Core For Next Season

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by wfcSinatra, Mar 4, 2023.

  1. Hogg-DEENEY!!!

    Hogg-DEENEY!!! Squad Player

    Valerien Ismael edition:
    GK: Desperately need a new one now, as we will be playing a high line and neither Bachmann nor Okoye come off their line

    LB/LWB: Looks like we'll be playing 3atb, in which case Sema could well be our LWB, with Morris very much an emergency option

    RB/RWB: We're stacked with players who can theoretically play there, I think Andrews and Ferreira will be the first choices, I'd can Ngakia and have Gaspar for emergencies and also for his new-found ability to play in midfield (I know he's no wing-back, but Ngakia isn't up to it and at least Gaspar has had some use to the squad this season)

    CB: None of them are very fast, Kabasele at least used to be fast and is still faster than the rest though, so we really could do with at least 2 new CBs. I guess Pollock will go, either on loan or on a perm, and Sierralta probably too if someone else is interested

    CM: Looks like we'll need a lot of surgery here, with Choudhury, Kone and Kayembe all off, and I doubt Asprilla will get much of a chance neither. Will Louza fit the system either? I have to say I'm not sure, that'll be at least 2 new midfielders needed through the door, Alex Mowatt sure to be of interest!

    Forwards: a potential route back into the squad for Bayo? Not that I think he's perfect for the system at all, but he's better suited than anyone we have at the moment, and it looks like we might need 3 CF types. Britt is fitter than he was when he first returned here, but will he ever get to a stage where he can be an effective presser? I doubt it. Again, at least 2 forwards needed

    So, I make that at least 7 new signings needed just for the first team without even thinking of squad depth, it's going to be an interesting window...
     
  2. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    Why you think Kone off HD ?

    I was looking forward to a midfield three of Kone-Louza-Asprilla
     
  3. LeedsOrn

    LeedsOrn Reservist

    I don’t think Ismael is actually that wedded to a particular formation. At Besiktas he largely employed a back four. Generally the forwards play narrow, but the exact composition of that has varied; I’d play Asprilla, a very big target man and then another striker who can run the channels a bit more.

    We definitely need a bit of pace in at CB, a LWB and a combative midfielder to play alongside Louza (even if we keep Kayembe and/or Kone). I’m not sure we’ll need 2 CBs; Porteous is a big combative type who likes to engage in duels high up the pitch which is just as much a part of the puzzle as recovery pace in a high line. Auston Trusty (Arsenal on loan at Birmingham, £2m supposedly) would be my pick.

    Some of these positions could be sorted pretty easily/cheaply by going back to Barnsley. Millwall I think have an option to sign Styles for £1.5-2m but there might be scope for us to meddle with that and I’m not sure they’ll activate it anyway. Mads Andersen is an excellent CB who was in the League 1 TOTY. Brad Collins is probably the sweepiest-keeper in the EFL but he is not fantastic otherwise.

    And then we could probably get Mowatt for less than £1m; he’s really out of favour at WBA. I’d have him as depth for sure.
     
  4. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Are we going to spend a million or more on one player ?

    Think spending will be limited and probably not spent on British based players.
     
  5. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    That's some weak midfield there. I don't expect Louza or Kone here next season.
     
  6. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    Yes we will and we have to. We won't be getting a half decent striker for peanuts.
     
  7. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    We spent £5m on Bayo…
     
  8. dynamo380

    dynamo380 Reservist

    One of the club's greatest all time signings! Our most expensive transfer signing of the season and he was so ***** he got exiled on loan.
     
    a19tgg likes this.
  9. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Worth a punt.
     
  10. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    Don't remind me. Hopefully get some money back on that clown.
     
  11. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Probably wasted it all on him !
    True but you can bet we will end up with someone on loan or cheap .
     
  12. Cassetti's Beard.

    Cassetti's Beard. Academy Graduate

    I'd keep Porteous, Louza, Kone, Asprilla and Sema. Morris and Andrews should be in and around the squad too.

    The rest have to go, far to many toxic losers and below-average journeymen in that squad.
     
    Dorset-Orn likes this.
  13. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    Can't see Louza or Kone here next season. Isn't Kone supposed to be off to Udinese?
     
  14. IRB

    IRB THe artist formally know as ImRonBurgundy?

    Saw Cathcart out and about in London last night, didn't get a chance to ask him if he was sticking around but he seemed in good spirits :D
     
  15. Stuey

    Stuey Reservist

    To adapt a quote from Elrond our list of midfielders grows thin. I hope Koné stays but can see Louza being sold if sufficient interest is shown.

    Alex Mowatt is a good shout, I always liked him when he was at Leeds and Barnsley and seems to follow Valerien Ismael around. It also would be good to get someone fairly combatative in as CDM.
     
  16. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Must be leaving then !
     
    Hogg-DEENEY!!! likes this.
  17. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    He will certainly know what's required in a Ismael side. As would Styles who was at Millwall this season.
     
  18. Since63

    Since63 Squad Player

    Can’t turn your nose up at a CB called ‘Trusty’ can you?
     
    PowerJugs likes this.
  19. PowerJugs

    PowerJugs Doyley Fanatic

    We did have Isaac Success, and you can't go wrong with a name like that. Or somebeody like Marvelous Nakamba
     
  20. leighton buzzard horn

    leighton buzzard horn Squad Player

    A midfield with the strength of a Quaver. Kone will be off, but if that were to be our midfield three next season then we would get bullied each and every week.
     
  21. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    Why do people keep saying Kone is leaving ?

    Have I missed something on the rumours front ?
     
  22. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    To Udinese .

    Suggestion is he had a clause saying if we don’t get promoted he might move .
     
  23. Dorset-Orn

    Dorset-Orn First Year Pro

    Agree, we ended up a basket case of a team and wilder is the first manager to come right out and confirm what we've been saying for more than 2 years.
    My problem tho is that the whole team / squad can't all be assumed guilty by proxy and surely there are specific players who cause the rot, and they need to be outed (within the club) and then moved on.? (OK they nearly all looked soulless and lazy but did that just spread from certain quarters.?)
    Maybe it's not easy and the problem was a mixture of a) 3 journeyman players who felt they had nothing to prove, b) 3 players p'd off with club generally, and c) 3 players who thought they were too good to scrap about.??
    Culling 11 players won't happen so the management need to start filtering asap...
     
  24. LaClusazSki

    LaClusazSki Reservist

    He is off to Udinese. Apparently it is part of the deal when he signed for Watford. He was a unofficial loan from Udinese.
     
  25. leighton buzzard horn

    leighton buzzard horn Squad Player

    Udinese. Wherever he is next season it shouldn’t be at Watford as he looks way off being ready for championship football.
     
    UEA_Hornet likes this.
  26. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    I’m hearing Kone might be heading to Udinese. Apparently part of the deal when he came here.
     
    davisp2 likes this.
  27. dynamo380

    dynamo380 Reservist

    No, the rot was caused by the way Pozzo has managed the squad over the past few years. Not paying bonuses, Holding on to players too long, filling the squad with loanees and players who knew they were just passing through, recruitment focused on player trading first and team building second, deducting charges from their wages unannounced and going through 3 managers a season. Its no wonder player mentality is the way it is.
     
    Dorset-Orn likes this.
  28. wfcSinatra

    wfcSinatra Predictor Choker 14/15

    There’s an element of mis-management but it’s only amplified by the messy dynamics of the squad make up.

    A home-grown group, French speakers, Portuguese speakers. Now this is normal in most football clubs, they’re all pretty cosmopolitan. Problem is there’s no Deeney type figure there to ensure nobody is on the outskirts. A leader in the dressing room to ensure everyone’s included, feels part of the group no matter the differences.

    Nobody took charge of that dressing room this season, our club captain played what twice? Our deputy is a quiet leader and then we ended up with a frustrated 21 year old as captain who can barely speak English.

    Awful arrogance from Pozzo & co just thinking good players = good team. Absolutely need to recruit some leaders this year as a priority.
     
  29. Dorset-Orn

    Dorset-Orn First Year Pro

    The more I think about it, based on our situation the key for this season has got to be...
    1) find a couple of strong aggressive midfielders to bolster cm.
    2) find a decent proven target man/striker and a back up.
    3) Sarr has to go so we also need a speedy winger.
    4) maybe a FB if Ngakia or Gaspar leave.
    5) another CB assuming Cathcart and WTE leave.

    So that's 7 players required.
    More would be nice but I'm being "realistic"....
     
    WFC123 and BigRossLittleRoss like this.
  30. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    If he isn't he should.
     
  31. Mr Heron

    Mr Heron Academy Graduate

    whatever the core for next season will be unless there is big changes watford will still be rotten to it
     
  32. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    You're wading into murky waters there m8.
     
  33. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    So assuming Valerian sticks to his long ball tactic we ll need to be signing a quality number 9 with experience not a youngster who has potential .

    EDIT just seen Dorset Horn saying same thing .
     
  34. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    If he plays 3 5 2 then maybe the winger is less important than quality wing backs who can provide that width.

    A similar set up to the 12/13 and 14/15 team is required .

    Two CMs of the quality of Watson and Guidioura to play alongside Louza in the Abdi role .

    At least one quality CF .

    If we assume that Ferreira can fill the RWB role with Andrews as back up then we need a LWB.

    One more CB.
     
    Dorset-Orn likes this.
  35. BigRossLittleRoss

    BigRossLittleRoss First Team

    Agreed about the lack of true leadership . Deeney gets a hard time on this forum but he was the continuity of leadership that enabled the constant change of managers to not be too detrimental.
     
    Dorset-Orn likes this.

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