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Post by march4 on Feb 27, 2023 16:34:11 GMT
GK
bonham?, fielding, sarkic? RB Edwards 2024 sterling? LB Tymon, McCarron 2025 fox? CB Wilmot, Taylor 2025 jagielka? MID Thompson 2024, Baker, Laurent 2025 clucas?, powell?, smallbone?, pearson? ATT Campbell, DWP, Gayle 2024, Brown, Tezgel, Lowe 2025 It really is thin when you look at it. We seem to be down to 11 players who've started a game for us And that's including whatever Gayle still is, DWP (an unused sub again in League 2, so you'd have to say the window on him being part of the future here is closing quite quickly if it isn't already closed) - as well as a possible reclamation project on Edwards who hasn't played for us since 2019. So more than likely 8 plus the two 17 year-old strikers (and we don't know how many of them he really rates and thinks can be part of a successful squad) So we're looking at: At least 1 keeper, (2 if we don't re-sign Bonham) Probably two right backs unless Edwards is welcomed back into the fold or Macari is seen as having a chance. Maybe Sterling being one? At least one left back unless he thinks Tymon is fine and wants to give Fox another 12 months. Almost certainly 2 centre backs. One DM (maybe Pearson?) Two AMs (possibly Smallbone +1?) Probably odds against Powell staying? Certainly one, but probably two wide forwards A target man-type forward How much of that is feasible to bed in, in one summer? Will we be spending £5m? 10m? £15m? Wonder what the chances of Bonham, Jagielka, Fox, Clucas, Powell re-signing are? They're probably all greater than 0% - substantially above 0% in some cases. I suspect you can cross Edwards, McCarron, Baker and DWP off your list. I can see them all leaving. Of the ones you mention re-signing then perhaps Fox and Bonham will be offered reduced terms as backup. Don’t think any of the others will be.
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Post by gingerninja on Feb 27, 2023 16:54:45 GMT
Do we think maybe Baker doesn't have a future here?.
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Post by FullerMagic on Feb 27, 2023 17:37:24 GMT
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Post by gingerninja on Feb 27, 2023 17:43:50 GMT
Always liked Johnson as a player.
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Post by rickyfullerbeer on Feb 27, 2023 18:06:48 GMT
Trust the process...
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Post by GeneralFaye on Feb 27, 2023 18:18:53 GMT
Daniel Johnson? Christ, no thanks.
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Post by thehartshillbadger on Feb 27, 2023 19:01:49 GMT
Should have signed Johnson ages ago. He’s a good consistent performer in this league. Don’t think I’d go for him now though
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Post by shakermaker on Feb 27, 2023 19:10:33 GMT
We have to try and build a strong first XI and accept that players like Fox, Wilmot and Thompson etc are still going to be needed as back-ups. If we go 4-3-3 next season: First Choice XI: GK New, RB New, LB Tymon, CB New, CB New, DM New, CM Laurent, CM Baker, RW Campbell, CF New, LW NewBack-ups: GK Bonham, RB Edwards, LB Fox, CB Taylor, CB Wilmot, DM Thompson, CM New, CM New, RW Brown, CF Tezgel, LW Wright-Phillips We need 7 first-team standard players and probably a couple of back-up midfielders as well. The past few games have suggested Neil may revert back to his 4-2-3-1 system from Preston. In which case we will need 2x DMs - one hopefully being Pearson who can get his foot in and break up play, and another being someone who can be a deep-lying playmaker alongside Pearson. Agree we need a new LW, but I think Campbell has lost his spark. Need to sell or swap for a new RW.
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Post by nonameface on Feb 27, 2023 22:41:12 GMT
I'd be surprised if we don't re-sign Fox and Bonham, especially Fox, who defensively is probably as good as 75% of left backs in the division.
If we can strike the right deal I can see us signing Sterling, Pearson, Sarkic and Celina too, it'll just be are their clubs looking for too much cash or not.
It would be good to get as much business done as possible without spending fees; theres almost no need to pay one to get a fairly decent option in this league.
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Post by CBUFAWKIPWH on Feb 27, 2023 23:14:48 GMT
I'd be surprised if we don't re-sign Fox and Bonham, especially Fox, who defensively is probably as good as 75% of left backs in the division. If we can strike the right deal I can see us signing Sterling, Pearson, Sarkic and Celina too, it'll just be are their clubs looking for too much cash or not. It would be good to get as much business done as possible without spending fees; theres almost no need to pay one to get a fairly decent option in this league. Loans rarely get converted into permanent signings - 4 in one summer would be unheard of.
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Post by femark on Feb 28, 2023 8:52:17 GMT
I expect us to spend £1-2m on a couple or three players, similar to Brown, Wilmot, Surridge etc. Young players with potential to make money at a later date. The board have been quite clear on this stance since FFP and a move to being more sustainable. I can't see us spending money on any players over the age of 25. I think that we will spend a lot more than that on new players. Regarding the age of said players, Didn't Neil leave Sunderland because he was only allowed to sign young players with a re-sale value. Most Championship teams are broke, so I don't know why we should have to hand out big signing on fees or big payments to agents. It is going to be a buyer's market this Summer, and anyone with cash will call the shots. I don't understand all the moaning, for a manager this is as good as it gets. How many managers would love to have money to spend and lots of vacant places in their squad? The manager has just given an interview citing Brighton as a good example of recruitment. Brighton for several years have been signing young players in the 18-23 age bracket, sending them out on loan, integrating them into the first team then selling them on for big profits. That is exactly what we are aiming to do, although at a considerably reduced budget. There have been a number that haven't worked out for Brighton, but lots that have. Look at Ostigard as a low value example - they bought him for next to nothing on a punt, loaned him to the likes of us and coventry, sold him on to Napoli for £5m
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Post by twobanksoffour on Mar 1, 2023 13:30:38 GMT
Worth noting that of the 11 players who have played a senior game for us and are under contract beyond the summer, 7 started yesterday (with 1 coming on a sub) in a team that acquitted itself fairly well against good Premier opposition.
No doubt we need to strengthen both in quality and numbers but at least suggests we've got a decent baseline to work with.
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Post by cvillestokie on Mar 1, 2023 13:54:29 GMT
I think that we will spend a lot more than that on new players. Regarding the age of said players, Didn't Neil leave Sunderland because he was only allowed to sign young players with a re-sale value. Most Championship teams are broke, so I don't know why we should have to hand out big signing on fees or big payments to agents. It is going to be a buyer's market this Summer, and anyone with cash will call the shots. I don't understand all the moaning, for a manager this is as good as it gets. How many managers would love to have money to spend and lots of vacant places in their squad? The manager has just given an interview citing Brighton as a good example of recruitment. Brighton for several years have been signing young players in the 18-23 age bracket, sending them out on loan, integrating them into the first team then selling them on for big profits. That is exactly what we are aiming to do, although at a considerably reduced budget. There have been a number that haven't worked out for Brighton, but lots that have. Look at Ostigard as a low value example - they bought him for next to nothing on a punt, loaned him to the likes of us and coventry, sold him on to Napoli for £5m We definitely should be investing in a broader scouting network. I think it’s mad that the vast majority of players we ever sign are “expected targets” from fans with no experience in the game. It wouldn’t help us in the summer, but it should start to pay dividends in later seasons.
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Post by FullerMagic on Mar 1, 2023 14:59:49 GMT
Could make a move for Iversen more likely
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Post by theonlooker on Mar 1, 2023 15:02:30 GMT
Could make a move for Iversen more likely Could also mean a swap deal with Sunderland. Will be interesting to see what they get for a keeper with only 30 odd appearances at Championship level, compared to our deal for Souttar.
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Post by knype on Mar 1, 2023 15:09:00 GMT
I'd be surprised if we don't re-sign Fox and Bonham, especially Fox, who defensively is probably as good as 75% of left backs in the division. If we can strike the right deal I can see us signing Sterling, Pearson, Sarkic and Celina too, it'll just be are their clubs looking for too much cash or not. It would be good to get as much business done as possible without spending fees; theres almost no need to pay one to get a fairly decent option in this league. Fox as good as 75% of left backs in this division ? Which division are you talking about ? The Coors league ?
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Post by somersetstokie on Mar 1, 2023 15:42:22 GMT
Once you take out the loans we don't really have a team at all do we? I can feel next season being written off as I type...'a season of rebuilding in lieu of a play-off push in 2024/25!' 2027/28 2027/28 Promotion in the 20 year Anniversary Season.
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Post by bolders on Mar 1, 2023 16:03:17 GMT
A few id look at Sam Byram Liam Moore (backup centre back) Alex Pritchard Ryan Nyambe Will Keane
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Post by lordb on Mar 1, 2023 16:04:30 GMT
A few id look at Sam Byram Liam Moore (backup centre back) Alex Pritchard Ryan Nyambe Will Keane Alex Pritchard is like Powell re fitness but without the goals
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Post by gingerninja on Mar 1, 2023 16:13:01 GMT
Alex Pritchard is basically an upgrade on Celina, who I don't think is physical enough for Neil..That said all over the pitch we are as weak as piss. Yes Brighton were technically superior to us last night, they were also physically man for man stronger..Baker in particular looks so weak in the tackle.
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Post by FullerMagic on Mar 1, 2023 19:20:09 GMT
www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/stoke-city-manager-alex-neil-8204199The summer is a pivotal time for Stoke as a club.
The worst constraints of a gruelling three-year Financial Fair Play cycle are coming to an end at the same time as Stoke will have their lightest squad in more than a decade. Everyone knows that Stoke need players in key positions but now there is the space and hopefully the budget to make a huge stride towards putting it right. The board will back him as much as they are able.
Neil’s vision, on paper, tallies with what most supporters would expect from a Stoke squad: a strong and solid goalkeeper, a commanding centre-half, a disciplined and aggressive defensive midfielder, fast or tricky wingers and a centre-forward who can take on defenders and score goals. He wants a mixture of players coming into their peak years who can be trusted in the blood and thunder of the Championship with young players who will grow with the club.
If he can tick those boxes with the money that Stoke recouped from selling Harry Souttar, Stoke will have a platform to make steady improvements in future windows. Gaps can be temporarily filled with loan players from the Premier League or free agents.
It will be more difficult than it might sound when that plan is squeezed into a couple of paragraphs but is certainly exciting too and an exceptionally rare situation for any manager. It’s the scenario that explains why Neil was prepared to give up what he had at Sunderland, where he can expect a fiery welcome when he returns on Saturday.
There are pitfalls. Stoke fans will point to when the board backed the manager as much as they were able in 2018 and it’s taken five years to recover.
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Post by RF10 on Mar 1, 2023 20:23:28 GMT
I've no problem spending money, it's the 10 million pound unnecessary deals which we can't be doing again.
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Post by lordb on Mar 1, 2023 23:01:10 GMT
I've no problem spending money, it's the 10 million pound unnecessary deals which we can't be doing again. Yup £10m should go on 3 players not 1
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Post by skip on Mar 1, 2023 23:27:14 GMT
There are pitfalls. Stoke fans will point to when the board backed the manager as much as they were able in 2018 and it’s taken five years to recover. Half a f***ing decade up the swanny.
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Post by independent on Mar 2, 2023 20:47:45 GMT
It's known as gambling on going up. Great if it comes off, nasty if it doesn't.
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Post by ravey123 on Mar 2, 2023 20:54:08 GMT
I'd be surprised if we don't re-sign Fox and Bonham, especially Fox, who defensively is probably as good as 75% of left backs in the division. If we can strike the right deal I can see us signing Sterling, Pearson, Sarkic and Celina too, it'll just be are their clubs looking for too much cash or not. It would be good to get as much business done as possible without spending fees; theres almost no need to pay one to get a fairly decent option in this league. I think Celina has been very underwhelming in the few minutes he’s ad
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Post by musik on Mar 2, 2023 22:13:54 GMT
Priority must be this:
Two fast strikers who knows how to score on a regular basis.
Two fast central defenders who will react just as fast as any attacker they'll face.
I know ... it would cost ... a lot!
🤠
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Post by bolders on Mar 2, 2023 23:44:41 GMT
Priority must be this: Two fast strikers who knows how to score on a regular basis. Two fast central defenders who will react just as fast as any attacker they'll face. I know ... it would cost ... a lot! 🤠 Target man Defensive mid 2 CBS Lb Rb
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Post by gingerninja on Mar 3, 2023 7:57:57 GMT
I had high hopes for Celina, but like some have said, rarely influences the game, can not see him staying beyond his loan.
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Post by FullerMagic on Mar 3, 2023 10:38:58 GMT
www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-city-manager-alex-neil-8209039“At the moment we’re laying foundations that I think in six months’ time, going into next season, we’ll be having very different conversations and I’ll really enjoy those conversations when they come.” “We’ve got 12 games remaining and it’s important we end on the best note possible and pick up as many points as we can and give people a little bit of optimism going into the summer when we’ve got a big job on our hands. "My immediate job is to win games and get the team set up as well as we can but it’s no secret that in the summer we’ll be in a very different position than we have been in probably since we came down. That’s really healthy for this football club.”
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