How do we improve our squad for PL?

Blue Valkyrie · May 5, 2017

( Revised ) 25 Man Squad

1. Stockdale / New Signing
2. Maenpaa / New Signing
3. Walton ( maybe out on loan freeing up a squad place )
4. Bruno
5. Rosenior
6. Bong / New Signing
7. Leftback - New Signing ( Pocognoli )
8. Rightback or Central Defender - New Signing
9. Dunk
10. Duffy
11. Hunemeier
12. Goldson
13. Central Mid - New Signing
14. Stephens / New Signing
15. Kayal
16. Sidwell / New Signing
17. Norwood
18. Knockaert
19. March
20. Murphy
21. Skalak
22. 'No 10' / Striker - New Signing
23. Murray
24. Baldock
25. Hemed

U21
26. 'No 10' / Striker - New Signing
27. Winger - New Signing
28. Tomori?
29. Sanchez ( if Walton out on loan )

Out on Loan :
Towell
Walton or Sanchez
LuaLua
Ince
Elvis
Hunt

Should be clearer soon after the Villa game with the retained list.

Bring back Bryan wade!! · May 5, 2017

Blue Valkyrie said:
( Revised ) 25 Man Squad

1. Stockdale / New Signing
2. Maenpaa / New Signing
3. Walton ( maybe out on loan freeing up a squad place )
4. Bruno
5. Rosenior
6. Bong / New Signing
7. Leftback - New Signing ( Pocognoli )
8. Rightback or Central Defender - New Signing
9. Dunk
10. Duffy
11. Hunemeier
12. Goldson
13. Central Mid - New Signing
14. Stephens / New Signing
15. Kayal
16. Sidwell / New Signing
17. Norwood
18. Knockaert
19. March
20. Murphy
21. Skalak
22. 'No 10' / Striker - New Signing
23. Murray
24. Baldock
25. Hemed

U21
26. 'No 10' / Striker - New Signing
27. Winger - New Signing
28. Tomori?
29. Sanchez ( if Walton out on loan )

Out on Loan :
Towell
Walton or Sanchez
LuaLua
Ince
Elvis
Hunt

Should be clearer soon after the Villa game with the retained list.

That highlights how much work we have to do between now and August.

B.W. · May 5, 2017

Blue Valkyrie said:
( Revised ) 25 Man Squad

1. Stockdale / New Signing
2. Maenpaa / New Signing
3. Walton ( maybe out on loan freeing up a squad place )
4. Bruno
5. Rosenior
6. Bong / New Signing
7. Leftback - New Signing ( Pocognoli )
8. Rightback or Central Defender - New Signing
9. Dunk
10. Duffy
11. Hunemeier
12. Goldson
13. Central Mid - New Signing
14. Stephens / New Signing
15. Kayal
16. Sidwell / New Signing
17. Norwood
18. Knockaert
19. March
20. Murphy
21. Skalak
22. 'No 10' / Striker - New Signing
23. Murray
24. Baldock
25. Hemed

U21
26. 'No 10' / Striker - New Signing
27. Winger - New Signing
28. Tomori?
29. Sanchez ( if Walton out on loan )

Out on Loan :
Towell
Walton or Sanchez
LuaLua
Ince
Elvis
Hunt

Should be clearer soon after the Villa game with the retained list.

Isn't Bruno also out of contract? Also, shouldn't Tomori be number 8 rather than 28 in your list?

sparkie · May 5, 2017

B.W. said:
Isn't Bruno also out of contract? Also, shouldn't Tomori be number 8 rather than 28 in your list?

Bruno signed a new deal for next year a while back.

Tomori is U21 so wouldn't count towards the 25 man squad.

Blue Valkyrie · May 9, 2017

( Revised ) 25 Man Squad

1. Stockdale / New Signing
2. Maenpaa / New Signing
3. Walton ( maybe out on loan freeing up a squad place )
4. Bruno
5. Rosenior
6. Bong / New Signing
7. Leftback - New Signing ( Pocognoli )
8. Rightback or Central Defender - New Signing
9. Dunk
10. Duffy
11. Hunemeier
12. Goldson
13. Central Mid - New Signing
14. Stephens
15. Kayal
16. Sidwell / New Signing
17. Norwood
18. Knockaert
19. March
20. Murphy
21. Skalak
22. 'No 10' / Striker - New Signing
23. Murray
24. Baldock
25. Hemed

U21
26. 'No 10' / Striker - New Signing
27. Winger - New Signing
28. Tomori?
29. Sanchez ( if Walton out on loan )

Out on Loan :
Towell
Walton or Sanchez
LuaLua
Ince
Elvis
Hunt

Chuggy12 · May 9, 2017

Nathan Ake (Chelsea)
Tom Cairney (Fulham)
Joshua king (Bournemouth)
Calum chambers (arsenal)

The_Viper · May 9, 2017

Chuggy12 said:
Nathan Ake (Chelsea) - Been hoping for him since we went up.

Tom Cairney - Would be expensive and only available if Fulham failed in the playoffs, I think he's worth the money though, big YES. (Fulham)
Joshua king (Bournemouth) - Probably not for sale
Calum chambers (arsenal) - No from me

Good list for me mostly.

Weststander · May 9, 2017

Blue Valkyrie said:
( Revised ) 25 Man Squad

1. Stockdale / New Signing
2. Maenpaa / New Signing
3. Walton ( maybe out on loan freeing up a squad place )
4. Bruno
5. Rosenior
6. Bong / New Signing
7. Leftback - New Signing ( Pocognoli )
8. Rightback or Central Defender - New Signing
9. Dunk
10. Duffy
11. Hunemeier
12. Goldson
13. Central Mid - New Signing
14. Stephens
15. Kayal
16. Sidwell / New Signing
17. Norwood
18. Knockaert
19. March
20. Murphy
21. Skalak
22. 'No 10' / Striker - New Signing
23. Murray
24. Baldock
25. Hemed

U21
26. 'No 10' / Striker - New Signing
27. Winger - New Signing
28. Tomori?
29. Sanchez ( if Walton out on loan )

Out on Loan :
Towell
Walton or Sanchez
LuaLua
Ince
Elvis
Hunt

Due to a lack of PL quality strikers, would be relegated. Two or three new strikers will be required. SB has awful injury record and will Hemed score against the best defenders?

Blue Valkyrie · May 10, 2017

Weststander said:
Due to a lack of PL quality strikers, would be relegated. Two or three new strikers will be required. SB has awful injury record and will Hemed score against the best defenders?

Yes, good point.

( Revised ) 25 Man Squad

1. Stockdale / New Signing
2. Maenpaa / New Signing
3. Rosenior
4. Bruno
5. Rightback - New Signing
6. Bong / New Signing
7. Leftback - New Signing ( Pocognoli )
8. Dunk
9. Duffy
10. Hunemeier
11. Goldson
12. Central Mid - New Signing
13. Stephens
14. Kayal
15. Sidwell / New Signing
16. Norwood
17. Knockaert
18. March
19. Murphy
20. Skalak
21. 'No 10' - New Signing
22. Striker - New Signing
23. Murray
24. Baldock
25. Hemed

U21
26. Striker - New Signing*
27. Winger - New Signing*
28. Tomori ?
29. Sanchez

* These new signings may not be U21 in these positions, but the overall numbers need to be correct.

Out on Loan :
Towell
Walton
LuaLua
Ince
Elvis
Hunt

Nixonator · May 11, 2017

Hopefully Stockdale will sign new contract. No idea about reserve keeper, I like Maenpaa but I guess he will leave to play games.

1 - Stockdale
2 - Maenpaa
(u21) - Walton/Sanchez

Disagree about those stating Bruno won't cut it. How many times was he caught out this season? Brentford, Preston, Huddersfield maybe? Even then he wasn't solely to blame. Assuming Rosenior has a good pre-season he will be adequate cover too. If there is a decision to be made about a potential new RB, it should done closer to the deadline after assessment.

3 - Bruno
4 - Rosenior

Both Bong and Pocognoli I rate the same, though both seem injury prone. I'd say neither will be first choice but one of them will be cover. I would go with Bong, won't be firing any free kicks into the top corner but solid and reliable and will demand less money.

5 - New LB (Friend)
6 - Bong

For further FB cover Tomori would fit the bill who can play accross the back 4, though I wouldn't want him at FB for many games.

(u21) - Tomori

CBs are pretty covered, assuming we land versatile cover like Tomori above, we will be fine.

7 - Dunk
8 - Duffy
9 - Goldson
10 - Huenemeir

In order for us to switch formations around, we will need another solid CM and to retain the 4 we currently have (minus Ince).

11 - New CM (Mooy)
12 - Stephens
13 - Kayal
14 - Sidwell
15 - Norwood

We will need an additional wide player to replace Kaz and provide competition.

16 - New Winger (Ince)
17 - Knocky
18 - March
19 - Murphy
20 - Skalak

The forward area will be the key element of recruitment this Summer. We need potentially 2 Strikers and/or a no10.

21 - Murray
22 - Hemed
23 - Baldock
24 - New Striker (Javier Hernandez, 28 and reportedly on 70k/w at 13th place Leverkusen)
25 - New support Striker/no10 (Cairney)
(u21) - Abraham

My 2c.

Weststander · May 11, 2017

Bruno against PL wingers will be so vulnerable, due to their immense pace.

Cover will be required at CB for Goldson (how long before he will be 100% safe to play), otherwise one injury and we have no cover. Unless Tomori's the man for that position too.

symyjym · May 11, 2017

Weststander said:
Bruno against PL wingers will be so vulnerable, due to their immense pace.

Cover will be required at CB for Goldson (how long before he will be 100% safe to play), otherwise one injury and we have no cover. Unless Tomori's the man for that position too.

I reckon we could possibly see us starting games with 3 CB's and the 2 WB's next season. That with give us some extra cover at the back and flexability going forward. We know Dunk and Uwe like going forward so I could easily see Duffy playing in the middle of those two. It could work really well with 3 disciplined and well rehearsed CB's on the same page.

Machiavelli · May 11, 2017

Nixonator said:
Hopefully Stockdale will sign new contract. No idea about reserve keeper, I like Maenpaa but I guess he will leave to play games.

1 - Stockdale
2 - Maenpaa
(u21) - Walton/Sanchez

Disagree about those stating Bruno won't cut it. How many times was he caught out this season? Brentford, Preston, Huddersfield maybe? Even then he wasn't solely to blame. Assuming Rosenior has a good pre-season he will be adequate cover too. If there is a decision to be made about a potential new RB, it should done closer to the deadline after assessment.

3 - Bruno
4 - Rosenior

Both Bong and Pocognoli I rate the same, though both seem injury prone. I'd say neither will be first choice but one of them will be cover. I would go with Bong, won't be firing any free kicks into the top corner but solid and reliable and will demand less money.

5 - New LB (Friend)
6 - Bong

For further FB cover Tomori would fit the bill who can play accross the back 4, though I wouldn't want him at FB for many games.

(u21) - Tomori

CBs are pretty covered, assuming we land versatile cover like Tomori above, we will be fine.

7 - Dunk
8 - Duffy
9 - Goldson
10 - Huenemeir

In order for us to switch formations around, we will need another solid CM and to retain the 4 we currently have (minus Ince).

11 - New CM (Mooy)
12 - Stephens
13 - Kayal
14 - Sidwell
15 - Norwood

We will need an additional wide player to replace Kaz and provide competition.

16 - New Winger (Ince)
17 - Knocky
18 - March
19 - Murphy
20 - Skalak

The forward area will be the key element of recruitment this Summer. We need potentially 2 Strikers and/or a no10.

21 - Murray
22 - Hemed
23 - Baldock
24 - New Striker (Javier Hernandez, 28 and reportedly on 70k/w at 13th place Leverkusen)
25 - New support Striker/no10 (Cairney)
(u21) - Abraham

My 2c.

I'll go with all of this apart from Ince. I can't see Murphy or Skalak playing much in the PL, so I think we'll need a right-footed winger (and, even better, one that can also play as a support striker).
I do think we'll need to release a few players that are under contract, the aforementioned two and Hemed being the likeliest candidates, which might even free up some space for another player.

SeagullDubai · May 11, 2017

Icy Gull said:
Pacy, young strikers to lead our "on the break" tactics is the most important position to strengthen imo

IMO games are won and lost in the midfield. Would like to see some attacking midfielders who aren;t afraid to give 100 per cent and close down the opposition before they get within striking distance. If we couple this with skillful pacy forwards, we could easily finish in the top 6.

Weststander · May 11, 2017

SeagullDubai said:
IMO games are won and lost in the midfield. Would like to see some attacking midfielders who aren;t afraid to give 100 per cent and close down the opposition before they get within striking distance. If we couple this with skillful pacy forwards, we could easily finish in the top 6.

At least. CL football 2018/19 is not beyond us.

Beach Hut · May 11, 2017

If we sign Nathan Ake even on loan that really would be amazing, fantastic player

Nixonator · May 18, 2017

Machiavelli said:
I'll go with all of this apart from Ince. I can't see Murphy or Skalak playing much in the PL, so I think we'll need a right-footed winger (and, even better, one that can also play as a support striker).
I do think we'll need to release a few players that are under contract, the aforementioned two and Hemed being the likeliest candidates, which might even free up some space for another player.

Why not Ince out of curiosity? He's looked a different player this season than the one you remember at hull/palace. Absolute quality, goes missing at times but then don't all wingers including our very own AK.

I don't understand this thing about his attitude either, seems everyone wants to believe he has the attitude of his father but none of his footballing ability. I have actually met him by the way, one of the most grounded people I have ever met which is odd for a highly paid footballer. If you ask Derby fans about him they will tell you the same, who themselves had to be won over after he had signed.

Also, I can't see us releasing Hemed in that fashion, we could get a fee for him from someone quite easily if we wanted rid, which I don't think we do.

Machiavelli · May 18, 2017

Nixonator said:
Why not Ince out of curiosity? He's looked a different player this season than the one you remember at hull/palace. Absolute quality, goes missing at times but then don't all wingers including our very own AK.

I don't understand this thing about his attitude either, seems everyone wants to believe he has the attitude of his father but none of his footballing ability. I have actually met him by the way, one of the most grounded people I have ever met which is odd for a highly paid footballer. If you ask Derby fans about him they will tell you the same, who themselves had to be won over after he had signed.

Also, I can't see us releasing Hemed in that fashion, we could get a fee for him from someone quite easily if we wanted rid, which I don't think we do.

His record this season speaks for itself, and he's been one of the few performers in an under-performing team, so it's not that I can't see the attraction. What tips me against is two factors. First, he's a bit too similar to what I regard to be our best two wide players -- Knockaert and March -- in that he's left-footed; I doubt Murphy or Skalak will get much game time in the PL, and really think that we need to augment our wide players with a right-footed player, to provide some balance and variety. Second, from somewhere we've got to add PL experience or at the very least substantial top-flight experience to our squad, and there are alternatives out there that will fit the bill (Grosicki, for instance). Now there's an argument to be made that says that that experience could come from elsewhere, but the kind of additions I'd most like to see to our squad (Abraham, Mooy, Cairney, Taylor) don't, so this places a further premium on those other players/positions.

perseus · May 18, 2017

Stockdale (renew)
Bruno Duffy Dunk Bong (renew)
Knockaert Stephens Kayal March
Baldock Murray

Keeper (new)
Rosenoir Hünemeier Goldson Pocognoli (signing)
Murphy Norwood Sidwell (renew) Skalák
Forward (new) Hemed

Lualua (?) Ince (L) Towell (L) Hunt(L) Walton (L) Ankergen (

) Manu (?)

Walk before we can run. These implies up to four over 21 players. Walton can go on loan as I think we can get him back if we have a keeper crisis?

I think I would pick Johnasen (Fulham) a left-sided midfielder who can score goals, Marshall (Hull) as the second keeper. Not sure if Bong or Pocognoli are fit enough?

Number 10 and a speed merchant. Left back might need to be quick to cover for the others.

Players that will thrive at the new standard: Bruno, Rosenoir

Gully Forever · May 18, 2017

..With a shit tonne of money!.

Half of our squad isn't premier league standard. But they will get a chance.
Come January when we are sitting near the bottom, The cheque book will come out.

I have to laugh a people thinking our starting 11 that drew at Villa will give the big guns a game. Seriously. Reality check.

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How do we improve our squad for PL?

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