Tee hee

Its time to say bye to Tomkins and Kelly. Bring in a young CB and use Kouyate for senior cover.

Kouyate, Schlupp, McArthur, Ayew, Clyne - are all important squad players and deserve another year. Ayew and Schlupp maybe 2.

Benteke, Luka and Jairo - would be good to offload if at all possible, but I can imagine they will be happy to take the dosh for another year

I generally agree with this, although I'd keep Tomkins who looked solid when he had to step in this season. We really need to try and find new clubs for Tekkers and Luka who are now just expensive weights around the club's neck and who offer little other than being seemingly good characters. For me McArthur is the most important player to keep around, but I think he has already signed a new deal. If AWB does come back then I can't see us keeping Ward and Clyne. I also have a feeling Kouyate may move abroad to get one last big pay day before he retires.

Edited by taylors lovechild (04 May 2022 8.52am)

Edited by taylors lovechild (04 May 2022 8.52am)

After Taylor left Hull and came to us his management career basically spiralled downwards from looking at Wiki, ending most recently in being sacked by Welling in March. I was excited when he joined us as manager in 2006, as shown by my username. 16 years later it still hangs around my neck!

I agree about Kelly. Even Roy didn't play him. Maybe he makes a good cup of tea or something? Otherwise surely one of the U23 defenders could do his role just as well?

i always find these salary websites quite bizarre - there are always a few big inaccuracies.

VG signed a new contract last year so suspect he's on more (i've heard £77k p.w) and same with Hughes as the £36k appears to be his Watford salary. Benteke is , hopefully, on less now as he signed a new contract in the middle of covid.

Players also have big bonuses in their contracts which can sometimes be rolled up into a single figure e.g i suspect Clyne has a big pay as you pay element due to previous injury issues.

Going forward agree re Tekkers, Luka and Jairo, however, all 3 are under contract and on big wages so can't see them going anywhere.

Of the out of contract the 3 centre backs - Tomkins, Kelly and Jach must go as they barely play and don't fit the new style. Clearly we will then need cover. Maybe O'Brien (on loan at Swindon) can be one of these (although another promising youngster Sam Woods is now at Barnet so maybe not!).

I suspect Sclupp, Kouyate, Macca and Ayew will be offered new contracts, however, i'm not sure if they'd sign. Macca at 35 may want to go back to Scotland. Kouyate has a few interested in him so he may demand more than we are prepared to pay.

Clyne's situation may depend on AWB and the Fergie situation.

It's funny that our 3rd choice goalie is 'only' on £5k a week which is nothing in Premier League terms but it is £250k a year, which is fantastic money and probably puts him in the top 1% of earners in the country (think £80k is the top 5%).

I doubt AWB will be a palace player, if he is then its a choice between ward and Clyne for cover.

Doucoure looks decent, but he is probs a Kouyate replacement. As someone said, if he gets a decent payday in Qatar he'll likely go.

I'd 100% give Macca another year, wont play every game but great when he does. Plus, its good to have some old heads around.

We are losing Conor, hopefully we'll shed Luka and Jairo too.

Playing 3 in the middle we probably need 6 players across the season.

Macca, Hughes, Eze, Jeff, Kouyate + New CM