Some of you may recall that a while back I made a blog discussing where the squad was at in terms of how Bielsa wanted it to work, and what was needed to streamline the squad, whilst also adding to it, so today I am writing an updated one to summarise what has happened since then.
First off, the departures. Wiedwald and Lonergan have both left the club, as we lose both senior keepers from the start of last year. Neither covered themselves in glory. Marcus Antonsson has returned to Sweden to play for Malmo, the most succesful Swedish side of all time, after a fruitless two year stay in England. Madger Gomes is the only of the U23 players to have departed permanently as it stands, moving to Sochaux in France.
A number of players have been moved out on loan. From the senior squad, Pawel Cibicki has moved to Molde to join up with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Jay-Roy Grot has left for VVV Venlo, where he has scored a few goals in preseason. Tyler Denton and Paudie O'Connor have both left the U23 squad for loan deals to Peterbrough and Blackpool respectively. Lewie Coyle has returned to Fleetwood on loan.
In terms of new arrivals, we have picked up Lewis Baker, to supplement our senior options in CM, and Jamal Blackman from Chelsea on loan. We have yet to see a fee spent.
So, from the original target of fifteen departures set by Bielsa, we have moved on nine players who maybe expected to be in the senior squad this season. That means Bielsa is looking for another eight. It seems safe to assume that Ekuban, Sacko, O'Kane and Bouy are all on this list, given their lack of appearances, along with Luke Murphy, who spent last season at Burton on loan. This would bring us up to 12 departures. Unknowns right now are Vurnon Anita, Conor Shaugnessy and Tyler Roberts.
Goalkeepers - Jamal Blackman, Bailey Peacock-Farrell (with Kamil Miazek and Will Huffer as U23 options)
Defenders - Luke Ayling, Gaetano Berardi, Liam Cooper, Pontus Jansson, Tom Pearce (with Laurens De Bock, Vurnon Anita and Conor Shaugnessy trying to push in, and Hugo Diaz as a young option)
Midfielders - Adam Forshaw, Yosuke Ideguchi, Kalvin Phillips, Ronaldo Vieira, Samu Saiz, Pablo Hernandez, Mateusz Klich, Lewis Baker (with Shackleton and Stevens as younger options)
Attackers - Ezgjan Alioski, Stuart Dallas, Kemar Roofe (with Jack Clarke, Ryan Edmondson, Sam Dalby and Tyler Roberts as younger options.
Clear need for a few more attackers. We do seem to be looking for a striker at least. A lot of options for full back positions and centre mids, and we are well covered in goal. CBs, wingers and strikers seem to be the necessary positions.
Who Has to Go 2
posted on 20/7/18
comment by Lubo - Get Excited for Leeds United (U14008)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by LIW - RAD = BATES WITH A SMILE (U8453)
posted 29 minutes ago
Lubo has sank to a new low
And that bar is fooking low
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And what is that for?
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Id hazard a guess at wanting to sign Cheltenham players..........you consistently defend shytey players over and over and then want to sign cheap gambles. Where is your ambition Lubo?
posted on 20/7/18
Lubo
You said Phillips and okane were good enough for promotion.
You also said Pennington was a good signing
You also bummed Felix for a year
Your bar is touching the ground pal
posted on 20/7/18
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by Lubo - Get Excited for Leeds United (U14008)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by LIW - RAD = BATES WITH A SMILE (U8453)
posted 29 minutes ago
Lubo has sank to a new low
And that bar is fooking low
----------------------------------------------------------------------
And what is that for?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Id hazard a guess at wanting to sign Cheltenham players..........you consistently defend shytey players over and over and then want to sign cheap gambles. Where is your ambition Lubo?
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If we signed just Rosa as a striking option of be disappointed and would criticise. If we signed him as a third choice option then I'd be fine with that.
Still think we need two new strikers minimum.
posted on 20/7/18
When Veira goes don't blame the club MB doesn't rate him,
posted on 20/7/18
...and central to all this lunacy is Orta. He was reckless and out of his depth last year and God only knows how he has kept his job.
He should have walked with PH at the end of last season, but no, here he is again making a pig's annus out of another summer recruitment drive.
If this is the exciting summer of transfer activity that Kinnear promised then I can't even begin to imagine what his idea of quiet and boring is.
So much time wasted. This is no way to prepare for a new season, especially bearing in mind the poor performances and final league position last season.
The owners are clueless, absolutely clueless. Orta should go and give Bielsa his head, for better or worse. 2 weeks to the new season and the squad is as weak as ever.
posted on 21/7/18
comment by Elsbels (U21658)
posted 11 hours, 32 minutes ago
Do you think that Bielsa is the problem here, that Victor bless him goes to Bielsa with names and he says no regardless.
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Bielsa is not the issue, I would like to think he has his own mind & he would have prepared a list of players he wanted before agreeing terms to take us on. If not, then he is in the wrong job. We must not continue to allow AK & ortafookoff to run the show. We have seen where it has got us so far
posted on 21/7/18
Murphy and O'Kane starting for the u23's against Ossett today.
posted on 21/7/18
Did we win?
posted on 21/7/18
comment by Stevie Dee (U10061)
posted 1 minute ago
Did we win?
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2nd half just started, winning 1-0
O'Kane has looked OK, Murphy hasn't.
https://www.facebook.com/ProperSportRadio/videos/1795677467183386/
posted on 21/7/18
comment by Sol WNGU (U2745)
posted 27 minutes ago
comment by Stevie Dee (U10061)
posted 1 minute ago
Did we win?
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2nd half just started, winning 1-0
O'Kane has looked OK, Murphy hasn't.
https://www.facebook.com/ProperSportRadio/videos/1795677467183386/
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Cheers, I suspect after two seasons at Burton, Murphy will be looking to move on himself.