Our squad is very thin but I would rather see youngsters promoted than padding the squad with journeymen or pointless loans. If youngsters see a path to the first team it will pay dividends. For example, I have no concerns about starting the season with Whitworth as number 2, or O'Brien as our fourth choice centre-back.

Edit: by pointless loans I mean loans for positions we're already covered in

Edited by taylors lovechild (09 Aug 2023 10.51am)

Hard to disagree, but its working withing the constraints we have. So we are filling the mandatory positions. We aren't going to replace OE of JPM with anyone better, so better to save the cash.

Where we can patch up (e.g. 2 old RBs) we will. Kicks the can down the road another year.

I'm inclined to think there is some money to spend because if not then it seems an even bigger risk to invest in Franca who it seems may take some time to have an impact. If we sign Hall we finally have cover for Mitchell and also another option in midfield. That versatility could see Roy using him in front of Mitchell with money being spent on a striker rather than a winger. Hall can deliver a great cross and is a great passer, so it may be we go down a different route to signing a tricky winger. Also, all the videos of Franca do seem to show him coming in off the left, so it may be that is where Roy will use him, a bit like he did with Eze when he first arrived.

Our squad is very thin but I would rather see youngsters promoted than padding the squad with journeymen or pointless loans. If youngsters see a path to the first team it will pay dividends. For example, I have no concerns about starting the season with Whitworth as number 2, or O'Brien as our fourth choice centre-back.

Edit: by pointless loans I mean loans for positions we're already covered in

Edited by taylors lovechild (09 Aug 2023 10.51am)

I don’t disagree with you on the possibility of Hall playing in front of Mitchell rather than replacing Zaha. We also have Ayew or Schlup to fit into that position if required. I thought having Zaha, Olise and Eze in a starting 11 was a luxury for us but now that luxury may just be Eze and that could work in our favour with the other 10 completing a balanced team. We shall see, but I do agree with others that our squad isn’t as strong as it should be if hit by suspensions or injury to our main players?

I'm inclined to think there is some money to spend because if not then it seems an even bigger risk to invest in Franca who it seems may take some time to have an impact. If we sign Hall we finally have cover for Mitchell and also another option in midfield. That versatility could see Roy using him in front of Mitchell with money being spent on a striker rather than a winger. Hall can deliver a great cross and is a great passer, so it may be we go down a different route to signing a tricky winger. Also, all the videos of Franca do seem to show him coming in off the left, so it may be that is where Roy will use him, a bit like he did with Eze when he first arrived.

Our squad is very thin but I would rather see youngsters promoted than padding the squad with journeymen or pointless loans. If youngsters see a path to the first team it will pay dividends. For example, I have no concerns about starting the season with Whitworth as number 2, or O'Brien as our fourth choice centre-back.

Edit: by pointless loans I mean loans for positions we're already covered in

Edited by taylors lovechild (09 Aug 2023 10.51am)

What are these rumours of Andersen to Newcastle and Palace are asking for £40m that cannot be true I cannot see Palace selling him for under £60m minimum. Palace have already lost Zaha, close to losing Olise they cannot afford other players leaving.