What do you think Cortese is up to?

Things will be going on behind the scenes.

If we are still in the same position by Christmas then I think we will make one big signing.

We won't sign a whole new set of players like QPR have done because that just unsettles the team

Let's see where we are in 2 months

 

I am sure we will continue to look for players who want to get on the bus and are capable of playing at the top level. We will not pay silly wages and sign players who will disrupt what we are building. We have 6 players who will be good Premier League players. We will want to build up that number.

 

Two top signings in January - centre back and striker. Top Champ quality, under 25 with point to prove, fit in with the rest of the lads and work hard to get into the Prem knowing they would get a shot at the big time next season

 

Yes, please.

 

I hear what a lot are saying and yes new signings will need to come in at some point in the near future. Would you not agree though that to accommodate a few new ones in we will have to get rid of a couple as well? Who would go? Or Rather who would you think could go?

 

Don't think many would go because we would need two players for every position.

 

Well tbh at the moment I would t change any part of the team, but we all know the time will come when we have to change the squad in some way...

Connolly is obviously desperate to keep going and I really don't blame him, about 6 months ago I wouldn't have minded seeing him retire, but my opinion of him had completely changed. Such a determined and skilful player!

A CB will be priority! Maybe one winger for now because I don't think Holmes will keep fit/fit in to the Premier League!

We just need to tighten at the back and try to avoid giving away silly goals

 

I'm not sure, I can't decide. Of course, in an ideal world going down the same route as Swansea and Norwich have (ie keep basically the same squad), is the best route to go down. Like you say, it avoids unsettling the team and casuing disruption etc, whilst it also rewards the players for getting you up there in the first place - and were the worst to happen, and you come straight back down, it ensures that you don't have a load of high-earners who you spent mega-bucks on, who you then need to ship back out again. (Are the likes of SWP and Ferdinand going to want to stay at QPR next season, if they go straight back down? Could QPR afford to keep them, even if they did want to stay?)

But Cortese has always said that he wants us to compete in the Premiership, has he not? I don't think he wants us be the Southampton of the 90s, where we're in a relegation battle each season. But being brutally honest, I don't see this current squad being able to compete. At an absoloute push, I'd say that we could survive in the top division - but only a 16th or 17th placed finish, nothing more. And like I say, I think even that is at a push. Right now, Lallana, Fox, Cork and Guly (yes, Guly) are our only players that I am very confident in being able to perform in the top division.

So I wouldn't be surprised if we did invest quite heavily, say anywhere between £7 million and £12 million on new players. (And if we didn't, then I would certainly expect us to do so the following summer, assuming that we avoided relegation).

 

Guly has proved over the last few months that he is versatile and can play down the middle, out wide, or up front.

So saying that strikers would be Lambert, Connolly, Barnard and Guly.

A winger we need as we only really have Lallana, again Guly, Holmes and Chaplow (who is naturally a CM)

 

If we go up I can't see Connolly getting another contract. Also we don't know what Barnards situation will be.

 

I think Fox,Lallana,Cork,Schneiderlin,Fonte and Kelvin Davies could perform in the prem,Lambert maybe but he would struggle.

 

We definately need a quality premier league striker

 

Tbh, even if we don't go up, I've got my doubts whether Connolly will get a new contract.

 

I think in the long term we will be looking for a quality centre back as our defence would not cope in the Premiership, if we ever did get there.

 

It's that word which worries me though. I too think that Morgan, Fonte, Davis and Lambert could perform - Richardson and Chaplow likewise - but I just don't know. Until there are up there though, and they show us one way or another, I've got enough doubts over them to not be completely confident.

I thought Fonte would tear this league apart. That hasn't ultimately been the case so far. On the flip side, Hammond and Chaplow have performed miles better than I expected.

 

Sleeping

 

Tbh I think we should take this one game at a time (as NA says)

We are not there yet and we could still finish in the bottom half! Nothing is confirmed until the end of April!

 

You would be right of course but we still have some dead wood unfortunately........I really cannot see Connolly making another season Nor if I'm honest Jadie......Needless to say Puncheon will be gone and to be honest although he hasn't had time or the opportunity The history of injuries for Holmes will mean he will be gone soon too. I suspect maybe Dickson may be gone Too. So I can see there is going to be some changes especially if we are as high at the turn of the year maybe two or three From the Jan window and then who knows during the summer. However a few will be out as well me thinks. Anyone agree?

 

The most important thing at the moment is to maintain team spirit which is winning us a lot of points. We need a couple of extra people in January to carry us over the line, but we don't want to disrupt something which is working.

 

If we get promoted this season, and especially if we win this league, then every single one of the current squad would imo deserve the chance to try and perform in the Premiership.

But that's unrealistic, someone (Nigel) will have to make the tough decisions and let a few go, or we'll end up with a bigger wages bill than the Greek govt.