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Post by CURLZ on Jul 23, 2020 21:30:59 GMT
After retaining our Championship status, at some point we will benefit to the tune of £6.7 Million plus an unknown amount of Television Money. I'm pretty sure a fair chunk of that will go into shoring up the damage caused by Covid . I live in hope though that there will still be some left over for improvements to the Squad whether that be in the form of loan signings, Free signings ( As I believe there will be a good few players becoming available ) Or even transfers within reason.
I think Steve Rutter should be first on the list if Nathan can persuade him. We then need to look at who we no longer require, and I was rather hoping we can keep the Academy Kids as they are our long term prospects and probably don't cost an arm and a leg to run.
How many Players do we need to bring in for next season to compete without being put through another season like we have just endured.
I reckon 4 or 5 appointments need to be made and a bit of tweaking carried out, and if we happen to get the mix right I see no reason why we can not add another 12 to 15 points on to the total achieved this season.
What do the rest of you Guys think ?
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Post by Wimbo on Jul 24, 2020 9:09:15 GMT
I would let the following players leave & if any remaining contract issues seek a mutual consent departure:
Galloway: if he ain't going to recover & play why keep him: perpetual sick note & 1 year left on contract.
Cranie: ( 1 year left on contract): fair player but his pace has gone. & I reckon we could do better.
McManaman: done ok but probably won’t do much more than we have seen.
Tunnicliffe: ( 1 year left on contract): not good enough
Butterfield: hardly got a game under either manager: time to go
Hylton: love what he has done but time to move on to a L2 club
Try to retain on new contracts the following OOC players: Rea Berry Lee
Take up I year option on LuaLua
Players with 1 year left on their contracts: either renew or sell if we can get a taker otherwise they are free to move on in summer 2021: Collins, Pearson, Bradley, Potts, Pelly, Moncur, Shinnie. I would like to keep this group if they want to stay and extend their contracts.
As for newcomers, once the above is all sorted then we surely need to really strengthen in the attacking wing-back area if we are to make any use of Collins. I would like us to sign Bree, always looked a good player to me when playing at RB.
We need a CCV type CB; could we get him back on loan? If not then really need for similar quality as Pearson & Bradley are very willing but a touch limited (top end of L1 players IMO).
Holding midfield: desperate shortage especially if Rea departs. This was IMO the greatest mistake that GJ made; he just did nothing about that position in either transfer window.
Creative midfield: another needed, maybe two.
Strikers: need another one to support the hopefully staying Collins.
May well sound a bit harsh but we have to make the move from a very good L1 side to a reasonable level Championship side.
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Post by buzzhatter on Jul 24, 2020 9:31:33 GMT
Can't argue with most of that, Wimbo. Must keeps I think are Sluga, Shea, Bradley, Shinnie, Lee, Berry, Rea and Cornick. I would also keep Tunnicliffe in the squad, if he can play in NJ's preferred formation(s), and possibly Cranie, and possibly Pearson. Move heaven and earth to get Bree and Carter Vickers. We need much more strength and pace up front, and creativity in midfield, plus more competition in both wingback positions. All without overstretching ourselves financially, but doing enough to finish lower-mid table, that'll do me.
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Post by 8two on Jul 24, 2020 9:39:15 GMT
The most important position that needs strengthening is the most costly and unfortunately it is doubtful, if not impossible, to get anything much better than we have. The only possible chance is an ageing Premiership player who still loves the game and wants to play or a seriously good youngster who needs to play with men.
I can't see much happening with the time available before the new season so expect to go forward with the majority that are already here.
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Post by rutlandhatter on Jul 24, 2020 12:47:41 GMT
I agree with Wimbo's assessment, particularly having a replacement/cover for Rae. I spoke to some of the players at the railway station after the Middlesborough game and they clearly recognised the difference Rae made. Incidently, we didn't miss Izzy Brown when he'd gone, did we?
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Post by greeno on Jul 24, 2020 13:20:36 GMT
I would keep Danny, still plenty to offer IMO.
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Post by bernardshakey on Jul 24, 2020 14:04:14 GMT
We need a quicker centre back if we can't get CCV back. We need cover at defensive midfield and left back if Galloway is released or not likely to be fit. Perhaps a goalscoring striker if we win the lottery.
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Post by bms on Jul 24, 2020 14:29:25 GMT
Next season will a very big one for all clubs as thefinancial impact of the pandemic, still without an end in sight, really begins to bite. All the more reason to echo Curlz’ point about the reward for maintaining our league status.
It was interesting to note that Nathan’s success in the post lockdown run was built largely around our promotion side, with exception of CCV and Bree. Both of those were indispensable to our success, the latter really impressing towards the end of the season when it really mattered. Rea and Berry would be my top two contract priorities.
I also agree with Wimbo’s summary. Although also sceptical about Hylton, he did seem to create big problems and some scoring opportunities in his appearances so I’ll go with Greeno and say keep. I’d also add Lua Lua to the list of essential keeps, if at all possible. Collins scored 15 goals as well as working very hard in every game I saw, including many that were already lost - keep.
Anyone else notice that without Pearson, we were undefeated in the last 5 games - not sure whether he lost his place due to injury or fell victim to the post Reading changes?
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Post by 8two on Jul 24, 2020 14:43:33 GMT
Thought it was 14 Sunny, and I think 6 were from the spot. That's 8 from open play. Is that a reasonable return from a number 9? I personally believe that Hylton, given a full season, would have a better return.
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Post by Wimbo on Jul 24, 2020 15:23:08 GMT
Thought it was 14 Sunny, and I think 6 were from the spot. That's 8 from open play. Is that a reasonable return from a number 9? I personally believe that Hylton, given a full season, would have a better return. I think 14 goals from Collins, ok some were penalties, is a good return when you consider we played virtually all season without wingbacks to create chances for him and also GJ had him playing as an almost additional defender or out wide. In the previous two seasons, he scored a total of 44 league goals for Luton with the likes of Stacey & JJ/other wing-backs providing service. So, for me, assuming NJ can come up with some decent wing-backs for his diamond and carve out chances, the question is does Collins want to extend his contract which only has a year to run. If we get the wing-backs and Collins wants to stay, then keep him IMO. On the other hand with Danny Boy, maybe ok as a late sub but start with him and how many times will his frustration lead to us ending the game with 10 men?
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Post by offpat on Jul 25, 2020 0:01:52 GMT
I agree with Wimbo's assessment, particularly having a replacement/cover for Rae. I spoke to some of the players at the railway station after the Middlesborough game and they clearly recognised the difference Rae made. Incidently, we didn't miss Izzy Brown when he'd gone, did we? I tend to agree too - but I think Izzy Brown could improve - the way Sluga and Bree have improved - if NJ gives him a similar wake up call as he did to Bree. There were some games early on where he showed he can run through defenders and pick a great pass - we seem to have forgotten that with his fading under Graeme Jones, he wasn't the only one to slip backwards under that manager. He has massive creative potential but also has to build an engine like Pelly's and learn how to cover defensively. There can be no free pass for creative players "just to create" in this division - Berry showed what can be done, and Cornick, great and energetic defensive work. If NJ can coach that level of awareness and grit then Brown could be a better creative link than Shinnie, who also seems to have gone backwards this season - I think Brown has more potential to be a top Championship creative midfielder than anyone else we have or could get, but he needs some strong coaching to discover the player he can be. I honestly think our finances will be stretched to the limit and that means no Sluga style purchases. we need Mick to keep coming up with some young undiscovered genius - and bring them in and blood them, bring them on. - It's something Luton have been pretty damn good at throughout the time I've been watching, from Rioch and Macdonald to JJ and Stacey But we are feeling good now in a way that I had not imagined possible from Christmas to June. and I just hope that we can do as well next season as we did these last 9 games.
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Post by 8two on Jul 25, 2020 8:18:53 GMT
So Nathan wants a 22 man squad . . .
Who do we keep and how many vacancies do we have?
goalkeepers: Sluga, Shea, Isted (3)
defenders: Kioso, Potts, Galloway, Bradley, Pearson, Cranie (6)
midfield: Berry, Pelly, Rea, O'Kane, Shinnie, Moncur (6)
forwards: Collins, Hylton, Lee, LuaLua, Cornick (5)
add to this two youngsters: Panter and Neufville
so far that's 20 + 2 and doesn't leave much room for new signings so if given 2 more, what positions and who from the above would you not retain to make room for more?
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Post by Wimbo on Jul 25, 2020 8:41:54 GMT
So Nathan wants a 22 man squad . . . Who do we keep and how many vacancies do we have? goalkeepers: Sluga, Shea, Isted (3) defenders: Kioso, Potts, Galloway, Bradley, Pearson, Cranie (6) midfield: Berry, Pelly, Rea, O'Kane, Shinnie, Moncur (6) forwards: Collins, Hylton, Lee, LuaLua, Cornick (5) add to this two youngsters: Panter and Neufville so far that's 20 + 2 and doesn't leave much room for new signings so if given 2 more, what positions and who from the above would you not retain to make room for more? Dave, has NJ said he wants a 22 man squad going into next season? The only reference I can recall is his 22 man ref for completing the last 9 games of the just finished season. In previous season NJ has said he wants to work with a squad of no more than 22 outfield players but even then, it usually expanded a touch beyond 22 outfield players.
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Post by 8two on Jul 25, 2020 8:50:22 GMT
So Nathan wants a 22 man squad . . . Who do we keep and how many vacancies do we have? goalkeepers: Sluga, Shea, Isted (3) defenders: Kioso, Potts, Galloway, Bradley, Pearson, Cranie (6) midfield: Berry, Pelly, Rea, O'Kane, Shinnie, Moncur (6) forwards: Collins, Hylton, Lee, LuaLua, Cornick (5) add to this two youngsters: Panter and Neufville so far that's 20 + 2 and doesn't leave much room for new signings so if given 2 more, what positions and who from the above would you not retain to make room for more? Dave, has NJ said he wants a 22 man squad going into next season? The only reference I can recall is his 22 man ref for completing the last 9 games of the just finished season. In previous season NJ has said he wants to work with a squad of no more than 22 outfield players but even then, it usually expanded a touch beyond 22 outfield players. Bill: Sure I read somewhere 22, however think he made similar wishes when down in the lower leagues but the squad seemed to grow into 30 or so. I suppose he could not count the goalkeepers and mean 22 outfield players. Most of those I've listed I think would be difficult to improve upon with the likely funds available.
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Post by bms on Jul 25, 2020 9:00:38 GMT
Thought it was 14 Sunny, and I think 6 were from the spot. That's 8 from open play. Is that a reasonable return from a number 9? I personally believe that Hylton, given a full season, would have a better return. The 15 includes the goal he scored for Ireland, so yes, 14 for the Town. On the issue of all things goals, next season is surely primarily about reducing goals conceded? I suspect we have set the record in the Championship for the surviving team with the worst goal difference?
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