End-of-term review

Big changes needed this summer.

2) Let him go.

3) Yes.

4) Keep Gueye, Virginia

5) Striker, right winger, central playmaker, holding midfielder, right-back

6) Pickford, Branthwaite, O'Brien, Armstrong, Ndiaye, Alcaraz

2. If Calvert-Lewin was interested in signing, I think we'd have heard by now. Release, although I've no idea where he will go. The continent?

3. Play Alcaraz and sign him. If we're talking limited budgets, £15M is a drop in the ocean.

4. Keep Gueye. I still don't know how we will eventually replace him.

5. Right back, wide right midfielder, creative central midfielder, striker. Centre half to add depth.

6. Pickford, Branthwaite, O'Brien, Ndiaye, Alcaraz. Put Tarkowski in that category for his leadership.

2) Remind DC-L of the contract on the table as we can't afford to forget how much income goes on wages.

3) Yes

4) Depends on length of contract and, again, wages but certainly retain Virginia on a longer term contract than say Gana or Doucoure who at best should be one season stop-gaps. Of the players on loan, perhaps Lindstom on a much reduced fee say 5M.

5) A defender who could cover full back and central defender, a winger with pace, a striker depending on which 2 of the present 3 we retain and similarly an all-round midfield player depending on contract renewals.

6)Pickford, Branthwaite, O'Brien and those in midfield who are capable of beating a man and aren't out of contract.

I hope whoever has responsibility asks deeper questions and similarly these are the questions to be asked only if the responsibility falls to a committee, too many cooks and I don't exclude those who stick to and only have responsibility for the accounts.

2. Get rid.

3. Absolutely sign him.

4. Virginia, that's it.

5. RB, CM, RW, Striker.

6. Pickford, O'Brien, Branthwaite (if we keep him), Alcaraz, Ndiaye.

2) Definitely give Calvert-Lewin a new contract if terms are reasonable. I don't think he wants to stay but, if he did, then we immediately save ourselves £20-30M and he's our best striker currently.

3) Yes. I believe the option price is only £12M despite some reports of £15M. If the latter is true, that's great value. Though only if Moyes likes the look of him.

4) Depends on what budget is to spend. Gana is essential and arguably our player of the season. I think the likes of Young and Doucoure and Virginia could offer reliability as squad players on the right deals.

5) RB, RW, CM (Garner is not high level) and then probably a utility forward who could play across the front. If a striker upgrade is gettable, then great – but goals are expensive.

6) Gueye, Pickford, Ndiaye and Branthwaite are our only players who could play for top-level teams currently.

Let Calvert-Lewin go, I fear he's not fit enough for the Premier League – a slower league beckons.

Sign Alcaraz by all means – but don't expect Moyes to play him and Ndiaye both together, it's just not in his nature.

Keep: Gana, Virginia, give Armstrong a run.

Cut: Keane, Coleman, Patterson... and depending on how the incomings go, I expect a few from Doucoure, Harrison and Young to hopefully go... though I can see them being offered reduced contracts.

Get a right-back and, if the striker has to be Richarlison, then so be it.

No to, Soucek

2. Personally I am done with Calvert-Lewin. The best scenario is he is re-signed and then is sold later for a fee. Hindsight but he should of been sold last summer.

3. I would sign Alcaraz, but I think he needs to do a lot more. Think fans are too quick to over-hype players that show a bit of promise.

4. Gueye, Virginia. I can see an argument for Doucoure on a modest wage, but I'd like to go in a different direction that allows us to play more technical football. Young is rarely injured and can play 3 positions, but again I'd like us to move away from that.

5. Right wing, right back, striker, defensive midfielder. Another left back and an attacking midfielder.

6. Pickford, right-back, Mykolenko, Branthwaite, O'Brien, Gana, defensive midfielder, Ndiaye, Alcaraz, right-winger, centre-forward.

Subs: Beto, Chermiti, McNeil, Armstrong, Garner, Virginia, centre-back, forward, winger, full-back, Tarkowski, central attacking midfielder.

Hopefully that's not the case.

Calvert-Lewin has already gone; otherwise, he would have signed a contract. Real Madrid won't be coming in for him. Sheffield Utd, one of the promoted or relegated teams will certainly have him. I can't see Newcastle buying him.

Yes to Alcaraz. It's a pity he hasn't been played as an attacking centre mid yet.

I would keep Gana, Doucoure and Harrison. Limited as what they are, a team needs workrate. Our squad is threadbare. If we can keep them on reduced wages, I would be happy.

We need goals and pace in the team. Be good to have 2 proper overlapping full-backs. A winger with an eye for goal and another striker.

We need to keep Pickford, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O'Brien, Mykolenko, Gana, Garner, McNeil and Ndiaye.

As always, it's going to be a big summer. Do we have funds available?

If all of the out-of-contract and loan players walk away, we will be in big trouble next season unless we replace with similar numbers… which I don't think we have the budget to do.

PSR will still be a limiting factor for the next 12 months and our last 2 years losses are already £142M, way above the allowed £105M (I know there are allowances) before we add in this financial year due to end in June.

We will be in a better position after June but I'd still be surprised if we had more than £50M in the pot, so I think we will still be making significant use of the loans market.

To answer the questions in that context my answers are:

1 - My preference is to keep Branthwaite and offer an improved contract but it may be necessary to sell to provide funding for other acquisitions.

2 - I've always liked Calvert-Lewin, and he is still the best centre-forward on our books, but realistically it is time for him to go.

3 - Not totally convinced yet. Play home for the last few games and see at the end of those matches.

4 - I would keep Gueye, Doucoure and Virginia.

5 - Priorities starting right-back, right-wing/attacking midfielder, 15 goal+ centre-forward, quality Number 10. Other important areas to address, where loan market may come into play, are cover at left-back, cover at centre-back, gGueye long-term replacement.

6 - Pickford, Branthwaite, Ndiaye.

My pragmatic view for starting next season would be
Pickford, new right-back, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, new right-winger, Gueye, Garner, Ndiaye, new No 10, new CF.

Bench: Virginia, O'Brien, Iroegbunam, Chermiti, Beto, Armstrong, McNeil, Doucoure.

And then add loans, potentially with options to buy for cover/prospects at left-back, centre-mid etc.

Have to be able run 100 metres in under 11 seconds.

And if you can pass a ball to a team mate, that would be helpful.

A net spend of £45M would be our biggest in 5 years by some distance but it's peanuts for a Premier League side – especially against the backdrop of our net spend since 2021 which is a massive outlier in the Premier League – and against the backdrop of contracts ending (loan and free).

We probably need a couple of £100M (+) net spend summers to really kick on. Not unlike Wolves, Forest and Bournemouth etc.

Most of the successful older players we've signed fell into this category anyway.

Otherwise, you kill yourself financially and rob yourself of kitty (present and future) to improve the squad.

23 is a very low bar in my opinion, Paul.

That's your experience.

2) Let Calvert-Lewin go on a free as he is going come what may.

3) Sign Alcaraz.

4) Keep Gueye, Virginia.

5) Right Midfield, right-back, attacking midfielder and left back.

6) Pickford, Branthwaite, Ndiaye, Alcaraz, Chermiti (hopefully).

I always think you need balance, Paul. Emerging players, those hitting their prime in their mid-late 20s, and then the experienced, which yes, includes those over 30. Not uncommon in the modern game.

We need to get that down to around 24.

If he can stay fit he is a really good striker and he would fit in well in a Moyes team. If we should buy a similar quality striker it would be very expensive. A DCL at his best is a 50 million range of player.

Off course it is a risk because he has been so injury prone. But I think it has got a big upside to keep him.

I am sure Moyes and Watts would have discussed what the budget is and would imagine we have already contacted possible players for next season. Also the AFCON will effect us just before Xmas so we need to be mindful of that.

That average will be skewed by the likes of Ashley Young, Idriussa Gana Gueye, Seamus Coleman etc.

The figure of 28 made me look into it. Over half of our squad are 28 or under, 17 of the 25 registered players for this season to be precise. Quite a few are under 25 (between 20 & 23) and we have a teenager in amongst them in Armstrong.

We may not have the right balance in terms of quality, but I think we do have in terms of youth and experience.

We may need to pick up some free steady eddies like Ben Davies or Walker-Peters to cover positions and provide some experience.

Bit boring… but makes a big difference.

For example - if we are sticking with Mykolenko at left back then what’s the point of spending £5-£10m on a reserve left back when we can offer Ashley Young a new contract. He wouldn’t be first choice but could do a job in an emergency for free.

Same for Doucoure - if we sign Alcaraz (or another attacking player) then he’s good to have around the squad. Same for Harrison, Mangala or Lindstrom - if we can get them cheap - they’re good to have around.

That doesn't seem to be beyond the wit of man to deliver.

Alcaraz fee, Lampety free, Richarlison loan, seems a good place to start.

Walker Peters (Southampton)

Grey (Ipswich)

Souckek (WHU)

Alcaraz (Flamengo)

Norgaard (Brentford)

Richy (spurs) or,

Delap (Ipswich)

Keep:

DCL

Gana

Young

Virginia

Out:

Keane

Doucoure

Coleman (back room role)

Harrison

Keane

Lindstrom

Holgate

Keane

Keane

TBD:

Beto

Chermiti (loan)

Begovic

Patterson

Keane needs to go btw

Seems you are very keen on keeping Keane and I share that endorsement. He has been a liability for years and should have gone long ago.

A lot of emphasis on youth in the responses but we have a fairly young group skewed by a couple of pensioners who may not be in the squad next season.

One of my overriding feelings is that we need pace and goalscoring ability as opposed to youth.

Some among us will remember the goalscoring rampages of a young Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines. Oh for a modern version of that pairing now.

Another question posed: Is Harrison Armstrong ready for the Premier League and would it be better to give him game time on loan again or gradually introduce him to the first team.

What players can we get on loan vers ussolving some of our weaknesses by acquisition?

2) Offer new contract at sensible wages.

3) Keep but I think he'll go.

4) Gana, Virginia, Calvert-Lewin, Doucoure<./p>

5) 2 wingers, CM, RB

6) The only player I'd build a team around is Branthwaite.