Even if Johnson goes, followed by Ferguson, Dann and Jerome, I believe we can still get automatic next season. Lets not forget, we are against a lesser pedigree of opposition next season so the suggestion of the replacement players not being of the same quality as the departures may not be such an issue.
Here's a realistic look at who's going/gone and who we have instead.
Ben Foster out
Colin Doyle in
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We need to cut Doyle some slack. Apart from the shocker against Chelsea a few seasons back and the unfortunate subs appearance vs Liverpool last season, Doyle has been excellent when called upon, and especially at the level we are at now. He was instrumental in us getting promoted in 06/07 and given a run in the team he can do the business again.
Maik Taylor out
Jack Butland in
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This is primarily for back up to Ben Foster/Colin Doyle and I think Butland can do it. Maik worried me towards the end of his tenure - couldn't dive or kick. Jack is up and coming and can be an able deputy.
Stuart Parnaby out
David Murphy ∨ Alpazan Ozturk in
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Out of all the released players, Parnaby puzzled me the most as I felt he had a lot to offer this season. He did some decent covering at left back when Ridgewell was called to cover centre-back last season and this role will go to Murphy. Cover for Steve Carr looks very bare now and the untried Ozturk may have to step up to the plate. There are good noises coming from the Blues camp about Ozturk, including from Nathan Redmond who says he is easy to play with as he gets the job done.
Roger Johnson and Scott Dann out
Curtis Davies ∨ Steven Caldwell ∨ Liam Ridgewell in.
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I'm happy with this. Perhaps another freebie or loan as a back up or possibly one of the youths. Davies is certainly good enough and Ridge has done it for us before. Calders has done it twice and at 30 he is still in his prime.
Barry Ferguson out
Michel or Morgaro Gomis in
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Admittedly I know not much about Gomis and obviously there are no guarantees Michel will stay. However, Gomis has rave reviews from Dundee United fans and seems to have the desire to suceed. Michel will definately do well if he stays. Could see a 'Hughton Bargain' come in too.
Craig Gardner (& Lee Bowyer) out
Jordon Mutch or Keith Fahey in
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I have no worries about filling Gardners boots for this level. Mutch proved in the first half of last season that he can cut it in this league and he is only going to get better. On the other hand we have Keith Fahey. Forget the Left Midfield rubbish that his last gaffer tried to put on him, Fahey is a central attacking midfielder by trade. That is what got the scouts attention, that's why we bought him and yet we have only seen him in this position once - when as an emergency he was brought on against Stoke City last season. I have full confidence in Fahey playing the box to box role this year.
Sebastian Larsson out
Chris Burke or Nathan Redmond in
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My only worry about this is that Burke has been part of a squad who have been perennial chokers. Does he have the mettle to go the whole way? If not, Nathan Redmond may get his chance - and judging by his recent international exploits he may grab it with both hands. When given the chance, I expect Redmond to explode onto the scene.
Kevin Phillips, Cameron Jerome & Nikola Zigic out
Marlon King & Adam Rooney (∨ Akwasi Asante ∨ Jake Jervis) in
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I can't see these two being the only strikers at the club come August but I like what I see so far. Pre-season will be crucial into forming a new striking partnership/rotation and I can only see our striking situation improving on previous years. Akwasi Asante has been firing them in for the reserves and academy and was named on the bench towards the end of last season - the lad is quite a unit. Jake Jervis has looked handy in League Two and if it comes to the bare bones he may get a few subs appearances.
This summary is based upon all the rumoured players leaving and no more players coming in - therefore a worse case scenario and still it doesn't look bad at all. We have been linked with Leon Best, George McCartney, Danny Guthrie and Jason Puncheon in the past few weeks. I'm not saying they are on their way, but these are good signs as these are players who will improve the squad. The strikers area is the biggest doubt for me and the area that Chris Hughton is surely looking to strengthen.
Lets cut the doom and gloom. We still have a very good squad for the Championship and we need to get behind them. Bring on pre-season!! Who's going to a friendly?!!
We can still do it. I'm confident.
posted on 11/7/11
Yep agreed
Yeung has his work cut out for him, for me now its a matter of him putting his pride out the way and looking at the best for the club.
If he knows he cant run the club to meet the goals he had, then he needs to sell us or at least sell some of the shares to someone who can take a active interest and finance our club better.
Yeung has spent a lot on the club, i dont think he would cut his losses i am sure he would want to make as much back and thus i cant see potential suiters comming along to buy into us.
It will take years for Yeung to build us up to a club that is seen as a viable option for investors to come on board.
Thats gonna take cash, cash that to be fair Yeung has not got
The KiD
posted on 11/7/11
Nosworthy, McCartney and Kilgallon from Sunderland
Best, Guthrie and Routledge from Newcastle
Would all do a decent enough job at this level, problem is they are not free.
I think the Sunderland 3 could cost £3-4M, the Newcastle about £6M so thats upto £10M
Which if Yeung had cash he could spend and then sell players on after, but the problem is we dont see to have cash unless we sell first.
The KiD
posted on 11/7/11
Good shouts BK. Dont see why, if the out goings are to be believed, we couldnt go in for some of them.
Still going to be some more activity in the free transfer market I think. I know you mentioned Kamara before, which could happen. Giles Barnes as well could be worth a look. I think someone mentioned Hargreaves before on a pay-as-you-play deal. Bit of a long shot/risky move but its all ideas at the moment.
Loans are going to be a major factor as well I think. If he doesnt get a transfer then how about Gibson from Man Utd? Could fill Gardners gap. Maybe Vela from Arsenal if he still doesnt get a look in? Again maybe a bit of a long shot but.....yeah.
posted on 11/7/11
You see we face a big problem and thats getting players to come.
The likes of a Kilgallon, Nosworthy, Best and Routledge could all do a job at this level but they are all Prem players that means they would want a decent wage.
We may have to offer them deals that can rise if promoted for example.
£10-15K a week that can either double or go up by £10K if Promoted.
What happens then is if we are promoted and have to pay those kinds of contracts due to Promotion we could end up with a number of players who would need replacing if we are to survive in the Prem and thus those players would be like Phillips, Parnaby, Fahey and Murphy was last season.
And if they cost £1M a pop in wages thats a lot for sqaud players for a club who would be recovering from big losses.
But unless we add such contracts we wont get the players.
A player like Routledge would not come here for say £10K or less with no increase if Promoted knowing that at some point if Promoted they could end up as a sqaud player on £10K a week.
So the only way is Wolves/WBA and getting younger hungry players on £5-10K a week, like maybe Rooney as opposed to players like King.
The KiD
posted on 11/7/11
I suppose it depends on the player. Are they happy to stay in the PL picking up a wage and not playing or do they want to move, possibly pick up a lower wage but actually get games?
posted on 11/7/11
Thats what i was saying... If a player who is on £20K a week dont get games he may join a Championship side and take a pay cut.
But then pulling them over the line may require that we pay them a wage increase if promoted.
The only other way is pay the going rate like we did with Phillips, Carr and Carsleys wages.
Over the course of years wage wise signing some of the surplus Prem clubs players would not save much if anything in wages compared to who we got now.
All it will give is get rid of players who want to play in the Prem for players who want to play week in week out.
while making some money on them.
The KiD
posted on 11/7/11
We can or could get cover for the players that leave, well, we have to otherwise we have no team, but instead of comparing them to the players that leave, and in some cases the gulf is massive, they should be compared ti the other players in the teams looking to do well and see how many of our new players are better. Prob not many, the other thing to do is to rate them as championship players or the potential of.
Doyle- possible championship player, could do a job
Murphy- Championship player at best IMO could do a job
Davies - Caldwell, I think CD could do a good job and could grow in stature Caldwell may start to struggle fitness wise in the second half of season but can do a job
Ridgewell, expect him to leave, prem class
Michel - Given a chance he could be a real star, nees to toughen up a bit for me though, for a big lad ish he gets pushed around. The championship might prove too much and might have him for dinner!!!!
Fahey, great touches but goes missing, maybe a good run in a decent side (tactically and football wise) and he could be brill
Burke, a good championship player, fingers crossed on him. Redmond, one for the future, looking good
King, championship striker, better than average.
Rooney, Im not holding my breath, nor on Gomis, but Im hoping
KRO
posted on 11/7/11
GK Doyle/Butland
RB Carr/Nosworthy
CB Davies/McCartney/Kilgallon/Caldwell
LB Ridgewell/Murphy
RM Burke/ Routledge/Redmond
CM Guthrie/Mutch/Fahey/Gomis
LM Beausejour/Valles
ST King/Kamara/Best/Rooney
That gives us a 23 man sqaud that could push for promotion, would have some youngsters like Asante/Jervis etc.
Could use a few loans to plug gaps as i think ontop of those 22 we could do with another CM and maybe GK
Thats sqaud to build ontop of what we have now would cost what £10M tops and Wages of £4M maybe less doubt much more.
Players not on that list are... Zigic, Jerome, Michel, Dann, Johnson, Ferguson and Foster which should make at least £33M and upto £38M Wages saved of upto £8.5M
Thats 7 players out 7 in a potential 50% Wage reduction and net transfer income of £24-25M
This is pretty much how Sully and Gold did things, but can Yeung afford to do so and take a potential £15M+ loss to gain promotion.
The KiD
posted on 11/7/11
Transfer man on sky just said we've accepted a bid from wba for ridgewell
posted on 12/7/11
Thinking back ,our past history of selling our best players,means that we are doomed to the lower leagues,
hope i am wrong .kro.