I think it really all depends on who signs a new deal. If we just lost say Sakho, Wickham, PvA, and McCarthy and signed a few new younger first-team ready players we would actually already be stronger given three of them have barely played all season and one has had very patchy form. I agree that if the majority of the players out of contract leave we are screwed, but I honestly think the likes of Schlupp, Townsend and Bentenke will sign new deals. Say we got Gallagher on loan, he is an instant upgrade on the perennially injured McCarthy, while anyone who can play more than 10 minutes is an upgrade on Sakho and Wickham.

Eze undoubtedly is a big blow and of course there is always the Zaha question, but I actually think the club are pretty stable and all this panic is just among the fans due to the lack of factual information.

LB taken care of...

Not sure, after the last few games, you can confidently state Ward defends the penalty area well

If, as has been mooted on here, Lampard is our next manager and has signed a three year deal, there is absolutely no tangible reason, whatsoever, to delay the announcement.
He could have been at the U23 last night, looking at how the kids perform under pressure and in front of a crowd.
He could have been announced at such an event - good news on top of potentially good.
I can see no reason for the club to keep their cards so close unless it’s utter cobblers and we are no further forward.

The bottom line is that only the club are ITK - they won’t leak anything and everything on here is just heresay, speculation, hope, despair and/or prediction. Just like my 50 years of supporting the club.

Edited by Helmet46 (25 May 2021 9.07am)