Would this team survive next season?

[Ricky]

And if so where would it finish?

This is what I see as the minimum we'll be able to field, allowing for the departures of Fleck and Brooks and the owners refusing to let Wilder bring any players in, just to piss him off.


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

- - - - - - -Basham - Stearman - O'Connell

Baldock - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Stevens

- - - - - - - - - Coutts - - - - - - - - Evans

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy

- - - - - - - - - - - Sharp - - - - - Clarke


The staleness and predictability would leave us in difficulty, but the return of Coutts should offset it to a large extent. But Duffy, Sharp and Clarke are all ageing and couldn't be expected to replicate this season, especially Clarke, who's been our talisman. On the other hand I'd expect to see improvement from Baldock, O'Connell, L.Evans and Lundstram.

I think we'd miss Fleck hugely and really struggle to score, but have enough to stay up. But no higher than 18th.

 

[gavtheblade]

We'd stay up but it wouldn't be pretty.
I'm not resigned to losing any of our players just yet.
The only positive of selling any of the players we should make a killing on them as we only paid nothing or even peanuts for the squad we have.

 

[Houston_Blade]

If Paul Coutts is there then the world is our oyster.

 

[SteveBlade]

 

[Roygbiv]

Might just about stay up but obviously Wilder won't be there if that's the team so we could easily go down.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

Probably not. Playing two right wing backs and no left wing back? You're asking for trouble there, we'll let in a shit ton of goals down that side.

 

[Maidenhead]

And if so where would it finish?

This is what I see as the minimum we'll be able to field, allowing for the departures of Fleck and Brooks and the owners refusing to let Wilder bring any players in, just to piss him off.


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

- - - - - - -Basham - Stearman - O'Connell

Baldock - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Stevens

- - - - - - - - - Coutts - - - - - - - - Evans

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy

- - - - - - - - - - - Sharp - - - - - Clarke


The staleness and predictability would leave us in difficulty, but the return of Coutts should offset it to a large extent. But Duffy, Sharp and Clarke are all ageing and couldn't be expected to replicate this season, especially Clarke, who's been our talisman. On the other hand I'd expect to see improvement from Baldock, O'Connell, L.Evans and Lundstram.

I think we'd miss Fleck hugely and really struggle to score, but have enough to stay up. But no higher than 18th.

Possibly the most speculative OP I have ever seen on this board.

This season hasn't even finished yet and we're guessing what next season's team will be.

For that reason, I'm out.

 

[Stretch]

The current team [with Coutts back] hold their own, no dramas, finish 10th-15th. Recent performances seem as much down to fatigue as anything for me, so I would still fancy a good start after the summer break and pre-season to give us a platform.

Without Fleck we'd probably be 16th - 20th at absolute worst but still not a relegation team imo. We would still work too hard for many teams and dominate enough possession, so over the season that would prove enough.

I don't see Brooks' departure being anywhere near as significant [he says as he firmly applies his tin hat]

 

[Snowman]

Coutts coming back from a second "career ending" injury. May not be the player he was. Team may struggle.

 

[Ricky]

Possibly the most speculative OP I have ever seen on this board.

This season hasn't even finished yet and we're guessing what next season's team will be.

For that reason, I'm out.

Speculation is allowed. It's a hypothetical worst case scenario, not a guess.

 

[Bladepicker]

That team woukd stay up. Maybe 13th to 17th or so under Wilder.

Possibly the most speculative OP I have ever seen on this board.

This season hasn't even finished yet and we're guessing what next season's team will be.

For that reason, I'm out.

It's fair enough as it's the worst case scenario for next season and shows - imo - that even down to bare bones we would still have a middling to poor champ team.

Which shows what 15 to 20 million or so's worth of investment (net spend if we sell Brooks) could do for this team (we MUST keep Fleck mind).

 

[Bashar Al Asaba]

Highly unlikely.

Our best players are only good in the context of Sheffield United. Compared to the better teams in the division, they are way below that standard.

And we need to stop deluding ourselves that Paul Coutts returning will make any meaningful difference.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

This years team would struggle next season - we would be lucky at any point in the season to even think about flirting with the top 6.

We'd be just like this seasons Pigs/Norwich/Ipswich/Forest.

Coutts would be a shoe in, if fit - I'd start with Freeman and not Baldock in the OP team.

So, how do we stop being a bottom 8 side? - well, if we intend staying with a 3 at the back scenario, I would want 2 x CD as a starting point. The team next season needs ideally 5 players to probably start the season. That in itself is a tough ask on the management, but reckon they KNOW now what they want, but will the funds be made available?

UTB

PS: We won't do a Barnsley - 100% convinced of that as long as we keep CW and the present management team, which may come down to the boardroom shenanigans.

 

[BigBed]

NO!
We need new blood, and better players, and FFS, if we're buying players to strengthen, PLAY THE FUCKERS CHRIS!!!!

 

[RossingtonBlade]

We need 6 first team players then re-assess. I’ve gone for 18th

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Doubt we would stay up with that side.
Even with fleck and Brooks i think we are going to struggle without some decent spending.
This current side can not keep a clean sheet, which is fine if you are scoring 3 or 4 a game we are not.
Does anyone had on heart really think Clarke will score the same amount of goals or more next season ?
Sharp (I'm sorry Billy) but he will struggle to get in double figures.
Our midfield is too slow at moving the ball about. The number of times we win the ball in defence and have a chance to break and we stop look around or play a ball just behind a player so he then has to stop rather then take the ball in his stride, thus allowing the opposition to get back.
You can see alot of sides move the ball far quicker than we do, even Wednesday did it at the lane.
Next season will be a struggle without some quality signings, and i just can't see it happening with this boardroom struggle.
Not even sure it would happen anyway if the boardroom got sorted quickly, not with McCabe or HRH anyway.
This was the main reason i considered not renewing, just didn't fancy a struggle or at best and Ipswich season.
I have renewed by the way but I'm not looking forward to it.

 

[SwissBlade]

Ricky I think if we're talking of selling players, again, like the discussion last August or whenever it was, we'll sell one of Brooks OR Fleck, not both. Again, i think we'd get better money and less damage by selling Brooks. But I appreciate that every player has a price and every player has a reason for wanting to leave.

I don't see that either of them are unhappy, so potentially it would come down to the club maximising the deal for the club with a view to bringing new players in.

If we got a good deal then we could potentially bring several quality players in to strengthen what we have, so hypothetically we'd have several of the players you mentioned previously in your very detailed transfer targets thread (i think it was you, apologies if not).

So perhaps chuck a few of those names into your side too

 

[SwissBlade]

Probably not. Playing two right wing backs and no left wing back? You're asking for trouble there, we'll let in a shit ton of goals down that side.

View attachment 38979

I'd be happy with that, Double cover down our right hand side and JOC with room to get forward

 

[Bladezz]

If that’s the team CW will have left and we will be relegated.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Highly unlikely.

Our best players are only good in the context of Sheffield United. Compared to the better teams in the division, they are way below that standard.

And we need to stop deluding ourselves that Paul Coutts returning will make any meaningful difference.

Yep. This team is likely to finish 11th this season so even with Coutts back I think 11th would be the absolute ceiling next season with no additions.

Unless we improve our defensive scheme (either better tactical coaching or new personnel) it'll be a long long season of soft goals. And that is whether Tufty stays on not...

The overriding memory I've got of this season has been conceding soft goals when it's been squeaky bum time.

 

[Rob86]

And if so where would it finish?

This is what I see as the minimum we'll be able to field, allowing for the departures of Fleck and Brooks and the owners refusing to let Wilder bring any players in, just to piss him off.


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

- - - - - - -Basham - Stearman - O'Connell

Baldock - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Stevens

- - - - - - - - - Coutts - - - - - - - - Evans

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy

- - - - - - - - - - - Sharp - - - - - Clarke


The staleness and predictability would leave us in difficulty, but the return of Coutts should offset it to a large extent. But Duffy, Sharp and Clarke are all ageing and couldn't be expected to replicate this season, especially Clarke, who's been our talisman. On the other hand I'd expect to see improvement from Baldock, O'Connell, L.Evans and Lundstram.

I think we'd miss Fleck hugely and really struggle to score, but have enough to stay up. But no higher than 18th.

Think you’ve pretty much nailed it, perhaps even worse if you mean by the current squad just Ched and whoever’s in the under 23s as the other strikers. But with a full pre season, Ched could be the saviour

 

[Ricky]

Probably not. Playing two right wing backs and no left wing back? You're asking for trouble there, we'll let in a shit ton of goals down that side.

View attachment 38979

I didn't post two RWBs. This is how it looks to me...



But if it's appearing as two RWBs (on mobiles?) I can only offer my sincere apologies to those affected.

 

[SwissBlade]

If that’s the team CW will have left and we will be relegated.

Seriously?

 

[SwissBlade]

Think you’ve pretty much nailed it, perhaps even worse if you mean by the current squad just Ched and whoever’s in the under 23s as the other strikers. But with a full pre season, Ched could be the saviour

He'll play a much bigger part, i'll put him down for 6 games

 

[Addison]

Playi

And if so where would it finish?

This is what I see as the minimum we'll be able to field, allowing for the departures of Fleck and Brooks and the owners refusing to let Wilder bring any players in, just to piss him off.


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

- - - - - - -Basham - Stearman - O'Connell

Baldock - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Stevens

- - - - - - - - - Coutts - - - - - - - - Evans

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy

- - - - - - - - - - - Sharp - - - - - Clarke


The staleness and predictability would leave us in difficulty, but the return of Coutts should offset it to a large extent. But Duffy, Sharp and Clarke are all ageing and couldn't be expected to replicate this season, especially Clarke, who's been our talisman. On the other hand I'd expect to see improvement from Baldock, O'Connell, L.Evans and Lundstram.

I think we'd miss Fleck hugely and really struggle to score, but have enough to stay up. But no higher than 18th.

Using the same formation with the same players will kill us. The conditioning and training needs to be reviewed. The players were knackered in February, high intensity training all season hasn't worked. 4-2-3-1 may be the way forward with the players we have left.

Based on an assumption we lose 1 player, Fleck, for big money, we gain a little from other sales like Carruthers, Lavery etc allowing us to spend a little on replacements I'd go with the following;

Moore

Baldock, Egan (only player we pay a fee for), Oconnell, Robinson (free transfer)

Leonard, Coutts

Brooks, Duffy, Holmes,

McBurnie ( Loan )

Subs: Eastwood, Freeman, Stearman, L Evans, Basham, Clarke, Sharp.

Provides better defensive cover and pace in the midfield and a younger natural goalscorer up front but still big question marks over the goalkeeping position.

Agree Clarke and Duffy are unlikely to replicate the same heights next season and Billy if he stays will only be an impact player. Where would that team finish? probably lower than 11th, never troubling the play offs but doing enough to stear clear of relegation. It won't be enough to match CW's ambition and I expect him to move on later in the season.

 

[Bladezz]

Seriously?

If that’s the team that means there is no investment in our squad. Which means CW will leave.

CW leaves and we change formation and with no money we are going to struggle.

 

[SwissBlade]

If that’s the team that means there is no investment in our squad. Which means CW will leave.

CW leaves and we change formation and with no money we are going to struggle.

ooh you've put 2+2+2 together there. Like your conspiracy style

 

[metalblade]

And if so where would it finish?

This is what I see as the minimum we'll be able to field, allowing for the departures of Fleck and Brooks and the owners refusing to let Wilder bring any players in, just to piss him off.


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

- - - - - - -Basham - Stearman - O'Connell

Baldock - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Stevens

- - - - - - - - - Coutts - - - - - - - - Evans

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Duffy

- - - - - - - - - - - Sharp - - - - - Clarke


The staleness and predictability would leave us in difficulty, but the return of Coutts should offset it to a large extent. But Duffy, Sharp and Clarke are all ageing and couldn't be expected to replicate this season, especially Clarke, who's been our talisman. On the other hand I'd expect to see improvement from Baldock, O'Connell, L.Evans and Lundstram.

I think we'd miss Fleck hugely and really struggle to score, but have enough to stay up. But no higher than 18th.

Not a prayer, the keeper is average, too many mistakes in the back three, Duffy Sharp & Clarke all ageing, Duffy and Clarke would not last the season Sharp's legs have gone.

 

[1973Blade]

There's an assumption that Coutts will return at the level he was pre injury. I hope that is the case, but Bayford shows how long it takes a player to return to form when they have been out for a long time.

 

[essexblade73]

Possibly the most speculative OP I have ever seen on this board.

This season hasn't even finished yet and we're guessing what next season's team will be.

For that reason, I'm out.

Exactly! "..allowing for the departures of fleck.." fcks sake..ifs, buts, maybes..