Stuff it, I'll go first before LIW does his...

01. Illan Meslier - YES/#2 BACK UP ONLY
02. Karl Darlow - NO
03. Alex Cairns - NO

04. Jayden Bogle - YES
05. Junior Firpo - NO
06. Sam Byram - NO
07. Isaac Schmidt - MAYBE?
08. Rasmus Kristensen (out on loan) - NO

09. Pascal Struijk - YES
10. Joe Rodon - YES
11. Maximilian Wöber - YES
12. James Debayo - MAYBE?

13. Ethan Ampadu - YES
14. Joe Rothwell (in on loan) - YES
15. Ao Tanaka - YES
16. Ilia Gruev - YES
17. Charlie Crew - MAYBE?
18. Sam Chambers - MAYBE?
19. Sam Greenwood (out on loan) - NO

20. Daniel James - YES
21. Manor Solomon (in on loan) - YES
22. Wilfried Gnonto - YES
23. Largie Ramazani - MAYBE?
24. Jack Harrison (out on loan) N/A

25. Brenden Aaronson - YES

26. Joël Piroe - YES
27. Mateo Joseph - MAYBE?
28. Patrick Bamford - NO
29. Joe Gelhardt - NO
30. Sonny Perkins (out on loan) - NO

Of 30 players listed I see 14 as Prem level.
And 6 as maybe. 4 of those are kids who
we don't have enough evidence of yet.

What a great idea…5 stars from me!

Now let me think!

I have rated my answers on players I believe could contribute significantly to keeping us in the PL, not just make up the numbers in a losing season, where they might have the odd good game..

Where there is not enough evidence either way, I’ve gone for a NO answer, with the exception of Schmidt, who I just have a feeling about.

Looks like we need a couple of Goalkeepers and a couple of strikers right off the bat..!!


01. Illan Meslier - NO
02. Karl Darlow - NO
03. Alex Cairns - NO

04. Jayden Bogle - YES
05. Junior Firpo - NO
06. Sam Byram - YES
07. Isaac Schmidt - YES
08. Rasmus Kristensen (out on loan) - NO

09. Pascal Struijk - YES
10. Joe Rodon - YES
11. Maximilian Wöber - YES
12. James Debayo - NO

13. Ethan Ampadu - YES
14. Joe Rothwell (in on loan) - YES
15. Ao Tanaka - YES
16. Ilia Gruev - NO
17. Charlie Crew - NO
18. Sam Chambers - NO
19. Sam Greenwood (out on loan) - NO

20. Daniel James - YES
21. Manor Solomon (in on loan) - YES
22. Wilfried Gnonto - YES
23. Largie Ramazani - YES
24. Jack Harrison (out on loan) N/A

25. Brenden Aaronson - YES

26. Joël Piroe - NO
27. Mateo Joseph - NO
28. Patrick Bamford - NO
29. Joe Gelhardt - NO
30. Sonny Perkins (out on loan) - NO

Blood, nice one.

01 Meslier. Just a YES, but not confident
02 Darlow NO
03 Cairns NO

04 Bogle a definite YES…this guy can step up!
05 Firpo ?? Just YES
06 Byram NO
07 Schmidt Don’t know enough about him…so NO
08 Kristensen NO

09 Strijk YES
10 Rodon….hmm not sure but NO
11 Wober NO
12 Debayo NO

13. Ampadu Just. YES
14. Rothwell YES most definitely
15 Tanaka YES
16 Gruev. Just, YES…..think he can step up
17. Crew. NO….tbh don’t know enough about him
18. Chambers NO Ditto
19. Greenwood NO

20. James. YES. but NO…maybe just YES
21. Soloman NO
22. Gnonto. YES but NO…maybe just YES
23. Ramazani NO
25 Aaronson. NO….shooting poor for premier

26. Piroe NO
27. Joseph. ?? Maybe/possibly. Just YES
28. Bamford. NO…is he still at the club?!
29. Gelhardt NO
30. Perkins NO

10. Yes…but some with not a lot of confidence

Good game….good game….expect now I will be called
“strange and bizarre “

Meslier backup
Bogle
Firpo
Struijk
Rodon
Wober
Ampadu
Tanaka
James
Gnonto
Ramazani

Slim pickings but we don't have to replace everyone in the first window.

Would try to keep Solomon and Rothwell.

I’ll just do ones I don’t want to see in any form in PL aside from obvious ones who are out on loan or who never play e.g. Geldhardt.

Meslier - he needs a fresh start for his own good. We need a keeper who can keep us in games and win us points, he’s not done that enough last 4 seasons.
Firpo - he’s been good at this level for us but his race is run. Recent bans did it for me, just doesn’t display enough composure.
Bamford - I’ve defended him on here, lot of hyperbole about him but feels like a lose lose for everyone if he’s still here next year

Positions to target if we are up:

Left back as always
Keeper
Centreback - we have 3 good ones but a proper stand out player needed for PL
Striker - Piroe can contribute definitely but we would need better as a starter

So far, it looks like those that have posted are close
to agreement on the squad. Interesting.

I suppose we should start looking at picking at the bones of the teams coming down for starters? Anyone on Man U squad you would take? Nah thought not 😂.

I was at the Playoff final in May, and my feeling after the game wasn’t as bad as I thought a loss would bring. That I think is because I look at the PL table now and know that would be us at the bottom in all likelihood. So to your point about the article Batty…yes we need a massive overhaul of the squad I feel….just don’t want to think about it too much and enjoy the ride to hopefully getting autos.🤞

yes we need a massive overhaul of the squad I feel….just don’t want to think about it too much and enjoy the ride to hopefully getting autos.🤞

^^^

Understood. And agree.
I think the majority see what's coming.
The price of success is stress.

Just a bit of fun on NYE.

So far, by responses, 6-12 new recruits needed.

I do think 2 to 3 seasons from now, promoted clubs
might only retain 5/6 of their Championship squad.
Or they'll be right back down. Which is terrifying for
any club with ambitions to get to the Prem.

Our 3 top performers from last season are bit part players now at their respective clubs. Cree's a sub. Rutter's in the rotation as a starter. Not a lock.
Archie's an emergency CB in a decimated Spurs.

All 3 were absolute stars in the Championship.

I think the worry for me is the defensive aspect of our squad. Next season, if we are in the PL, we are not going to have as much possession and we will be defending a lot more. Our fullbacks scare me defensively…Rodon is solid but has mistakes in him and Struijk was torn to bits confidence wise last time we were there.

Surprised everyone has said Bogle. I think he'll be found out big time in the PL. Great going forward but not a great defender.

Our 4 rotatng wingers are a luxury but can we keep that in place? Piroe is a great finisher but I feel we need an upgrade on him to supplement. Midfield wise, Tanaka and Ampadu will be good…think we need another solid midfielder. Definitely need new fullbacks and maybe a CB. So 4/5 Prem quality signings I’d say minimum.

Bogle is the one I thought could be a great success, thought about his direct running, his determination to attack, wants to shoot at every opportunity,
His defensive abilities can be improved no doubt…but a big YES from me, lots of potential.

It's interesting to see how others see the squad.

And after telling you I don’t want to think about it too much…I’m now thinking about it too much 😂😂

comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 56 minutes ago
Our 3 top performers from last season are bit part players now at their respective clubs. Cree's a sub. Rutter's in the rotation as a starter. Not a lock.
Archie's an emergency CB in a decimated Spurs.

All 3 were absolute stars in the Championship.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Archie has performed the best of the three. With experience and playing in his proper position I think he has the highest ceiling. Was our biggest loss imo.

This thread is an excellent illustration of how football has been allowed to go down the pan. The gap between the Premiership & the Championship is now ridiculous.

But how funny would it be if schum went down? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Man U threads are in meltdown on ja.

Some of them are starting to think it might
be a possibility. It won't. But the stress it's
causing is hilarious. They'll buy their way
out of this situation.

comment by White as Snow (U22893)
posted 43 minutes ago
This thread is an excellent illustration of how football has been allowed to go down the pan. The gap between the Premiership & the Championship is now ridiculous.

^^^

I wasn't really paying attention to the gap until
Jonty brought it to an OP years ago. He's looking
like football Nostradamus right now.

Sad reality that 'small' clubs who already booked
their place a few seasons ago will have a much
stronger chance now of staying up.

I thought the Notts Forest owner was nuts with his
massive squad and investment. Right up to them
sitting in second place in the Prem the other day.

Survival in the Prem requires bold intent, huge
monetary investment, excellent recruitment, and
the right manager/coach. High stakes league.

Not for the passive or the sentimental.

Keepers
NEW KEEPER
Meslier

Fullbacks
NEW LEFT BACK
Jayden Bogle
Sam Byram
Isaac Schmidt

Centre backs
NEW CENTRE BACK
Pascal Struijk
Joe Rodon
Maximilian Wöber

midfielders
Ethan Ampadu
Ao Tanaka
Gruev

Wingers
Daniel James
Wilfried Gnonto
Largie Ramazani
Jack Harrison

CAM
Brenden Aaronson

Striker
NEW STRIKER
Joël Piroe
Mateo Joseph

On the sentimentality side, it'd be interesting to see
how many clubs have paid the price for keeping or
bringing back players once they did go up.

Those clubs that said "we're retaining player X
from our Championship promotion team to reward
their effort in getting us up." Or the clubs who
bring back former players who have played in
the Prem for other clubs, but started at the
promoted club. I guess for us that would be a Milner.

How often has that back fired? Or been a complete
waste of resources?

Ruthlessness is the only way to stay in the Prem.