Willian ..

[MickTheBeard]

1st team players required.          Left wing ,Forward,attacking midfielder who scores goals,centre back,backup leftback,backup right back,back  up centre back backup and replacements for any players in 1st team sold this summer can't see enough money available so I'll be round with the bucket.

[filham]

This will not be popular but really we have yet to replace Mitro as a target man. Yes I know Muniz had a purple patch but over the whole season he has not lived up to requirements.

[blingo]

This will not be popular but really we have yet to replace Mitro as a target man. Yes I know Muniz had a purple patch but over the whole season he has not lived up to requirements.

Come on Mr F, 9 goals in 14 games is as good as 90% of premier strikers. He will become a top striker for us if a big club doesn't come after him

[JohnG]

Get shot of:
BDR
CAIRNEY
JIMENEZ
TOSIN

Think about
WILSON??
REED??

Losing:
PALHINHA
POSS WILLIAN

We need a rebuild now before the pre season starts

[JohnG]

Would Brereton Diaz be a good buy in the summer window now that that Sheff Utd are relegated? I have always rated him highly.

[hovewhite]

Muniz,did he only start in 14 games as thought it was more?

[Lordedmundo]

I think we could and should get another season out of Willian. He is not the only player to have faded in the last couple of months of the season (in fact you could say it about most of the outfield players - excluding maybe Bassey, Castagne and Adama).

Willian has consistently been one of our best players - almost always in the top 3 performers each game I would say.  His ability to keep possesion, move with the ball and pick a pass when under pressure in tight spaces is unsurpassed by anyone else in the squad.

When I look at weak links/older players we should maybe move on - I think of Wilson, Lukic, Ream, Reed and Cairney. The latter two simply because they are not getting much game time.

[Bal_13]

Cairney is sadly coming to the end of his days with us I think, but to say, "get rid of him" is a bizarre way to look at a player who has served us so well for nearly ten years. Perhaps we keep him for cup games... extra depth.. who knows.

I agree. I'm not usually his greatest fan but today he made a difference offensively when he came on. In particular, he brought Traoré into the game with some astute passes. Too little too late but better than the others had done.At least he didn't give the ball back to City!

I think given he signed an extension to 2025 and he's still clearly offering us a different dimension at prem level (even if that's from the bench) we'll be keeping TC next year.

I suspect next season will be more like last season than this one. I.e. TC is limited to c. 5 starts and mostly cameos, rather than the semi-starting role of this year.

[MickTheBeard]

Main new striker,munis, stanfield. If rodak leaves by the way he was in the fa up youth team who lost to Chelsea in final,stanfield comes from our academy via buying him from  exeters academy.He will be only one from our setup.With sess the two with liverpool and stanfield yet to prove himself Mr Jennings what have you been doing for 18years,don't tell me getting rid of players for nothing and keeping the little ones

[Marcel_Gecov]

Benda was involved in Swanse'a academy - was there when he was 17 - does that not make him homegrown? Im not entirely sure of the roles.

[JimmyConway]

Personally one more season from Willian as he is still our most technically best footballer. He won't suddenly lose that skill next season. Fitness is the key as more difficult to shake off knock/s the older you get. Do I expect him to play or start every game very unlikely? Will his pace drop next season I doubt it the way he looks after himself. What is not to like having a quality footballer like him in and around the squad.

[WindyCity]

This team will need to be refreshed/upgraded this summer, no question.  Stand pat and you will get punished.

I'd like to see FFC retain Traore and give him more play time.

As far as thread topic Willian is concerned, I could see him moving on.  He's been out to lunch the last 3-4 games and might be feeling all the years of competition finally catching up to him.  Don't get me wrong, I love this player and he has made major contribution in helping FFC stay in this league.  But I do think his usefulness may be dwindling.  I could see keeping him in the team but only as a bench player late sub.  But I would have no problem with his leaving....

[jayffc]

Main new striker,munis, stanfield. If rodak leaves by the way he was in the fa up youth team who lost to Chelsea in final,stanfield comes from our academy via buying him from  exeters academy.He will be only one from our setup.With sess the two with liverpool and stanfield yet to prove himself Mr Jennings what have you been doing for 18years,don't tell me getting rid of players for nothing and keeping the little ones

What's he been doing?

The Academy under his stewardship produced:

Rodak who helped us get promoted

Ryan Sess who netted us over £30m and helped us get promoted.

Harvey Elliot who is playing Champions League football for Liverpool

Fabio Carvalho who helped us get promoted.

Patrick Roberts who has played at Celtic and in the championship after it not working out for him at Man City.

Stansfield literally just won every award going at the championship club he's been on loan at, with rave reviews from all their fans. Plus he has caps for Englands youth setup....even if sold he'd fetch a few million quid

Luke Harris is seen as a good prospect. Same with Martial Godo.

Dan Burn came through our academy and didn't perform too great at first team level at the time, but now is a regular at Newcastle.

Matt O'rielly never really took the limited chances he got for us enough to justify being played more at an unsteady time for the main team. He's now getting absolutely rave reviews at Celtic.

Bettinelli played many times for us and was a good keeper, helped us get promoted and was part of one the best Fulham days out in memory at Wembley. Then moved on to Chelseas bench.

Cameron Burgess just got promoted to the prem with Ipswich

Moussa Dembele went on to play champs league football at a number of top clubs including Chelsea and Lyon after steadying the ship for our first team alongside Ross Mcormack as a young man.

Woodrow played a fair few games for us and was alright during a transitional period, since he has established a career at championship level and managed to get promoted with Luton

Elijah Adebayo who following not getting a chance here went on to score 10 goals for a relegated team in the premiership this year,

What more do you want Jennings to do exactly? He can't force the likes of Harvey Elliot or Fabio to sign a contract with us if Liverpool or any other top club come knocking and turn their heads. It's largely out of his hands whether some players immediately step up when given a chance or if they need a bit more time to mature and grow into first team football, or importantly, if our first team is in a position to play such youngsters and take our time with them. Some like Sess Fabio and Dembele hit the ground running, many others like Dan Burn and O'rielly needed more time to improve and get their chance. Thats how it goes.

But Jennings has done a plenty good job with our youth team evidently. A handful of those alone like Sess, Fabio, Rodak and Dembele contributed enough to make it all worthwhile regardless.

Now next up the hope is Stansfield comes good with potentially Luke Harris and Godo still potentially able to contribute.
+ a lot of raves coming out about Josh King as the next big thing