Originally posted this thread mistakenly in General talk so moss feel free to delete from there.

Its dawned on me that I underestimated the amount of business we may have to do this summer, even on a tight budget.

It comes back to the issue we've had of having a good enough first 11 to compete but we've somehow got to a position where we're pretty much lacking adequate cover in every position other than left back (who'd of thought).

If you look throughout the team;

CB: Tomkins, Dann, Delaney, Kelly - I think Dann will return to the first team this season but Delaney looked past it last season and despite a few good games under a Sam set up, I can't help but think Kelly really isn't of the quality required. Will need at least 2 reinforcements there.

RB: Ward, Kelly - Ward gets a lot of stick but I really like the guy and think we could do a lot worse. Either way, we need competition or cover for him that stretches beyond Kelly surely, hopefully someone like Veltman can cover this position whilst also reinforcing CB.

CM: Luka, Mccarthur, Cabaye - this is concerning because the only one who can comfortably play as a proper holding midfielder is Luka. Cabaye can also play more as a number 10 but Mccarthur looks like he could be on his way out. Surely we need cover for Luka and at least another central midfielder, especially if Mccarthur is to depart.

CAM: Cabaye, Puncheon, (Joniesta?) - I think we've been crying out for someone who can play the creative role for a while. If Cabaye will be playing slightly deeper, the only real option is Punch but he really didn't look great last season regardless of how much we love him. Perhaps this is a perfect opportunity for Joniesta to finally step up, but the question has to be asked is he really ready for us to be so reliant on him?

LW/RW: Wilf, Townsend, Sako, Lee - for me neither of the 2 back up players are good enough. Both distinctly average championship players if were being honest. I like many others hope to see more of Kaikai this season but this is also a position where we are worryingly thin. The problem with integrating academy players is when you have to actually rely on them as the only cover due to a lack of squad depth, whilst I think Kaikai deserves his chance now, is it wise to put that type of pressure on him to be one of our key players if Wilf or Townsend get injured? There are still no guarantees he will be a hit and it would surely be wiser to slowly bring him in, minimising pressure as much as possible to begin with.

ST: Benteke - I had to double check this in my mind and perhaps I'm going mad but with Campbell released, I can only think of Benteke. We need to sign 2 strikers surely as back up and something different.

This is all assuming Mandanda is actually going to stay or that brings a whole other issue as I don't think we can afford another season with Hennessey between the sticks.

It's been made public that our finances will be slightly more limited this summer but it never really dawned on me how thin our squad actually is, and how much reinforcements FDB will actually have to make.

We're the Arthur over ere!

Forgot Wickham even existed tbh!

I agree that it's unlikely we'll cover every position and prioritise. I just worry if Luka gets injured and Cabaye (who's prone to the odd knock) is out for a couple of games, the situation would be pretty dire.

We're the Arthur over ere!

A new keeper should be right up at the top of our list. A dominant Nigel Martyn/John Burridge type who we can rely on for a few years. He would be worth 6 to 10 points a season and that could mean Europa League football.

3 Gk- Hennessy, speroni, *Mandanda

Defenders- Rb- ward, (new player), cb- dann, Tomkins , (new player), Delaney - ultity defender- Kelly (can cover anywhere across the backline) Lb- PVA and Soaure (if Back ready)

Midfielders - Rw/Lw - Zaha, Townsend, Kai Kai (u21) and schlupp. central midfielders - (defensive) Luka , (new defensive mid), centre midfielders- puncheon, mcarthur , (Attacking) - (new attacking mid) and cabaye

Strikers - Benteke, Wickham, (new Striker) and Lapado/Anderson

*depends on mandanda commitment, otherwise a goalkeeper a must.

I would sell, if we can - j.williams ,lee, mutch and sako

Bring in - *new gk if mandanda leaves, Tete, Sakho (if possible), coquelin (Arsenal), Kagawa or Ziyech and Javier Hernandez.

Edited by CPFC/SCCC (05 Jul 2017 6.51am)

Andy Johnson Magic, He wears a Magic Hat
When he Sees the match ball, he says he having that
He scores one with left foot, he scores one with his right
And When his playing Brighton, He scores all f***ING Night!

Was looking on transfer market it says our average squad age in 28.1 yrs. we definitely need to start reducing this. Personally think we need to change our transfer strategy by getting players with something to prove aged between 21- 25.

Another Damien Diagonal - Total Football

Most of our squad have played some decent football at times in their careers. If they all played to their best then we wouldn't be able to fit what we already have into the starting 11.
I think that we can discount all Pardews matches last season as a means to assess anyone. Also the the games under Sam were difficult to draw conclusions from, the first few games were very bad, then we went on that amazing run where we were getting the results but playing survival type football.
It is a whole new scenario now with the new manager setting out a clear way of playing which I think will bring out the best in what we already have.