Poyet will cull the squad expertly, just as he did last Summer

[BensGrandad]

I would like to see us sign a younger Tarrico, an experienced full back who is happy either at left or right back as cover for Calderon and Painter. Perhaps McNulty may buckle down and provide the cover/competition for Painter. No mention anywhere on here about Tunnicliffe will he be sold along with Elphick or brought back into the fold as cover; again he can play right back so could be cover for Calderon, all speculation but great fun doing it.

 

[Finchley Seagull]

The key to next season is finding that 20 goal striker (as it was this season). Murray and Barnes between them have done brilliantly this season and if Barnes gets one next week, we will have two strikers over 20 goals this year. However, the Championship is a big step up and signing a striker to score the goals for us at that level would be key.

I would be surprised if many of the out of contract players stayed. Murray is obviously discussing a new deal and they may give a one year deal to one of Navarro or Kishishev to back up Bridcutt. Other than that I think they may all be released (although a couple of young players like Jamie Smith and Kasim may get deals).

In terms of incoming, I think a first choice goalkeeper, centre back, central midfielder and strikers are important. We also need back up at full back and striker (if Murray goes we may even need three new strikers). Finally, if we can get LuaLua that would be great. It should be an exciting summer with us not being bottom of player's options now and being able to compete with most Championship teams.

 

[DT Withdean]

Murray, with a pacey/classy/proven finisher running off his shoulder, would be perfect.

His hold-up play, and inventive flicks etc, are tailor-made for this.

Not to mention his own goals and great at defensive set plays.

A born footballer.

 

[big nuts]

Murray, with a pacey/classy/proven finisher running off his shoulder, would be perfect.

His hold-up play, and inventive flicks etc, are tailor-made for this.

Not to mention his own goals and great at defensive set plays.

A born footballer.

Totally agree. One area we lack is 'blinding' pace. I'm really surprised teams haven't tried to pressure us higher up the pitch, as we have no one with terrorising pace that will run behind the oppositions back four. If we can keep hold of Murray, I would like to see someone like a Rob Earnshaw type who has the pace to scare defenders. If the opposition defend deep to nulify the pace of our attack, that means more space in midfield for us to pass the ball around.

 

[Giraffe]

To get promoted from any division you have to be signing players who can play in the division above. That's what we did this season, with three quarters of the first eleven capable of holding their own in the championship. However how many could play in the premiership? One maybe two? We therefore need to sign five or six players who could play in the premiership if we want to compete at the top end of the Championship.

 

[DT Withdean]

With our new revenue (many times higher) and no bank interest unlike most other clubs,
and the saving of wages on Elphick, Baz, Battipedi, Kishishev, Wood, Hart, Brezovan, Sandaza & Co .....

Poyet may be targeting some far better players than we realise.
e.g. there will be 3 Premier League clubs relegated with large squads.

And here will be disappointed League One clubs who don't win the play-offs (e.g. little old Peterborough won't be able to keep Boyd, Joe Lewis indefinately).

Add the amazing new futuristic stadium, big crowds, and life in Sussex/Brighton.

All making Brighton a massive draw to new players.

 

[Samej]

In Summer 2010 Poyet got rid of Carole, Cox, Whing etc ... and these all were correct shouts. He had to forget sentiment.

In the last 3 games, Poyet would have learned an awful lot about his squad.

Championship clubs (and this may include West Ham, Blackpool & Wolves), as well as Leeds etc, have pace, power, guile, and better defenders.
e.g. If Colchester strikers destroyed Elphick, think what Gradel, Bellamy, Long, Bothroyd would do at that level.

Surely we've got to:
1. Keep Bennett & Murray on much improved terms.
2. Say goodbye to Wood (awful), Brezovan, Sandaza, Baz, Battipedi & Elphick.
3. Recruit for squad/first team: class goalie, right and left backs, hard centre-half, pacey and proven striker.

The money is there with club revenue say 4 or 5 times greater, and the wages saved on the released players not up to it.

Interesting footage from Brian Clough on buying players .I am not comparing him to Gus That can`t be done, but his comments on buying players are still relevant today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UjmtNe-Y5I[/video]

 

[Deano's Invisible Pants]

Such a shame if Murray goes, as some say.

With NO transfer or signing on fee, surely Bloom/Poyet can give give the 27 year old a fantastic contract (probably his last big contract in football, so I don't blame him on wanting to secure his financial future). Otherwise gamble cash on fees and wages on someone un-tried.

He was nomadic before he joined us, so he must love the place.

Murray's part of heart of this great team who can make it at Championship Level (Murray, Bennett, Bridcutt, El-Abd, Greer, Painter, Dicker, Noone, LuaLua?, Barnes, Calderon) ... supplemented by some quality acquisitions.

Agree with your last paragraph, but not the first. You cannot look at one player's wages in isolation from everyone else's. Otherwise, you get a spiral of excessive wage demands from other players who consider themselves to be equally worthy. I think it's good to see Bloom and Poyet running it as a proper business.

 

[Deano's Invisible Pants]

No mention of Dunk in this thread?

Gus has said he thinks he can play at higher levels so you'd think he'll be cover for Greer/El Abd or work his way into first XI calculations.

Would like to see Dunk go out on loan at League 1 level and see how he copes. By all accounts he's a very good prospect, but on the strength of what I saw at Colchester, admittedly only one game, he's not ready for the Championship.

 

[LamieRobertson]

i'd like to keep Wood..i think at 19 he has done amazingly well...but as a back up striker as he has lots still to learn...seems obvious to me that Murray is off...although i would like to be proved wrong...he has become a much better all round player under Gus

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Joe Lewis? No thanks, seen him make far too many mistakes.

Posh's chairman has already said Mackail-Smith is leaving and that Boyd and Lewis will be allowed to go if they don't go up this season.

 

[Hotchilidog]

I think Murray will stay if we really want to keep him. I expect us to bring in two strikers (3 if murray does go), two full backs, KLL, possibly a CB and additional GK. One thing of which I am sure, all the incoming players will be quality, Gus will not go for anything less. I have every confidence in Gus and Tony to get the players that they want. I think we are in for an exciting summer.

 

[DT Withdean]

Hotchillidog.

Totally agree. Poyet being a positive sportsman and winner, will work his socks off this Summer and utilise the relatively vast new resources.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Kazenga LuaLua and Craig Mackail-Smith might relish playing for a club going places. Definitely need a new keeper , centre back , attacking CM and a decent strikeforce assuming Muzza goes. 8 players cut , nine in.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I'd love us to break the bank and sign Mackail-Smith and Boyd as a job lot.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

I'd love us to break the bank and sign Mackail-Smith and Boyd as a job lot.

sign CMS at full price and get Boyd free

 

[METALMICKY]

Signing CMS would be a dream. Unfortunately, he is already expensive and I bet we will have to really stretch our wage structure to keep Murray. It's crucial that the club is run like a proper business and we don't want to give players, agents and other clubs the idea they can take the piss because they know Bloom has serious money.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

CMS is already Norwich bound, isn't he? We would never be able to afford him anyway. If we can't afford to keep on Murray, we wont be able to affoerd CMS. I think some peoples expectations need to be reigned in a bit, finishing anywhere above 22 will be an achievement next season.

I think if we can get KLL on a season long loan then our mid-field is essential fine, lacking cover on the wings maybe. If as some people are stating McNulty is back and looking to fight for his place then we have cover for left back, but we still need cover for right back. I think Murray will go so we need two strikers, ideally an experienced Championship striker, and a younger more promising striker. I 'm concerned about Abd's height in the Championship, but then I also think in all other areas of the game he is more than good enough to step up, along with Greer but I think we should sign another player to compliment Greer to use as necessary when there are a couple of big schtums up front. Elphick needs to go elsewhere to play football.

Akergren / Brezovan
Painter / McNulty
Greer / ??
Abd / Dunk
Calderon / ??
Lua Lua / Noone
Bennett / Noone
Bridcutt / Navarro
Sparrow / Bennett / (Forster-Caskey?)
?? // ?? (Hoskins)
?? // Barnes

So I make it 6 for us to have a reasonable season.

OH, and I'd also like us to sign someone in midfield that's not afraid to rough it up a bit, proper box to box hard nosed midfielder in Crofts or Chaplow mold, so make that 7. We are at the risk of being too nice sometimes.

 

[DT Withdean]

Depends if Norwich go up or not.

World class Poyet will also be an additional draw to players coming in, and his footballing style.

Has more charisma than the likes of the mundane ex-Wigan goalie Adkins.

 

[JBizzle]

I'm not convinced Calderon will be 1st choice by the end of next season. Has he ever played at the level we are going to? I'd suggest his recent defensive frailties won't have gone unnoticed, even if he is also a latin favourite of Tanno and Gus and I think we'll see a quality RB signed as competition.

I really don't think this has any relevance at all. Calderon has been great all season and his defending has been great. The only games he has not been as good in are the final couple after a season when he has played almost every match. Sure, he's made a couple of mistakes but he is a Championship player in my book and his 7/8 goals have been invaluable.

As for the rest of the squad, Poke, Elphick, Tunnicliffe, McNulty, Smith, Navarro, Holroyd, Hart, Wood, Sandaza, Battipiedi, Baz could all be going and thats just off the top of my head.

Personally, I think we need more athletic players next season who can add a more physical presence that can stand up to cloggers like Southampton.

I think we need:

1x GK
1x LB
1x RB
1x CB
1x LM (Lua Lua)
1x RM
1x CM
2x CF (3 if Murray leaves - Hoskins + 1 or two)