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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: filham on June 11, 2018, 06:54:31 PM

Title: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: filham on June 11, 2018, 06:54:31 PM
In recent summers we always seem to have been under threat of losing some of our best players, Malone and Aluko last summer and before that Dembele , McCormac, Dempsey and Dembele.

This summer we have already lost Fredericks to West Ham and there seems the possibility of young Sess going to one of the big six for a huge fee. We cannot afford to lose more.
It is essential that both of these players are replaced with players of quality and  that all other players are retained.
Surely it should be possible to hold on to our remaining players as they are not quite up to top six club quality and outside of the top six is there a better team for them to move to than Fulham.

Of our loan players the club should make every effort to sign Mitrovic before others step in.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: General on June 11, 2018, 07:07:41 PM
I think the speculation around sess is a season premature. He's a Fulham fan, been at the club since he was 8/9 and clearly loves the club. Most pundits also say he's best staying with us as he wouldn't get game time for a big six club where he will with us. Also, clubs may be concerned that whilst he did very well for us in the Championship the fee of 50 million for an untested premiership may be deemed too much... I imagine most clubs would consider leaving it a season to see how he fares. If he continues in the same vein fulham can up the price.. if not then they may loose interest or get the price down.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: General on June 11, 2018, 07:08:39 PM
Also, if you look at the top six and the players they already have in those positions few are in genuine need.

Sterling, sane, alli etc are all still pretty young too.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: Facts Not Fiction on June 11, 2018, 08:35:44 PM
Quote from: filham on June 11, 2018, 06:54:31 PM
In recent summers we always seem to have been under threat of losing some of our best players, Malone and Aluko last summer and before that Dembele , McCormac, Dempsey and Dembele.

This summer we have already lost Fredericks to West Ham and there seems the possibility of young Sess going to one of the big six for a huge fee. We cannot afford to lose more.
It is essential that both of these players are replaced with players of quality and  that all other players are retained.
Surely it should be possible to hold on to our remaining players as they are not quite up to top six club quality and outside of the top six is there a better team for them to move to than Fulham.

Of our loan players the club should make every effort to sign Mitrovic before others step in.

Fredericks wouldn't sign a contract. Out of all the players that we don't want to lose, Sessegnon is the only one been linked away, and I don't think the rumours mean much.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: ffc73 on June 11, 2018, 10:14:44 PM
I have no concern about keeping our squad together. The real job is getting quality players in as early as possible. We had a poor pre-season last summer and started slowly. The Premier League will not be as forgiving. With Odoi suspended for the first game we are currently starting on 10 Aug with

                Betts
Christie-Djago-Ream-Sess
                KMac
      Cairney.  - Stefjo
Kamara - Fonte - Ayite

Subs Button, Kebano & several youngsters

Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: Southcoastffc on June 11, 2018, 10:46:04 PM
Quote from: filham on June 11, 2018, 06:54:31 PM
In recent summers we always seem to have been under threat of losing some of our best players, Malone and Aluko last summer and before that Dembele , McCormac, Dempsey and Dembele.

This summer we have already lost Fredericks to West Ham and there seems the possibility of young Sess going to one of the big six for a huge fee. We cannot afford to lose more.
It is essential that both of these players are replaced with players of quality and  that all other players are retained.
Surely it should be possible to hold on to our remaining players as they are not quite up to top six club quality and outside of the top six is there a better team for them to move to than Fulham.

Of our loan players the club should make every effort to sign Mitrovic before others step in.
Yes we can.   The reality is that we had 6 loan players, set aside Ojo who did not really work out and we had 5 who were usually in the match day squad - Kalas, Piazon, Norwood, Mitro and Targett, We don't control their futures.  If we can't (or don't wish to) buy all of them, that leaves a sizeable hole in the squad.  Personally. I'd go for Mitro and Targett (and possibly Piazon) but to say we can't lose any of the squad who were successful in the Championship is, in my view, taking a very limited outlook.  We can do better.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: Twig on June 11, 2018, 11:57:08 PM
Quote from: filham on June 11, 2018, 06:54:31 PM
In recent summers we always seem to have been under threat of losing some of our best players, Malone and Aluko last summer and before that Dembele , McCormac, Dempsey and Dembele.

This summer we have already lost Fredericks to West Ham and there seems the possibility of young Sess going to one of the big six for a huge fee. We cannot afford to lose more.
It is essential that both of these players are replaced with players of quality and  that all other players are retained.
Surely it should be possible to hold on to our remaining players as they are not quite up to top six club quality and outside of the top six is there a better team for them to move to than Fulham.

Of our loan players the club should make every effort to sign Mitrovic before others step in.

Nothing we can do to sign Mitro till after the WC.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: Andy S on June 12, 2018, 01:47:36 AM
I would say a few others as well
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: MrFFC on June 12, 2018, 06:35:20 AM
Mitro & Targett should be our top targets. As we only have Ream & Odoi I'm happy to see Kalas back for the right price. Norwood I feel the same about but I hope we bring in a better wide player than Piazon I think RW is a position where we need to invest none of Piazon Ayite Ojo or Kebano held that place down last year
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: filham on June 12, 2018, 10:22:53 AM
Quote from: Southcoastffc on June 11, 2018, 10:46:04 PM
Quote from: filham on June 11, 2018, 06:54:31 PM
In recent summers we always seem to have been under threat of losing some of our best players, Malone and Aluko last summer and before that Dembele , McCormac, Dempsey and Dembele.

This summer we have already lost Fredericks to West Ham and there seems the possibility of young Sess going to one of the big six for a huge fee. We cannot afford to lose more.
It is essential that both of these players are replaced with players of quality and  that all other players are retained.
Surely it should be possible to hold on to our remaining players as they are not quite up to top six club quality and outside of the top six is there a better team for them to move to than Fulham.

Of our loan players the club should make every effort to sign Mitrovic before others step in.
Yes we can.   The reality is that we had 6 loan players, set aside Ojo who did not really work out and we had 5 who were usually in the match day squad - Kalas, Piazon, Norwood, Mitro and Targett, We don't control their futures.  If we can't (or don't wish to) buy all of them, that leaves a sizeable hole in the squad.  Personally. I'd go for Mitro and Targett (and possibly Piazon) but to say we can't lose any of the squad who were successful in the Championship is, in my view, taking a very limited outlook.  We can do better.

No, we need to keep the main players that won promotion, Betts, Odoi, Ream, McDonald, Cairney, Johansen, Sess. and Kamara and try to sign Tarrget and Mitrovic on a permanent basis so that at least we can keep the team together. The next step is to signa few better players that can be introduced when they demonstrate they can improve on what we already have.

To lose three or four of our present squad and then to quickly sign half a dozen replacements would be a recipe for disaster.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: toshes mate on June 12, 2018, 11:16:20 AM
I would also like to see Piazon retained provided there is evidence he can fully recover from the nasty injury he picked up last August against Leeds.  Such injuries take quite a long recovery and rehabilitation period and I do not think we saw the best of his potential once he returned to the squad.  He is a gamble but he is a hard worker and if we can persuade his parent club to part with him at a realistic figure then I would certainly do so. 
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: aaronmcguigan on June 12, 2018, 05:55:48 PM
It's not about keeping most of last years team together. It's about supplementing the best of last years squad with talent who will be able to compete. If that means only keeping Ream, Cairney, McDonald and Sess then flushing the rest of the team with newbies then so be it. The recruitment side, coaching side will already have this view in motion.

We shouldn't need to cling on to the view that just because players like Piazon and Odoi got us promoted means they need to be kept around. Some of them are not good enough for a full premier season, maybe their ilk can compete in a relegation battle but surely we need to think higher than that considering the amount of poor and scrappy teams at the bottom of this league. Yes right now they are better than us but smart and balanced recruitment could get us ahead of the likes of West Ham, huddersfield etc
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: The Rock on June 12, 2018, 06:03:09 PM
I was thinking the exact opposite. For the first time since before Maf decided to put the club in the store front window, we look likely to retain most of our squad and actually improve it.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: filham on June 12, 2018, 11:07:18 PM
Quote from: The Rock on June 12, 2018, 06:03:09 PM
I was thinking the exact opposite. For the first time since before Maf decided to put the club in the store front window, we look likely to retain most of our squad and actually improve it.
[/quote

That's right we must retain the squad and improve it.
To think we can discard and improve is a big risk. We have all seen before that some of the signings we think are improvements turn out to be no be weaker than the players we have lost.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: Luffy86 on June 12, 2018, 11:16:24 PM
To me, I think if they really wanted to keep a player they'd go out of their way to do so...
Yes, Fredericks was a shining light for us, but he isn't irreplaceable... we've got Cyrus Christie waiting in the wings and he's been a stand out player for recent clubs... and we've also got got the main mans twin brother...
have no fear... I believe we are in good hands now!!
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: Fernhurst on June 12, 2018, 11:30:33 PM
Don't wanna be a pessimist but I believe our chances of signing Mitrovic are fading fast.
He could end up playing Champions League on the continent.

Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: Woolly Mammoth on June 12, 2018, 11:45:38 PM
Quote from: Fernhurst on June 12, 2018, 11:30:33 PM
Don't wanna be a pessimist but I believe our chances of signing Mitrovic are fading fast.
He could end up playing Champions League on the continent.



I hope I am wrong, and I hope we are both wrong, but I get the same feeling.
I feel it's imperative we nail him down ASAP before he is offered too many choices.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: toshes mate on June 13, 2018, 07:15:14 AM
I would suggest that players like Mitrovic and Targett are already endeared to FFC and actually signing them as permanent features is dependent upon our recruitment people demonstrating, as SJ puts it, 'ambition'.  We do have a good nucleus or core team even after Fredericks leaving but 'ambition' to my mind means fighting to have the best the Club's money can buy during the window - former loan stock or new recruits.  On previous performances our recruitment people have had one really good window - last Winter - and that was the more so because of the fortuitous link between SJ and Mitro.  Most of our other windows have been very hit and miss and a lot of additional hard work for our coaching staff to get the team to gel.  It is getting players to gel that takes time and injecting one or two players into a settled first team is easier to manage than wholesale change.

I am giving the recruitment team time to win me over but the clock is already running. 
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: MJG on June 13, 2018, 07:23:17 AM
Quote from: toshes mate on June 13, 2018, 07:15:14 AM
I would suggest that players like Mitrovic and Targett are already endeared to FFC and actually signing them as permanent features is dependent upon our recruitment people demonstrating, as SJ puts it, 'ambition'.  We do have a good nucleus or core team even after Fredericks leaving but 'ambition' to my mind means fighting to have the best the Club's money can buy during the window - former loan stock or new recruits.  On previous performances our recruitment people have had one really good window - last Winter - and that was the more so because of the fortuitous link between SJ and Mitro.  Most of our other windows have been very hit and miss and a lot of additional hard work for our coaching staff to get the team to gel.  It is getting players to gel that takes time and injecting one or two players into a settled first team is easier to manage than wholesale change.

I am giving the recruitment team time to win me over but the clock is already running.
isn't almost every window under every manager hit and miss?  Go back to Roy and he had a load of duds as well.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: toshes mate on June 13, 2018, 08:33:43 AM
Quote from: MJG on June 13, 2018, 07:23:17 AM
Isn't almost every window under every manager hit and miss?  Go back to Roy and he had a load of duds as well.
For sure but I was rather getting a the ratio between the two which should be above 2:1 in favour of hits rather than the inverse.  I rather doubt, although it is a matter of individual interpretation, that our ratio has been so successful and my fear is that we have tended towards panic buying or deals far too many times for comfort.   I take that to be something not quite right in our approach to players in the absence of any other meaningful reasons. 
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: filham on June 13, 2018, 10:16:39 AM
Quote from: Fernhurst on June 12, 2018, 11:30:33 PM
Don't wanna be a pessimist but I believe our chances of signing Mitrovic are fading fast.
He could end up playing Champions League on the continent.


It is beginning to look as if Mitrovic could slip though our fingers , the club should be on red alert at the possibility of losing Mitrovic, all PR and financial recources should be directed at convincing Mitrovic that the Cottage is his best home for next season and beyond.
If we fail to sign Mitrovic then we are in crisis and need a strong plan B as Ayite, Fonte and Kamara are not going to be good enough for the Premiership.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: MJG on June 13, 2018, 10:36:19 AM
Quote from: filham on June 13, 2018, 10:16:39 AM
Quote from: Fernhurst on June 12, 2018, 11:30:33 PM
Don't wanna be a pessimist but I believe our chances of signing Mitrovic are fading fast.
He could end up playing Champions League on the continent.


It is beginning to look as if Mitrovic could slip though our fingers , the club should be on red alert at the possibility of losing Mitrovic, all PR and financial recources should be directed at convincing Mitrovic that the Cottage is his best home for next season and beyond.
If we fail to sign Mitrovic then we are in crisis and need a strong plan B as Ayite, Fonte and Kamara are not going to be good enough for the Premiership.
difficult to see either Newcastle or Mitovic making any decision until after the WC. Newcastle get paid while he's there and also his value could go up and likewise for Mitrovic the quality of team may improve. So no mater how much we pushed and offered within reason, it's a waiting game.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: MJG on June 13, 2018, 10:38:28 AM
Quote from: toshes mate on June 13, 2018, 08:33:43 AM
Quote from: MJG on June 13, 2018, 07:23:17 AM
Isn't almost every window under every manager hit and miss?  Go back to Roy and he had a load of duds as well.
For sure but I was rather getting a the ratio between the two which should be above 2:1 in favour of hits rather than the inverse.  I rather doubt, although it is a matter of individual interpretation, that our ratio has been so successful and my fear is that we have tended towards panic buying or deals far too many times for comfort.   I take that to be something not quite right in our approach to players in the absence of any other meaningful reasons.
as I have shown before our signing pattern pretty much matches up to everyone else. The WC and shorter buying window will make it a different window to before. At the moment there have been less signings than clubs, so no panic here.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: Fernhurst on June 13, 2018, 11:24:26 AM
The more Mitro scores goal like the last of his hatrick in Serbia's last warm up game the less inclined  Benitez will be to sell him to a Premiership rival.
No matter the amount of love for Fulham mouthed on the pitch at Wembley if his World Cup goes well we will not see his return.
In this horrible world inside football the best we can hope for is he fails miserably.

It is frustrating but if FFC had him on contract and NUFC came sniffing around would we pull out all the stops to facilitate the move.

I did post directly after our day in the sun we would need a degree of luck in our recruitment. Mitrovic fits our system so well,would be delighted if we drag this one over the line.
Title: Re: Can We Keep Our Squad Together
Post by: Woolly Mammoth on June 13, 2018, 11:36:36 AM
Good points all round, especially due to the WC, which has cleary complicated matters, and put some issues on the back burner until a time that the WC is over for certain countries.
So we have to be a little more patient on this occasion as much as it frustrates, and yes the buying window will be shorter and a little different.
On the plus side, I imagine the club have plenty of issues regarding player recruitment piling up under starters orders in the pending tray, waiting for the right time to make their move.
As we all know, they probably have their targets already identified and in order of 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice, and plans are already in place, we may win a few targets, and we may lose a few also.