Bit harsh saying I've got no soul! It was there last time I was down the crossroads with Robert Johnson and Willie Brown. The 99 team was a great bunch of pub footballers but I much prefer the current crop.
This thread is finally ready to be posted in. Starters for next season: Sarr Sierralta Bachmann - think he's been excellent overall. He's made a couple of errors but I think he'll learn from them (and Foster was at least as error-prone if not more so). Possible Starters: Masina - he's improved hugely defensively. Still could offer more going forwards. We'll probably need another LB anyway, but I don't reckon it will be as much of a disaster as before if he ends up first choice again. Chalobah - another player who has actually seemed to have improved over the season, especially since being given a more, box-to-box role with licence to get forwards. Femenia - Due to his age and injury record we'll probably need to sign another RB, but his link-up play with Sarr going forwards is a real asset that will be difficult to replace. Squad Players: Cleverley - not sure he'll have the legs to be a starter, but will be a good option to try and see games out off the bench (if we're ever in that position). Also good for the dressing room. Hughes - this won't be a popular opinion with many, but I thought he was a liability in the PL and will be again. He was clearly a level below Capoue and Doucoure in previous seasons yet we still god relegated with them. Plus, unlike Chalobah he has not improved one jot this season. For a supposed deep-lying playmaker he doesn't do enough to provide the defenders with a passing option. Plus I've never seen a player give away so many cheap free-kicks in their own half. He could be said to be one of those types of players who is too good for the Champ, but not good enough for the PL. He simply does not have the physicality. Troost-Ekong - He's very good defensively, but his hideous passing will also make him a liability in the PL. He should be at most 3rd or 4th choice CB. Kabasele - Not sure whether he or T-E should be 3rd choice CB. Sema - He doesn't have the pace to make enough of a real impact as a winger in the PL. Fine for a defensive winger off the bench. Gray - Yeah it's a shame, but he's still looked our most dangerous striker recently (which isn't a high bar tbf), and unless we sign 3 CFs this summer he might find himself still needed off the bench as an impact sub. Joao Pedro - might be another unpopular opinion here but I'd actually be tempted to cash in on him if we received a sizeable offer in the summer which we could directly invest elsewhere. He's still very much a work in progress and has been a passenger for far too many games this season. If we are serious about survival next season I'm not convinced we could afford the luxury of giving him many minutes, either as a winger or forward. Zinckernagel - I'm still not convinced. He struggled with the rough and tumble of the Champ and I could see him struggle with the pace of the PL unless he improves a lot over pre-season. He might get a few cameos before being cashed in on next Jan or summer. Possible Outgoings Gosling - He's looked a goal threat in recent games, but will probably struggle to get minutes for us in the PL. Cathcart - Been decent when called upon, but would likely find himself 5th choice CB. Sanchez - Was a useful short-term signing, but surely a season in the PL would be a stretch for him? Foster - Is he finished? Definite Outgoings: Deeney - Please, just leave already. Lazaar - eurgh Hungbo - out on loan Perica Success Anyone else
Based on the above, I'd say our signings in order of priority need to be: Vital CF- we need 2 more very good options CB - to partner Sierralta LW - an upgrade on Sema to stop teams tripling-up on Sarr. As good as Deulofeu was pre-injury, really. Likely AM - Neither Zinc nor Cleverley will probably be up to regularly starting in the PL. There should be lots of good alternatives available in the market. DM - I think we'll need an upgrade on Hughes. People forget how sensational Capoue was for us. We might need 2 depending on outgoings and Chalobah's form. LB - An upgrade on Masina if possible, but might be surprisingly tough to find. A better rotation option could suffice. RB - I don't trust that Kiko will last a whole season (I realise I forgot Ngakia above, but I'm not convinved he should be starting in the PL; possible loan out). Other GK - Another 2nd choice, depending on Foster? RW - We'll need to keep an eye on losing Sarr to the AFCON in Jan, we'll need someone in the squad adept at his position while he's away. Might just be one of the above new signings if they're capable of multiple positions.
I can see most/all of the starting 11 staying and either starting next season or being on the bench. We need to improve the forward line that is obvious, particularly the no 9 position, and a better option than Sema. We will have a limited budget so inclined to spend money on maybe 2 quality signings and supplement other positions with free/loan signings. If a decent bid come in for Pedro I would sell, as he looks some way off being a good championship forward, never mind PL. Not sure whether it’s realistic but could we get De Paul from Udinese?
De Paul would be hilarious if we got him, I can't see it happening though. But if clubs are not willing to pay Udinese what they want you never know. He is ridiculously good though and would be perfect for one of the midfield three. Desperately need a decent striker though and if all the budget went on that and picked up some loans with views and a few decent freebies I'd be happy with that.
If Bournemouth get done in the playoffs, we should see what pickings are there, (on assumption a second season away from Premier League meaning they need to reduce wages again). Not sure on the homegrown rules, but factoring that in, you can see us retaining our core midfield and others who pass that test. Filled in around with South American’s and Spanish youngsters I have never heard of.
After the year of the club finances being absolutely battered there simply isn't going to be the money for wholesale changes. We need a 9, a left wing, a left back as a priority. If there is cash left over strengthen the midfield and add a keeper. The centre backs (for once) are fine.
Who would we want off Bournemouth? That Dan Jooma possibly? At Brentford, all eyes are on Tony with the pony, but what about that Da Silva? I really liked the look of his attacking runs against us. Available if they don't go up? At Swansea, I suppose there's Grimes again. I agree that T-E's catastrophic passing inability means he would never cut it at Prem level. We got away with most of those in the Chumpionshitt, but we'd be picking them out of the net in the Prem for sure.
Heard from someone who might actually know, but the plan was apparently for Gerri and Pererya to come back if we got promoted again. I can't see either happening now though with Gerri's injury and Pererya's time at Watford came to a natural end.
This would be our ideal scenario imo- GK Foster Bachmann Elliot (new contract, is a good option/backup) RB Kiko Ngakia LB Masina New signing CB Kabasele Ekong Sierralta Wilmot New signing Cathcart (emergency backup) - depending on wages etc, or sell CM New Signing- Box to box-improvement Chalobah Hughes Gosling Cleverly Quina Wing Sarr Pedro Sema New signing/loanee (unpredictable tricky winger) Forwards New signing-someone who can get double figures at EPL level New signing-Someone who can get 5 goals at EPL level Cucho Troy Sell Gray-to any kind of transfer fee or someone who will take a good chunk of his wages Troy- would keep him as back up, IF, he took a wage cut and maybe get him signed up as a coach. If he wants to be the main man, we have to sell him. Sanchez- release, if we can improve in this position. If not a short term deal. Perica- Sell Lazar- cannot be an option in the EPL Loan out- Lo-Everton Cukur Cassidy To somewhere they will get game time and develop.
Agreed with most of the above. We are 3 or 4 quality players away. Priority are •10+ scoring striker ( Pedro as back up) •Winger ( Deolefeu?) •CM ( someone of Capoue or Behramis quality) •LB ( Massina decent but need someone with more attacking threat like Holebas) As we know most of our signings will be players we've not heard of or expected. Looking at the successful signings after last promotion - Nyom Ake Holebas Prodl Britos Behrami Capoue Doucoure ( although he got loaned back out I think) If Gino can pull off another window like that we should be ok, as long as a goal scoring striker is top of that list.
Keep. I didn't realise how much depth we have in midfield. Still nobody who is the same level as Capoue, when he joined.
Was thinking this. Would be interesting to compare with that 15/16 squad. Need to remember that QSF played umber-defensively. Cannot see this happening next season. So we will probably offer more in attack (minus an on fire Iggy), but concede more. A goalscorer is essential. Get someone who can score 10, keep Sarr, add real depth at left-back. I would say these are minimum requirements, if we want to stay up.
TDB may take time to get used to playing again. Maybe loan him out until January, to a championship club. Also forgot Success, Navarro and Peneranda. All need to go. There's still lots of deadwood!
Best realistic line-up for next season: Foster Kiko, sierralta, New CB, New LB Hughes, Chalobah, New CM Sarr, New CF, New LW Bench Bachmann Masina Ekong Cleverly Zinc Sema Pedro
Will we finally see some loanees returning to the squad? Cucho? Dahlberg? If Foster is off to City I imagine we would go with Bachmann and Dahlberg as the GK duo.
Strikers we've signed since our last promotion: Games (goals) Diamanti 3 (0) Oulare 3 (0) Okaka 38 (5) Niang 16 (2) Success 70 (5) Gray 124 (20) Sinclair 12 (1) Wellbeck 20 (4) Pedro 39 (9) Perica 17 (1) Murray 6 (0) Total 348 (47)
Surely it's now or never for Cucho to actually arrive. I think he could be a decent option that has the added advantage of not costing anything. CB, LB, CM, *Striker!!!* Are key. The season rests on whether we get a decent striker or not. No pressure Gino. Would love to get a kind of enhanced, younger version of Cleverly. He's been so important in his role this season but unfortunately will surely struggle in the Prem. Overall it feels really important that the signings are mentally tough fighters - more Behrami and Holebas, less Fabrinni and Niang. It's gonna be a difficult season!
Lets be realistic, we came down because we had a squad of squad players, not enough first 11 players and a bucnh of players who were only fit for half a season. We need to improve on the number of regular reliable 1st 11's Clear out the semi fits To be relatively competitive we need about 12 new players ( of which 11 we will never have heard of ) With 11 going Goalkeepers Foster, Dahlberg, Bachmann - None first choice premier league keepers, all great for the bench, 17 man squad and cup games Elliot is only here until summer New 1st Choice keeper required Left Back Masina squad / cup squad player. Got torn to pieces by premier league wingers Lazaar only here to summer anyway New 1st 11 left back required Right Back Kiko and Ngakia - Neither a premier league 1st 11 player, but would keep as a match day 17 / cup squad New 1st Choice RB required Central Defence Sierralta - 1st 11 player WTE, Kabasele, Cathcart - not good enough for a regular spot - Idea 17 man match day, bench, cup squad Wilmot - Under 21 / home grown. Not going to break in but will be good enough for Cup games 1 good quality 1st choice centre back required Midfield Hughes 1st 11 player Dele-Bashiru - will be 1st 11 player by the end of the season Chalobah Great when on form, awful when not, Gosling - 17 man squad cup games Cleverley - Would love to keep him, but inconsistent fitness - sorry Tom - sell Quina - needs 3 or 4 touches each time he gets the ball. Prem one level to much - sell Sanchez leaves in the summer anyway 2 good solid midfielders 1st team midfielders needed Left Wing Pedro - will be a 1st 11 player, just need to get the right people around him & let him develop Sema - too slow for the prem, struggled last time, has been inconsistent & almost inviable in the last 8 games - Sorry Ken - sell New pacy 1st 11 left back required - would love Danjuma Right Wing Sarr - 1st 11 Zinckernagel - undecided - 17 man match day squad / cup player New 17 man squad player who can play on either win required Forwards Deeney - sorry Troy time to move on Gray, Success & Perica - all pants and will go 4 x forwards required
No chance, we see this much upheaval. It wasn't individuals lacking ability that got us relegated in 19/20, it was poor attitude and coaching. We won't have a squad as good 'on paper' this season. No chance.
I’d say: Bachmann - Deserves a shot at being #1 in PL. Foster - Keep as back-up if he’s happy to. Elliot - Another one with good experience to be no. 3 so give him another year. Dahlberg - Unless he will be given games we may as well loan him out again. He seems to have done well back in Sweden so hopefully we can get him on a new deal first. Parkes - Don’t know how highly rated he is or if the U23s need him but surely could do with a loan and first-team football. Femenia - Was underwhelmed by him in previous PL seasons but undoubtedly a good squad option. Ngakia - Couldn’t get in ahead of Kiko this year but I think defensively he looks much more solid. Should be starting. Navarro - Get rid. To anyone who will take him. Sierralta - Automatic starter. Troost-Ekong - Squad player, probably first-choice backup. Cathcart - Great pro, rate him higher than most fans seem to, would keep him around. Kabasele - Would move him on if there are suitors. Feels like he’s always likely to have a brain fart and cost a goal. Wilmot - If Xisco is still the boss then extend his contract and send him on loan because he clearly won’t get an opportunity. If Xisco bites the dust then keep him because I still think he could be great one day. (New CB) - Need a top-level partner for FS. Masina - He’ll do I guess. If we stay up I’d want to upgrade next summer but I don’t think it’s a priority now for what will surely be relatively limited funds. Lazaar - Hope you enjoyed the party last night mate. The memories will live on forever. Bye bye. (New LB) - We’ll need a backup for AM, preferably a young cheapish lad who may well end up being first choice but won’t be a disaster if he isn’t. Hughes - Starter. Our best player. Chalobah - He’s looked PL quality since Feb. Give him a shot. Gosling - Squad player. Cleverley - Squad player. Sanchez - Fairplay to him, he did a job this year when we were light on numbers but I want an upgrade. Don’t renew his deal. Quina - Bring him back in. He proved under Javi that he can hack it at that level and he’s spent 6 months in La Liga - I don’t think we should be turning our noses up. Dele-Bashiru - Looked good at the start of the season but will need minutes after his injury. Loan. (New CM) - Need a powerful ball carrying CM, similar in profile to Doucoure. Zinckernagel - Not yet convinced he’s quite PL standard but want to keep him and will only judge after he’s had a run as a right winger. Sarr - Obviously will be first name on the team sheet. Sema - Rotation option on the left. Started the season well, hopefully the summer rest will do him good. Hungbo - Loan to a Championship club, I have a feeling he could be real asset to us if we go down again. (New winger) - Would like to add someone who balances our attack a bit more. For two years when Sarr’s been quiet, Watford have. Joao Pedro - Maybe not still going to be a guaranteed starter next year but will be a very good option. Penaranda - How many chances has he wasted already? Sell. Sinclair - Just not up to it. Sell. But that’s easier said than done when he’s on about £20k per week. Gray - Technically such a poor player. Sell. Perica - Not seen much of him but given the players Xisco’s picked above him, combined with Pozzo only giving him a 2 year contract instead of the standard 5, all points to him being a dud. Sell. Cucho - Finally going to join the squad? Would get him involved, work permit allowing. Success - Not even as good as Gray. What a damning indictment. Sell. Deeney - Knee has gone and now his achilles too. Bona fide Watford legend but time to move on. (New ST) - First priority for a new signing is a no. 9 who can lead the line, hold-up play and score. Very very rare and normally expensive, but signing an adequate striker is fundamental to staying up.
I dont think you will be far wrong there. Tom Dele will be back in contention and there's also Zinckernagel. It's going to be an interesting Summer window.
This thread will inevitably reach a consensus that we need 2 strikers, 3 wingers, 4 new centre backs and a goalkeeper or we will definitely get relegated.
