A winger as well if Raph leaves. Sounds about right.

Striker?

Bamford, Rodrigo, Gelhardt and Greenwood are not enough?

If not, how many will be enough?

Good to see you Jonny.

When you say centre mid, what do you mean? Somebody to replace Pablo or somebody to replace Kalvin?

Think we need

Firpo cover or replacement
Phillips cover (he's injury prone and will be worn out after WC like last time)
Number 8 to improve on Klich
Number 10 to replace Pablo
Raphinha replacement if he leaves
Bamford cover/replacement


A whole lot of work imo unless we wanna be the Yorkshire Burnley and struggle again next season.

Though I have had a dig at thedong, I do agree that lack of an experienced keeper is a problem. Hopefully Kiko will not return with the intention of winning his place back. If Burnley do go down, Nick Pope will want a move especially with the world cup at the end of the year.
I think Firpo is good enough, he has shown it on occasion but he has spent too much time out injured. Sadly the person who has shown he no longer has the legs is Dallas, so we either need someone who is better than than Firpo or someone to deputise for him when he is injured.
We have a lot of centre backs and I reckon we need to jetison at least one (Llorente?).
Right back is an issue, we have no cover, I think Drameh could do a job but every indication is he would prefer another season at Cardiff where he will be guaranteed to get play time. Steve Morison has already said he wants him back, another loan I think. Personally I dislike Cardiff and Morison and would prefer to see him starting for us rather than them. No idea what that means for Bill.
Shackleton isn't good enough for the premier league.
I think Kalvin will leave in the summer, money will be offered and the owners' eyes will light up. It will give Jesse and nice amount of cash to spend but how do you replace him?
I think we need someone who can see and execute a pass, Aaronson?
And we need a 2nd striker, big money.

Pope, Aaronson, OBrien, Broja, Galan are a few id be happy with. Will be exciting to see who Marsh and Orta dream up and what kinda style JM will want to instill.

5 stars from me as I love your optimism LIW.

Hope you are right though. On the team:

a centre midfielder (box-to-box) yes
striker (one that can last a campaign) yes
left back (one that can actually defend) yes
#10 yes
Goal Keeper yes (if Burnley are relegated...Pope)

Could also see Marsch looking into signing Steffen from City. The American connection again.

Shaun, I also rate Broja (as do most clubs in the Prem including Chelsea). Would welcome him. But, can't see us having a cat in hell's chance of landing him.

Aaronson
Lang
Che Adams

+ a CM and a LB

Fred - Manchester Red might be having a major clear out

Richarlison - Everton might be in financial bother/relegated/both.

JM will undoubtedly try to recruit players he has worked well wirh before, so I expect Aaronson and Minamino to be a couple we may aquire this sumner.
Also a left back, 2 midfieders and a more experienced back up keeper to make a total of 6 new signings I think we need to help us achieve a realistic target of mid table status and if that's called obscurity I'll take that any day of the week to this season's nerve wrecking relegation dogfight.

Richarlison - he's good but he's a clown.

I think Man U are in for him. Good they can have him.

Man U are in for everyone.

I think as Everton have been so poor and he’s been average at times, there might be a chance. Seems to always cause defenders a lot of problems and involved in a lot of goals

comment by JonnyLosAngeles (My Dad was made in Leeds) עם ישראל חי (U9756)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
Striker?

Bamford, Rodrigo, Gelhardt and Greenwood are not enough?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Evening Jonny.

bielsa played one up top, marsch likes 2. Joffy and greenwood are kids, and paddy injury prone. The latter being the primary concern. So there is a case unless jm has real faith in joe and Sam.

For me, excluding the obvious like 4 like replacement if kp and/or raph leave. We desperately need the AM we’ve been chasing for however many windows (aaronson prob no 1 target).

If we’re improving the squad another cm would help- klich has been brilliant for us but looks like the years are taking their toll. Forshaw is a handy squad player but first choice in the PL?

We need comp for ayling - drameh may or may not be the solution. They need to decide whether a fit firpo would ever be the answer at left back. There have been glimpses of a player but no more and I think
Most woukd like an Upgrade.

Aaronson will likely replace Raphinha if he leaves.

I’d like us to sign a 6 (Fred would be amazing but no chance we can pay his fee or wages)

Can see Minamino coming in too. Would move the squad away from out and out wide players and shift it to players that can play across a narrower attacking midfield.

A full back on each side.

A striker.

Raphinha will likely leave for £65m, try and get a decent fee for Llorente, Costa for a few mill.

We should be in a position to spend well £100m if Raphinha leaves.

McTominay - Dirty b@st@rd to bolster midfield…couldn’t afford his wages though.
Charlie Taylor - Time to come home!
Nick Pope - The only issue is he’s a number 1, would Meslier be happy as back up? Probably not, I’d go for a 35+ year old who can lend his experience to Meslier and do a decent job if called upon.
Drameh - Not seen him at Cardiff…bring him back?
Costa - Looks like he’ll be coming back.
We have enough wingers and CB’s.
Need a proper striker…who?

Cornet from Burnley looks decent.

Pukki still doing the business if he’s happy on the bench

Raphinna replacement will be the big one though

Everyone seems to think we need to replace Rapha, not sure I agree. The money he brings in will help us to strengthen but we have Harrison, James, Summerville, Costa and Poveda, who can play on the wing, Rapha is a luxury. Whilst it would be good to have a similar player but surely it makes more sense to strengthen in other areas such as through midfield.

Agree Els. 30 wingers won't help us.

comment by A14... 152-0 T20 + Tea was fantastic پاکستان زِنده باد (U2805)
posted 49 minutes ago
Cornet from Burnley looks decent.

Pukki still doing the business if he’s happy on the bench

Raphinna replacement will be the big one though
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cornet definitely.

comment by Elsbels - The Specials' One (U21658)
posted 7 hours, 38 minutes ago
Good to see you Jonny.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks, you too mate!

I still read many posts here just have less time to think things through and post my own thoughts much.

Disappointed that MB's reign ended as it did, but based on what I have read about the senior players and that last horrible run of results he had, I think the trigger had to be pulled.

I didn't remember Jesse Marsch totally taking David Beckham out when they both played in MLS but I got a good chcukle out of seeing the clip recently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sotolFBuGW0

Also didn't realize JM was in LA for part of his MLS career (4 years) and is one of just 3 players to have played in the first 14 years of MLS.

comment by milkyboy (U12731)
posted 6 hours, 5 minutes ago
comment by JonnyLosAngeles (My Dad was made in Leeds) עם ישראל חי (U9756)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
Striker?

Bamford, Rodrigo, Gelhardt and Greenwood are not enough?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Evening Jonny.

bielsa played one up top, marsch likes 2. Joffy and greenwood are kids, and paddy injury prone. The latter being the primary concern. So there is a case unless jm has real faith in joe and Sam.

For me, excluding the obvious like 4 like replacement if kp and/or raph leave. We desperately need the AM we’ve been chasing for however many windows (aaronson prob no 1 target).

If we’re improving the squad another cm would help- klich has been brilliant for us but looks like the years are taking their toll. Forshaw is a handy squad player but first choice in the PL?

We need comp for ayling - drameh may or may not be the solution. They need to decide whether a fit firpo would ever be the answer at left back. There have been glimpses of a player but no more and I think
Most woukd like an Upgrade.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi MB (makes me tear up as I think of Marcelo),

I just think we have 4 good strikers who could do very well for us in a settled side. Be hard to keep all 4 happy but that's what good managers do.

For me, we have other areas that need strengthening way more. Look at what Brentford have done with Eriksen, what a genius move! Villa and Coutinho, but that may be costing a bit.

I see Joffy and Greenwood as more of a number 10. We have really struggled without a Bamford type player so that's a priority for me. We can't persist in James or Roberts up top.

Id like us to sign a cm to complement Philips. Forshaw and Klich are decent back ups but I'm not sure they'd play for a top team.

LB is a concern. Id probably sign a young up and coming championship/L1 LB if there's any available. We don't have a young LB at the club who's ready to step up. If Drameh comes back we have a young RB raring to go.

Arronson would be a decent signing or Cornet as some have mentioned as a replacement for Raphinha.

Sales wise I could see a cb and maybe Roberts leave as well as Raphinha