Count those chickens, Tonka. We will be playing in the Champo next season.

Just mentioned elsewhere that i don't expect many additions this summer, maybe only 3 or 4.

Pritchard would be a good target straight off the bat, where exactly does he fit in?
Would he be one for Jacobs position?

Either way i think we should add a player to the squad for that area, and maybe another for the two central midfielders as well.

Heard talk that Davis is just about done now, and obviously from a personal stand point i would not give Edwards a new contract.

Defence is ok for me, if we did add to it then a CB, Sheff Utd have a good one don't they, but heard he would be near 4 or 5 million, out of our reach.

Need to add to the strikers as well, at least 1 i would say, and then i guess we would have to have faith that McAlinden is good enough, or Keita, as despite the hype we don't really know yet.

In order of priority....

Centre forward. Don’t know if Clarke is good enough or not, Cassidy & McAlinden very much unproven.
Holding Mid. None of those waiting for their chance to get past McD & Price fill me with confidence especially Davis.
Centre back. We’re not bad in this area if we give Stearman a new contract but I have a feeling we won’t.
Attacking Mid.
Winger.

The first three are critical, the next two are desirable.

Centre half, centre mid, centre forward, winger.

That's if loan players don't come back and there's no more Prices ready to come through yet.

Would hope we do give Stearman a contract, is at a good age and looks good this season.

Can't see Cassidy making it with us now either.

I'm sure KJ will give this whole squad a chance to impress IF we do go up. There are a few out of contract, but I think Stearman has earned at least another year on his. Ricketts will only have one more year, but in Doherty and Ebanks-Landell I think we're ok there too.

Let's consolidate in the Championship first and gradually get players in who could help us push on further.

So would you go into next season with pretty much the same squad Sunny?

I think the majority then would like to see a new spine injected over the summer then? I think this is fair, I'd like to see the up and coming players come in al la Pritchard et al to challenge the likes of Jacobs for a first team place.
This surely would get the best out of the whole squad?

Looks that way Tonka, to strengthen the squad at first, would like to see our first teamers given the opportunity to see what they have before culling them.

Hard to pick a weak spot at this minute in the starting 11.

Wouldn't be a bad thing if this team started next season - they've more than earned their shot. Depth is a problem though. I think you need to add to squad every window unless you've got academy players coming through.

Jackett certainly seems to have a type Tonka and I think Pritchard would fit his criteria apart from perhaps having a few too many injuries in the past. Twelve months on his Spurs contract though and if they want him they’ll keep him.

My suggested signings are based mainly on competition rather than the quality of the 1st XI.

Depth is defo where our weakness is right now, we probably only have a squad of about 13 or 14 reliable players.

First 11 plus
McCarey
Doherty

Plus question marks against

Evans(who i think would be fine)
Clarke
Ebanks Landell
Edwards
McAlinden

I think we may need a new full back. I think Ricketts will struggle to have the legs to mark a young, fast, tricky winger and may be better suited to playing centre half. He wouldn't be first choice in that position and whether he will be able to step up in the Championship in that position is questionable.

Other than Doherty and Golbourne, I think we will run out of options, especially at left back. Ebanks-Landell will be able to cover however, he will also be covering the centre half position. That is unless Foley and/or Ward return, but that looks unlikely.

I think Doherty will likely become first choice again next season and Ricketts will be an able back up, though that leaves question marks over captaincy.

Who do we have next off the youth production line anyway?
Keita is close but would likely benefit from a loan to get games under his belt.
Kostrna must be getting to that age now also, have heard good things but would need a loan.
Ihiekwe? Reid?

What about Tank?

What's happened with him?

Dunno?

the swedish guy is a regular as well i think, can't remember his name but rkon i ends with sson

To answer yet another question from you, 306. Yes, I would retain the majority of our current squad. Elokobi, Edwards and Stearman are out of contract. Like I said, I think Stearman has earned an extention. I also believe we need another LB. I watched the U21's the other night and Iorfa at RB was my Wolves player of the match. Kostrna got a bit of a run around. Parry played a good game in midfield and although O'Hara did enough, I didn't see much of an improvement in his all round game.

I hope we retain the system we are playing now, as 4-2-3-1 seems to be the choice of top teams these days.

I hope that satisfies your curiosity and if there's anything else you'd like to ask me about, feel free to let me know.

I think we are doing exceptionally well right now because we have an 11 that are more than good enough at this level. I don't have confidence in much of the cover although Doherty, Ebanks Landell, Evans and McAlinden are all capable of making the grade in time.

Keepers we are fine.

Defence I don't think will prove to be quite as good at the next level. I am not sure who will prove to be our best right back out of Doherty, Ricketts and Ebanks Landell and I wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter. Stearman has had a good season but still gets away with the occasional faux pas and I wasn't confident in golbourne but do think he has got better and better. But I think we will see a couple of new defenders in the summer. McDonald and Price are fine but we have no cover or competition. Sako is proven at the next level and Jacobs has potential but Henry will have something to prove I think. Again I think we will need two additions. And Dicko Is good and will get better but I will be surprised if Clarke proves to be a good signing so we will need another striker too.

Pritchard is a good call for one new signing.

Doherty is our best full back. We have just forgotten this and respect to KJ for sticking with a winning side.

Let's be ambitious here.

Goodbye
Doyle, Edwards, O'Hara, Forde, Davis, Elokobi, Johnson, Ward (8)

Hello
Top striker (send Cassidy and McAlinden to top league one club on loan for season)

centre midfielder (BETTER than Price and McDonald)

Centre back (better than Stearman)



The Matador doesn't believe in replacing squad players like Evans. A manager should always buy better to replace the first 11, otherwise it sends the wrong message to the players.

The problem with the last two years were comfortable players who were a clique and knew they wouldn't be replaced (Ward and Henry).

Kenny has succeeded by being ruthless with Doyle and Griffiths. They have seen Dicko come in and score. They all know now they can be replaced.

As for the young players I hope Ihiekwe comes back well from his loan cause he looks a good player to me. Ismail remains worth persevering with I think. I like Cranston the young left back, and Parry looks a good wide midfield player. Keita and eusebio are well talked of. I wouldn't be too hopeful about Kostrna, Reckord, Tank, Jacobsson or Forde.

DJ

You are trying to replace squad players. You are too frightened to suggest replacing first teasers because of our good run.

The championship is a different league than this one.

If we're ruthless and buy some proven championship quality to compliment our youth (good enough to play) we'll get there.

Price has been fantastic yes. I wouldn't stunt him. But you improve him buy bringing in a better player and challenge him to step up to a higher level. If Price is good enough and his attitude is right then competition will be the making of him.

Don't think you're showing off your best punditry with these comments, Pundit. Of course all fans want new signings to improve the team. Thereby, the quality of cover improves too.

You completely misinterpret what I am saying pundit. To me football is about a squad not about 11 players. I am saying we need to add 5 or 6 to our squad. Who gets picked for the first 11 will vary over the season and be down to form and favoured formations.

Good debate