts run out.

It basically leaves us with

GK - Ramsdale (maybe Verrips or Eastwood)
DF - JoC, Egan, Basham, J.Robinson, Baldock, Bogle, Lowe, RND
MF - Fleck, Osborn
FW - Brewster, McBurnie, Sharp, McGoldrick

or, if you assume Wilder isn't changing

--------------------Ramsdale
-----------New------Egan------JoC
Bogle---------------------------------RND
-----------------new------Fleck--------------
----------------------new
------------McBurnie-------Brewster

Subs: Basham, Baldock, Lowe, Osborn, Sharp, McGoldrick, keeper,

I am dubious about some of these starters, at the moment, but we're only going to be able to change so much.

 

[mattbianco1]

We do not get crosses in or the ball in the box enough and even at Champ level it sounds like we will have the same approach.

This is something we need to change. But we've done this under Wilder from the start, even in League 1. It was holding the ball and creating the "overloads" that made Duffy so good. We are now trying to do this against better defenders, with no Duffy.
We need to be more direct, I don't mean long ball, I mean forward passing into key areas and whip the crosses in.

Next season we can be more patient with the build-up because we will have more of the ball and more chances. Unfortunately we aren't creating loads of chances in the PL, so 'pratting about' in the final 3rd is being highlighted.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Wilder has stated clearly we are not going to change the way we play though. We do not get crosses in or the ball in the box enough and even at Champ level it sounds like we will have the same approach.

I am not sure where McBurnie or Brewster fits if he is playing the same way.

I think a lot are assuming they will score goals in the Champ as they did before - these were confident and in form then - they have scored 1 goal between them this season. ONE goal. Maybe the drop in level will see them hit the ground running but the fundamental way we play really concerns me with those two.

We will have to adapt how we play for them to be anywhere near to being as prolific as they were before for me. They will score more goals (cannot score less really!) as you say we will have more ball and chances but do not see them ripping things up like everyone else assumes and not convinced as a partnership it works - neither are that mobile, quick, strong or runners really. You have to have a player who can hold it up (even more so at the level below) or link play, run the channels etc.

Hope I am wrong but I think if you asked most Blades their best two to start in August many would say Sharp and McGoldrick still (granted he may play deeper) which is not what would expect when you have spent 40 million on two strikers that are supposed to be their successors (still may do that but not seen much evidence so far to suggest they are going to be the strike partnership of our future)

I don't think confidence is a problem for McBurnie.
Brewster on the other hand his head seems to drop. I know it wouldn't be popular on here but I would start him for the rest of the season.
Nothing to lose now we are down if he can get a goal or two that will do his confidence some good for next season.

 

[Rufus Smalls]

i would also like him to stay but theres no chance if a decent bid comes in he will be gone chris has already more or less said this we need some pace physicality and athleticism in midfield its going to be the most vital area of our summer recruitment

If he’s said that then he’s said it 18 months too late, sadly.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

I am not sure he has essentially the same team/squad as has been losing every week.

Granted it is a lower level but you need a natural turnover to freshen things up.

I would be looking at a minimum of 2 or 3 starters (2 midfielders at least and gulp another striker - with pace and movement who can finish - if we could move Mousset and or McBurnie on) and at least 7 or 8 total to be incoming with a similar number going out.

It is rare teams just start new seasons with similar line up/squad after such a bad season.

What's the old definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over yet expecting a different outcome...

You're a thousand per cent right!b

Ferguson lasted so long at old Trafford because he turned the squad over. Up to this season Tufty has done likewise.

The issue for me isn't if people come in for Berge, Egan, Baldock - it's what we do if they don't!!

We need a new starting midfield. Period. Athletic mobile, the total opposite of ours at the mo.

 

[Distant Blade 56]

Here's what i'd do.

Green = Keep
Red = Sell/Release
Orange = Loan Out
Italics = Keep but worried someone will come in for them

GK
Ramsdale
Verrips
Eastwood
Foderingham
Moore
Dewhurst

RWB
Bogle
Baldock

LWB
Stevens
Norrington-Davies
Lowe

CB
Egan
O'Connell
Basham
Jagielka
Bryan
Robinson

CM
Fleck
Berge
Norwood
Osborn
Coulibaly
Lundstram
Rodwell
Slater
Broadbent


#10
McGoldrick
Freeman

CF
McBurnie
Sharp
Burke
Brewster
Mousset
Parkhouse
Smith

If we keep all the greens and italics, we're not far off for a Championship squad with only a few signings required.

GK - more than enough
Wing Backs - very strong
CB - Strong starters, could probably do with a strong Back-Up and we need to start looking at Basham's long-term replacement
CM - If we keep Fleck and Berge, we are still strong. Need a replacement for Lundstram - Swift will be off to the PL after the season he's having
#10 - Need a challenger for Didzy (Forest will take Freeman)
CF - Strong. With Didzy acting as the 5th striker, there's not many, if any CH teams with a set of strikers like that.

Young CBs:
Fry (Boro)
Clarke (Brighton) - would they sell?
Bielek (Derby)
Clarke-Salter (Chelsea) - would they sell?

CM / #10
Swift (Reading) - no chance now
Roberts (Man City) - loan
Ejaria / Olise (Both Reading) - probs both off to bigger things (or PL with Reading)
Sibley (Derby)
Hamer (Coventry)
Travis (Blackburn)
Rinomhota (Reading)
Garner (Man U) - Loan
Harper (WBA) - probs no chance as he may play next season
Massengo (Bristol City)

My only real difference with your summing up would be Norwood who I would turn red from what I have seen this season. Apart from that I would put very high price tags on Egan O'Connell Fleck and Berge to disuade interest £45-50m each.