The squad in July

[Fezza]

We definitely need another forward IMO. Whilst Carroll is more than good enough, I'm not convinced he can last the season and there's just not enough experience behind him. Azeez is possibly in the same boat. Potentially more than good enough but fitness is an issue. Obviously, if Meite renewed, that would be awesome but we all know its not going to happen.

As others have said though, we're desparately short of bodies in CM.

I'm not overly worried about the defence if Mbengue renews. I think we have enough there to start the season.

I still believe that the bigger issue is the complete lack of pace in midfield and attack. TInce coming back will help paper over the cracks but we need someone to stretch teams. Defence looks good, up front we're ok, I'd agree that we need bodies in CM and wingers - ideally getting rid of Ejaria.

[Snowflake Royal]

We definitely need 2 new CMs and 1 or 2 wingers with pace. With regards to strikers do you think Carroll, Clarke, Ehib plus another should be good enough for League One?

2 CMs is seriously under cutting it. 4 is more realistic.

As an example, this year we used Loum, Hendrick, Fornah, Casadei, Hutchinson, McIntyre, Senga, Ince, Craig and Ejaria.

6 of those are still here tbf

But yeah 2 CMs - maybe 3-4 depending on where Craig and Senga are is the absolute priority

Yes, but one is a CB, two are youth players, one has been cut out, another was an AM covering and the final has spent the last 6 months injured.

Min 3 for me, especially given our horrendous injury record.

[Snowflake Royal]

We definitely need another forward IMO. Whilst Carroll is more than good enough, I'm not convinced he can last the season and there's just not enough experience behind him. Azeez is possibly in the same boat. Potentially more than good enough but fitness is an issue. Obviously, if Meite renewed, that would be awesome but we all know its not going to happen.

As others have said though, we're desparately short of bodies in CM.

I'm not overly worried about the defence if Mbengue renews. I think we have enough there to start the season.

Definitely need a striker too.

[From Despair To Where?]

We definitely need another forward IMO. Whilst Carroll is more than good enough, I'm not convinced he can last the season and there's just not enough experience behind him. Azeez is possibly in the same boat. Potentially more than good enough but fitness is an issue. Obviously, if Meite renewed, that would be awesome but we all know its not going to happen.

As others have said though, we're desparately short of bodies in CM.

I'm not overly worried about the defence if Mbengue renews. I think we have enough there to start the season.

I still believe that the bigger issue is the complete lack of pace in midfield and attack. TInce coming back will help paper over the cracks but we need someone to stretch teams. Defence looks good, up front we're ok, I'd agree that we need bodies in CM and wingers - ideally getting rid of Ejaria.

Of, I agree we need more pace but we have no grit or creativity in central midfield. I think our priority is a box to box midfielder and a playmaker. If we have any sort of transfer budget, thats where the money needs to be spent. Not sure how much game time Scott Twine is going to get in the Premier League. Would Burnley loan him to League 1? Probably not but he would be great on loan.

[Royal_jimmy]

Lumley is fairly local. I wouldn't be upset if he returns but we really shouldn't be going into a league one campaign concerned about shot stoppers. We should be worried about stopping those shots in the first place which is why we got relegated. If we don't solve that issue then we'll just see similar issues in league one away from home.

Prefer to see us invest in midfield personally and then up front. Then if there's spare cash and Lumley is available then let's bring him in.

We definitely need 2 new CMs and 1 or 2 wingers with pace. With regards to strikers do you think Carroll, Clarke, Ehib plus another should be good enough for League One?

No we need 2 strikers for the amount of games we have coming. If Ince stays he'll bang a few in I expect. Get Sam Smith back and one other striker and we're looking good up top! Give Clarke sub appearances, Ehib can play all cup games and some league ones

[Royal_jimmy]

We definitely need another forward IMO. Whilst Carroll is more than good enough, I'm not convinced he can last the season and there's just not enough experience behind him. Azeez is possibly in the same boat. Potentially more than good enough but fitness is an issue. Obviously, if Meite renewed, that would be awesome but we all know its not going to happen.

As others have said though, we're desparately short of bodies in CM.

I'm not overly worried about the defence if Mbengue renews. I think we have enough there to start the season.

I still believe that the bigger issue is the complete lack of pace in midfield and attack. TInce coming back will help paper over the cracks but we need someone to stretch teams. Defence looks good, up front we're ok, I'd agree that we need bodies in CM and wingers - ideally getting rid of Ejaria.

Of, I agree we need more pace but we have no grit or creativity in central midfield. I think our priority is a box to box midfielder and a playmaker. If we have any sort of transfer budget, thats where the money needs to be spent. Not sure how much game time Scott Twine is going to get in the Premier League. Would Burnley loan him to League 1? Probably not but he would be great on loan.

We need a Scott Twine kind of player but there's no chance of him joining us. He'll go somewhere in the championship if Burnley don't have plans for him in their squad.

[Royal Ginger]

New manager, fresh start, Ejaria will be perfectly adequate in league 1.

He’s not likely going anywhere so hopefully a reset with management will get him back on the pitch.

[Hound]

2 CMs is seriously under cutting it. 4 is more realistic.

As an example, this year we used Loum, Hendrick, Fornah, Casadei, Hutchinson, McIntyre, Senga, Ince, Craig and Ejaria.

6 of those are still here tbf

But yeah 2 CMs - maybe 3-4 depending on where Craig and Senga are is the absolute priority

Yes, but one is a CB, two are youth players, one has been cut out, another was an AM covering and the final has spent the last 6 months injured.

Min 3 for me, especially given our horrendous injury record.

Don’t completely disagree but if Hutch is fit (lolz) him and McIntyre are good back ups

My priorities would be

Cm
Cm
CF
Winger/AM
CM
Winger/AM
CF
GK

Or something like that. And that on the assumption Mbengue signs but Meite doesn’t

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Probably need to bolster the squad at LB as well. NGW might do pretty well in League One but we need someone else there, preferably not McIntyre just due to a lack of pace and I feel he can be used elsewhere as well.

I get the feeling Ince might be used as a wide player next season, his preferred/best position (according to his own Dad anyway) and that's under the assumption that Meite doesn't sign either. So we could definitely use a winger down the left side, probably two, as well as some creativity in the middle of the park.

In terms of a CF, would anyone consider Ali Al-Hamadi, who scored 10 goals in 19 games for AFC Wimbledon in League Two? Seems to be getting raving reviews in that division, he's only 21, Bowen might know a contact or two from his short-lived time there and he might be relatively inexpensive as well. Always a risk he may end up like McNulty, but do people think he's worth going for?

[Sutekh]

Probably need to bolster the squad at LB as well. NGW might do pretty well in League One but we need someone else there, preferably not McIntyre just due to a lack of pace and I feel he can be used elsewhere as well.

I get the feeling Ince might be used as a wide player next season, his preferred/best position (according to his own Dad anyway) and that's under the assumption that Meite doesn't sign either. So we could definitely use a winger down the left side, probably two, as well as some creativity in the middle of the park.

In terms of a CF, would anyone consider Ali Al-Hamadi, who scored 10 goals in 19 games for AFC Wimbledon in League Two? Seems to be getting raving reviews in that division, he's only 21, Bowen might know a contact or two from his short-lived time there and he might be relatively inexpensive as well. Always a risk he may end up like McNulty, but do people think he's worth going for?

A scouse Iraqi Youth at Tranmere then Swansea but actually started professionally with Wycombe and only joined the Wombles in January on a deal until 2025. Has started brightly there but after only 5 months you probably need more than a random fan to give a proper assessment!

[Mr Angry]

What's the story with Puscas?

It appears he has another Year; if so, is he being loaned out again or is there any value in having him back with us?

Genoa got promoted, as part of the deal they are obligated to purchase him, for €4m

There might not be any official confirmation on this until the transfer window opens.

Cheers both.

Great news - not only for the money in but also for his inflated salary out!

[TiagoIlori]

Tom Ince apparently has an active £50k relegation release clause in his contract.

[morganb]

Tom Ince apparently has an active £50k relegation release clause in his contract.

According to John Cross at the Mirror

https://twitter.com/RFCLatest/status/16 ... 9107657730

[One8Seven1*]

Tom Ince apparently has an active £50k relegation release clause in his contract.

£50,000? Who the hell agreed to such a small release fee like that?

The only way around that now is to offer him a new improved contract, but they'll be a few Championship clubs lining up when they learn he's available for peanuts.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

Seems reasonable, particularly if his 3 year deal has a relegation clause that reduces his alleged Championship salary.

[Stranded]

Tom Ince apparently has an active £50k relegation release clause in his contract.

£50,000? Who the hell agreed to such a small release fee like that?

The only way around that now is to offer him a new improved contract, but they'll be a few Championship clubs lining up when they learn he's available for peanuts.

We had no leverage at all and Ince may well have got a better deal elsewhere, adding a clause like that was likely one of the only ways to sign him. No problem with it to be honest given the circumstances we were working in.

[Stranded]

Seems reasonable, particularly if his 3 year deal has a relegation clause that reduces his alleged Championship salary.

If you mean the plus 30k salary, that was his Stoke salary not here but his "embargo" wages will likely drop due to relegation. He's unlikely to want to hang around so any money in for him is fine.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

I don't know, but I did read somewhere that his 3 year Reading deal in the championship wasn't too shabby - but then that article had Hendrick on £50kpw as our highest paid player and presumably we only paid a fraction of that.

Given our predicament, a nominal release clause + a drop due to relegation seems right

[Stranded]

I don't know, but I did read somewhere that his 3 year Reading deal in the championship wasn't too shabby - but then that article had Hendrick on £50kpw as our highest paid player and presumably we only paid a fraction of that.

Given our predicament, a nominal release clause + a drop due to relegation seems right

We simply weren't allowed to pay more than 8k so any wage published over that would be simply made up.

But yes, anyone thinking the club have gone crazy on this clause is simply choosing to forget where we were last summer.

[tidus_mi2]

I don't know, but I did read somewhere that his 3 year Reading deal in the championship wasn't too shabby - but then that article had Hendrick on £50kpw as our highest paid player and presumably we only paid a fraction of that.

Given our predicament, a nominal release clause + a drop due to relegation seems right

We simply weren't allowed to pay more than 8k so any wage published over that would be simply made up.

But yes, anyone thinking the club have gone crazy on this clause is simply choosing to forget where we were last summer.

I don't think your first sentence is true, the 8k figure was for the previous season, this season just gone we just had to stay within a £16m wage budget, of course over a 25 man squad, that's £12.3k on average so while I don't think we were limited to 8k, it probably wouldn't have been far off, especially when you subtract the high earner wages off the budget and work with what's left.