As everyone acknowledges, this summer will see a large number of our players out of contract, so it is a time for change and the key question is ‘who do we keep and who do we lose?’

Here are my thoughts (with some explanations):

Keep Lose

Guaita Hennessey
Butland Henderson

Ferguson Clyne
Ward (reliable cover)
Mitchell PVA

Tomkins Sakho
Cahill (highly experienced & a leader) Dann
Kouyate Kelly

Riedewald McArthur
Luca (useful cover) McCarthy

Zaha Wickham
Eze Batshuyai
Townsend (hardworking cover) Benteke
Schlupp
Mateta
Ayew

(16) (12)

My only hesitation regarding the above lists, is whether one of McCarthy or McArthur should be kept for one more season and likewise Benteke.

Based on the above, we will need to add the following 5-6 players as a minimum:

• A left back
• 1-2 centre-backs
• A defensive midfielder
• A creative midfielder
• A right winger to replace Townsend

I’m assuming these would all be new signings and/or loans and any further requirements could be met by promoting players from the Academy, as we are starting to see some promising talent rising through the ranks.

Finally, the biggest question of all, does Roy stay or go?

I have been fully supportive of Roy over these last four seasons and he has done a wonderful job in maintaining our PL status with limited resources and we have never been in any danger of relegation in that time, which is some achievement.

However, there is no denying that too many of our performances over these last 12 months have been well below expectations and our football has often been dire. In my view Roy is beginning to look tired and one wonders if he really wants to carry on.

Ideally I’d like the decision about his future to be his, as he deserves our respect and admiration for what he has achieved and if he decides to go, then we move on with his blessing and he may even, as some have suggested become a backroom advisor. We can then bring in a new, younger manager to help us rebuild the squad and take us forward. But this inevitably comes with a risk, as to change so many players at the same time as the manager will create some instability before things can settle down. This of course is why we hear people saying ‘be careful what you wish for.’

On the other hand, a case can be made for Roy choosing to stay on, for perhaps one more season, to oversee the rebuilding of the squad, which is a must, whilst maintaining our PL status as he reliably does. Then the new manager could come in next season to continue the rebuilding.

As you can see, I’m in two minds on the Roy question.

So what do others think about the squad and Roy?

I think we should keep Clyne, Kelly and definitely McArthur.

Lose 12 1st team players?

Just no.

Highlighted likely players to go

I thought Kelly signed a new contract last summer. That's why I'm surprised that when fit he hasn't featured at all.

I think the original post is possibly about right. It looks like a lot of players to lose at once, but given the 'lose' list includes two reserve goalies we don't need, Sakho and Wickham who are never fit to play, Kelly who never gets picked, and Batshuyi who is only on loan and is going back anyway, we are only really losing six:

Clyne
PVA
Dann
McArthur
McCarthy
Benteke

I would keep Clyne and McArthur, taking us down to four regular first team players we are losing.

I think Dann is now past it, sadly. Though he is younger than Cahill, Dann has a different body type. He is a very big, heavy guy, and it takes him ages to get up to speed after the many injuries he gets.

I really like McCarthy, but his body just isn't up to it, and we don't need him, McArthur, Luka and Jairo. They are all too similar.

Benteke is a thread all of his own of course, but if he will accept significantly reduced wages ten I might be tempted to keep him as cover / Plan B.

We need:

Cover at left back (though I think Ferguson can play across the whole back four).

At least one new young centre back as an absolute priority.

One mobile young central midfielder.

Ideally a fast, effective wide player.

Possibly a striker, though of course Mateta may develop his game outside the box, or we may develop our build up play so as to remove the burden of holding the ball up against the run of play.

All four/five need to be an improvement on the current first team players. That is far from easy. I'd guess we could get two on loan, leaving us to find two or three permanent signings.

This is a valid question.

I am working on the assumption that the terms offered might not be as favourable and perhaps the players might feel that appearances might be limited, so maybe some might deem that it is in their interests to move elsewhere where they might enjoy more regular football.

Edited by Willo (04 Mar 2021 11.04am)