Discussion: Perfect Summer Window

[Joelsim]

Now Roy's got the team playing to its potential, maybe it's time to complete the team for next season. We're safe I reckon.

But, we're still a few players short of a really good team. The transfer strategy has been excellent over the last two years, we need to supplement our revenue as a small club with players who have huge potential, realistically we're a stepping stone/career path for the best youngsters.

The perfect window for me would include a RB, a CM, a winger and a No 9.

Those players are as follows:

Boey or AWB at RB.
Alex Scott as CM (but he's more than capable of winger or 10 too).
Balogun as 9.
Carlos Borges from City U21 as a left winger.

This squad could challenge for Europe IMO, providing we keep Olise, Guehi, Eze et al.

[Eddie McGoldrick's tash]

Originally Posted by Joelsim

Now Roy's got the team playing to its potential, maybe it's time to complete the team for next season. We're safe I reckon.

But, we're still a few players short of a really good team. The transfer strategy has been excellent over the last two years, we need to supplement our revenue as a small club with players who have huge potential, realistically we're a stepping stone/career path for the best youngsters.

The perfect window for me would include a RB, a CM, a winger and a No 9.

Those players are as follows:

Boey or AWB at RB.
Alex Scott as CM (but he's more than capable of winger or 10 too).
Balogun as 9.
Carlos Borges from City U21 as a left winger.

This squad could challenge for Europe IMO, providing we keep Olise, Guehi, Eze et al.

Plus a genuine left back alternative.

A genuine alternative to Doucoure to hold the base of our midfield (if he gets suspended or injured we will struggle) and take Luka's place.

A younger centre back option who stays fit to take Tomkins place (Richards injury record worries me a bit)

[Joelsim]

Originally Posted by Eddie McGoldrick's tash

Plus a genuine left back alternative.

A genuine alternative to Doucoure to hold the base of our midfield (if he gets suspended or injured we will struggle) and take Luka's place.

A younger centre back option who stays fit to take Tomkins place (Richards injury record worries me a bit)

I think we can cover LB with Richards, Schlupp, Jairo, Tayo.

I'm less worried at CB than you. I'd be happy with Richards and O'Brien/Ferguson/Balmer/Grehan if absolutely necessary.

CM, possibly needs thinking about, agreed.

[BringbackShipps]

The first question is who’s likely to go and need replacing…Wilf, one of Clyne/Ward, Luka and Tomkins will probably go. Jimmy Mac’s approaching the end, Sambi will go back to Arsenal, I also think Guehi may go for a big fee which will fund our next development phase. As above we also need a left-back alternative. Theoretically we could be looking at:

2 x CB if Guehi goes
1 x RB
1 x LB (or a player that can cover both full-back positions)
2 x CM
1 x LW
1 x ST (would prefer two if we can get an offer for JPM/Edouard)

It’s a huge amount to do (not that I think we’ll close every gap) and it can’t all be done with ‘wonderkids’ for big fees. I’m looking around at players like Kyle Walker-Peters who can play both LB and RB, I think Kelechi Iheanacho would also be a great pick-up if Leicester get relegated.

I do think there will be some talents signed this summer but definitely intermingled with some more Will Hugheses.

[Joelsim]

Originally Posted by BringbackShipps

The first question is who’s likely to go and need replacing…Wilf, one of Clyne/Ward, Luka and Tomkins will probably go. Jimmy Mac’s approaching the end, Sambi will go back to Arsenal, I also think Guehi may go for a big fee which will fund our next development phase. As above we also need a left-back alternative. Theoretically we could be looking at:

2 x CB if Guehi goes
1 x RB
1 x LB (or a player that can cover both full-back positions)
2 x CM
1 x LW
1 x ST (would prefer two if we can get an offer for JPM/Edouard)

It’s a huge amount to do (not that I think we’ll close every gap) and it can’t all be done with ‘wonderkids’ for big fees. I’m looking around at players like Kyle Walker-Peters who can play both LB and RB, I think Kelechi Iheanacho would also be a great pick-up if Leicester get relegated.

I do think there will be some talents signed this summer but definitely intermingled with some more Will Hugheses.

There's no way in the world that we're going to buy 8 players. If Guehi goes, of course, then we'll have many more millions to spend, but I'm assuming he stays for another year.

[BillyTKid]

AWB, Gallagher and a striker please.

[Joelsim]

Squad
GK: Guaita, Johnstone, Whitworth
FB: Mitchell, Boey/AWB, Richards, Ferguson, Clyne, Tayo
CB: Andersen, Guehi, Richards, O'Brien, Balmer, Ferguson
CDM: Doucoure, Hughes, Riedewald, Ozoh
CM: Eze, Scott, Schlupp, Ahamada, Hughes
LW: Scott, Schlupp, Ayew, Eze, Borges
RW: Olise, Ayew, JRS, Ahamada
9: Edouard, Balogun, Mateta

[Supersonic]

Will obviously change if we get a huge bid for a Guehi/Olise/Eze, let's be honest if someone offers 60M + for any of them we'll probably have to take it. But let's assume/hope it's just Zaha of our starting players that leaves. Would expect one of Ward or Clyne to go and the other to get a one year extension. Be very surprised if we renew on Luka or Jimmy and I also expect Jairo to move on. Would expect Phillips and JRS to be integrated in the first team squad, probably O'Brien too as a straight replacement for Tomkins. Possibly a third choice keeper coming in and sending Whitworth out on loan somewhere for the season. Would be nice to get a backup LB, but we never seem to bother with that, so I won't hold out for the impossible!! Could see a potential first/second X1 looking like:

Johnstone

New RB Andersen Guehi Mitchell

Doucoure New CM

Olise Eze Ayew

New ST


Guaita

Ward Richards O'Brien ?

Schlupp Hughes

JRS Edouard New LW

Mateta

with the likes of Phillips, Ahamada, a third string keeper, and maybe some other academy graduates like Ozoh/Balmer/Wells-Morrison rounding off the squad. Think that would be a pretty decent window for us.

[BringbackShipps]

Originally Posted by Joelsim

There's no way in the world that we're going to buy 8 players. If Guehi goes, of course, then we'll have many more millions to spend, but I'm assuming he stays for another year.

I agree, 5 or 6 is conceivable with the expected departures though.

We’ll surely be in for Ismaila Sarr again as well.

Johnstone
Walker-Peters Guehi Andersen Mitchell
New CM Doucoure Eze
Olise Iheanacho Sarr

Wouldn’t complain at that to be fair, plenty of power, pace and flair in it.

[PurePalace4E4]

Edit: ignore me.

[nicky]

We must sign:

We must sign:

An attacking rightback
A central midfielder
A wide forward
A centre forward

[nicky]

Spence loan
Sow
Clarke
Orban

[Jim Cannon]

Who is this Alex Scott, I don't believe this name has ever been mentioned here before

[Stinger1]

I don't think Balogun is realistic and will be out of our price range along with most of the decent strikers available this summer.

This would be my ideal window:

Djibril Sow £13m
Ismaila Sarr £15m
Callum Hudson-Odoi £15m
Sacha Boey for £12m if AWB isn't available

That's £55m and would give us a lot of cover and flexibility as well as giving us room for potential purchases in January or the following summer.

GK: Johnstone, Guaita
RB: Boey, Ward Ferguson, Clyne
CB: Guehi, Andersen, Richards, Tomkins, Ferguson, Ward
LB: Mitchell, Ferguson, Ward, Clyne
DM: Doucoure, Sow, McArthur, Hughes
MF: Eze, Schlupp, Sow, Hughes, Ahamada, Olise
LW: Sarr, Hudson-Odoi, Ayew, Eze
RW: Olise, Sarr, Hudson-Odoi, Ayew
CF: Edouard, Mateta, Ayew, Sarr

That would give a 4-2-3-1 first choice 11 of:

Johnstone
Boey - Andersen - Guehi - Mitchell
Sow - Doucoure
Olise - Eze - Sarr
Edouard

Bench: Guaita, Ward, Richards, Hughes, Ahamada, Schlupp, Ayew, Hudson-Odoi, Mateta

Not in matchday squad: Clyne, Tomkins, McArthur, Ferguson

[Palace43]

I think it all depends on who the club decide to renew.

I’d probably renew Matthews, Ward, Ferguson and try and keep Zaha, and then I’d say signings we need one right back, one midfielder, one winger and one striker. If Wilf leaves, we’ll need 2 wingers, whether that comes in the form of a new signing or someone like JRS coming in to compete.

Assuming no one leaves, it leaves us with a squad of:

Guiata, Johnstone, Matthews

*NEW RB*, Ward, Mitchell

Andersen, Guehi, Richards, Ferguson, O’Brien

*NEW MF*, Doucoure, Hughes, Eze, Schlupp, Ahamada

*NEW WG*, Olise, Ayew, Zaha or *NEW WG*

*NEW ST*, Edouard, Mateta

[Jim Cannon]

Originally Posted by Stinger1

RB: Boey, Ward Ferguson, Clyne
CB: Guehi, Andersen, Richards, Tomkins, Ferguson, Ward


Not in matchday squad: Clyne, Tomkins, McArthur, Ferguson

It might sound harsh, but after three years of trying to get fit, can we ever so politely assume he will never be in the squad?

[Palace43]

Originally Posted by Jim Cannon

It might sound harsh, but after three years of trying to get fit, can we ever so politely assume he will never be in the squad?

Can see him being released, but can also see the club giving him another year with like a 2 year option on it or something like that.

Either way, it’s low risk and something that not many would complain about. He won’t be able to demand a high wage from anywhere else so the club would be in the driving seat.

[Stinger1]

Originally Posted by Jim Cannon

It might sound harsh, but after three years of trying to get fit, can we ever so politely assume he will never be in the squad?

I’ll defer to the medical department on that one but I think it’s worth giving him another year and seeing what happens.

Lots of people said Schlupp was injury prone but he’s been available almost every week since the start of last season.

[Jim Cannon]

Originally Posted by Stinger1

I’ll defer to the medical department on that one but I think it’s worth giving him another year and seeing what happens.

Lots of people said Schlupp was injury prone but he’s been available almost every week since the start of last season.

That is true, but at no point did he spend 3 seasons largely on the treatment table.

I am not suggesting we dump Ferguson on the scrapheap, and am not averse to him being extended as pointed out, his wages would be inexpensive, however I think we are heading for miracle territory if after 3 years he suddenly gets fit enough to make an impact here.

[jamescav0]

RB: Boey/AWB
CM: Hjulmand and Lokonga
LW: Nelson
ST: Thuram

I fully believe Zaha will leave and those funds can easily sign us 2 quality players. I also think we will finally add a Brazilian/Argentina to the above as we've been scouting the region for so long now.