What we need for next season

[BrisBlade]

Last summer's rebuild has generally been successful, but quality and depth in some areas needs addressing regardless what division we are in next season. This should impact our thinking this January window. Here's my thoughts of what changes we need come September - interested to hear your thoughts...

Summary if you don't want to read through it all: By September I reckon we need at a minimum 1xGK, 2xCB, 1xCDM, and 1xCAM/wing. I would also like an extra CAM/wing and CF if we go up. This is assuming Canon and JJK will get done and we don't lose anyone important.

GK - Get one in to challenge Cooper (or two if we move Davies on - contract up in 2026 I think but OK for him to be third choice). Get Faxon some experience on loan.

Full backs - If we get JJK I'm fine with what we've got (even after Gilchrist leaves we've got two for each position JJK/Seriki and Burrows/McCallum). Look for good loans for Curtis and Sachdev.

CB - This is difficult... We need at least two. Anel and JLT are our only real options. JLTs contract is up in the summer and he should be backup at best. Baptiste could be a reasonable backup if we don't go up otherwise a loan would be good. If Souttar comes good he would be an obvious in the summer. I would love to see us look abroad this window for a statement signing for the other spot. I can see the logic of going for Woolfenden or Keane on loan and see what division we're in next year though.

CDM - Pretty obvious we need one more here now. No good praying Vini will never be injured or suspended. Also need an option to play two here to see games out. I would be happy with Hamza or Charles. A loan with buy option would be good.

CM - I know everyone is excited about Doyle, but if Blaster recovers I think we're fine with him Davies and Peck (given Hamer can play here as well).

CAM/Wing - We will need to replace JRS at the end of his loan. If we go up we probably need one more high quality starter here and get Marsh a good loan.

CF - If we get Canon I think we're OK with him Campbell and Moore if we don't go up but could do with some more quality in the PL. Ryan One may be exactly what we need in a couple of years but he needs a great loan to get there.

Drop - At 23 Boyes probably should look for a permanent move to get a game. I would look to offload Shackleton and RND if possible and let Brewster go unless he really steps up in the next couple of months, takes a big party cut, and we don't get promoted.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Look at the last few promoted teams, we need a miracle or a huge FFP infringement that eventually pays off (see Forest).

 

[Champagneblade]

In the words of Harry Enfield

“Whoa there, Leslie!”

 

[RossingtonBlade]

There has to be 15 decent additions to stand a chance of competing. Not 4/5.

 

[BrisBlade]

There has to be 15 decent additions to stand a chance of competing. Not 4/5.

I've put 7 if we're promoted to be fair (1xGK, 2xCB, 1xCDM, 2xCAM/wing, 1xCF). Agree 15 would be great, but assuming we have £50 - £100m to invest I would prioritise quality in those 7 spots rather than a scatter gun everywhere.

 

[BrisBlade]

In the words of Harry Enfield

“Whoa there, Leslie!”

Sorry - I started typing and couldn't stop!

 

[Maurice Maurice]

Last summer's rebuild has generally been successful, but quality and depth in some areas needs addressing regardless what division we are in next season. This should impact our thinking this January window. Here's my thoughts of what changes we need come September - interested to hear your thoughts...

Summary if you don't want to read through it all: By September I reckon we need at a minimum 1xGK, 2xCB, 1xCDM, and 1xCAM/wing. I would also like an extra CAM/wing and CF if we go up. This is assuming Canon and JJK will get done and we don't lose anyone important.


CM - I know everyone is excited about Doyle, but if Blaster recovers I think we're fine with him Davies and Peck (given Hamer can play here as well).


CF - If we get Canon I think we're OK with him Campbell and Moore if we don't go up but could do with some more quality in the PL. Ryan One may be exactly what we need in a couple of years but he needs a great loan to get there.

Drop - At 23 Boyes probably should look for a permanent move to get a game. I would look to offload Shackleton and RND if possible and let Brewster go unless he really steps up in the next couple of months, takes a big party cut, and we don't get promoted.

if we're serious about going up and staying up we're going to need to spend like never before, and even then it's a massive gamble. Personally I'd love to see Doyle back because Blaster, Davies, Peck and Hamer would get bullied. None of them is quick enough, tough enough or commanding enough to boss midfield at that level. Doyle isn't on his own but him and another athlete would maybe work with the players we have.

Centre half? OK, here's the first controversial one, Harry Maguire. He's not flavour of the month at Old Trafford, he's better than Soutts (who I thought was excellent) and he'd be the experienced man mountain that we need at the back.

Striker? Now here's the second talking point. Marcus Rashford. Has plenty left, has all the experience and he'd be a marvelous addition.

Bit ambitious? Of course, and I know some of you couldn't handle us paying those wages and signing big names like that but why not? We're supposed to be quids in, the owners say they're ambitious so rather than set your stall up on the likes of BBD who won't be good enough if we go up, show that Sheffield United is serious as the alternative is to blow 60 to 80 million on gambles and risk another season like the last one.

Good, well thought out thread Brisblade, interesting to see how we're thinking as a fan base

UTBFTP

 

[MadDad38]

Ambition’s one thing……but Rashford on £300k per week??

 

[gordoncharles]

Maurice Maurice we cannot afford Maguire or Rashford but we need an entire team of signings to be able to compete in the event of another promotion - and that doesn't include anyone we bring in during the rest of this window.

The keeper may be the only one who can cut it but even then we would need a high quality back-up.

Most of those new players will have to come from abroad, where we seem unable to get it right - God knows why considering the volume of information tthere is these days, so I'm not in any way hopeful

The only sane choice is to celebrate promotion should it happen, then hibernate and re-emerge in July 2026 for another crack at this division with our mighty parachute.

 

[bornablade]

Anyone remember a certain club beating Plymouth first home of the season and ordering the open top bus?

Let's all be sensible and boring and concentrate on Hull on Friday.

 

[Maurice Maurice]

Maurice Maurice we cannot afford Maguire or Rashford but we need an entire team of signings to be able to compete in the event of another promotion - and that doesn't include anyone we bring in during the rest of this window.

The keeper may be the only one who can cut it but even then we would need a high quality back-up.

Most of those new players will have to come from abroad, where we seem unable to get it right - God knows why considering the volume of information tthere is these days, so I'm not in any way hopeful

The only sane choice is to celebrate promotion should it happen, then hibernate and re-emerge in July 2026 for another crack at this division with our mighty parachute.

I'll be honest and say I hate the Premier League and have enjoyed this season a lot more so far. Should we go up I won't be cheering from the rooftops, rather 'looking forward' to VAR, soulless fans, plastic stadiums and a game so removed from the game I fell in love with that for the first time in over 60 years there will be games I won't bother watching. I hate the product so won't be buying much of it.

As to the club well the owners obviously see success measured in progress, and progress to them is establishing the club in that God awful league. If they want to have a crack they'll have to break the bank. Fair play to them if they do but they might lose a few old farts along the way, which I'm sure won't keep them up at night.

UTBFTP

 

[Maurice Maurice]

Anyone remember a certain club beating Plymouth first home of the season and ordering the open top bus?

Let's all be sensible and boring and concentrate on Hull on Friday.

You do realise they sealed automatic promotion that day. Us, Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland are vying for the play off spots because the EFL and Premier League agreed that due to their massiveness they should be given the top two places to appease their 28 billion fans who all live on Parson Cross

 

[BrisBlade]

Anyone remember a certain club beating Plymouth first home of the season and ordering the open top bus?

Let's all be sensible and boring and concentrate on Hull on Friday.

Completely agree - I reckon we're 50/50 to make top 2 and 0% chance in the play offs. If we don't go up I think we need five and if we do I reckon we need at least an extra two. Some want another ten but I see this as a reasonable minimum (assuming we keep our best players). The division we're in will dictate the quality/cost of the incomings of course.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

I wouldn’t get carried away about next season … depending on the outcome of this one could have massive bearings on the direction we take

 

[Blademan89]

if we're serious about going up and staying up we're going to need to spend like never before, and even then it's a massive gamble. Personally I'd love to see Doyle back because Blaster, Davies, Peck and Hamer would get bullied. None of them is quick enough, tough enough or commanding enough to boss midfield at that level. Doyle isn't on his own but him and another athlete would maybe work with the players we have.

Centre half? OK, here's the first controversial one, Harry Maguire. He's not flavour of the month at Old Trafford, he's better than Soutts (who I thought was excellent) and he'd be the experienced man mountain that we need at the back.

Striker? Now here's the second talking point. Marcus Rashford. Has plenty left, has all the experience and he'd be a marvelous addition.

Bit ambitious? Of course, and I know some of you couldn't handle us paying those wages and signing big names like that but why not? We're supposed to be quids in, the owners say they're ambitious so rather than set your stall up on the likes of BBD who won't be good enough if we go up, show that Sheffield United is serious as the alternative is to blow 60 to 80 million on gambles and risk another season like the last one.

Good, well thought out thread Brisblade, interesting to see how we're thinking as a fan base

UTBFTP

That's borderline pigs delusional, if you think we could get rashford or maguire and that they would be happy to come here and on lesser wages, or we could afford them on their current wage. Especially when you will have well established clubs in Premier League and Europe that would be way ahead of us in a long, long list.

Then on top of that IF any of that was possible and we started doing daft signings the ffp would come knocking and we would be points deduction. You csnt just go up and start spending gazillions, judt look at Newcastle.

 

[BrisBlade]

if we're serious about going up and staying up we're going to need to spend like never before, and even then it's a massive gamble. Personally I'd love to see Doyle back because Blaster, Davies, Peck and Hamer would get bullied. None of them is quick enough, tough enough or commanding enough to boss midfield at that level. Doyle isn't on his own but him and another athlete would maybe work with the players we have.

Centre half? OK, here's the first controversial one, Harry Maguire. He's not flavour of the month at Old Trafford, he's better than Soutts (who I thought was excellent) and he'd be the experienced man mountain that we need at the back.

Striker? Now here's the second talking point. Marcus Rashford. Has plenty left, has all the experience and he'd be a marvelous addition.

Bit ambitious? Of course, and I know some of you couldn't handle us paying those wages and signing big names like that but why not? We're supposed to be quids in, the owners say they're ambitious so rather than set your stall up on the likes of BBD who won't be good enough if we go up, show that Sheffield United is serious as the alternative is to blow 60 to 80 million on gambles and risk another season like the last one.

Good, well thought out thread Brisblade, interesting to see how we're thinking as a fan base

UTBFTP

Maguire is an interesting shout I like the sound of if we did go up. I can only see it as a loan though.