With promotion to the Championship still a possibility, how many of our current squad (inc. loanees) will be good enough next season?
Of course the concern is that Roland wont sell before the end of August, worst case scenario from that is that the squad wont be strengthened and what we've already got will have to be enough:
Goalkeepers: Ben Amos
Defence: Jay Dasilva | Patrick Bauer | Jason Pearce | Ezri Konsa
Midfield: Tariqe Fosu | Jake Forster-Caskey | Ahmed Kashi | Billy Clarke
Attack: ...
Have question marks over: Chris Solly | Lewis Page | Mark Marshall | Joe Aribo | Anfernee Dijksteel | Dillon Phillips | Naby Sarr and whether they'd be good enough for Championship Football (the likes of Aribo and Dijksteel no doubt being good enough eventually but maybe not straight away) - Whilst would struggle to think of any of our current Strikers who'd be good enough to make their mark
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Dependent on his recovery from serious injury I'd add Billy Clarke as a possibility given his early form pre injury. Solly, if he recovers, would also be on the main list as a proven Championship player previously.
Of your question marks I'd say Marshall no and push Aribo up one to the main list.
I've got question marks against Marshall's age, yet he is quick still so could be useful
and us to smash the league next year in a powellesque manner.
If that was the case Id rather another season in League One where we challenge properly and then go up so that we're competitive in the Championship - Rather than going up this year, coming down next and then the following season being in League One where we're having to recover mentally from a relegation
I would keep the following, similar to you list.
Ben Amos perm deal.
Jay Dasilva, but on a perm.
Patrick Bauer
Joe Aribo
Jason Pearce
Ezri Konsa
Tariqe Fosu
Maginnis.
I have to confess Ive not seen a lot of the other players.
With your list I'd add Magennis and Reeves as players who might be able to step up. Magennis can certainly do a job for us at a higher level, his performances for N Ireland show that albeit not as a central goal scorer
Even Bolton managed to survive, the goal that kept them up being scored by a 38 year old striker, so it's not impossible
It's the older legs/lags who you have to question. ..Marshall not enough quality, Chris alas looks a spent force but may post-op he may bounce back. But it's the forward line that's the big worry.
But hey, let's worry about the next 3 games first. ..
I'd definitely keep Page. He's just about been our best player, when he's played, this season.
Agree with @ForeverAddickted 's list otherwise.
Magennis isn't quite good enough for that Championship, but if money was an issue, you'd maybe think of keeping him as a second or third choice striker, maybe.
Yes Millwall / Sheff Utd / Bolton have all coped with the Division yet lets see how they do second time round.
He's in my top three favourite players at the club at the moment, yet his form has nose dived of late, for me there has to be a reason other than the fact that he's potentially been carrying an injury
New GK (Happy to sign Amos permanently) and new cover with Phillips going out on loan
Solly and Page as cover, so full-backs both sides needed (happy to go with JDS again)
Quality new CB to compete with Bauer and Pearce. Would probably accept Sarr as 4th choice. Konsa to be sold and Lennon is shit
Kashi will probably go. Would bring in a quality CM to compete with JFC, Dijksteel and Aribo.
Reeves and Clark to stay in CM/AM
Wingers - Fosu to start, keep Marshall but desperately need a new one with Marshall 3rd choice
Strikers - Need 2 in to compete with Magennis. Then either KAG out on loan and keep Ajose, or flog Ajose and keep KAG
In my opinion, only Bauer, JFC and Fosu would start in my ideal Championship team. Would add Amos and JDS but there obviously not our players.
That's 9 new players, but is outgoing of the 5 loanees, Kashi, Konsa, Lennon and then either KAG/Ajose plus Phillips on loan.
It leaves pretty much 2 players for every position and a squad of 23 players.
Definitely want Erhun Oztumer as believe he's good enough to play in the Championship - Would also pinch a couple of Shrewsbury players (although reckon there are a few who'll do that); Jon Nolan (CM) and Omar Beckles (CB)
Marcus Maddison and Jack Marriott would be good signings from Peterborough but they're b*****ds when it comes to negotiating and will probably want £10m just for Marriott
Amos is good enough, Phillips is ok as backup but we'd need a third, someone who is an older, experienced keeper who can teach the other 2 but ensures we don't just rely on Amos if he gets injured
Defenders: Konsa, Dasilva Pearce, Bauer, Solly, Page
Lennon, SarrIf we kept Konsa, he'd need a new partner IMO. Pearce and Bauer are fine as options, but I'm not confident they'll be good enough as starters week in week out. Dasilva is more than capable, Page and Solly again as squad players, but we'd need a new right back.
Midfielders: Fosu, Forster-Caskey, Kashi Aribo, Clarke, Marshall, Dijksteel
Reeves, Kaikai, JacksonFosu is good enough, as are Kashi and JFC. We'd need a new winger on the right, Marshall is ok as backup and we'll have to see about Clarke given the injury. Aribo is probably good enough too but isn't tested at that level yet, same for Dijksteel. Kaikai thankfully isn't ours, but Reeves is, and I don't think he'll step up.
Forwards: Magennis, Ahearne-Grant
Zyro, Ajose, Mavididi
Big Josh is ok as an option off the bench, but thats about it, KAG is unproven at this level but his Crawley loan may have lit the spark. No-one else is good enough.
Based on that we need to buy CB, RB, RM, STx2 to start regularly, and probably sign another 3 squad players to have a 25 man squad capable of competing in the Championship
That summer we bought in igor, bikey, Tbh, jbg and a number of others, added 4 more in January and actually had a decent championship team/squad for a while.
Quality player.
Kashi is more than good enough - but does he want it ?
Konsa is going to be like Cousins, will always step up to the challenge even if he is a bit short on skill.
Magennis is not even good enough for L1, nor is Zyro or Ajose.
Bauer still has it to prove at that level.
Pearce fell a bit short when he went up with Wigan (I think), but that was a while ago.
Clarke is great for L1 - not sure about a step up, same goes for Marshall
Page, Reeves and Aribo could struggle
Fosu and JFC would adapt, but JFC couldn't get into a good Brighton side up there.
Amos and Dasilva would be fine, but Solly probably not.
Mavididi needs to adapt his play to a team game - he is far too individual, like a lot of younger players nowadays tring to prove themselves. He should spend some time with Clarke and see how he positions himself to develop play for others.
Are the Shrewsbury players good as individuals, or are they a great team?
At the age of only 27 it has to be injury related in my opinion hence my caveat IF he recovers.
A fully fit Solly of c 2014 or so could probably have played in the Prem successfully.
'We've got Chris Solly he's f****** quality' is apt when he is fit.