Summer Rebuild

[linkenholtroyal]

some of these could surely be within our grasp - all out of contract:

Goalkeepers: Stephen Harper, Ben Amos, Thomas Sorensen, Gerhard Tremmel, Brad Jones.

Defenders: Ron Vlaar, Brede Hangeland, Peter Ramage, Antolin Alcaraz, Sylvain Distin, Maynor Figueroa, Paul McShane, Liam Rosenior, Matthew Upson, Glen Johnson, Micah Richards, Richard Dunne, Jos Hooiveld, Wes Brown.

Midfielders: Jonas Gutierrez, Ryan Taylor, Joey Barton, Karl Henry, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wilson Palacios, Youssouf Mulumbu, Abou Diaby, Ross Wallace.

Strikers: Didier Drogba, Stephen Dobie, Yannick Sagbo, Gary Taylor-Fletcher, John Guidetti, Bobby Zamora.

Ok we could lose 2x 26 yr olds and a 30 yr old all with atleast 5 yrs of playing time in there positions left in there careers. out of that list above I would say 4 or 5 have got that long left in there careers of which only maybe 2 would look at us as an option. if we are looking for a stable squad and something to build on ageing past it players are not the answer (Zat Knight Yakubu for example) this is not the answer and it scares me if people think this is.... I would rather blood young starlets from league 1 and 2 and have prospects than take the premier leagues has beens.....

[Hoop Blah]

I wouldn't totally disagree with that sentiment but I would add that we don't need a load of young talent to add to this squad, we seem to have plenty of that of our own.

What we need to add, in order to get the right balance, is a few seasoned campaigners with proven ability to fit those talented kids from the academy around.

We also need to get rid of those who've had their chance, have largely failed to take it, and are moving into their mid to late 20s. Robson-Kanu, I'm looking at you son!

[linkenholtroyal]

I wouldn't totally disagree with that sentiment but I would add that we don't need a load of young talent to add to this squad, we seem to have plenty of that of our own.

What we need to add, in order to get the right balance, is a few seasoned campaigners with proven ability to fit those talented kids from the academy around.

We also need to get rid of those who've had their chance, have largely failed to take it, and are moving into their mid to late 20s. Robson-Kanu, I'm looking at you son!

Fair enough but can we agree that when the get to the point of zat knight and yakubu they are to far gone

[Hoop Blah]

Absolutely, we need a bit of proven ability and consistency of performance, not a few over the hill has-beens.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Tbf, Knight and Yak don't fall into the same category as any of the 'oldies' on that free transfer list. They were both well past their sell by dates and had already buggered off abroad for what should have been their final paydays.

[Royal Rother]

Tbf, Knight and Yak don't fall into the same category as any of the 'oldies' on that free transfer list. They were both well past their sell by dates and had already buggered off abroad for what should have been their final paydays.

100% agreed, that was seriously poor judgement on Clarke's behalf.

[andrew1957]

Far too early to panic as there is a month or so before pre season, but we definitely need to sign or re-sign 6-7 experienced players at minimum.

Goalkeepers times two (really cannot see Moore even as number 2 as he has never played a football league game)

Full Back - Kelly or ANO

Centre Back - to replace Pearce. We cannot rely on Ferdinand ever getting fit.

Centre mid - Karacan or ANO

Strikers - definitely one and preferably two. We cannot rely of Pog and Cox only and two unproven young players (Nova and Samuel). We struggled to score last season and we had Murray for some of it and Mackie for all of it.

Failure to add enough and League 1 will become a real prospect.

[SCIAG]

Goalkeepers times two (really cannot see Moore even as number 2 as he has never played a football league game)

Neither had Ashdown or Federici when they made their debuts and they were both fine.

I don't think we need more than one striker. Samuel was excellent for Coventry and deserves a shot. Pog and Cox are both good enough even if Clarke doesn't have faith in Cox, so that's a good four. I think left wing is more of a priority than a second senior striker - ideally we could sign someone like Mackie to cover both positions. More likely, we get Blackman to cover both positions...

[Ian Royal]

Far too early to panic as there is a month or so before pre season, but we definitely need to sign or re-sign 6-7 experienced players at minimum.

Goalkeepers times two (really cannot see Moore even as number 2 as he has never played a football league game)

Full Back - Kelly or ANO

Centre Back - to replace Pearce. We cannot rely on Ferdinand ever getting fit.

Centre mid - Karacan or ANO

Strikers - definitely one and preferably two. We cannot rely of Pog and Cox only and two unproven young players (Nova and Samuel). We struggled to score last season and we had Murray for some of it and Mackie for all of it.

Failure to add enough and League 1 will become a real prospect.

I'm less certain we can't rely on Moore - particularly with loans an option. But I also think you've under cooked it at Full Back - we need a left back for certain. Again, with Pearce gone, I'd ideally be looking for two CBs, I'm writing off Ferdinand and don't fancy the risk of playing half the season with Cooper and Hector. Finally, I think you've completely missed Left Wing off where we've had a gaping void all last season.

[andrew1957]

Far too early to panic as there is a month or so before pre season, but we definitely need to sign or re-sign 6-7 experienced players at minimum.

Goalkeepers times two (really cannot see Moore even as number 2 as he has never played a football league game)

Full Back - Kelly or ANO

Centre Back - to replace Pearce. We cannot rely on Ferdinand ever getting fit.

Centre mid - Karacan or ANO

Strikers - definitely one and preferably two. We cannot rely of Pog and Cox only and two unproven young players (Nova and Samuel). We struggled to score last season and we had Murray for some of it and Mackie for all of it.

Failure to add enough and League 1 will become a real prospect.

I'm less certain we can't rely on Moore - particularly with loans an option. But I also think you've under cooked it at Full Back - we need a left back for certain. Again, with Pearce gone, I'd ideally be looking for two CBs, I'm writing off Ferdinand and don't fancy the risk of playing half the season with Cooper and Hector. Finally, I think you've completely missed Left Wing off where we've had a gaping void all last season.

I did say "at minimum". Another FB and another CB would be good but we have to be realistic. I don't agree that LW is a particular concern as we have HRK (whether you like it or not it is unlikely we will get an experienced replacement unless he leaves) plus Fosu coming through. I am far more concerned about the lack of keepers/defenders.

But the point is that we now have a lot of gaps to fill and one has to wonder how much if any money is available to fill these gaps.

[Forbury Lion]

So why do you think the club doesn't want to offer a longer contract if they're not concerned about the financial implications of doubling their commitment?

Because they don't feel Karacan has a long term future in the first team? Because we're a bit of a oxf*rd at the moment? Because there's an underlying problem we don't know about they are cautious of? Because they're preparing for life in League One and ready to make further big cuts?

In that case, they could offer a 2 year contract with salary linked to which league we are in so he drops to League One wages if we are relegated.
An appearance based contract or contract extension deal won't wash, not after the Salako incident - the club shot theirselves in the foot there long term to save a few £'s short term.

Jem's best bet is to embrace the Thai culture and language and then the board will see him as an ambassador figure and want to keep him on for commercial reasons,

[Royal Rother]

7+ new players?

Unless a few more leave I should think / hope that's bloody unlikely.

[Forbury Lion]

Minimum we need to try and avoid relegation, IMHO
1x Goalkeeper (plus a reserve of some sort - academy/other)
1x Central Defender who can play all season and not another Anton Ferdninad/Zat Knight
1x Striker who can form a partnership with one Cox of Pog

[Pepe the Horseman]

And a LW.

[Nameless]

Left wing is more important than a back up central defender.
It was the obvious weakness last season and has to be addressed. Not sure Fosu is the complete answer but he may be. Would rather see him fighting for a place with a new player than being our only option.

Hector and Cooper can and should be our first choice centre backs - neither are schoolboys, both are better players than Pearce and Cooper will only gain experience if he plays. I wouldn't be 100% happy with running with the 4 U21 centre backs as cover, but they are all good and suspect we could get away with it if we had to.

Definitely need a striker, Tanner, Novac and Cardwell are not there yet.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I'm not convinced on Cooper. Deffo think we need a new centreback.

[Ian Royal]

+1 lots of potential, but 2 raw CBs is suicide if your fullbacks arent great defensively.

Cooper conceded 4+ goals twice last season.

[Hoop Blah]

Copper is nowhere near ready for a full season of Championship football.

An experienced centre half (or at the very least a genuinely high quality young loaner) to play alongside Hector and organise our back four is an absolute must along with a proven keeper.

[Nameless]

Hector is not raw, he's played 100+ games. Sometimes you just have to give your kids their freedom.
No players are 'ready' until they've got some games under their belt. Cooper won't be 'ready' until he plays regularly. If he has the ability, the brain, the confidence and the personality then he should be in the team.
Let's be honest, for all his qualities Pearce still looked raw at times last season and I repeat that Cooper is a better footballer than Pearce, and indeed the next few players in line are better still.
Let's give some of these players some responsibility and the chance to prove themselves.
It is as much a gamble to go with the likes of McShane or Johnson as it is to go with players who our coaches know inside out and will be part of a squad they have grown up with.

[Elm Park Kid]

Copper is nowhere near ready for a full season of Championship football.

An experienced centre half (or at the very least a genuinely high quality young loaner) to play alongside Hector and organise our back four is an absolute must along with a proven keeper.

I think it depends on what our targets are for next year. If it's surviving relegation I think that cooper would be good enough, though getting a someone else to challenge for the position and provide back up would have to be key.

The left back position is a problem but i'm not sure where it sits in our list of issues. Getting in a reasonable poacher for the division must be the priority - but that's easier said than done when you have no money to spend on transfer fees.

Clarke will be tempted to bring in another Chalobah type player if he can find one.

Apart from that I think we'll stick with what we've got - well we're not going to buy any wingers when we have HRK and McCleary on the wage bill and Danny Williams' salary is probably twice the average for a medium sized champ team.