Be interesting to keep count of the number of players we are linked with in the press over the next few months. Wouldn’t be surprised if the number exceeds 100

Perton has tweeted over 200 already.

I take it you don't rate Traore? I think he could have a place, certainly an impact sub, but against the lower teams he could be an option a wingback. He and Vinagre worked well against Cardiff.

No idea why it wasn't tried again.

I think it wasn’t tried again because Doherty and Jonny have been excellent. Vinagre is surely a star of the future and be disappointing to lose him, but a few clubs have been looking at him evidently. As for Traore I still think the best is to come from him but can’t say I see him as a wing back

Doherty and Jonny are much better options defensively, But against lower opposition such as Cardiff (which we have struggled against) who are not such a threat, we can sacrifice some of our defensive duties to go more on the attack.

Traore and Vinagre both have pace and love to take people on, it worked a treat against Cardiff, surprised it hasn't been used since.

The main reason it hasn't been used since is that we haven't played Cardiff again.

comment by LoneWolf (U22026)
posted 16 seconds ago
The main reason it hasn't been used since is that we haven't played Cardiff again.
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Nor will we next season, not in the league at least

Doc and Jonny it is then.

Vinagre is off?

Hope not rjc but other Premier League club’s have been scouting him

Possibly we need someone to replace Bennet, at the level we have reached, his passing may not be up to it but hats off to him he has been brilliant and no criticism

Cav, Costa and Traore will likely be open to offers i would imagine. Costa needs to leave for his own sake after falling off a cliff this term.

Cav has done reasonably well with limited opportunities but a good offer has to be listened to.

Traore has largely been crap, not entirely his fault but for 18 million you have to expect much much more and if a club offered close to his fee i am sure we would listen as he simply does not fit our usual system.

comment by herecomesthelight (U17321)
posted 2 minutes ago
Possibly we need someone to replace Bennet, at the level we have reached, his passing may not be up to it but hats off to him he has been brilliant and no criticism
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Agree, i am sure his will be one of the positions we make a big upgrade on

Can't believe how consistent Bennett has been for us. When he arrived I remember feeling really underwhelmed but he has definitely proved me wrong and is a real fan favourite.

As you say can he take us to that next level? The owners have shown that they prepared to be ruthless but if Bennett is replaced in the first 11 he would be a valuable and experienced squad player. In interviews he has said that he's never been the "main man" and is used to fighting for his place so definitely has the mental toughness.

Bennett has been excellent for the last two seasons and would be very unlucky to lose his place. Can’t help thinking he gets singled out for replacement because he isn’t Portuguese and hasn’t played for a Champions League club. Don’t think it’s got anything to do with how he has been playing. Thought his performance against Arsenal recently was probably his best so far

city,city 0-0
stay like it and look are a point ahead
Just beat us and be champions ..........

As I mentioned on another thread, I see no reason to release Costa, Cavaliero or Traore. They still have time left on their contracts, so unless a very good offer comes in for them, I say keep 'em.

We only have 19 senior players in the squad as it is and if we are playing football in Europe next season, then we need to add players, not get rid of them. I do expect quite a few of the players out on loan (25) to go if their contracts are up. That will reduce the wage bill a little.

A lot will depend on what size squad Nuno wants to work with and as has been mentioned already, we've been very lucky when it comes to injuries.

No point keeping players that are not good enough Wolfie that we can get good money for and Costa in particular has shown nothing to suggest he is good enough at this level

Costa has played 67 minutes this year in the league, Cavaleiro 260 minutes and Traore 266 minutes.

I can't imagine any of them are happy with that output

Nobody is talking about releasing them wolfie. The discussion is about selling them for the right price.

Do you just skim over a post and then jump in?

Costa was pretty much a regular until January but has not usually impressed as a sub and does not look happy when he does come on , he has played a part this season though if you look at the first half , it may be harsh to say he has not proved himself at this level but does not look like he will play for us much

Don’t know what’s gone wrong for Costa this season. Certainly not seen him at his best and I think we saw enough last season to know he is good enough. Hope he stays but if not I suspect he will get a good offer from the continent and find his way again.

Personally I think we have seen the best of Cavaleiro and I would say he isn’t quite good enough for this level as he gives the ball away far too often. Got some game time because he was the most suited to covering for Jota and Jiminez centrally but there weren’t many games he made a positive impact.

Traore brings something unique and has had some positive cameos as a sub and to me does open the door to a plan b when we need to change things and his best times in a Wolves shirt may well be still to come

Biggest question mark for all three to me is that they are probably best suited to a 343 set up and I doubt we will go back to that as a first choice. So they may have to settle for cup games and sub appearances if they stay and are they happy to do that?

Its interesting that Costa shone in a team that finished 15th in the Championship and was the main man in a team that was predominantly made up of journeymen British pros. He seems to be diminished by the talent he has around him now and unable to express himself in the way he did then. Maybe that's his level and he will never be the Premier league star we expected him to be. But it seems to me that it's his character that's holding him back at the minute rather than his ability.

Should bear in mind that despite us having a small first team squad, there are loads of guys on contract who the club has outgrown, some of whom will no doubt be shortly out of contract but many will need to be moved on also, here's just a small selection:

Enobakhare
Hause
Bonatini
Burgoyne
Deslandes
EEL
Ronan
Ofosu-Ayeh
Miranda
Graham
Mir
Zyro

Spangles, totally agree re. Costa, who I still think has potential, and Cavalleiro, who has probably shown us his best.

I'm not so sure about Traore. Most have his appearances have been as an impact sub, but in all honesty he dazzled but really didn't ever make an impact - 1 goal I think. However, he is probably the one out of the three that we might recoup some reasonable money on. Any offer over £10M I wouuld sell.