I am extremely grateful that Roy has kept us in the EPL during his time with us (even despite it being so depressing to watch and utterly uninspiring for large parts of the Season just gone).

I don’t however share the philosophy that we are doomed without him and will be relegated if he goes. Take for example Chris Wilder and Nuno Espírito Santo, both of whom had no previous EPL experience and were not huge names in English footballing circles when they took over at their respective clubs.

Both have done incredibly well for their teams and have shown that there is very capable, as yet untried, EPL talent out there.

Can someone please answer this:

What is the point of buying new players if the existing manager has only one season left ?

Surely any replacement will have different ideas and (hopefully) a less defence minded outlook ?

That would be sound planning and we simply dont seem to do that.

I dont see how Roy can take us any further. Given the results towards the back of the season, you have to doubt whether he could maintain the level either and keep us in the division next season.

So by your reasoning we should cut short the contracts of all the players we have because the new manager might not like them, which difference would it make for him if they were signed in August this year or in January? He wouldn't know anyway...
Honestly, I can't find a reason not to improve our team as soon as we can, regardless of what an hypothetical new future manager might like or not.
Anyone would prefer to find at their new team younger and stronger players.

The best footie management game: [Link]

People are assuming that Roy WILL leave next summer. Last summer, his contract expired this summer but it was extended. It MIGHT happen again if we are in a comfortable position next Spring (I only said MIGHT happen).

We can't stop signing new players simply because the manager only has one year left on his contract.

If a prospective manager doesn't like our squad, the answer is 'simples'. He shouldn't become our manager. Any decent manager will work with what he inherits if there isn't any significant money to change things.

We also need to remember that the contracts of many of our first team squad are due to end next summer (as per Transfermarkt - not sure how accurate this is because they still have Dann's down as expiring this year but I'm sure his has been extended to next year as well. Ages are current ages

Benteke (29)
Sakho (30)
PvA (30 this month)
Townsend (29)
Schlupp (27)
Meyer (24)
McArthur (32)
Cahill (34)
Guaita (33)
Ward (30)
Kelly (30)
Hennessey (33)
Wickham (27)
Jach (26)

So including Dann that makes 15 contracts that need sorting one way or another.
How many of them will be extended one wonders.

IN view of the above I suggest We NEED to be buying now as that will give the club more bargaining power when it comes to offering any extensions to any of the above.

Myself i would like to see a younger manager Gerrard comes to mind, not buying no that doesn't work managers come in to a club and work with what they have,sometimes fresh eyes works and ideas.
Roy has some good youngsters and the lad from WBA maybe another couple of new players coming in, just hope he can show some trust in them and play them,then I may rethink about Roy needs to go.
He has done a great job and been lucky which all managers need at sometime, but he very much stuck puts defenders on when we are losing i sooner lose 3-0 than hold it at 2-0 the sad thing is we was safe with 8 games to go,so he had nothing to lose and Wilf might have had a new lease of life.
lets see what happens at the start of the season

Thanks for the reminder Elpis.
So Roy, I hope SP buys you some nice attacking players this week. Enjoy your day.