31 May 2026 21:44:36
Obviously it's all a bit quiet atm. Opinions on what positions we need an upgrade and who would ideally fill said positions?

1.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 05:34:18
Needs a fire sale, mate.

2.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 10:42:44
Has there been a fire then, Larry? Or have you just caught up with the news from 1968, mate.
There will certainly be a fire sale at Leicester City now they are in League 1. Might be worth a rummage, certainly in their Academy, possibly one or two first teamers.

Every crock of ? might have a diamond in there somewhere?
Meanwhile, I will have a think about MV's interesting question. Just nipping out to get some Turkish lira for my hols....

3.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 11:27:31
Jeremy Monga is definitely worth a look from their academy. ?

4.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 13:39:35
I don't know much about Monga, RRH. Was he in "Blazing Saddles" opposite Mel Brookes and Gene Wilder? ???

5.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 14:34:06
That's terrible, Stokey, but I suppose "Monga only pawn in game of life." ?

6.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 16:35:06
I think it might be time for a new keeper. I love Sels, but he is in his mid-thirties now, and is out of contract next summer. I don't think Big John is good enough to take over from him, so time for our recruitment to go and find a diamond from under the radar, just like Sels was.

7.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 17:26:56
I think he's still a class act, mate.
Just my opinion.

8.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 17:38:33
MV mate, having pondered your excellent question, I’d break it down into the following points.
Firstly, it all depends on the outgoings, particularly of our "big guns" Murillo, MGW and Ando (and possibly players who have done well this season such as Sels, Williams and Sanghere). Also, as to how much we get in the coffers for quality replacements if required.
Secondly, VP has indicated he doesn’t want a glut of new players to deal with, and is basically happy with his squad.
Thirdly, before the start of the new season VP will have to assess the on loan players and make a judgement (Jota Silva, and the lesser spotted Cubiano and Omar Richards and, of course, Kalimuendo plus the youngsters out with other clubs).
Fourthly, get rid of the dead wood (Lucca, Victor, Boly for example).
Fifthly, by departments...
Goalkeepers... Sels, Ortega and Gunn. The first two are 34 and 33, but goalkeepers go on for longer than outfield players and are often at their best as they age. All 3 have done well this season.
Full backs... Williams and Aina top class, Luca Netz looked comfortable in the Prem.

Beyond these, we have to have cover unless VP thinks De Morera, Omar or Cubiano are up to it. It’s handy that Williams and Aina can play both sides. We struggled with playing centre backs out wide (Cunha, Abbott, Savonha, Morato). It’s a specialist position.
Central defenders we are well covered. Murillo, Malenkovic, Savona, Morato, Cunha, Abbott.
Holding midfielders ok also, Sanghere and Ando, Dominquez and Yates.
Attacking midfielders a bit light, especially if MGW goes. Jesus and McAtee need assessing in that role pre season. But, like strikers, they are gold dust.
Wingers CHO and Hutch were doing well, Bakwa has something and Ndoye needs a good World Cup. Possible reinforcements needed here.
Strikers Wood and Taiwo. Both did well towards the end of the season, but it showed how much we missed a fully fit pair and Jesus was outgunned and lightweight at spearhead. I’d be looking at splashing the cash in this area as a priority.
It’s going to be an interesting summer. A thousand pardons if I’ve missed anyone out.

9.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 18:36:46
I thought Murillo had accepted a new 3-year contract?

10.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 20:13:33
He has BSE, but that might just be a guarantee to increase his transfer value, mate.
Another point I'd make is that we have young Carmo and Tyler Bindon coming back from loans. I thought they looked good prospects pre season! We are truly well stocked with ball playing centre backs if Murillo goes.

11.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 20:42:25
We could do with a proper right back to cover Aina. Savona should be back soonish, but he's not a full back, although talented. Then I would concentrate on a couple of decent forwards, one centre and one inside.
With Savona in mind, we'd have like seven centre backs on the books, and add to that Boly if he's still at the club after the summer. I'd sell maybe two at least, keeping Murillo and the Serbinater one hundred percent.
Sels is a class act; he has to stay, then I'd look for an up and coming keeper from the football league, preferably a young English lad twenty three and under. Hopefully he can learn from big Matty.
Bakwa and Ndoye I would put on notice, one stays, one goes, impress preseason or go. Hutchinson and CHO I'd keep. Then look to bring in a proper pacy inside forward who can give full backs nightmares.


I'm guessing that Ando will leave, banking us a hundred plus million. He will no doubt be hard to replace, but maybe a combination of Yates, Sangare and MGW in midfield could make up for the loss.
I'm not sure if Woody will ever get back to the way he was before injury. Lucca, thank God, will go. We could really do with getting hold of another unit with pace. Taiwo is the man, but I'm not sure he can bank twenty odd goals a season. He would be perfect backup for someone like Mateta who no doubt will be on big wages with a rather large transfer fee.
So to sum up, stop loaning players to Rio and Olympiacos, sell all the fringe players, bank as much as possible and keep Murillo and MGW.
I'm tired of typing now and beginning to ramble because I can't remember where I started. COYR. ?

12.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 21:18:19
I'm pretty certain Boly will be gone, RRH. He's out of contract, 35 years old and is carrying niggly injuries. Good servant to the club though and apparently one of the "mentor" senior pros to the youngsters.
Talking of goalkeepers carrying on into their mid thirties and beyond. Remember Kaylor Navas, the Costa Rican? He played for us under SC, I think, in 2023 as cover for Dean Henderson, aged 36, and was absolutely superb!
Loads of examples going back to Lev Yashin, the Russian, playing at top level into his 40s.


I'd definitely be keeping Sels (unless his form drops off a cliff), and also try and persuade Ortega not to go back to Germany.
I don't know how we've come to have such a preponderance of centre backs?

13.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 22:01:46
Good points on the keepers' longevity, mate.

14.) 01 Jun 2026
01 Jun 2026 23:11:45
I'm sure Nevas is still going, mate, just checking... Now 39 and playing for Pumas UNAM in the Costa Rican Premier. I've tried signing him as back up a few times on Footy Manager, but I guess it's his hometown club because he'll never leave. ?