Guest Post by Ruislip Hammer
With a new manager incoming and the summer transfer window on the horizon, there is understandably much speculation about players we might bring in.
First things first though – who should we be letting go? This should surely be the first priority for the Steidten/Lopetegui era. After all, space needs to be freed up, dead wood cut away, salary bill cut – not to mention all the financial fair play rules etc to be considered, before the club gets into recruitment mode for the great rotation we undoubtedly need.
Everyone will have their own views, of course. We must hope that the duo in charge are on the same page from the get-go on this. My humble opinion on stayers/leavers is as follows:
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KEEP
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POS
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COMMENT
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Areola
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GK
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Quality, needs cover
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Coufal
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DEF
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Warrior, lacks poise
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Emerson
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DEF
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Links well with Paqueta
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Mavropanos
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DEF
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Struggled with weak partners
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Casey
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DEF
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Highly rated CB/DM
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Scarles
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DEF
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Attacking LB
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Paqueta
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MID
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Quality/Frustrating
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Soucek
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MID
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Warrior, under-rated
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Alvarez
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MID
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Quality, gets booked a lot
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Ward-Prowse
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MID
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Reliable, good delivery
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Earthy
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MID
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Looks a proper no10
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Downes
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MID
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Good loan at Saints
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Potts
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MID
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The new Declan?
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Kudus
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ATT
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Quality, flexible
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Bowen
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ATT
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Our best player by far
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RELEASE/SELL
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POS
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COMMENT
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Fabianski
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GK
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Great servant, too old
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Johnson
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DEF
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Ordinary utility player
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Zouma
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DEF
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Gives his all, past his best
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Ogbonna
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DEF
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Great servant, too old
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Aguerd
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DEF
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Good passer, flaky in defence
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Kehrer
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DEF
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Not played much on loan
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Benrahma
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ATT
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Wishy-washy, had enough chances
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Antonio
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ATT
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Great servant, too old
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Ings
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ATT
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Too old, too slow
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Cornet
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ATT
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Hardly ever picked
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Mubama
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ATT
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Not taken his limited chances
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This would mean 11 leavers and only 15 being retained. I think that sounds about right. Apart from Zouma and Antonio, all the others in my leavers list have been bit-part players for the most part in the last season or two.
The remaining squad would be strong in midfield, light in other areas (goalkeeper, full-back) – and very weak indeed in central defence and strikers. No surprises there and they will surely be the priority areas for recruitment.
While I can’t see that much incoming cash from transfers, there are some very high earners who would be off the books.
All this assumes, of course, that we are able to hang onto to the likes of Paqueta…
you missed Cresswell
I said that I had seen the “new Declan” the first time I saw Potts play – so definitely keep him. Keep Johnson – if we can , keep Cornet & give him a proper assessment, give Downes a proper chance & keep Antonio for one more year. If money is short, re-assess Kehrer & sell him if he doesn’t reach the standard required. Otherwise, I agree with you.
Kehrer has played all 14 league games he’s been available for since his January move! Mainly at centre back, some at rb, once at lb. Would keep him and Aguerd, both good on the ball and we’ll play more possession under Lop.
Agree with all your keeps. In regards to your releases, I feel Fab can definitely do a job for us still despite age. I don’t think we should offload both Kehrer and Johnson in one window. Father time has caught up with Oggy and Aguerd doesn’t want to be here so I’d be hesitant to let Zouma go in the same window. I’d keep him as back up to Big Mav. I also think Antonio at the very least can still be an important impact sub.
I’d agree with all except I would see whether cornet can impress the new manager in preseason and make a decision late in the window whether to keep him or not.
Has Cresswell already gone? (Too old, too slow)
Like to see Cornet given a fair crack of the whip
Keep Kehrer and Cornet? Why, were we relegated? You don’t have to BUY replacements for them all either. Earthy and Scarles are ready now and are the right age and nationality to keep us within rules and give us some legs. Look at what Klopp has done with kids and ours are as good.
A good analysis and great talking point. I also think it’s too many to let go, I would certainly consider Kehrer, who is really quick and mobile CB not a fullback, and also Cornet, whose only fault seems to have been out of favour. All the old and/or slow players listed should go though.
Paqueta has to go. Only way to raise money for quality players. He can be brilliant and at the same time waste possession too many times. Not sure City would come for him now with his temperament getting him suspended and not sure if he actually suits English football.
If the squad was playing Moyesball a fair assessment
Playing 3-4-3 and some more would depart, the 2 czeck boys not technical enough,
I’ve got to say, your assessment of the squad is awful 😂
I’d keep Cornet – maybe a manager who trusted him would help? Is keep Kehrer as well. Could have done with him costing the amount of goals we’ve shipped this season.
Fair enough assessment but I think that is too many players to move on – and replace given you will get sod all for most of them.
I would also probably keep Antonio one more season if we can as he is a cheap attacking sub and can still be a handful for a tired defender. I would also keep Zouma and Johnson if possible as cover.
Aguerd seems set to go and I agree in letting all the others leave.
Back to my comment on not getting much for those who go, the cost of replacing half of the sell list with half decent replacements would be huge. Plus it completely changes the squad dynamic. Big risk alround but would probably be needed to be done in stages
Not so sure about coufal many a time our midfielders have had to bail him out of trouble and the way lopetrgui plays with the full backs bombing forward they are more like wing backs not so sure that’s coufal’s game