Earning a position

[danka duncan]

Oviedo was only out due to broken leg. I think he deserves a mention in the squad list. As for McGeady for the squad option, not for me. Guy is talented, can run with the ball, get passed players, but never knows when to pass and lay it off. Forever losing/giving away the ball too easily. Not like we can say he's young and will only get better. Think we have already seen the best of him. And it aint pretty.

 

[Jags]

There's a hell of a rebuilding job needed here. If I were Martinez I would not be entrusting my own tenure with a lot of the players who've misfired this season.

Howard (now a liability)
Distin (enough said)
Baines (very ropey now)
Alcarez (appalling overall)
Barry (doesn't do enough)
Hibbert (not used and limited)
Pienaar (never going to be an option again)
McGeady (*sigh* I wish it had worked out, but....)
Mirallas (chooses when he wants to turn up and play)
Kone (an utter disaster from start to, hopefully, finish)

If any of them left it wouldn't be a disaster; many of them leaving would be a relief.

They can't all go mate. We need a squad, and I think Martinez recognises, it is better to have a few squad fillers of Kone/Alcaraz/Barry/McGeady quality, which will allow us the funds to buy first teamers of Lukaku's quality.

 

[Jags]

Oviedo was only out due to broken leg. I think he deserves a mention in the squad list. As for McGeady for the squad option, not for me. Guy is talented, can run with the ball, get passed players, but never knows when to pass and lay it off. Forever losing/giving away the ball too easily. Not like we can say he's young and will only get better. Think we have already seen the best of him. And it aint pretty.

He frustrates to hell, I agree, but we look much better with him in the side, than without him. He retains shape, gives width, and puts the ball in the box.

 

[davek]

For me, Oviedo would be the one to go. Good left back, great guy, gash winger. But Baines is still class, and Garbutt is the future.

I wish Baines was still class. Maybe he's in the doldrums, but I dont see him significantly capturing form again. I dont even think his heart is in it given his whiney comments of late.

I'd get rid, tbh. £6/7M bid = snap their hands off.

 

[Deleted member 24970]

Sorry Jags whilst i think everyone is entitled to their own opinion, the fact you said keep Alcaraz means you should either be banned or locked up in a mental asylum.

Worrying thing for me is that Alcaraz is 4th choice but has crept into 3rd choice due to the distin fall out. I would much rather give per koldrup another crack at centre back for £20million.

 

[Jags]

I wish Baines was still class. Maybe he's in the doldrums, but I dont see him significantly capturing form again. I dont even think his heart is in it given his whiney comments of late.

I'd get rid, tbh. £6/7M bid = snap their hands off.

I guess this is just an issue of opinions, but as I say, I think he has still been decent. Certainly dropped off a bit, but worthy of a first team place for me.

 

[Jags]

Sorry Jags whilst i think everyone is entitled to their own opinion, the fact you said keep Alcaraz means you should either be banned or locked up in a mental asylum.

Worrying thing for me is that Alcaraz is 4th choice but has crept into 3rd choice due to the distin fall out. I would much rather give per koldrup another crack at centre back for £20million.

As you say, opinions, but he is cracking on the ball, our best centre back at set pieces, and most importantly, free, on reportedly 10k wages. Even if that is wid eof the mark, he will be one of our lowest earners, and as 4th choice squad cover, an okay option.

 

[davek]

They can't all go mate. We need a squad, and I think Martinez recognises, it is better to have a few squad fillers of Kone/Alcaraz/Barry/McGeady quality, which will allow us the funds to buy first teamers of Lukaku's quality.

No, I know. I said 'many' of them. Tbh, though, Alcarez, Distin, Hibbert and Kone really cant expect to be still here next season. And in all likelihood Mirallas will be leaving anyway.

I'd be mightily surprised if at least four weren't released/sold.

 

[Eggs]

.....another factor for consideration is how close any of the youngsters are for set up.

 

[kithnou]

There's a hell of a rebuilding job needed here. If I were Martinez I would not be entrusting my own tenure with a lot of the players who've misfired this season.

Howard (now a liability)
Distin (enough said)
Baines (very ropey now)
Alcarez (appalling overall)
Barry (doesn't do enough)
Hibbert (not used and limited)
Pienaar (never going to be an option again)
McGeady (*sigh* I wish it had worked out, but....)
Mirallas (chooses when he wants to turn up and play)
Kone (an utter disaster from start to, hopefully, finish)

If any of them left it wouldn't be a disaster; many of them leaving would be a relief.

Someone sticky this home truth

 

[ijjysmith]

Some of our 'good' players will leave this summer.

 

[Deleted member 24970]

As you say, opinions, but he is cracking on the ball, our best centre back at set pieces, and most importantly, free, on reportedly 10k wages. Even if that is wid eof the mark, he will be one of our lowest earners, and as 4th choice squad cover, an okay option.

Fair enough mate, i just hate the guy recently, im still a little butt hurt at seeing him lose the plot at Kiev, anger aside i would much rather play one of the kids or even hibbert at centre back i just dont rate the guy anymore.

 

[kithnou]

We are going to have to he patient as it looks like it will take 2 or 3 summers to rebuild this squad to challenge the top 5 again

 

[orly]

Kone has done well I thought, good hold up play, strong, feeds well off of Lukaku, and allows Lukaku to feed off of him. As I say, SQUAD player. What would we get for him? 2/3mil? I'd deffo get anther striker like, but Kone isn't a bad squad filler.

No mate

I wanted him to succeed so much after his knee injuries, but he is turbo plop

 

[Jags]

I envisage something similar to:

Joel
Coleman Stones Jags Baines
McCarthy Gibson
Konoplyanka Barkley Deulofeu
Lukaku

Subs: Cheap back up keeper, Schar, Garbutt, Besic, Lennon, Naismith, Kone.
Squad: Barry, Osman, McGeady, Alcaraz, Lowton.
Ins:
Konoplyanka (free)
Schar (free)
Deulofeu (12mil)
Back up keeper (< 3mil)
Lowton (1.5mil)
Lennon (5mil)

18.5mil ~ 21.5mil

Outs:
Hibbert (retired)
Distin (retired)
Howard (3mil)
Mirallas (12mil)
Pienaar (free)
Oviedo (4.5mil)

19.5mil

And a roughly equal wage bill. Much lower average age, some quality additions, and room for a major signing the summer after, when we are back in the top half with European football on offer.