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After the relief of promotion yesterday I began thinking about the step up too league one and how our transfer dealings would look next season. And being a bit of an FM Geek with too much time on my hands I put myself in Paolo's shoes and drew up what my ideal squad for next season would look like.

It consists of 22 players; 2x Goalkeepers, 4x fullbacks, 4x centrebacks, 4x wingers, 2x defensive midfielders, 2x attacking midfielders and 4x strikers.

I presumed that we would be given 500k to spend (not including players sold & released) - Which I think will be about right. Considering how much investment the team has been given this year, and the fact Paolo will demand that the board matches his own ambitions of a second promotion push. So basically, i've added the players I would sign wether they are realistic or not is debatable but we've pulled some big signings out of the bag this season.

Foderingham
Smith
Caddis
Thompson
Flint
McCormack
Devera
Michael Bostwick - Stevenage (50-100k)
McEveley (free)
Cibocchi
Rooney
Ritchie
Holmes (free)
Gary Roberts - Huddersfield (100-150k)
Ferry
Smith
Cox
Marlon Pack - Cheltenham (200-250k)
Benson
Bodin
Paul Hayes - Charlton (50-100k)
Nigel Hasselbaink - St Mirren (Free/Compensation)

Out: Risser, Connell, Magera, Gabilondo, Esajas, Kennedy, De Vita, Scott, Lanzano, Kerrouche.

Obviously Di Canio wont get rid of ALL of those players because we know he likes to have a bigger squad. But if we were forced to have two players for every position this is how I would see the outgoings.

Agree or disagree with my picks/valuations I think that looks a pretty decent squad. Capable of a playoff push in League One. What would be your ideal squad? P.S Apologies for the essay  :D

I've been trying very hard not to think about next season too much until this one is over....then take a break form STFC for the close season, and focus on cricket with a distraction of the Euros and Olympics.

I'm afraid I dont have your resolve! I spend all summer thinking about the next season/counting down the days until opening day...

You should try it...we've had a lot of people saying PdC needs a break, which is true, but so do the fans. It's like the natural rhythm of the seasons...part of being British.

True. But as a youngling without much interest in international football I find it hard not to get fixated with STFC! Will be enjoying the cricket in the summer tho...

Add to the outs Smith x2 and Thompson

Marlon Pack in from Cheltnumb, James Collins in from Screwsbury, A.N Other Centre Back and Centre Midfield and one more striker who is quick and a back up keeper.

I would like to keep McEveley and Holmes and maybe a season long loan of Bostock.

I feel he will keep Risser for another season because of his fitness and he trains well but he will be a squad player next season, I feel he may well keep Gabilondo and Connell as well as squad players.

He will get rid of Magera, Esajas, Kennedy, De Vita, Lanzano, Kerrouche & P Smith.

I mentioned a year ago about getting Hasslbiank in on a free from Hamilton after I went to see Hamilton play last season, he has quick feet and great close control but his finishing is a bit wayward but he would be available for cheap I would think as his contract is out at St Mirren in the summer.

Ya reckon? All three are pretty decent back up IMO - Happy to play a rotation part, are on low wages and it means we dont need to waste resources finding replacement back up.


Really like the look of Hasselbaink. Seen him play a few times, bit rough round the edges as you say, but he's very explosive and with the right coaching could be a real player...

Hasselbaink is very similar to Kuffour in build and style but is much better than Kuffour already at the age of just 21, would be a good capture and can play out wide as well as a striker.

Yup, I look forward to the opening day again.

Risser could still do a job.

It's not always about quality, but about fitting square pegs into square holes. We will find ourselves under pressure from teams more next season and Risser's physicality could be just what we need in some games.

Di Canio's unstable behaviour at the moment suggests that anything can happen between now and August.

Plenty of strengthening is needed or we'll struggle like Chesterfield have this season.

It's going to be another interesting summer.

Partially agree. He's good for when we're up against sides that will just hoof the ball at us for 90 minutes, but he could struggle with the pace of League One. He sometimes goes missing against teams who keep the ball on the deck, think Crewe. - They passed triangles round him meaning our whole centre midfield was taken out of the game.

PDC will probably keep him though tbf, which I dont mind as I like him as a bloke and he can do a job...

They got us promoted so give them all a chance next season.

L1 is not a big step up at all. We've had enough seasons there to know this.

I agree with DV but get rid of the deadwood such as Esajas, Kerrouche, Magera etc. If i'm being honest we're going to need 2 more strikers. Benson will be alright but Murray and Connell will struggle at that level. Could do with another CM as well and probably a CB and back up RB for Caddis.

Which is why I say it's best to switch off...get the deck chair out, dust down the barbie, throw in some Pimms..and see what the world brings.

Might be harder to get Collins now they're likely to join us in L1.

Understand that we are taking a close look at a non-league striker from Witham Town in the Essex Senior League.  Called Bill Hunt, has been prolific this season and scored a hat-trick when we sent a scout to watch him.  Don't know any other details, we may not be following up our interest just as with the guy from the north east, which apparently has turned out to be the correct decision.

Would expect Magera to be given another chance

Remember some of these players we would like to get rid of are on 2 year deals so they will only leave if another team wants them.

I'm still convinced that Magera MUST be a good player.

Disagree completely.

The club cannot afford to keep them all as the team will need significant strenghtening to compete in league 1 as Di canio has already stated.

I didn't realise Collins was only 21. I thought he was 30 or something. In that case he seems ideal. Along with Pack of course. :)

I disagree too.
I think it is a reasonable step up to League 1 - certainly different types of teams at that level.
Our current squad would hold their own and probably settle just below half way in League 1.

To offer serious chance of challenging next season I think we need to sign a few players who could potentially play at Championship level - a centre back, a left back (could be McEveley), a winger, 2 central midfielders and a striker.

A first choice team that includes Fods, Caddis, Devera or Flint, Ritchie, McCormack (in midfield), Benson and 5 quality new players would certainly challenge.
The likes of Ferry, Rooney and Bodin would be good squad players who would need to play their part.

Would mean some departures of players currently contracted for next season to make way for the new blood.

Stevenage have done alright sticking with what they had.

Chesterfield not so much but they lost their top scorer.

Swings and Roundabouts really - I just don't think the gap in standard is that great.

 People seem to have been slightly blindsided by our Wembley loss and dodgy end of season form. We've more than held our own with our current team against higher opposition this season. You could also argue that the top 5 or 6 teams in L2 (which we have a very good record against) are of an equal or even better standard than the bottom 6 or 7 in L1.

Ferry a squad player?

Are you forgetting he was instrumental in our play-off final season?

It will be but hes out of contract in the Summer and has not agreed a new one with Shrews as yet, he will cost us money being only 21 but surely we can afford more wages than Shrewsbury will pay him....if he fancies a new challenge at a better club than he is currently at with a much much better manager.

Ferry will be important next season and I agree will be much more than a squad player.

I agree he's been good this season and I'm not forgetting his performances from 09-10.
Only my opinion of course but I just think that if we want to make a serious challenge next season we'll need to bring in an even better midfielder.
I would still envisage Ferry making 30 plus appearances but maybe many of them from the bench.  Of course it would also give him the challenge to up his game even more to keep the shirt.

I hear ya Reg.

De vita will still be here i reckon, played well against higher opposition.

There would be no chance of Gary Roberts

Ferry has had a fine season. However I do think his stature is his biggest weakness(see goal conceeded yesterday) and who he has alongside him will be a big factor on how he does next season.

Think he will deffo have a part to play and think he is good enough to start in league 1

I'm thinking of roasting some shallots, anybody got any tips?

I think we may need to invest in a new thread starter. Not sure Suggs will be up to it next season as he tailed off badly this season.

I hear he was wasn't out Friday night, and his head was quite "clear" the next morning. Perhaps he should sit out the next match day thread?

He's definitely started to look a bit jaded as the season's gone on...the pressure of having to be pissed at 3:00 am on Sat morning, looks to have taken a toll. He's young though and could come back rejuvenated for August.

If he gets a good pre-season under his belt...

He needs to fix his rubber legs... they're great at spraying the ball around but go wobbly whenever he tries to shoot for goal...

Yep...take your pants of first.

Drizzle them with some olive oil, good grind of salt and black pepper and make sure they are unpeeled. Throw in some random garlic pods and don't over cook them.

Enjoy.

A small amount of Garlic helps also......they are very nice mixed into mashed potatoes as well.

Thanks for the advice, but I've already done them...just used olive oil, cooked them for about 35 mins. Certainly something to do again, I like the sound of the garlic idea.

Isn't he due to leave big school soon, which will mean he has to start working for a living rather than sponging off us that already do. At this point he will need to be replaced by a younger & more care free model

I'm now back in Plymouth so will be back to going to the SU and startign matchday threads at 3am whilst pissed, as opposed to sober whilst in Swindon like the last few weeks, if that helps...

I see Ferry very much as a poor mans Paul Scholes, and while that may sound like a backhanded one, it is a compliment! If he can handle himself in the more physical League Two, then it's definitely not a problem back in League One.

Ferry will boss it, so long as he doesn't spend all summer on the piss.

As far as I am concerned he can go on the piss all the time until he comes back to new season training

Quite looking forward to all the potential coming and goings over the summer, not going to be boring and plenty for us all to moan/get excited about  :nod:

The last pre-season was a right humdinger

The Leon Knight meltdown in particular was a classic.

I didnt realise he had played so much this season! There was talk of him being sold at the start of the season so I presumed he would have been frozen out (with the arrival of Ward). So yeh, that's a tad unrealistic. We've pulled some coup's out of the bag this seasont tho...

I think it was the most meltdown-tastic pre-season ever. There was drama over everything. The lack of signings was a particular favourite. I remember the pain of how others were signing players like Hope Akpan and Scott McGleish... In fact, I think the drama scale may have surpassed many of the Diamond Mike era.

THE AGENTS ARE RUNNING THE CLUB

Can't wait for the next pre-season episode. Although I have my doubts it will live up to the last one.

Unless Di Canio resigns and we appoint Steve Tilson...

It will be well worth a big push next season. 3 big clubs going up to the Championship this season (Charlton and the 2 Sheffs), Doncaster and Coventry will do fuck all and Pompey are in freefall. Huddersfield have imploded since the shameful sacking of their manager

Just take a long, hard look at the teams in League 1 - hardly one that strikes fear - teams we pissed over 2 years ago.

Entirely possible to motor thru League 1

Totally agree but there will need to be a fair amount of staff movement and some players fans like will be out the door.
Then again with the 4th highest budget 2 years ago we managed to fuck it up spectacularly.
Whereabouts in Kerry are you - old man from Listowel - old dear from Scrataglin 

Totally off topic, but this is my 50th post and I still haven't been called a cunt yet :(

Bastard

What a tosser

Pair of pissbitches i'm still waiting on the magic word  :cry:

Don't be a cant! said in an East End kinda way! :D

Please? Thank you?

I dont do manners, you caaaant! (As JJEdmunds put it above)  ;D

Oh you tease ;) you pwoppa nawty c u next tuesday

Back on topic, I feel we need 5 new players. A left back (McEverly would do nicely), a back up right back, another centre mid and two new strikers.

As I've already said McEverly would do fine for a left back he looks very assured and has some height for a full back which is quite rare and he would be free.

For a back up right back I wouldn't have a clue, from what I've seen Thomson doesn't look good enough and while Devera did a good job covering for Caddis, we lose alot of attacking threat when he's playing.

The centre mid has been mentioned plenty on here already if we can sign Marlon Pack that would be brilliant as he plays like Ferry, very good on the ball and brilliant distrubrution and adds some more height to our team.

For the two strikers we know we need an effective target man. I was thinking someone along the lines of Lee Novak, not a regular for Huddersfield and has still managed 15 odd goals this season, and is a very big unit and scored a decent goal at the County Ground. For the other striker we need that player who will score 20+ most season and I know that this would be hard to find and always is, someone like Hasslebank who's young and explosive and from whenever I've seen him he looks a real threat. I was also thinking a long the lines of Stuart Beavon at Wycombe who dispite being in the relegation zone has managed 24 goals in League One this season who at 27 surely wouldn't be that expensive especially if Wycombe get relegated.

Think the players who should leave have been mentioned already so feel no need to go through them.

Alan Lee and Gary Roberts will do.Both out of contract

If too many changes are made then I think you run the risk of losing some of the culture that has been built up this season. I think most of the players who have made a decent number of appearences deserve to have a go at league 1.

Can see us needing a commanding centre midfielder - much like douglas a year or so ago. someone to partner benson and a decent left back

Isn't Gary Roberts more or a winger than a striker though? if we don't get Holmes (Homles!) then he may be worth going for.

Alan Lee is much more of a target man but not that good a scoring record and is knocking on a bit, isn't he 34 soon?

But will we lose any we want to keep? Not trying to start speculation, but I think its inevitable one or two will get tempting offer.

If we assume we are keeping everyone we want I think you are not far off with your assessment. I'm not sure if we need one or two more central midfielders. The only one I know has the class to cope is Ferry, the jury is out on the others.

As an attribute I think we are missing a bit of pace and a bit of brawn up top. Paolo already noticed the latter. Benson wins more than his fair share of headers, but I wouldn't call him strong.

How about Richard Duffy from Exeter as cover at CB, hes out of contract in the summer and Exeter have effectively already been relegated. A good solid centre back and can cover right back as well.

Sign Ward as cover for Ritchie  :)

We don't know this. If the players are recieving interest from other League One clubs then I doubt they would be tempted but if the likes of Ritchie and Caddis do get interest from Championship clubs then I would become a bit worried, and I would be worried if Fitton was still our chairman, but at the club we have Wray but more importantly Di Canio. Who will have such a strong stance of keeping the best players, that he would probably leave if they are sold under his nose for a poor price, think this has already shown when Bournemouth tried to sign Ritchie saying that he would only leave for £5 million. He would understand if we get a very good price for our best players and would expect the funds to replace them.

Yes but we still have the likes of Gabilondo and Esajas who probably won't feature next season.

I feel that although he has barely played this season, after a productive pre season Lee Cox will be a very key player for us next season.
The same can go for Magera too, However another striker is a must, and someone like Stuart Beavon would be a more than welcome addition.

Unless, of course, as a player you got a bit pissed off with PdC's tough management style/critical public comments/early substitutions etc and decided you want an easier life? :hmmm:

1. Messi
2. Messi
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24. Messi
25. Pericard

Pericard can go in goal.

I'd rather have Ronaldo than Messi tbh, I'd settle for both

Without a doubt, Risser has to be offloaded in the summer. I thought he got some harsh stick earlier in the season but bloody hell he is useless. I felt embarrassed for the bloke on Saturday he was that bad, completely out of his depth.

I don't think Smith will make the step up either, so I am fairly certain we will see at least 2 new midfielders. Getting Bostock on a season long loan as mentioned elsewhere on here would be a good move.

The talk of Alan Lee earlier in the thread - no thanks, the man's a donkey.

What Di Canio has shown with his post summer signings is that he can bring in a very good calibre of player for the level we are at, and I have no doubt he will bring in some decent players again this summer and probably a better standard than those we have signed in recent years.

He spent last summer fucking around with foreign trialists (not that he could be blamed at the time), this time around he will have quality targets in place and I think we will see a good squad take place. If McEveley is the standard of player we will be brining in then next season will be a good one.

I know we nearly enticed him last time round (and di Canio has said he doesn't want anyone who doesn't leap at the chance) but I wondered about Cody McDonald.....Coventry on a downward spiral, Swindon deffo upwardly mobile.  He is certanly a good striker.

Hugo Bargas

Expect to see staff changes PDQ. I think that last seasons or should I say this seasons stuttering start were due to some questionable transfer activity, inexperience from the boss and not having long to gell.

If we are going to mount a serious assault on Div 1 it is imperitive that the team hits the ground running. Like it did under Wise and Poyet.

The obvious staff change has to be Paul Bodin?

Curly is going to be replaced by me

I have heard that Posh are in for Marlon Pack.

Has she dumped Beckham? I'll get my coat.

You gotta do better than that to escape the Whoosh that you walked into!

Oh, there's plenty more  :) :-[

town v leicster on espn clasic, i know its the wrong thread

thats what you call an atmos  :clap: