| Stronger going into the Championship. 12:14 - Apr 6 with 1809 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
At the beginning of 23/24, we went into the Championship with this squad:
Christian Walton
Vaclav Hladky
Cieran Slicker
Nick Hayes
Harry Clarke
Leif Davis
George Edmundson
Luke Woolfenden
Cameron Burgess
Greg Leigh
Elkan Baggott
Janoi Donacien
Dominic Ball
Sam Morsy
Jack Taylor
Massimo Luongo
Cameron Humphreys
Lee Evans
Kyle Edwards
Wes Burns
Omari Hutchinson
Nathan Broadhead
Conor Chaplin
Sone Aluko
Freddie Ladapo
George Hirst
Kayden Jackson
Marcus Harness
Those in italics have moved on, and we added as permanents (so excluding loans):
Arijanet Muric
Alex Palmer
Jacob Greaves
Ben Johnson
Dara O'Shea
Axel Tuanzebe
Chiedozie Ogbene
Sam Szmodics
Jaden Philogene
Jack Clarke
Liam Delap
Yes, we'll lose some - Liam Delap seems very likely to go (and help us strengthen in some areas). Signs are Tuanzebe and Burgess leave (if not, even better).
Overall however, that suggests a massively stronger squad entering the Championship this time compared to after promotion. And that's before we add a few more names - with it being likely that we can recruit more easily (relegated parachute team vs newly promoted team).
There are no guarantees, and we shouldn't be complacent, but if you look across the entire squad and the depth, we are much stronger for the next Championship than the last. [Post edited 6 Apr 12:22]
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| Stronger going into the Championship. on 12:17 - Apr 6 with 1770 views | pointofblue |
We spent £130m on this squad. The overall worth will fluctuate over the summer with incomings and departures but if we're not stronger in 2025/26 compared to 2023/24 then something has gone drastically wrong. | |
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| Stronger going into the Championship. on 12:24 - Apr 6 with 1731 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 12:17 - Apr 6 by pointofblue |
We spent £130m on this squad. The overall worth will fluctuate over the summer with incomings and departures but if we're not stronger in 2025/26 compared to 2023/24 then something has gone drastically wrong. |
Agreed, although I don't know about you - when I looked back at it, I was surprised at the lack of depth in our squad for our first season back in the Championship. Yes, there were some strong regulars, but beyond that (in hindsight) it was far from a strong squad. | | | |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 12:31 - Apr 6 with 1669 views | pointofblue |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 12:24 - Apr 6 by SuffolkPunchFC |
Agreed, although I don't know about you - when I looked back at it, I was surprised at the lack of depth in our squad for our first season back in the Championship. Yes, there were some strong regulars, but beyond that (in hindsight) it was far from a strong squad. |
For all the understandable annoyance regarding injuries this season, we got so lucky in 2023/24. If Burns, Broadhead and Chaplin had missed the number of games they've been absent this year we would have been lucky to make the play offs, let alone automatic promotion. Other than central midfield and - until we replace Delap - up front, we definitely have more depth from the off next season. | |
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| Stronger going into the Championship. on 12:40 - Apr 6 with 1610 views | olimar |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 12:31 - Apr 6 by pointofblue |
For all the understandable annoyance regarding injuries this season, we got so lucky in 2023/24. If Burns, Broadhead and Chaplin had missed the number of games they've been absent this year we would have been lucky to make the play offs, let alone automatic promotion. Other than central midfield and - until we replace Delap - up front, we definitely have more depth from the off next season. |
We only really had Hirst as a forward at start of 23/24 as Ladapo wasnt really a suitable alternative. We got really really lucky that Hirst didnt get injured until late December and we only needed to wait a month to get Keiffer Moore in- if that had happened earlier and we needed to be without him for 2 months, it would likely have cost us automatic promotion.
Equally, if the January schedule had been anything like December for league games, it would possibly have done for us also.
We essentially repeated that gamble this season, having lost Moore and replaced with Delap, we were again one injury away from having no backup and imho it cost us when Hirst got injured as we couldnt manage until he got fit again | | | |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 14:15 - Apr 6 with 1422 views | Illinoisblue |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 12:40 - Apr 6 by olimar |
We only really had Hirst as a forward at start of 23/24 as Ladapo wasnt really a suitable alternative. We got really really lucky that Hirst didnt get injured until late December and we only needed to wait a month to get Keiffer Moore in- if that had happened earlier and we needed to be without him for 2 months, it would likely have cost us automatic promotion.
Equally, if the January schedule had been anything like December for league games, it would possibly have done for us also.
We essentially repeated that gamble this season, having lost Moore and replaced with Delap, we were again one injury away from having no backup and imho it cost us when Hirst got injured as we couldnt manage until he got fit again |
Is Ladapo injured at Huddersfield? Don’t hear much about him. |  |
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| Stronger going into the Championship. on 15:04 - Apr 6 with 1313 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Well I should hope so after we spent 140M! |  | | |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 15:20 - Apr 6 with 1276 views | ITFCSG |
As you said, there’s no guarantees
What is on paper can be very different in reality
Our squad was much weaker on paper compared to Southampton’s last season, yet we managed to do the double over them. This season, after spending £130 million, we should be much closer to their squad quality and value yet we only managed a point from the Southampton games | | | |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 16:09 - Apr 6 with 1184 views | DavoIPB |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 15:20 - Apr 6 by ITFCSG |
As you said, there’s no guarantees
What is on paper can be very different in reality
Our squad was much weaker on paper compared to Southampton’s last season, yet we managed to do the double over them. This season, after spending £130 million, we should be much closer to their squad quality and value yet we only managed a point from the Southampton games |
Have to agree, however our wins against Southampton last season were very lucky. They outplayed us in both.
£130 mil but on players from clubs that were relegated from the premier league of missed out on promotion from the championship. | | | |
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| Stronger going into the Championship. on 16:10 - Apr 6 with 1171 views | billlm |
I hope Burgess stays, man mountain, |  | | |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 16:20 - Apr 6 with 1135 views | ITFCSG |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 16:09 - Apr 6 by DavoIPB |
Have to agree, however our wins against Southampton last season were very lucky. They outplayed us in both.
£130 mil but on players from clubs that were relegated from the premier league of missed out on promotion from the championship. |
Agree, I think we'll have a much clearer stock after 10 games in the Champ next season | | | |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 16:40 - Apr 6 with 1067 views | Funge |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 14:15 - Apr 6 by Illinoisblue |
Is Ladapo injured at Huddersfield? Don’t hear much about him. |
A good Hudders mate of mine says he's, er, struggling.
Ironic cheers every time he manages to control the ball, that kind of struggling. |  | | |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 16:50 - Apr 6 with 1009 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 15:20 - Apr 6 by ITFCSG |
As you said, there’s no guarantees
What is on paper can be very different in reality
Our squad was much weaker on paper compared to Southampton’s last season, yet we managed to do the double over them. This season, after spending £130 million, we should be much closer to their squad quality and value yet we only managed a point from the Southampton games |
Despite picking up 1 point from the individual matches against them, over the season we are 10 points better than them over 31 matches compared to ending 9 points better than them over 46 last season. That suggests we have improved more than they have.
I do agree with performance being a better judge than the paper/theory. However, this season we have missed far more key players through injury than last. |  |
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| Stronger going into the Championship. on 17:11 - Apr 6 with 921 views | bournemouthblue |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 12:31 - Apr 6 by pointofblue |
For all the understandable annoyance regarding injuries this season, we got so lucky in 2023/24. If Burns, Broadhead and Chaplin had missed the number of games they've been absent this year we would have been lucky to make the play offs, let alone automatic promotion. Other than central midfield and - until we replace Delap - up front, we definitely have more depth from the off next season. |
It's a different kind of pressure next season because the fans will be expectant and rightly so
We need to sell Delap for us much as we can, possibly someone else like Davis also and maybe someone like O'Shea
We then go really hard on signings, get some longer term central midfielders with more quality, two strikers, another left back and that probably makes us a real threat for any one in the Championship next season
Would be interesting to see if someone signs Delap with a loan back also |  |
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| Stronger going into the Championship. on 17:23 - Apr 6 with 881 views | ParisBlue |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 12:40 - Apr 6 by olimar |
We only really had Hirst as a forward at start of 23/24 as Ladapo wasnt really a suitable alternative. We got really really lucky that Hirst didnt get injured until late December and we only needed to wait a month to get Keiffer Moore in- if that had happened earlier and we needed to be without him for 2 months, it would likely have cost us automatic promotion.
Equally, if the January schedule had been anything like December for league games, it would possibly have done for us also.
We essentially repeated that gamble this season, having lost Moore and replaced with Delap, we were again one injury away from having no backup and imho it cost us when Hirst got injured as we couldnt manage until he got fit again |
And we absolutely flogged Hirst which maybe contributed to his injury on Boxing Day. We can't do that again.
I do believe a stronger squad in numbers helps when you get the 3-game weeks. The PL has more physical games, but more rest time, whereas the Championship is more endurance. We got there at the end of 23/24 with decent bench options to rotate. We'd need that again but from August this time.
I really hope McKenna stays, if only to prove 23/24 wasn't a fluke and he can build his own team (much of the L1 team pre-dated him joining). I also wonder whether we'll go the 'top class premier league youngsters on loan" route, e.g. a couple of Omaris.
My biggest fear is a relegation hangover. There's just 11 weeks between the West Ham game and the opening weekend of the Championship, so not much time to recharge before pre-season. And the transfer window could be tough, every chance of any of our players being poached right up to the window slamming shut. |  |
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| Stronger going into the Championship. on 17:27 - Apr 6 with 858 views | Mullet |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 17:23 - Apr 6 by ParisBlue |
And we absolutely flogged Hirst which maybe contributed to his injury on Boxing Day. We can't do that again.
I do believe a stronger squad in numbers helps when you get the 3-game weeks. The PL has more physical games, but more rest time, whereas the Championship is more endurance. We got there at the end of 23/24 with decent bench options to rotate. We'd need that again but from August this time.
I really hope McKenna stays, if only to prove 23/24 wasn't a fluke and he can build his own team (much of the L1 team pre-dated him joining). I also wonder whether we'll go the 'top class premier league youngsters on loan" route, e.g. a couple of Omaris.
My biggest fear is a relegation hangover. There's just 11 weeks between the West Ham game and the opening weekend of the Championship, so not much time to recharge before pre-season. And the transfer window could be tough, every chance of any of our players being poached right up to the window slamming shut. |
If we can’t get it together after nearly 11 weeks gap with the talent we will still have, there’s a massive issue!
The biggest issue is how quickly replace those who are off, especially if McKenna goes this time. |  |
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| Stronger going into the Championship. on 18:12 - Apr 6 with 776 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| Stronger going into the Championship. on 17:27 - Apr 6 by Mullet |
If we can’t get it together after nearly 11 weeks gap with the talent we will still have, there’s a massive issue!
The biggest issue is how quickly replace those who are off, especially if McKenna goes this time. |
As I said in another thread, stability is key - including knowing where we are manager-wise. My instinct says McKenna will stay, but who knows what may happen on the merry-go-round. I'd be surprised if Spurs aren't looking for a new manager - but I also expect them to go for a big name from overseas.
For me the massive difference is depth of squad - this will help us compete week-in, week-out, handle injuries more easily and then there is also no reason for not having proper cup runs next season - with hope of matching the PL clubs fielding their weakened teams.
Unless there is a major clear-out over the summer (and the signs are we don't NEED to sell significantly), plus we pull in a couple of quality new recruits in key area, then we should be well placed to compete at the top end of the table next season, and improve the foundations for our next shot at the PL.
It's been said before - we're ahead of schedule, and this season can only help with our development. However, we no doubt now need to get back into the PL quickly to stay to schedule. | | | |
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