They've already had chances whilst on loan and neither have been remarkable. They just haven't shown the spark of a Zaha, Clyne or even a Williams. If they were still below the age limit, then perhaps they could occasionally feature but they're both way below the standard required in a Premiership squad. Next season, quality in depth is going to be essential and, IMO, it's far too risky to include them. At this level, we need Premiership quality players across the whole squad.

How do propose to get around EUFA's FFP rules by executing this plan of action?

Throw in another lower-prem standard centre half to give us injury / tiredness cover, plus a starting-quality right back. Add one more midfielder of a standard higher than the current level of Punch.

This season has shown up how terribly thin our squad actually is and how we really do need 15-18 Prem standard players rather than hoping to get by with perhaps 8 or 9 (at the start of the season).

Edited by Mr_Gristle (07 May 2017 2.58pm)

Edited by Mr_Gristle (07 May 2017 2.59pm)

Well I think Simon's head is large; always involved in espionage. (Name that tune)

The judgement is already in. They haven't particularly shone whilst on loan. No grounds whatsoever to believe they'd perform any better in the Premiership. If either Boateng or Kaikai showed the promise to perform at the highest level, they'd have demonstrated it by now.

We actually spent less than 10 million net in transfer fees in the Summer and then had to splash 40 million in panic buys in January.
Does that make sense to you?

Edited by Hrolf The Ganger (07 May 2017 7.35pm)

The front 3, Luka and Yoyo, three of the back four and Henessey are all good to great - for a top first XI just Punch and Ward need to be upgraded. The problem isn't the team it's the squad - one or two injuries in key places and we really suffer - Kelly hasn't been a bad squad player, but not as good as Hangeland was - you CAN make shrewd value aquistions, but our second XI has all this Chungy, Mutchy, Sako-ey championship quality to it - it'll only take a couple of signings to get the first XI competitive, but it's the back-up players and the competition for places that probably guarantee the mid table security we've lacked in each of our four prem campaigns. The front-line part of the squad has undoubtedly progressed during our time in the prem, remember Gabbidon, Moxey, O'Keefe and KG played a lot of games in our first season back - they wouldn't get a sniff today. But we still need to add regularly in the windows - we'll have Conor and Benteke next season, so a striker isn't first priority, a young winger to keep Andros and Wilf up to their game, two proper midfielders, a right back and a centre back (hopefully but unlikely Sakho). And a keeper. That's a miniumum of five prob more like six to keep us competitive. We'd be carrying Punch and Ward next season and definitely have to move on there. Mind you I've got this strange feeling Puncheon might be Big Sam's Kevin Nolan.