25 Mar 2025 21:30:44
Looking to the future, I kind of hope we don't get to 11 points. The club need to accept how bad this is and not be able to hide from it. I can see us doing a Luton and really struggling next year if we get the next choice wrong, but if we get a name currently being touted, there's hope.
We're still a desirable prospect with a good youth set up, recent European history and a place young players know they can showcase their skills. Hopefully that gives us some credit.
Looking to the squad;
GK: Ramsdale goes, probably for 70% of what we paid for him if we're lucky. We likely keep the other three.
FB: Sounds like Sugawara may join KWP in leaving. That leaves Welington, Manning and Bree as full backs. Probably need another in there.
CB: can see a clean out here. THB will probably want to stay in the PL after two consecutive promotions and clubs will likely be interested even if he hasn't been great this year. ABK looks disinterested, Taylor will want playing time guarantees, Bednarek and Stephens may well stay, but at least we have Wood and Edwards for our future who I'd hope would start to fill the shoes of starting CBs next season.
MID: Downes has been appalling this season and already hinted he wants out. Gronbaek I doubt we make permanent, Fernandes is too good for us and likely leaves, we look very light here. If Charles brings Rohl back with him, that'd be nice.
AM: Dibling will hopefully get us a good chunk, Sulemana will go, I think Lallana will retire and become an assistant manager if he doesn't give it one more season to help us get back on our feet. Brereton can go, Edozie I can't really comment on.
ST: Tall Paul will probably go but I'd love him to have a crack. Stewart needs to leave. Archer with Armstrong back will be good enough for our new level. Juan and Ballard in reserve should be sufficient if they get chances.
If we sell Ramsdale, Dibling, THB and Fernandes, I think we might get approaching £100m when accounting for the scraps. (Hoping for a Dibling bidding war to get £40m+).
We would then have a strong youthful homegrown core, needing a full back, a few midfielders and maybe a winger. Our forwards actually look like a good attack for the championship, the defence can grow into a good unit, we just need some guts in midfield.
Back to now, all eyes on el crapico at Leicester in a few weeks! Can we reach double figures? I doubt it!
27 Mar 2025 21:18:51
Southampton demanding in excess of £100M for Dibling according to the Telegraph
28 Mar 2025 07:45:53
Great post @SaintGgsy
I think we will pull in 150m in sales. Hope we make 4x statement signings at GK, AM, ST and winger, plus DM and CB, RB cover
Side looks good enough for championship but not many are prem level yet, so finally need to recruit and develop well.
Would love to keep Sulemana and Fernandes. Perhaps some are kept or loaned to get back if promoted.
New GK/Bazunu
Bree Wood. Edwards. Manning/Welling
Charles. Aribo/Downes
Armstrong New AM. Sulemana/Edozie
Archer/Onuachu
SUBS
McCarthy
Sanda
Stephens/Bednarek
New RB
Wellington/Manning
New DM Loan
Smallbone
Fraser
Edozie
New RW
Stewart (hard to sell)
Juan
Ballard
If get Rohl and 3x marquee signings, I will predict a positive 5th place.
Leicester
Ipswich
Sunderland
Birmingham
Southampton
Coventry
30 Mar 2025 00:56:24
With Albert Gronbaek unjustly given only a few minutes to prove his ability (by a Coach with very little ability) maybe it would be far more prudent to let the new Manager (in obeyance) assess him before making a life-changing decision on Albert’s future (retaining the option to sign him) .We have reported two brilliant young Managers under consideration (and as previously stated would be very happy with either but my ultimate choice (all things considered would be LIAM.ROSENIOR from STRASBOURG FC. As a clean slate is now required here are some of the high earners and dead wood to go : Bednarek, McCarthy, Stephens.Lumley, Fraser, Armstrong, Diaz, Onuachu Stewart Lallana (possible Coaching position) ALL GONE plus the anticipated transfers.
30 Mar 2025 16:07:20
I’m intrigued by all three expected to be relegated sides next year. McKenna may well leave, Leicester have recruited quite poorly and I imagine their wage bill will be inflated and need cutting down.
Neither team really has a great deal to be made through selling off players (Buonanotte and Delap aside) so if we actually get it right this time we may be able to pull back the gap, provided we are decisive, get the right man and then actively buy.
If we can keep the young stars, there’s a chance we can go for autos. Otherwise I’d just enjoy watching games and hoping we might be able to win a few. A team going down as horrendously as we are are likely to struggle, I’d take a play-off battle at this point and if we only win two games next season, a Pompey double will do.
02 Apr 2025 07:15:38
I remember having a dilemma last time about whether going up too soon would actually be a poisoned chalice and it turned out to be.
I would take a respectful performance too with a squad showing sings of growth and a playing style to survive in the Premier League.
Last time our squad strength gave us a predicted 2nd pand we finished 4th. This time it may be predicted 4th and we finish 5th to 7th.
Forgot to factor in Wrexham, I could see them attracting some good players and winning a playoff final, in a Hollywood script.
