Why are some going on about what Leeds are going to do v spam. Surely we just need to concentrate on our own performances and get the one point needed.
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Management Relegation
- Thread starter simon j
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GK: Sell Vicario. Keep Kinsky and Austin. Bring in a more experienced keeper to compete with Kinsky e.g. Karl Darlow.
CB: Sell Romero - great player but head not in the game - and Dragusin. Keep Van de Ven and Danso, promote Vuskovic. Buy Senesi. Senesi is weak in the air so shouldn't play alongside VDV, but in my opinion is a significant upgrade on him - allowing VDV to be a fantastic backup here and if needed at LB. Vuskovic compliments Senesi perfectly - this would I think be the strongest part of the team.
RB: Keep Porro and Spence. The former is one of our only consistent 7/10 players across this season and his deep passing will offer more in a better team; Spence is an able backup and also a good option to see out games.
LB: Keep Udogie, loan out Souza, release Davies, sign Andy Roberton. Udogie could do a Sessegnon with better medical management - in the meantime, an experienced pro who brings a lot to the dressing room and is still a reliable performer makes sense.
CM: Release Bissouma, don't buy Palhinha, sell Sarr, keep Gray, Bergvall, Bentancur and Gallagher. Bring in one more passing-focussed 8 - James Garner would be ideal if obtainable but that's a longer shot, however there's lots of options here who'd improve us. I don't quite buy the Wharton hype - think it's partially down to his potential, which is very much there but not what we need. Gallagher is better suited here in my opinion, Gray and Bergvall are in a frustrating position of not being quite good enough yet, unlikely to happily go on loan, and very high potential. Bentancur in that camp of consistent right now, and possibly better with medical improvements. Paulinha's done well but position is just too crowded to hang onto him - similarly Sarr could be given longer to develop if not for the other options. Focus with only one game a week should be on pressing more than having a dedicated holding 6 - invest there if we're back in Europe in 2027-28.
AM: Keep Maddison and Simons, promote Devine. Give the kid a chance until January while Simons is recovering - him and a recovering Maddison can't be relied upon alone, but fine with Gallagher and Kulusevski very able to play here too if needed.
RW: Keep Kudus and Kulusevski. This one's awkward depending on how they're both recovering - they're two great options offering very different styles of play if fit, but that's a big unknown. This could be one where we look to loan someone in for the season as an alternative option, re-integrate Solomon (but I think the politics of that, both commercially and in the dressing room, terrify the club). We should only look to sign someone permanently if we think Kulusevski is completely done for - Akliouche would make sense in that scenario.
LW: Keep Tel and Odobert, loan out Moore again, buy a first-choice e.g. Abdessmad Ezzalzouli, Bazoumana Touré, or Martin Baturina. Ezzalzouli is probably my preference since he offers more in the box, giving a good foil to our more creative options on the right and a similar fit to Tel here, allowing us to set our fallbacks up consistently in tandem with the wingers/prioritise consistent profiles for future signings there. I don't think there's anyone standout enough in the PL who'd be available to make that experience worthwhile, best options being maybe Marcus Tavarnier or Summerville. Odobert in my opinion is less likely than Tel to make it, and we'll probably have to decide between them next year, but he's unshiftable with his current injury. Tel has talent but isn't good enough to start yet and, in my opinion, his eventual future could well be up front. Moore similarly has had a good second half of the season at Rangers but goes missing too often - a moments player right now, he needs more experience before he's part of our squad despite the hype.
ST: Keep Richarlison. His output is actually very decent this season for such a poor side which creates so little - someone who can contribute across the frontline, does well even when not playing consistently, presses well and offers plenty when he's not scoring is so useful to have as an option. Don't buy Muani. See if there's any chance of getting Igor Thiago - would be big money but he's exceptional and it's a position that's so hard in the PL and so many players from abroad struggle to adapt to. Mikel Oyarzabal would be my second choice, but is very loyal to Sociedad - again, would need a strong pitch to tempt him. Failing that, Deniz Undav could be a wildcard - great season, has developed a strong all-round game, but slightly controversial character and didn't work out at Brighton - with a year left on his contract he'd be worth a gamble for the right price. Patrick Schick is another option, but his goalscoring is both by far his best attribute and that most likely to fail to translate to English football. If none of these are available I think we're looking for a Lange data-driven blackbox special with potential, or just keeping Solanke, who isn't the worst backup option in the league.
Overall:
Keep/Promote: Kinsky, Austin, Porro, Spence, Van de Ven, Danso, Vuskovic, Udogie, Gray, Bergvall, Gallagher, Bentancur, Maddison, Simons, Devine, Kudus, Kulusevski, Tel, Odobert, Richarlison.
Sell/Loan Out/Don't Make Permanent/Release: Vicario, Romero, Souza, Davies, Palhinha, Bissouma, Sarr, Solanke, Muani (+Takai, Solomon, Veliz, Scarlett, Donley, Abbott, Lankshear, Dorrington, Maguire, Akhamrich from age 21+ players not in squad this season).
Ideal signings: Darlow, Senesi, Robertson, Garner, Ezzalzouli, Thiago.
That's six in, nine out, and two returning who've basically been injured the whole of this season. Still a decently large 26-man squad for a team not in Europe, but that's not a disaster with our medical situation still uncertain, some players still recovering, a young overall profile, and hopes of returning to Europe in 2027. And as much as some want to pan our existing players, I don't think you want much more turnover than that in a single window, especially with losing two players who've been at the core of the team and influential in the dressing room in Vicario and Romero (as much as I think we'll benefit from moving on from them) - much of the blame for the last couple of seasons is on the injury, squad balance and management issues more than inherent player quality anyway.
CB: Sell Romero - great player but head not in the game - and Dragusin. Keep Van de Ven and Danso, promote Vuskovic. Buy Senesi. Senesi is weak in the air so shouldn't play alongside VDV, but in my opinion is a significant upgrade on him - allowing VDV to be a fantastic backup here and if needed at LB. Vuskovic compliments Senesi perfectly - this would I think be the strongest part of the team.
RB: Keep Porro and Spence. The former is one of our only consistent 7/10 players across this season and his deep passing will offer more in a better team; Spence is an able backup and also a good option to see out games.
LB: Keep Udogie, loan out Souza, release Davies, sign Andy Roberton. Udogie could do a Sessegnon with better medical management - in the meantime, an experienced pro who brings a lot to the dressing room and is still a reliable performer makes sense.
CM: Release Bissouma, don't buy Palhinha, sell Sarr, keep Gray, Bergvall, Bentancur and Gallagher. Bring in one more passing-focussed 8 - James Garner would be ideal if obtainable but that's a longer shot, however there's lots of options here who'd improve us. I don't quite buy the Wharton hype - think it's partially down to his potential, which is very much there but not what we need. Gallagher is better suited here in my opinion, Gray and Bergvall are in a frustrating position of not being quite good enough yet, unlikely to happily go on loan, and very high potential. Bentancur in that camp of consistent right now, and possibly better with medical improvements. Paulinha's done well but position is just too crowded to hang onto him - similarly Sarr could be given longer to develop if not for the other options. Focus with only one game a week should be on pressing more than having a dedicated holding 6 - invest there if we're back in Europe in 2027-28.
AM: Keep Maddison and Simons, promote Devine. Give the kid a chance until January while Simons is recovering - him and a recovering Maddison can't be relied upon alone, but fine with Gallagher and Kulusevski very able to play here too if needed.
RW: Keep Kudus and Kulusevski. This one's awkward depending on how they're both recovering - they're two great options offering very different styles of play if fit, but that's a big unknown. This could be one where we look to loan someone in for the season as an alternative option, re-integrate Solomon (but I think the politics of that, both commercially and in the dressing room, terrify the club). We should only look to sign someone permanently if we think Kulusevski is completely done for - Akliouche would make sense in that scenario.
LW: Keep Tel and Odobert, loan out Moore again, buy a first-choice e.g. Abdessmad Ezzalzouli, Bazoumana Touré, or Martin Baturina. Ezzalzouli is probably my preference since he offers more in the box, giving a good foil to our more creative options on the right and a similar fit to Tel here, allowing us to set our fallbacks up consistently in tandem with the wingers/prioritise consistent profiles for future signings there. I don't think there's anyone standout enough in the PL who'd be available to make that experience worthwhile, best options being maybe Marcus Tavarnier or Summerville. Odobert in my opinion is less likely than Tel to make it, and we'll probably have to decide between them next year, but he's unshiftable with his current injury. Tel has talent but isn't good enough to start yet and, in my opinion, his eventual future could well be up front. Moore similarly has had a good second half of the season at Rangers but goes missing too often - a moments player right now, he needs more experience before he's part of our squad despite the hype.
ST: Keep Richarlison. His output is actually very decent this season for such a poor side which creates so little - someone who can contribute across the frontline, does well even when not playing consistently, presses well and offers plenty when he's not scoring is so useful to have as an option. Don't buy Muani. See if there's any chance of getting Igor Thiago - would be big money but he's exceptional and it's a position that's so hard in the PL and so many players from abroad struggle to adapt to. Mikel Oyarzabal would be my second choice, but is very loyal to Sociedad - again, would need a strong pitch to tempt him. Failing that, Deniz Undav could be a wildcard - great season, has developed a strong all-round game, but slightly controversial character and didn't work out at Brighton - with a year left on his contract he'd be worth a gamble for the right price. Patrick Schick is another option, but his goalscoring is both by far his best attribute and that most likely to fail to translate to English football. If none of these are available I think we're looking for a Lange data-driven blackbox special with potential, or just keeping Solanke, who isn't the worst backup option in the league.
Overall:
Keep/Promote: Kinsky, Austin, Porro, Spence, Van de Ven, Danso, Vuskovic, Udogie, Gray, Bergvall, Gallagher, Bentancur, Maddison, Simons, Devine, Kudus, Kulusevski, Tel, Odobert, Richarlison.
Sell/Loan Out/Don't Make Permanent/Release: Vicario, Romero, Souza, Davies, Palhinha, Bissouma, Sarr, Solanke, Muani (+Takai, Solomon, Veliz, Scarlett, Donley, Abbott, Lankshear, Dorrington, Maguire, Akhamrich from age 21+ players not in squad this season).
Ideal signings: Darlow, Senesi, Robertson, Garner, Ezzalzouli, Thiago.
That's six in, nine out, and two returning who've basically been injured the whole of this season. Still a decently large 26-man squad for a team not in Europe, but that's not a disaster with our medical situation still uncertain, some players still recovering, a young overall profile, and hopes of returning to Europe in 2027. And as much as some want to pan our existing players, I don't think you want much more turnover than that in a single window, especially with losing two players who've been at the core of the team and influential in the dressing room in Vicario and Romero (as much as I think we'll benefit from moving on from them) - much of the blame for the last couple of seasons is on the injury, squad balance and management issues more than inherent player quality anyway.
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If we manage a point on Tuesday, they should fire Lange and Vinai at the presser following the game. We survived in spite of these two.
Even if RDZ decides to throw 60 mil out of the window it's not that simple. A contract is a contract.
If it was so simple we wouldn't have to pay Brentford in order to get you know who.
You must watch a nell of a lot of foreign football or love googling"
Here are the goals Everton conceded today.
I fancy our chances, final day.
I fancy our chances, final day.
Its easier to list the players worth keeping. Im not that bothered about any of them tbh.
Let’s hope it’s subtle satisfaction at sending his previous employers down!
Rather be us than West Ham right now but its still all to play for. Everton are good. We never beat Chelsea. West Ham can beat Leeds.
Everton are winless in their last 6 and in the worst case scenario we only need a point
Think that's a v.realistic, sensible type of window. Personally I'd keep Solanke over Rich and can't see the club keeping Devine sadly, but I imagine a good amount of your prediction will come true (assuming we can get 1 more point).
Thiago's had an amazing season but I can't help but be wary of signing a guy off one hot season at a club like Brentford. Tons of his goals were pens and Brentford have such a different style to ours - plus they'll be asking for very silly money no doubt (60m minimum I'd imagine). It's a difficult striker market, though, so we're probably gonna have to spend big to get anyone even vaguely decent.
Similarly, Garner would be a smart signing, but he just signed a contract extension until 2030. Everton are gonna want like 70-80m or something nuts I bet and the juice simply ain't worth the squeeze on that one.
Solanke is crap. Any good offer comes in Id sell them all. But yeah, hes better than Richarlison, simply because Richy is made of glass.
Kinsky - Ok as number 2
Porro - Good experienced player keep
VDV - Good enough keep
Romero - Good experienced player Keep
Spence - Keep, backup
Danso - Good experienced player, keep backup
Souza - Keep
Gallagher - Good experienced player Keep
Palinha - Good experienced player Keep
Sarr - Keep, backup
Gray - Keep, backup
Kulu - Sell injury prone
Kudus - Good experienced player Keep
Xavi - Injured so keep
Odobert - Sell not good enough, injury prone
Tel - sell not good enough
Richarlison - Sell injury prone
Solanke - Sell not good enough
Anyone can see our problems. The forward line and creative midfield is none existent and a hole in GK position.
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In an ideal world we sell both but in such a shit market for strikers I think we need to hold on to at least one PL proven striker and I think Solanke's more suited to De Zerbi's style. Rich is a good presser and will score headers but he's shit at everything else and only has 1 year left. It's so obviously time to cash in imo. Last thing we want to be doing is offering a new deal to a turd like Rich given his age and injury record.
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