Realistically how many players do you think we can afford to buy during the summer and can be integrated with the team?

I doubt we can expect much more than 3 maybe 4 newcomers.

Most clubs run on the principle of having 2 players for each position. With that objective I’m happy with Ward, Kelly and Hennessy.

We have a new keeper lined up. If Speroni retires then we’d another. Losing Hennessy would mean bringing in 3...

Delaney is going so we need at least another CB. So letting Kelly go...you do the maths.

We’ve got AWB as an aspiring first choice RB. How do we bring in another without blocking him?

Let’s look at the bigger picture
We badly need an attacking midfielder and another who plays central. I’d say there’s an argument for another striker too.

We ain't buying 8 players this summer and I don’t think it would be wise to.

To amplify the points Aray has already very eloquently made:

Other than the supposed ‘top six’ clubs, pretty much every club in the Premiership is potentially a relegation candidate. Stoke, Southampton and, to an extent, West Brom would have been seen as pretty solid fixtures in the division yet all three are now literally fighting for their lives.

Wholesale replacement of the squad is 1. unrealistic, 2. very expensive and 3. a deranged expectation. It’s true that we have several positions in need of serious upgrade but, then again, so does pretty much everyone else. Competition amongst 14 clubs is keen.

If you’re expecting a whole host of new arrivals in the next window, I’m afraid you’re going to be very bitterly disappointed.

What qualifies as cheap? How do you know they will be as cheap in terms of fee and wages as you claim? How do you know that van der Wiel would have played better than Ward in the PL?

We have several positions that need urgent attention: center forward; central midfield (with two players out of contract and one on loan); at least one wide midfielder; which tells me that we have more urgent needs elsewhere, even if I think Ward needs to be replaced as first choice.

Edited by NickinOX (25 Apr 2018 1.23pm)

If you come to a fork in the road, take it.

Supporters of the club who want to ditch 8 players who have done a great service to the club over the years.

1. We can't afford to replace the first 11 as you seem to be suggesting.

2. Ward/Hennessey/Kelly aren't the reason we're in the position we're in, playing an odd formation under an incompatible manager for the start of the season is.

Hennessey has been getting better in the last bit of the season, Ward is just coming back from injury but is a solid player - not the best but by no means the worst, Kelly has been putting in some decent performances recently.

If you're thinking of offloading, you need to look at players who don't even make the bench rather than players who are already integrated into our system, buy into our philosophy, and willing to perform for the badge, and have actually been playing.

Ward turned down a new contract earlier in the season, so he may well have decided to leave anyway. CYL will definitely leave. Delaney I imagine will retire. Jules I imagine will stay on as third choice and that would be fine by me. Wayne is a good backup as is Kelly. Sako, for me, probably did enough to earn a one-year contract but wages will be a factor as he really did very little until the last six months. Cabaye may well depend as much on him as on us. We will probably still offer more money than a French club, but sometimes players get sentimental at the end of their careers. I would be happy to keep him for another year.

With Roy at the helm and with a less insane injury list I think the squad as it stands would be good for a top half finish next season. We have created a lot of chances in most games and when Tomkins and Sakho have played together they've been very solid. The big issue has been a striker and the big question this summer is whether we want to and are able to move Bentenke on and bring in someone who perhaps better suits Roy's system. I would also like to see the integration of a few more of our U23 players given their success this year and the way Bissaka has stepped up.

Ward, Kelly and Hennessey could stay as back up if they are prepared to sit on the bench.
I doubt that Hennessey and Ward want that and so will likely go.
Chung Lee must go.
Speroni and Delaney in non playing roles I agree.
If Benteke goes as well then we need to keep everyone else as that means six off the books.
Six new players would be as many as we would likely afford to be honest.
I don't like him particulalry but Wickham might be fit and be one of the Centre Forwards next season so we would be looking for five new players minimum which is a lot if you want quality.