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Squad building for next season 13:10 - May 2 with 14203 viewsAsa

It's going to be a fascinating watch.

McKenna and Ashton will no doubt want to keep the momentum and team spirit but at the same time we are going to have to sacrifice some players who've contributed significantly to maximise the chances of another promotion shot next season.

I could see something like this:

Walton
Coleman
Hladky

Woolfenden
Burgess
Clarke
Donacien
NEW SIGNING (LCB)

Davis
Burns
Leigh

Morsy
Ball
Luongo — Two year deal
NEW SIGNING (CM)
Camara

Chaplin
Edwards
Broadhead
NEW SIGNING — Possibly John-Jules although believe we can now target better

NEW SIGNING (CF)
Ladapo
Jackson
Hirst — Throw the £3m-£4m at Leicester — He’s going to be worth more than that in a short while


Keogh — Retire into coaching role

Edmundson — Allow to leave
Evans — Allow to leave
Harness — Allow to leave
Harper — Allow to leave
Pigott - Allow to leave
Penney — Allow to leave
Aluko — Allow to leave (if not interested in a coaching role yet)
Vincent-Young — Allow to leave
Hayes — Allow to leave

Ahadme — League One loan
El Mizouni — League One loan (Leyton Orient)
Ndaba — League One loan
Humphries - League One loan
Baggott — League One loan
Yengi - League Two / Conference loan

I’d be looking to add a left sided centre back, as brilliant as Burgess has been, because he’s only an injury away from having someone like Edmundson filling in and we’ve all seen the difference in moving the ball across the back line with a natural left footer there.

I think Morsy and Luongo have to be seen as the midfield next season. Ball is a cracking player and Camara offers something different going forward. Whether it’s Jack Taylor or we set our sights higher now, Ball does feel like a step down from the settled two, assuming Luongo stays, so wouldn’t be at all surprised if we aimed for a third player of the Morsy / Luongo ilk so we could continue to play the same game when injury and suspension occurs. Evans is a fantastic player, but just slows down the dynamism too much and I can’t see him being involved much moving forwards even if he was fully fit.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if McKenna looked for someone that can play that 10 role on the left or right. I think Chaplin and Broadhead are in the same boat as Morsy and Luongo. Fantastic, but a drop off if one is out for a period. Edwards is worth keeping. I think with coaching he will improve further, he already has and he offers something different that will likely be huge in the more open Championship where less teams sit behind the ball because they are a tenth of the size of our club. Harness for me offers very little apart from a bit of hard work and an eye for goal which has Macauley Bonned it’s way out of existence. He’s a good League One player and nothing more, so expect us to be ruthless here.

Up top we just have to sign Hirst. He’s 24, he’s found a home. He’s big, strong, wins headers, holds it up, scores all sorts of goal, has a hammer of a strike, is quick. He’s going to be a complete Championship striker for years to come. I’d say we also need another like him to rotate with and would keep Ladapo as third choice (sounds mad — he’s just bagged 20 goals) quite simply because I think he’s a decent player but not a system player and it’s one thing adding a goal or two in a match we are 3-0 up in and cruising but I have never felt fully confident in him bringing in Chaplin and Broadhead or taking what might be his only chance and we are now stepping up a level. Jackson I’d retain because he works his socks off and his pace offers something else we may need in some games. He’s more suited to the division above where there is space to run into than Accrington, Port Vale, Morecambe or Burton playing a low block.

We will be ruthless. Which is why I can see Edmunson, Evans and Harness being seen as the weakest members of the 25 or so that will be prone to being replaced with players good enough to take starting spots off what we have. If we were looking to just stay up I don’t think they move on at all.

Harper, Penney, Vincent-Young, Keogh all leaving are no brainers, with the latter probably moving into coaching. I have loved Sone Aluko at Town, it’s been a joy. But he’s a class player still and deserves to go elsewhere and excite their fans the way he has ours.

Gassan, El Miz, Ndaba and Baggott could all develop as yet. Let them do that. Humphries is going to be a top, top player, but it’ll do him no good being left out of our 18 regularly next season so let him go and get 46 games under his belt on loan.

Wouldn't surprise me to lose the 5 weakest players in the squad rotation as it stands and spend £10-12m on 4 or 5 to compliment what we have with the expectation that they'll be even better.

Whatever happens it'll be fascinating and I completely trust the process!
[Post edited 2 May 2023 13:32]
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Squad building for next season on 14:44 - May 2 with 2804 viewsHipsterectomy

I did think sending Hladky on was a goodbye thing. I’d completely understand if he wanted to leave to be first choice again as he was highly rated. For a back up keeper I doubt we’d get better than him and not many decent keepers will come knowing their chances of playing are slim to none.

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Squad building for next season on 14:48 - May 2 with 2768 viewsMookamoo

Squad building for next season on 14:40 - May 2 by tractorboy1978

Players aren't going to be wanting to leave either. They are currently playing for one of, if not the best young manager in the country and for a club that is going to have a right go this summer to compete at the top end of the Championship.

I think people are going to be surprised to see the names we are linked with this summer and the level of player that wants to play for McKenna. His reputation is red hot at the moment. He/his staff improve every one they work with.


Any PL club comes in for one of the players, they will be leave. Guaranteed.
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Squad building for next season on 14:48 - May 2 with 2767 viewsSheffordBlue

Squad building for next season on 14:44 - May 2 by Hipsterectomy

I did think sending Hladky on was a goodbye thing. I’d completely understand if he wanted to leave to be first choice again as he was highly rated. For a back up keeper I doubt we’d get better than him and not many decent keepers will come knowing their chances of playing are slim to none.


Wasn't it partly to ensure he had some League minutes so he get's 'officially' recognised if we win the League (or get's a runner up medal)

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Squad building for next season on 14:49 - May 2 with 2760 viewsjayessess

Squad building for next season on 14:36 - May 2 by portmanking

If we get a £15m bid from Burnley for Woolfenden then yes, I assume we'd have to think very seriously about it.

But if we're talking £5m bids from say, Southampton, I'm certain it would be a very firm no.


And no-one is offering even £5m for a centre back who is 24 and is yet to play regularly in the Championship.

There have only ever been 7 outgoing transfers from L1 over £5m. None of them happened post-pandemic. 4 of them were teenagers going directly to Premier League clubs (Dele Alli, Fabian Delph, Nick Powell, Ademola Lookman), the other 3 had played Championship and Premier League already (Britt Assombalonga, Wahbi Khazri, Paddy McNair).

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Squad building for next season on 14:50 - May 2 with 2739 viewsMetal_Hacker

Personally for me like many others I'd look to get , if we're assuming the identified players a lot of us have suggested , some proper steal in the spine in addition to what we have .The biggest asset I see players having in the Championship over ourselves is the physicality side of things .Some of the players are monsters , they're massive.That said our brand of football is better IMHO than most so I'd look to bring in another strong ball winning CM , a CD to back up Wolfy as a ball playing type as well and a striker at least - the striker hopefully being Hirst.After that there would be a couple of tweaks added , such as an understudy to both Chaplin and Broady - someone who can play both sides of the number 10 role.

For me that would make a good start

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Squad building for next season on 14:51 - May 2 with 2733 viewsTRUE_BLUE123

£10-12m seems fairly excessive and probably unnecessary.

We just need to sign a couple and be effective in the loan market to be able to compete.

Look at Burnley.

Tella (loan)
Maatsen (loan)
Harwood Bellis (Loan)
Beyer (loan)

Boro
Archer (loan)
Ramsey (loan)
Giles (Loan)

Sheff U
Doyle (loan)
Mcatee (loan)

A couple of additions, maybe Taylor, long term Mckenna target. Then have a look at whos being offered out by Prem academies which Mckenna will have a superb knowledge of. He was after Evan Ferguson after all.

Rak sayki should be one we go for, and probably will.

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Squad building for next season on 14:52 - May 2 with 2722 viewsHipsterectomy

Squad building for next season on 14:48 - May 2 by SheffordBlue

Wasn't it partly to ensure he had some League minutes so he get's 'officially' recognised if we win the League (or get's a runner up medal)


That may very well we right

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Squad building for next season on 14:52 - May 2 with 2718 viewsjayessess

Squad building for next season on 14:48 - May 2 by Mookamoo

Any PL club comes in for one of the players, they will be leave. Guaranteed.


How often do PL clubs sign players from League One, other than the occasional exceptional teenager?
[Post edited 2 May 2023 14:52]

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Squad building for next season on 15:13 - May 2 with 2630 viewsMookamoo

Squad building for next season on 14:52 - May 2 by jayessess

How often do PL clubs sign players from League One, other than the occasional exceptional teenager?
[Post edited 2 May 2023 14:52]


Ivan Toney?

Anyway, thats not the point. We have Championship players who just happened to be playing in League One. Temporally now thank christ.
[Post edited 2 May 2023 15:13]
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Squad building for next season on 15:22 - May 2 with 2576 viewsjayessess

Squad building for next season on 15:13 - May 2 by Mookamoo

Ivan Toney?

Anyway, thats not the point. We have Championship players who just happened to be playing in League One. Temporally now thank christ.
[Post edited 2 May 2023 15:13]


Ivan Toney signed for Brentford when they were in the Championship.

It is precisely the point. Premier League clubs aren't looking for "Championship players who just happen to be playing in League One", they're looking for Premier League players who happen to be playing in the Championship!

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Squad building for next season on 15:23 - May 2 with 2573 viewstractordownsouth

I agree with most of that but contrary to what I said on another thread, I think we might end up with just the one defensive signing. Edmundson is more comfortable in the right-sides centre back role so may be switched over there to be backup to Donacien. A starting left-footed centre back should be the target.

I’ve seen Cashin mentioned, I think he’ll go to a club higher up the food chain than us but even so I don’t think he’s the type of defender McKenna would be after. He’s not very quick and there are CBs more comfortable than he is on the ball. He’s solid in the air and is a good long passer but I think he’d need the first two attributes to be a clear upgrade on Burgess in the here and now, although his long term ceiling is much higher.

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Squad building for next season on 15:49 - May 2 with 2484 viewsjayessess

I'd assume we'd aim to fill our 25 squad places and that in practice that'll be 23 outfield players, 2 senior keepers, a youth keeper and Cameron Humphreys. My hunch is that KVY, Keogh, Aluko and Coleman will be announced as released next week. We'll extend Luongo, sign TJJ and Hirst. I'd guess our returning loanees won't play a part next season either (we'll sell, release or re-loan). So registered squad will look like this:

Walton, Hladky (2)
Woolfenden, Burgess, Edmundson (3)
Davis, Leigh, Clarke, Donacien (4)
Morsy, Luongo, Evans, Ball, Camara (5) + Humphreys
Broadhead, Chaplin, TJJ, Harness, Edwards, Burns, Jackson (7)
Hirst, Ladapo (2)

So that's 23.
Means we can add 2 more without moving anyone out. Think it's obvious one of those needs to be an extra centre back.

I think we'll be satisfied with Leigh, Donacien, Ball, Edwards as squad players. We'd presumably like to see what Camara can actually do for us. Doubt that we've written off Edmundson on the basis of a pretty torrid time with injury this season. Hladky might want to go and play football, so might need to replaced.

By my reckoning that leaves 3 outfield players we might choose to move on - Harness, Jackson and Ladapo. Plus one extra player we might add on top of that.

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Squad building for next season on 16:22 - May 2 with 2391 viewschicoazul

Strongly suspect our squad will look very very different by close of the window and a few of our favourites may be gone. Ruthless.

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Squad building for next season on 16:45 - May 2 with 2333 viewsKropotkin123

(imo) What they are capable of next season if a starter.

Walton - top 6
Hladky - unsure

Woolfenden - top 6
Burgess - top 6
Edmundson - mid table
New Player - Imagine we will look to attract a player that would be lower Premiership quality

Clarke - top 6
Donacien - mid table

Davis - top 6
Leigh - mid table

Morsy - top 6
Luongo - top 6
Ball - mid table
Evans - mid table
Camara - unsure

Burns - top 6
Jackson - relegation battle. I would replace, not sure we will

Broadhead - top 6
Edwards - mid table - think I rate him higher that the manager
Harness - relegation battle - I would replace, not sure we will

Chaplin - top 6
New player - likely TJJ - mid table

New player - Likely Hirst -top 6
Ladapo - mid table

Likely targets
Hirst - top six, ahead of Ladapo
John-Jules - mid table, behind Chaplin

Leaves playing staff
Keogh
Harper
Pigott
Penney
Aluko
Vincent-Young
Ahadme
El Mizouni - Maybe loan, seems somewhat pointless. If we are targeting premiership, I don't see him breaking in. Note, I didn't see Humphreys playing league games this time last season
Ndaba
Humphries - League One loan
Baggott — League One loan

I think we might also see some surprises. Eg, I didn't expect to see Donacien drop out of the first 11 in January. But Clarke was bought in and here we are. That could happen in the middle, if a lower Premiership player became available. I don't think we will see more than 2-3 changes to the starting lineup between now and the start of the season. I think we will be more ruthless next January, depending on how players step up.

We've looked to build a team that can compete in the Championship, and I think we have largely achieved that.

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Squad building for next season on 18:37 - May 2 with 2216 viewsipswichtillidie

I think we will be looking at much bigger targets than suggested here tbh. Investment was always going to be done in relation to the level we are at. We can attract a totally different brand of player now and be sold the premiership dream. As said it will be fascinating watch. I’m sure the majority of the squad will remain.
I’m going for signings in there positions.
GK - expect Hladky to move on for first team football.
RB - Don’t want to upset anyone here but think we will look here.
LCB - as mentioned area needed.
CM - we were looking here. I’m delighted with what we have but I still think they will upgrade
RM - another player to push Burns
NO 10 - Some talent to push Chappers/Broady. I expect/hope Edwards stays.
NO 9 - Hirst (to sign permanently

Gav

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Squad building for next season on 18:43 - May 2 with 2207 viewsStu_boy

With burnley having gone up would it be possible to go for scott twine who on his day is very good but hasnt worked up there. Perhaps he's bit injury prone but would be decent competition for chappers and broadhead. Alternatively, rak sakyi looks good and could step up but would probably be a season loan
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Squad building for next season on 18:43 - May 2 with 2206 viewsFunge

Squad building for next season on 13:42 - May 2 by BiGDonnie

Cashin
Taylor
Celina
Loader
TJJ
Hirst

Job done.
[Post edited 2 May 2023 14:26]


Not sure about Celina, CGS - mercurial, and that Crewe goal is one of the best I've ever seen - but Broadhead is so clever; reminds me of Teddy Sheringham....
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Squad building for next seasons on 18:50 - May 2 with 2190 viewscatch74

Squad building for next seasons on 14:41 - May 2 by davblue

Think there will be 1 coming in at a minimum in central midfield

Morsy, Luongo, Ball + one other i would have thought, i don't see us keeping him if Luongo goes elsewhere maybe but he doesn't play full seasons, isn't particulary mobile think there's an argument that he slows the pace down with the ball at times.

I can't recall him dominating a big game in league 1, so the step up as a starter might be a step too far.

I think we will want some younger legs in there with Morsy, Luongo being 30 plus, Ball is 27 as well if i recall correctly.


Camara is 26 and we haven’t seen what magic McKenna can work with him. Maybe one that needs to prove his fitness with a half season loan.

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Squad building for next season on 23:09 - May 2 with 2038 viewsjayessess

Squad building for next season on 18:37 - May 2 by ipswichtillidie

I think we will be looking at much bigger targets than suggested here tbh. Investment was always going to be done in relation to the level we are at. We can attract a totally different brand of player now and be sold the premiership dream. As said it will be fascinating watch. I’m sure the majority of the squad will remain.
I’m going for signings in there positions.
GK - expect Hladky to move on for first team football.
RB - Don’t want to upset anyone here but think we will look here.
LCB - as mentioned area needed.
CM - we were looking here. I’m delighted with what we have but I still think they will upgrade
RM - another player to push Burns
NO 10 - Some talent to push Chappers/Broady. I expect/hope Edwards stays.
NO 9 - Hirst (to sign permanently


Why would we be doing anything at Right Back?

Our obvious first choice only signed for a decent fee in January and our second choice just had his contract extended.

Donacien plays 2/3 positions, is a solid, experienced professional, whose defensive abilities make him a useful late game sub. He's clearly a good presence in the dressing room even when he isn't playing regularly. He's 29 and would fetch no significant transfer fee. Total waste of time to move him on and source a replacement squad player.

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Squad building for next season on 02:30 - May 3 with 1946 viewsBellevue_Blue

Great starting point and I think we are certainly looking at the following re positions to strengthen.

LCB (Experienced left footer)
CM
RW
CAM (Shadow striker similar to Chappers, TJJ can play Broady's position)
ST

Ideally I think we should be looking at the above as well as Hirst/ TJJ.

Re outgoings, I broadly agree although I think Edmundson will stay on as a potential starter/ back up for the RCB position given Keogh's inevitable departure. I'm also inclined to think that Jackson might leave due to the fact he won't play up top here (he might still see himself as an 9) and KM might well want someone with a bit more flair in that position (more in the mold of Burns).

Ladapo could also be one of the less obvious outgoings. He's been brilliant this year and consistently puts up great numbers for clubs at the top of L1. Potentially one of League 1's bigger players (thinking Derby, P'boro if JCH leaves etc) might fancy him to lead their line next season for a small fee given he's unlikely to have a starting spot at ITFC and his bench spot may well have added competition.

Exciting summer upcoming.
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Squad building for next season on 07:56 - May 3 with 1850 viewsWakh

Squad building for next season on 15:49 - May 2 by jayessess

I'd assume we'd aim to fill our 25 squad places and that in practice that'll be 23 outfield players, 2 senior keepers, a youth keeper and Cameron Humphreys. My hunch is that KVY, Keogh, Aluko and Coleman will be announced as released next week. We'll extend Luongo, sign TJJ and Hirst. I'd guess our returning loanees won't play a part next season either (we'll sell, release or re-loan). So registered squad will look like this:

Walton, Hladky (2)
Woolfenden, Burgess, Edmundson (3)
Davis, Leigh, Clarke, Donacien (4)
Morsy, Luongo, Evans, Ball, Camara (5) + Humphreys
Broadhead, Chaplin, TJJ, Harness, Edwards, Burns, Jackson (7)
Hirst, Ladapo (2)

So that's 23.
Means we can add 2 more without moving anyone out. Think it's obvious one of those needs to be an extra centre back.

I think we'll be satisfied with Leigh, Donacien, Ball, Edwards as squad players. We'd presumably like to see what Camara can actually do for us. Doubt that we've written off Edmundson on the basis of a pretty torrid time with injury this season. Hladky might want to go and play football, so might need to replaced.

By my reckoning that leaves 3 outfield players we might choose to move on - Harness, Jackson and Ladapo. Plus one extra player we might add on top of that.


Where you say that's 23. I make it 24. You have 6 midfielders not 5 i think
[Post edited 3 May 2023 7:58]
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Squad building for next season on 08:00 - May 3 with 1845 viewsWallingford_Boy

Squad building for next season on 13:42 - May 2 by BiGDonnie

Cashin
Taylor
Celina
Loader
TJJ
Hirst

Job done.
[Post edited 2 May 2023 14:26]


What is everyone’s obsession with TJJ?!

Looked ok in league one, but we need to push on from there.

RIP Sir Bobby

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Squad building for next season on 08:03 - May 3 with 1836 viewsWakh

Squad building for next season on 08:00 - May 3 by Wallingford_Boy

What is everyone’s obsession with TJJ?!

Looked ok in league one, but we need to push on from there.


I guess because there were well regarded rumours that we had already agreed a deal for him.
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Squad building for next season on 08:09 - May 3 with 1827 viewsBluroo

Squad building for next season on 13:38 - May 2 by Illinoisblue

Agree with most of that but can we spend 10-12m? I’ve no doubt our owners will back KMac, but what of FFP? I thought that was part the reason we went big in the Jan window as L1 rules are less strict than FFP on what you can spend.


Are we already subject to the Championship FFP rules or technically not until we’re off ion that league in August? Could be a “window” to spend?
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Squad building for next season on 08:29 - May 3 with 1808 viewsPioneerBlue

Squad building for next season on 15:49 - May 2 by jayessess

I'd assume we'd aim to fill our 25 squad places and that in practice that'll be 23 outfield players, 2 senior keepers, a youth keeper and Cameron Humphreys. My hunch is that KVY, Keogh, Aluko and Coleman will be announced as released next week. We'll extend Luongo, sign TJJ and Hirst. I'd guess our returning loanees won't play a part next season either (we'll sell, release or re-loan). So registered squad will look like this:

Walton, Hladky (2)
Woolfenden, Burgess, Edmundson (3)
Davis, Leigh, Clarke, Donacien (4)
Morsy, Luongo, Evans, Ball, Camara (5) + Humphreys
Broadhead, Chaplin, TJJ, Harness, Edwards, Burns, Jackson (7)
Hirst, Ladapo (2)

So that's 23.
Means we can add 2 more without moving anyone out. Think it's obvious one of those needs to be an extra centre back.

I think we'll be satisfied with Leigh, Donacien, Ball, Edwards as squad players. We'd presumably like to see what Camara can actually do for us. Doubt that we've written off Edmundson on the basis of a pretty torrid time with injury this season. Hladky might want to go and play football, so might need to replaced.

By my reckoning that leaves 3 outfield players we might choose to move on - Harness, Jackson and Ladapo. Plus one extra player we might add on top of that.


I agree with a lot of this.

Depending on Y1 ambition and desire to use momentum the year could easily be a transition year without massive change, relying on 2 high quality additions and 2 development players for rotation.

We should be looking at a high quality LCB,
We should be looking at a CM with dev potential based on age and injury records of current group
We should be looking at 10s with dev potential for rotation cover in Chaplin/Broadhead
We should be looking at a high quality Striker

Jackson and Edwards are most under threat but based on squad numbers in a transitional season they may find themselves in the deep squad.

Assume
Coleman, Keogh, KVY, Aluko are surplus in squad. None of those on loan will be given squad positions.

Questions
Hladky surely needs game time otherwise he reduces in readiness for us? Camara hasn’t played competitive football for over a year? Current group in Midfield has had a lot on injury issues? Will Hirst return? as purchase or loan? TJJ provides cover across the 10s and as a striker which makes him good for the squad but another with a poor injury record.

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