What Do We Need To Strengthen To Progress?

[Salvatore Matrecano]

We have mission accomplished but lets be honest have only just survived and I genuinely think the CG crowd has been worth a goal a game that has scraped us over the line.

If we go into next season with the same squad I think its highly likely we are looking at another relegation battle. You can argue that with no injuries we look competitive and its true we finished well with more or less our first choice team. However the counter argument is that we finally had some luck, playing Brighton Chelsea and Arsenal when they were at their weakest.

So then the following is what I think the majority would say is our strongest team. You can argue about the odd name or formation, but be honest adding Scarpa or someone else from the current squad wont transform us. We do however have some depth and the core of a PL squad.

Hendo
Lodi Felipe Niakhate Worrall Aurier
Yates Danilo
MGW
Awoniyi Johnson

The question is, Being brutal what do we need to transform us from a current bottom 6 side to one that can at least be comfortably mid table? Be realistic we can probably afford 3-4 quality additions, where is that money spent?

If that means a favourite player is dropped (eg Johnson) for someone better say so. 
I have assumed we buy Hendo and Lodi. Is that the correct choice, are they good enough?
Do we need better than Yates despite the win stats with him in the team?
Despite his late season heroics is Awoniyi a top 10 PL striker?

No wrong answers, discuss!

[Jsmed]

All down the spine for me. Gotta be looking at a top class keeper, centre half, central midfielder and striker.

Then a left back and probably a winger/number 10 type.

Edit: didn’t read you post properly SM haha, but that’s an overall view of what we need.

[wassy04]

We have mission accomplished but lets be honest have only just survived and I genuinely think the CG crowd has been worth a goal a game that has scraped us over the line.

If we go into next season with the same squad I think its highly likely we are looking at another relegation battle. You can argue that with no injuries we look competitive and its true we finished well with more or less our first choice team. However the counter argument is that we finally had some luck, playing Brighton Chelsea and Arsenal when they were at their weakest.

So then the following is what I think the majority would say is our strongest team. You can argue about the odd name or formation, but be honest adding Scarpa or someone else from the current squad wont transform us. We do however have some depth and the core of a PL squad.

Hendo
Lodi Felipe Niakhate Worrall Aurier
Yates Danilo
MGW
Awoniyi Johnson

The question is, Being brutal what do we need to transform us from a current bottom 6 side to one that can at least be comfortably mid table? Be realistic we can probably afford 3-4 quality additions, where is that money spent?

If that means a favourite player is dropped (eg Johnson) for someone better say so. 
I have assumed we buy Hendo and Lodi. Is that the correct choice, are they good enough?
Do we need better than Yates despite the win stats with him in the team?
Despite his late season heroics is Awoniyi a top 10 PL striker?

No wrong answers, discuss!

Good question!

I think Henderson is as good as we can get in goal, Lodi is a class left back if he wants to stay, I think there's more of a debate if we're sticking with wingbacks though. Sounds like our early target is a new CB, I presume that implies we're going to stick with 3 CBs (which I would advocate). If we are sticking with wingbacks, RWB is a position we could improve (Spence?) although Neco showed potential pre-injury.

I'm assuming wingbacks, I think we need a keeper (x2), CB, RWB, LWB (x2), Wide forward, backup striker.

I think one thing you have missed in the analysis above is how many players were new to the division this season (eg all of our eventual starting XI aside from Aurier). There is massive room for growth in the current squad and I would argue only Felipe and Aurier are really playing at the peak of where their careers will take them. I would personally only look at minimal improvements and gamble on these guys taking a step forward. Look at squad improvements to be in the form of Danilo style signings that can be used as cover.

I really thing there is a big room for growth from Mangala, MGW, Danilo, Brennan, Niakhate, Yates, Neco and Taiwo in particular as they settle into their second year. I would be keen for new signings to not block these guys pathways to regular starts.

[Sausage Roll]

Presuming we buy Henderson I'd like better backup than Hennessy. No idea who.

Left back I'm actually happy with (presuming we sign Lodi). If Richards is fit let him compete with Toffolo for the backup spot or loan him out. I can't recall Toffolo really ever letting us down when he played. Lodi improved massively as the season went on.

I'd definitely buy another centre-back. Hopefully Niakhate will have a full season but Felipe and Boly aren't getting any younger and Worrall and McKenna aren't the fastest. There have been a few names linked previously (Mavropanis, Soh and others) so maybe one of those.

Another central midfielder too - a Kante-type player who can break-up play and start off attacks.

More attacking options, at least two. Either an improvement on Awoniyi or a more capable back-up. Unless we can transform Dennis into that which is possible I suppose. Ayew obviously isn't the answer and I don't think Surridge is either. Rodrigo from Leeds looks good (presuming they go down) but would we see the same with him we have Dennis this season?

Another wide forward too to either play the opposite side of Brennan or to push him.

I actually think that the team listed above - if it were guaranteed to stay fit all season - would survive comfortably. It's had a year now to get used to the league and would only get better from playing together. It's the real strength of depth we need now of either the same quality or new first choices. I'm really looking forward to see the business we do.

[wassy04]

All down the spine for me. Gotta be looking at a top class keeper, centre half, central midfielder and striker.

Then a left back and probably a winger/number type.

Edit: didn’t read you post properly SM haha, but that’s an overall view of what we need.

Do we need a new CM? 

We have Danilo, Yates, Mangala, Freuler, Shelvey, Kouyate, Scarpa, MGW (unless you count him as a fwd).

Freuler/Shelvey I'm sure are ones we'd be happy to offload so maybe squad replacements. I would prefer to see how Mangala, Yates, Danilo develop personally as these guys look class. Maybe one more of a similar ability to cover injuries. Mangala for example had a really strong finish, pretty much after he had that big appearance for Belgium.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

This is exactly my point Wassy.

I fully agree with what you say and Mangala is a great example. He has indeed improved particularly recently, thought he was immense especially in the Southampton game. My question is, can he develop to be a top half Premier League CM?

Do you realistically think any combination of the above names you listed would dominate a midfield or are capable of gaining more than 20% possession vs Arsenal?
If the answer is no then we need better. If that means a player who we have grown to love needs to drop out the team to accommodate someone better then so be it.

[Reds73]

To progress we need to score more goals and concede a lot fewer goals.
Therefore that takes improvement in all 3 lines.

GK - realistically need 2. Henderson plus 1 other

LB - Hopefully Lodi.

CB- we will need to spend a bit to get a starter, but certainly if playing 3 at the back we need another CB or if playing a back 4, need more athleticism in there. We have been linked to a few and wonder if we will look at Tanganga again as his career has stalled at Spurs. Quick, dominant and decent on the ball will cost a bit. To get to the next level we will need that.

CM - Need a top quality number 6 to really challenge Mangala. We have seen the improvement since Freuler and Shelvey have been put of the side. With Jack leaving, I wouldn’t be against Freuler or Shelvey departing if we can sign a starter in that position. Would give us Mangala, Yates, Danilo, Kouyate + 1 other.
This player needs to be really athletic, powerful and can control a game. If we could get a carbon copy of Paulinha that would be amazing.

STRIKER - this won’t come cheap. But we saw when Awoniyi was out, coops never fancied Surridge and we effectively played 3 months without a striker. That coincided with 13 games without a win.
We need to spend some money to see if we can get a player who can hit the ground running and score us 10 plus goals next season. This could cost 30m

Left Forward - Upgrade on Dennis required. Don’t think Coops ever really trusted him with the defensive side of the game. Need a player in this position to get 8-10 goals a season, similar to Brennan.
We have been linked previously with Sheraldo Becker.

So 6 quality additions.
In terms of exits who were included in the latest 25 man squad, and you also need to factor is we need to generate 3 spaces for Neco, Brennan and Danilo as these are now not classed as U21 - so will need 9 exits to make room.

EXITS FROM CURRENT 25 man squad.

Colback
Ayew
Lingard
Surridge
Dennis
Shelvey
Toffolo - ( assuming we sign Lodi and Richards is healthy)
McKenna (if we sign another CB then we surely can’t include 6 CB’s in a 25 man squad)
Navas

That would give us a 25 man squad, balanced, players used to the league now, and high class upgrades as mentioned above.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Another point. Both Wassy and SR mention wing backs.
Think it is crucial to know if our preferred formation is a back 3 or back 4. If back 3 Im not convinced either Lodi or Aurier, excellent as they have been are really suited. Neco is a player who I really like and have defended him even when he has played poorly. He was looking much better before his injury but is he good enough?
My opinion we need better LWB and RWB. Now if only there was one available who say wanted to come here to the extent he has deleted all mentions of his current club from his social media and started posting about Forest.

[tugger2018]

As per usual spot on reds 73
But I would like
Spence
Keep McKenna let worrall go bring in mbe soh or Panzo
Let o.brien get a chance
Sign up bamford and saint maximin

[stefanduma]

I think we need a keeper I do not think Henderson is good enough, the question is can we get better?

[RetroRed]

Striker.

New Main Stand.

[nffc93]

I think we need a keeper I do not think  Henderson is good enough, the question is can we get better?

Not good enough?