Speroni/Marshall

Ward
Dann
Delaney
Trippier/Cresswell

Jedinak
Sidwell

Bolasie
Chamakh
Puncheon

Finnbogason

"The course of true love never did run smooth"

Jules

Ward, Delaney, Dann, A Cole

Jedi, Ledley

Punch. Bolasie

Chamakh

Rhodes

.

It has to really be a case if it is not broken then do not fix it. Of course we need to tweak certain areas, with the attack being of paramount importance.

Speroni

Mariappa…Delaney…Dann…Ward

Puncheon…Ledley…Jedinak…Bolasie

Chamakh…RHODES

Subs From: Hennessy, Alexander, Guerdiora, Williams, KG, INCE, Murray, Hunt(?), Gabbidon, Parr, SIDWELL and GOMIS.

This would mean saying farewell to McCarthy, Price, Moxey, Wilbrahim, Dobbie, Thomas, Jerome, Garvan, Ramage, Bannan, Campana, Kebe and Gayle. Hopefully getting around 5m for all those still under contract except Gayle.

Ideally I would like to see Gayle going to Blackburn as part of a deal for Jordan Rhodes.

We get Chamakh to sign his one year extension and give new contracts to KG, Parr and, of course Speroni plus a new one year deal for Gabbidon.

We then need one new left sided full back and new centre back as cover. My only question is over Hunt and whether TP rates him.

We keep the same team as far as possible to this seasons and beef up the attack and have stronger strength in depth. Five new players is enough and all the dead wood all gone.

Expenditure would be around 7m for Rhodes assuming we exchange Gayle with a 3m value. Ince will be around the 2.5m level, Sidwell may be on a free unless he has signed a new contract but given his age his value is unlikely to be more than 2m. Gomis is certainly available on a free.

That leaves us in the region of 9m for the two further new players I have suggested that we need if we are budgeting on spending 20m. Add to that a possible 5m income for the sale of players.

My only dilemma in all of this is whether we would want to sign Jerome. Having hummed and harred over this for the last few weeks in the end I have come to the conclusion that we should not sign him. The reason behind this is that I would hope we become a more potent attacking threat and not be so reliant on a guy who will run all day but adds so little as a goal threat.

All likely to be bollox but I love this game especially over the close season.

The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made. Groucho Marx