It's funny, centre back has been such a huge problem for us but now with Porteous, Hoedt, Sierralta and one more, this would be the only area we'll start next season looking fairly competent in at this level, once the loans are gone and we lose Louza, Pedro and Sarr (I use the word "lose" loosely on that last one). Add to that the number of OAP's and players who just aren't good enough, we're looking at needing close to a total rebuild of the squad in the summer if we are going to have any hope of a promotion push.
There won’t be any budget to fund a rebuild. It will need to pay down debt. We can’t get from month A to month B without borrowing against future revenue or taking a bung from Udinese. Next year is going to be a shocker without outside investment.
A rebuild based on new loans and free transfers. Hopefully we can find a few more bargains like Hoedt and Porteous.
Don't think we'll do much business at CB this summer considering we've just signed two players and Kabasele is still contracted to us for a year. Reckon Cathcart extends his deal for another year, and I know we won't agree on this, but if he is going to be firmly established as a backup, I'm fine with that
This league is crap, it is possible to do it on the cheap with smart business. Sarr (make your own minds up about how much of a loss he'd be) and JP will be out the door in a flash, but I wonder who else will go, Asprilla might be best served staying (if he hasn't been pissed off at being frozen out) and Louza might not have shown enough since his injuries. I suppose we have a few loanees we can wangle some cash out of too!
Guess with promotion still very much the goal no long term planning would have been done at all despite Managa and Costa coming in .
I think avoiding relegation next season should be the first target. We are crap now and unless there is a total overall and Manga attracts some cheap decent European players to the Vic, we face a struggle . If Sarr, Pedro, Louza go and we fail to upgrade the squad, then we are left with total dog turds. The club is in utter turmoil on and off the pitch. There is also the possibility of a points deduction and going into Administration to deal with. We will be one of the favourites for relegation in 2023/24. Promotion next season? You're having a laugh.
I imagine if we do somehow manage to get to the Prem the targets will be older experienced players on short contracts, if we stay in the Champo then hopefully it means younger players with potential coming in on longer contracts. Add the rumours of the club being sold or new investment coming also then I iamagine it is hard for the new SD and his cohorts to make any real plans. I would hope they have targets in mind but are just waiting to see where we will be next season first.
In fairness we could sign Haaland, Mbape and the entire Argentina world cup winning squad and you would have us down as favourites for the drop. I guarantee we will not be one of the favourites to be relegated next season. As it stands there is no threat of admin or points deduction next season unless you can prove otherwise
We absolutely won't be favourites for the drop, people will still see us as a 'big' club for the division, but we've been playing like relegation contenders of late! Doesn't seem like we're in any immediate danger of admin or breaking any financial rules, but that's not to say it's not coming when the parachute payments dry up
We went for older experienced heads when we went up last time, they neither proved very useful on the pitch, nor managed to fetch us much in transfer fees. If by some miracle we do get promoted, we'd be ginormous favourites to go straight back down, but should target young, cheap players whose values can increase
I didnt mean as old as last time. 30 years old max so at least we get a couple of decent seasons out of them. We could go the youth route if we go up but they would have to be of the quality we probably couldnt afford. At least we seem to have a core of decent young players already to build on.
Ah, come on. Knowing Pozzo, we would Haalands Dad, some guy who had been a tourist in Paris and the Argentinian Death Squad members. I think we are closer to administration than is comfortable. You cannot guarantee, but l like the faith you have. How do you see the summer months going for Watford? What are your thoughts for survival? Wilder is not the man to take us forward. He is on the cusp of being a dinosaur and l think he is wise enough to see that what may be left of the squad is simply not good enough.for the Championship. He could stay and take the money or wait for a pay off. As for the the Kamara/Martins transfer/loan issue, who knows what the punishment will be if we are found guilty. We have Pozzo under investigation by the Spanish Authorities. Bayat being investigated again for money laundering, fraud and match fixing. We will be on TV next season, both on EFL Highlights and possibly Crimestoppers.
One year left of Parachute payment?. We have already gambled that away on debt repayment . Our debts are massive. We may just be paying off the debt or just its interest to survive as a business. No money means free transfers signings, out of contract players and the club being at the mercy of bargain bin Agents. Our core of young players, but are they good enough? Interesting times ahead.
So tell me, how do you about feel survival next season in the Championship. Battered at home by Championship strugglers Cardiff City. We are in deep trouble
I hope we are in for Dumb Waiter. More mobility than some of our players and also serves a useful role in the offseason.
We look dreadful but we won't be favourites to go down, in fact I would imagine we would have shorter odds to go up than down. That's not to say that's what fans believe though. Probably the most important summer of the Pozzo tenure coming up
Yes, a massive summer. I agree we won't be favourites to go down, but we could if we get it badly wrong, and judging by recent seasons/summers....
Desperately need a captain on the pitch. A player who is not only vocal but leads by example. Shouldn't be difficult to find
Genuinely all of these should go. Obviously the loans will. However reality is, some of this crap will stay because we can’t shift 29 pieces of rubbish in one window. Bachmann Okoye Ngakia Gaspar Cathcart Kaba Ekong Pollock Hoedt Kamara Choudhury Kayembe Dele-Bashiru Clevs Bacuna Kone Sarr Quina Baah Kalu Pedro Hungbo Pussetto Fletcher Assombalonga Bayo Davis Araujo Martins
I can make a case for some of that list being retained. We still need a squad as it can’t completely be filled with players graduating from the U21’s. From your list I’d keep Cathcart, Hoet, TDB, Britt and Bayo. I can even make a case for Clevs as a registered emergency player but with mainly coaching duties. I don’t even have a problem with Bachmann, but if we play with such a high line as I suspect we may do under Ismael, then he would struggle big time with rushing off his line. Kalu would be decent if only we could get him fit enough. He’s got some skills for sure.
The lunatic that is Alfredo Morelos at Rangers is available on a free, he's 26 - would you have him ?
Yeah I reckon I would, although depends what he’s like off the pitch, as long as he doesn’t kill team moral etc
Have to say I thought he was a lot more prolific in the Scottish Premiership than he actually is, it's a no from me