Worried for next season

[General]

What is our 'guaranteed' squad for the start of next season, if none of our in contract players left?

I have BDR, Tete, Tosin, Willian, Broja, FBT all out of contract with us.

BDR and Willian are the two players who've made the biggest difference throughout the season and Tosin has started a fair few games too.

We know that Marco wants to keep Willian and the club is in contract talks with BDR and Willian..

We've got an idea that Willian is open to moving on and Tosin does look like he's off.

Replacing Willian will be a tough act, he's got that touch of class when he plays and technically he's great, it makes a big difference to the fluency of our attacking play, which in turn makes a big difference to how teams defend against us.. plus he scores goals and assists and is well liked in the dressing room..

We really need to keep our starting 11 as much in tact as possible and a fair few of our squad players and still strengthen significantly in the window.

Will be a big summer again. Let's hope the club move fast and have their targets lined up. Its what Marco wants and what we'd all like..  though experience has suggested we'll drag our feet.

[hovewhite]

I expect us to add some quality to the squad in the earlier part of the summer transfer window and finish top half next season.

Expect or hope?

Expect

[bill taylors apprentice]

Regarding next seasons promoted teams, there's nothing to worry about.
Having said that, it wasn't a stroll to beat them this season.

I think we now have a team/squad that can take a knock if we lose a highly regarded player such as Palhinha, Tosin or Willian.

Would be nice to keep 2 of the 3 but not essential to a mid table finish as long as they are replaced well.
As much as I like Palhinha I believe finding a player who has the discipline  to sit, read the game and is strong in the tackle can be achieved.

 

[FFC1987]

I think I'll save my blood pressure till we start seeing movements in the squad over the summer.

[Rufus Brevetts Tracksuit]

Scored goals in League 1

Scored goals in the Championship (& in a crap team too)

Time to give Stansfield a chance.

[filham]

I expect us to add some quality to the squad in the earlier part of the summer transfer window and finish top half next season.

You may have expectations of good signings in the early summer window but the fact is that other than Tosin leaving we have no idea of how  the ins and outs will turn out.
We have to wait until the end of the summer window to make meaningful predictions about next season.

[Hugh Janus]

I expect us to add some quality to the squad in the earlier part of the summer transfer window and finish top half next season.

You may have expectations of good signings in the early summer window but the fact is that other than Tosin leaving we have no idea of how  the ins and outs will turn out.
We have to wait until the end of the summer window to make meaningful predictions about next season.

I suspect the club will have a pretty good idea. Much as people seem to like a moan we have had two seasons now in the league and were nowhere near relegation for either of them. None of this FFP stuff has been an issue. And we have a new stand.

I think the club deserve a lot of credit. Other than the occasional curve ball like Mitrovic they will know who they want and who they will have. We need to enjoy this. It won't last forever.

[perry geyton]

JP and Willian possibly leaving will be hard to replace, Cairney's getting less and less game time, Robinson May debate a move, Lukic imo isn't good enough, Adama might be getting irritated at his amount of game time and Raul too

Gonna have to make some signings that's for sure

[ffc73]

Not worried, yet, but the end to this season is feeling like the last under Al Fayed.

That summer he sold, we did not invest & were relegated the season after.

Hopefully,  remembers that, listens to Marco & gets some new players in.

[Whitestone]

I'm not worried. We have a squad that comfortably stayed up this season. There's always a bit of churn in the close season so I expect several new faces and of course we have Marco Silva and 'he's  a genius'

[alfie]

Not understanding why, as we have no idea who will be going/coming.

[Lighthouse]

This time last season we were full of hope and felt we could build on a good season. But Mitro left, we nearly lost our best midfielder.

So a bad finish to the season may actually help us. The powers that be will see we need investment on the field. No doubt we will see players go and players stay and hopefully bring in better replacements for those that leave.

I presume the fact we still have Silva means he is hopeful of a better Summer.

[SuffolkWhite]

Let's over spend and lose 2 pts , we can get 30 points next season 

[LittleErn]

Pros for next season.
- Established premier league level striker in Muniz from the start of the season
- fullbacks on long term deals
- Bassey is outstanding, diop is more than capable. Can play well together from the start.
- Palhinha's stock has dropped a bit and on a longer contract. His yellow cards have shown we can play well without him.
- Silva is commited to Fulham, and Fulham back Silva.
- basically no massive rebuilt is needed.

Of course Bayern could come and get Silva and Palhinha. they also need a new left back.

If we didn't have Mitro not wanting to play and waiting for Raul and Muniz to find their shooting boots in cupboard under the stairs of the cottage, we should  be 8-12 points better off this season....

I thought Pailhina had a good game today against a very good team. Bassey looked a bit wild at times, gave the ball away, and out of position too often. But I agree that he has been impressive overall this season.

[hovewhite]

Will worry if we don't start positively next season.
Will worry if we lose JP and Willian
Will worry if we lose silva
If none of those happen and we strengthen will a few quality additions like last summer with bassey & iwobi.
Thinks we will be fine.

[Mullers OG]

Personally I'm quite positive for next season. Of course there will be some changes in the playing staff - some in, some out. That's in the nature of things. Stansfield presumably comes back and will be an upgrade on a leaving BDR. Tosin leaves. Tete might wish to move on. If we can back up the full back positions, find a good replacement for Tosin and the odd unexpected new face I think we will be fine.

[HV71]

Will worry if we don't start positively next season.
Will worry if we lose JP and Willian
Will worry if we lose silva
If none of those happen and we strengthen will a few quality additions like last summer with bassey & iwobi.
Thinks we will be fine.

This ...
and let's face it our league position wouldn't be as good as it is without the points deductions for Everton and Nottingham Forest.

[Sting of the North]

Will worry if we don't start positively next season.
Will worry if we lose JP and Willian
Will worry if we lose silva
If none of those happen and we strengthen will a few quality additions like last summer with bassey & iwobi.
Thinks we will be fine.

This ...
and let's face it our league position wouldn't be as good as it is without the points deductions for Everton and Nottingham Forest.

Forest would still be way behind. Everton would be a few points in front. We would still have been nowhere near relegation. Hasn't really affected us I think.

[alfie]

To be honest it's not something I worry about, it's not going to change my life, it's just a game of football.

Of course to some it's everything, so fair enough for them.

[Woolly Mammoth]

Do not panic Mr Mannering.

Nevertheless we cannot sit on our hands though, because if you stand still you will get overtaken.
Everyone including Fulham will start with a clean sheet.
But everyone else will be looking to freshen up their team as well.

We have to read the warning signs, because you have to win, and if you cannot win, it is important you learn.
Fulham need surgery no matter who leaves,let us hope it is not major surgery.

Starting with the defence including a leader who can marshal the back line.
Midfield most certainly, starting with a creative player, a genuine play maker.
We need power and pace on the wings.
Up front i prefer to see more than one toiling away waiting for service he never gets.

A partnership of Stansfield and Muniz has been discussed and why not.
But we need another decent striker, yes they cost money, but we are in the English Premier League, not the Mongolian 2nd Division, so we have to pay the going rate.

If you want to accumulate you have to speculate.
Having said that, i expect our  crack recruitment unit are beavering away looking for gems that can save us a lot of money in the long term.
They need to look nearer to home, they would be surprised how many they can find under their noses.

Rather than go the other side of the planet to find a player that may or not speak English and may or may not settle due to the players failure to integrate.
As the pace of English football is a great deal higher.

I also feel Silva can reflect on his own system of play, and maybe he will tinker around more in preseason to create a system that will play to the strength of the players under his command.

We need to increase our tempo, press higher up the pitch and not be so predictable with slow boring build ups.
Opponents know exactly how Fulham play and prepare accordingly.
Silva has to be more proactive not reactive.
The team have to be more consistent if they wish to build on the first two seasons back in the Premier League.
That is down to Silva and the players with the backing from the club.
The owner has to invest on the field of play because we have to step up a gear as everyone else will that is most certain.
In fact Fulham must step up two gears to gain an edge.

Also how many players have worn the Captains arm band this season, too many, and not one real Captain material and certainly not a leader.
So we need strong leadership on the pitch as well, with plenty of Lieutenants to support the Captain.
Because once that whistle blows its down to the players on the pitch.

However just as important off the pitch is Silvas game management, which i feel has room for improvement.
I am saying this in a constructive manner as substitutions these days are an important part of a game and he can use them earlier to make an impact.
Bringing a striker on in the last ten minutes to try and salvage a draw or seek a winner, as if Siva feels he is that good to be capable of scoring a goal in the dying minutes.
Then why not give him more time and start him and give him 90, or at least bring him on and give him 30, he might score more than one that way if he is as good as Silva thinks he is.

Plenty to chew over from the Directors to the Management to the Players.

Believe me the English Premier League will be at least as strong as last year, and everyone will be after each others scalp.

As for Fulham we have to turn them into a team that nobody wants to play, because they fear what damage we are capable of doing.
 Not just look upon us as a nice little team who try and play football to please the perfectionists and conosuirs with a cute little ground where away supporters can swan in knowing they can turn Craven Cottage into a home game, and only have to talk loud to drown out what little noise comes from the home supporters.

As i say, lots to chew over from top to bottom, and we have the best part of three months to prepare and organise to face the challenges ahead and that includes stability.

On a foot note, i would not be too quick to write off players that have not attracted attention for all the right reasons.
Whether it be age or very little game time.
Be careful what you wish for as we will once again need all hands on deck.
Better to have the devil you know than the devil you don't.

Also home grown talent in the Academy is a must to consider, and instead of loaning them out for others to benefit from, use them ourselves as other teams tend to do.

Always room for improvement.