Well one point from two absolute six pointers has sent us down. Now we can start planning for the Championship. Hate to say it as I've always loved the guy but Benitez won't want to be here next season now so it does seem daft just keeping him on when a more committed manager could be assessing who he wants gone. Oh well. Firstly mays well name who'll definitely leave anyway; Wijnaldum, Perez, Janmaat and Mitrovic will most likely get good offers which we'll accept. Wijnaldum especially has been a major disappointment really and we only seem to be seeing the best of Mitrovic when it's too late. Perez was wasted on managerial apes like Carver and McLaren. Who I'd personally hope to get rid of; Coloccini, Sissoko, Anita, Cisse, Haidara, Tiote, Riviere, Marveaux, Obertan, Darlow, Thauvin, de Jong, Cabella and Gouffran. No pissing about keeping players on big wages who don't want to be here or fit to play in the Championship. I think Good and Bigirimana's contracts will be running out and I don't think either are championship quality. That would leave us with..... Goalkeepers: Krul, Elliot, Woodman Defenders: Dummett, Lascelles, Mbemba, Mbabu, Taylor, Sterry Midfielders: Colback, Shelvey, Aarons, Saivet, Townsend, Ameobi, Vuckic Strikers: Armstrong, Toney Yeah, keeping Krul might be unlikely especially as Elliot is more than capable and we'll want to get rid of Krul's steep wages. Chances are Darlow will stay with Elliot as number 1. Defence obviously would need a lot of work. I'd say that Anita and Sissoko-less midfield actually looks stronger than our current one. Would be nice to see how Vuckic would do and seems harsh to scrap Saivet as he's bearly played. Obviously we'd need a few new strikers. This would be a bit of a dream but who am I kidding, opening game we'll be playing Riviere and Gouffran up front.
I am still hanging onto that glimmer of hope that we can stay up purely because of the fact we have 4 home games in our last 6. A win for us and Sunderland at the weekend opens it all up again. We really need a Sunderland win as well on Saturday. A draw or Norwich win and we're as good as down.
I said when they appointed McClart in the summer that it was an absolute disaster and would end up relegated as a result. We aren't going to recover this, it's more than just the manager(s) we've had over the last 7-8 years, it's everything about the club, the ownership, the players, the atmosphere. It's all too toxic, everything that touches it turns to shit. As for clear out - I'm pretty much with you @Silas except I'd offload Krul as well
I genuinely think that we will stay up. Can see us win the remaining 3 games and both Norwich and the mackems dropping points
Well it's certainly got a whole lot more possible! Really would be lovely sending the mackems down to their rightful league.
Can we have Townsend and/or Wijnaldum please. Koeman would get the best out of either of them. Sunderland 3 up..... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Firstly Sell The following- Krul, Sissoko, Winjaldum, Cisse, Jaanmatt, Tiote, Cabella and Thauvin. Release the following (as no one is stupid enough to buy them)- Colocini, Taylor, Cisse, Gouffran and Riviere. I would therefore keep out of the current squad- Darlow, Elliot, Dummett, Lascelles, Anita, Colback, Mbemba (if he will stay), Haidara, Aarons, De jong, Perez (if he will stay), Saviet and Mitrovic ( if he will stay ) I know Townsend has an 8m buy out and I imagine Shelvey has something similar so i think these players will be lost. I would bring in to the first team squad proper from the U21's the following- Woodman, Armstrong, Good, Toney, Sterry, Mbabu and Callum Roberts. I would sign- Ross McCormack and Moussa Dembele from Fulham, Lewis Dunk from Brighton (assuming they don't get promotion), Stephen Naismith from Norwich (seemingly unhappy at Norwich), Joe Mason from Cardiff, Alan Judge from Brentford, Chillwell on loan from Leicester and Flanagan on loan from Liverpool GK- Darlow, Elliot, Woodman and another youth to make up the four. Def- Dummett, Lascelles, Mbemba, Haidara, Sterry, Good, Mbabu, Dunk, Chillwell, Flanagan. Mid- Anita, Colback, Aarons, De Jong, Saviet, Roberts, Naismith, Mason, Judge. Fwd- Mitrovic, Perez, Armstrong, Toney, McCormack, Dembele Maybe a bit top heavy in attack, but i can see us losing Mitro or Perez, possibly both. If we kept them I would maybe's leave Dembele at Fulham. Now I think we could buy the players i have mentioned for the money we raise from selling the tat out of the current squad. I have selected players who I have watched this year and thought were very good and have a bit of grit. I think this team would win the Championship no probelms.
Move on but seems same problems remain about getting players in. The ridiculous endless episode with Lejeune deliberately delayed by his current club to try to increase the price and get others in (which we did with Sissoko) irritating a hell. And then theres Benfica saying we are interested in one of their Greek players that has slid down the pecking order and he's not even a first teamer now for an obscene 17.5 million And others in their 30's Carr's not here anymore they need to be told. We dont want your cast offs (That said I'd be happy enough to get 30 year old Fernando of Man City for a couple of seasons)
