The following is a rough list of players in and out in the past year. I've counted returns from major injury and young players stepping up since last year as ins. The list covers the January window as well as this summer. Players who impact(ed) the first team are marked *
In
Toko
Teixeira
Hughes
Stockdale
O'grady
Stephens
Effectively in
CMS x
Crofts x
Walton
Fenelon
Out
Ulloa x
Upson x
Ward x
Lingard x
Orlandi x
Lopez x
Rodriguez
El abd
Barnes
Bridcutt
Buckley x
Andrews X
Brezovan
Kuszczak x
Hoskins
This suggests that we are at least 5 players short 4 of whom should be at first team level.
We should have funds, because there has been a net profit in transfers of over £10m. If you look at who is (or was) on large salaries we should be able to afford some competitive wages while meeting FFP.
Arguments over bed wetting are stupid now (I'll wait for the usual abuse!) We have clearly started the season understrength and need a striker and left back before we can compete with anyone in the championship. Even if (optimistically) these signings or good loan deals are made, we could be around 10 points adrift of where we should have been by the time the squad is in place.
Now is the test. Will the board back Sami?
In
Toko
Teixeira
Hughes
Stockdale
O'grady
Stephens
Effectively in
CMS x
Crofts x
Walton
Fenelon
Out
Ulloa x
Upson x
Ward x
Lingard x
Orlandi x
Lopez x
Rodriguez
El abd
Barnes
Bridcutt
Buckley x
Andrews X
Brezovan
Kuszczak x
Hoskins
This suggests that we are at least 5 players short 4 of whom should be at first team level.
We should have funds, because there has been a net profit in transfers of over £10m. If you look at who is (or was) on large salaries we should be able to afford some competitive wages while meeting FFP.
Arguments over bed wetting are stupid now (I'll wait for the usual abuse!) We have clearly started the season understrength and need a striker and left back before we can compete with anyone in the championship. Even if (optimistically) these signings or good loan deals are made, we could be around 10 points adrift of where we should have been by the time the squad is in place.
Now is the test. Will the board back Sami?