2016-2017 additions

[alpha1]

I would like an experienced keeper to compete with Robles for number 1 jersey.
Left winger - somebody like Bolasie.
Creative player - Yarmolenko.
Back up striker for Lukaku - Guidetti maybe?

 

[barneygumble]

Realistically, I can see

Howard, Hibbert, Mirallas, Gibson, Pienaar, (possible) Osman as 'First' teamers leaving. Thats 4/5 players that are going to need replacing.

All squad players and should be replaced with £15-25m (more if you want to specialise i.e. Goalkeeper/Yarmalenko etc) unless he's confident in Galloway, Holgate stepping up (I, for one, would like some more experience in there, I think next season could easily be Jagielka's last, so we need someone whos assured and sensible), and I couldn't for the life think of who i'd want, but then again, I never would have went for Jagielka or Lescott either, so im sure there are plenty of people available.

It's exciting, just lets not get carried away.

 

[rochdaleblue]

If Stones ends up leaving, would we go in for Michael Keane of Burnley? He's supposed to be a good centre back.

I seriously would cream over a deep-lying playmaker. Tielemans would be slightly unrealistic but with the TV deal then who knows. Badelj would be a beautiful signing imo.

We need to remember we don't need 2 senior players per position or our academy will go to waste. Which Rb of our youth/loaned out players could start to compete with the first team?

Lukaku is my main concern, I genuinely don't believe he will be here next season. If not who could we get? Batshuayi, Berahino would be good. Maybe Ben Yedder if we played him as a second striker behind Niasse.

As for young centre backs in the championship, we could do a lot worse then Ben Gibson at boro. Very highly rated and plays in the best defence in the championship. He could be another lescott. When I spoke to boro fans on holiday last year, they told me he was the only player who could cut it in the premiership, they really rated the lad.

 

[davek]

Exactly the same record points total that AVB had in his first season at Spurs mate 72 and a club record, he was sacked due to udnerperformance


AVB at spurs in his first season came 5th in the league with a spurs club record points total in the premiership of 72 points mate, after failing to push on from that and spurs slipping back though he ended up getting sacked, now a few years later spurs are challenging for the league title.

So Martinez basically did exactly what AVB did for a comparable team in both their first years on the job, only spurs showed ambition in not settling for that once they started to slip in subsequent years, Martinez needs to ship or or the new owner will ship him out, guarantee it

I think you're leaving the small matter of him spending a kings ransom on players and adding them to a squad that reached the CL two years earlier.

Apples and pears in terms of expectation and in any case doesn't affect the point I made: that Martinez HAS shown the ability to get a CL spot with that first season total.

 

[CahillsCornerFlag]

As for young centre backs in the championship, we could do a lot worse then Ben Gibson at boro. Very highly rated and plays in the best defence in the championship. He could be another lescott. When I spoke to boro fans on holiday last year, they told me he was the only player who could cut it in the premiership, they really rated the lad.

Heard great things about him too, and I'd be happy if we kept costs down by going for someone like him. Last time we went abroad and signed a centre half wasn't too bad though eh.

We badly need more creativity in the side, and from the way we set up that has to come from left midfield. McCarthy and Besic have to be the first choice pairing starting next year, with Deulofeu and Barkley. That leaves the left open. Yarmolenko gets mentioned alot, and rightly so as he's top drawer, I'd love him here.

Two big signings, say Yarmolenko and Sommer, and a few clever cheaper buys like Gibson from Boro, a backup right back and another CM and we look very strong indeed.

 

[davek]

No he didn't my son.

Eh?

 

[Howards tipple]

I'm really excited at the potential of having money to spend in the summer, and fair play to the club, we've spent really well over the last couple of seasons with some record signings.

What I am proud of though, is our ability to find young players and bring them through the ranks. Circumstance has meant our scouts have to work hard and get fantastic player for a bargin basement price. Look through the squad now, Coleman, Stones, Funes Mori (I know cost £9m but that's looking a bargain), Deulofeu and Barkley. All scouted for a decent price or home grown.

Whilst we need big signings, accelerators who will rapidly improve us, I would hate to lose our ability to find gems.

So let's spend and spend wisely.

 

[BlueToff]

I would like an experienced keeper to compete with Robles for number 1 jersey.
Left winger - somebody like Bolasie.
Creative player - Yarmolenko.
Back up striker for Lukaku - Guidetti maybe?

We've just spent £13.5mil on a back up striker mate...

Also, unless we've got Europe to worry about, we haven't got room for a left winger and a playmaker - it'd have to be a two-in-one deal

 

[evertony]

Too many additions will upset the growing harmony we have.....the spending needs to be qualitative not quantitative. A keeper, a creative midfield player and maybe a right back to cover the Mighty Seamus.

 

[Bilko]

the best goalkeeper ala big Nev quality, we'd be close then I reckon.

off field are the real challenges I think

 

[ParisToffee]

I think you're leaving the small matter of him spending a kings ransom on players and adding them to a squad that reached the CL two years earlier.

Apples and pears in terms of expectation and in any case doesn't affect the point I made: that Martinez HAS shown the ability to get a CL spot with that first season total.

Sorry but Martinez did'nt get us CL so has'nt shown he has ability to get us CL

Huge summer for him and hopefully he'll finish this season by winning us the FA Cup or getting Europa by league placing
Main requirements is a Top Keeper and a Marquee signing another right back and Getting Lukaku, Barkley, Stones and Deulofeu to sign better contracts but also ensuring Osman, Hibbert, McGeady, Gibson, Howard and Pienaar leave

 

[Ashtonian]

Besic will be used to fill that role when the time comes - but the role will be slightly different in that Besic has that extra bite.

Barry won't need replacing this summer.

Not need no in the grand scheme of things.

I'd personally like to though. If we get to October and his legs go as the saying goes, then we are stick for 2 plus months.

 

[BlueToff]

Sorry but Martinez did'nt get us CL so has'nt shown he has ability to get us CL

Huge summer for him and hopefully he'll finish this season by winning us the FA Cup or getting Europa by league placing
Main requirements is a Top Keeper and a Marquee signing another right back and Getting Lukaku, Barkley, Stones and Deulofeu to sign better contracts but also ensuring Osman, Hibbert, McGeady, Gibson, Howard and Pienaar leave

This season 72 points would probably having you win the league, like

 

[maccavennie]

Too many additions will upset the growing harmony we have.....the spending needs to be qualitative not quantitative. A keeper, a creative midfield player and maybe a right back to cover the Mighty Seamus.

Good point mate regarding bringing in too many players very rarely works. But this summer we will be losing quite a few players in Howard, Hibbert, Pienaar, Osman, possibly McGeady, possibly Mirallas so I think if we bring in a few more than usual it may be out of necessity more than just bringing players in for the sake of it.

We know we have Browning and Galloway, but can the likes of Walsh/Ledson/Williams/Dowell maybe take a couple of squad places, I'm not too sure yet.

Someone mentioned before though, we have to make sure that there's still a window of opportunity for the young kids to get a chance in the first team,that's what will always help us get the likes of Stones, Holgate, Galloway etc.

 

[BlueToff]

Not need no in the grand scheme of things.

I'd personally like to though. If we get to October and his legs go as the saying goes, then we are stick for 2 plus months.

But that's the thing mate even if they do we won't be stuck (barring injuries) as we'll just adapt our game.

RM has already referenced it that he won't be able to replace Barry directly so I'm sure the plan will be using the players that we have within the squad (mentored by Barry) to fill that void - if not the role itself - when the time does come.