Phil SumblerOn the face of it the departure of Courtney Baker-Richardson and Jefferson Montero is not going to damage any chances we may have had next season but the fact that other key first team squad members are not (yet) on the retained list makes for worrying times.
Given our current form in the league (remember those 41 points from 34 games) and a seeming increased reliance next season on youth it does seem to point more in the direction of us battling at the wrong end of the league table next season.
I don’t want to be the prophet of doom and gloom when I think about this and things could definitely be far worse given the precarious nature of football finances at the moment. That reality was hit home quickly yesterday with the news that Wigan were entering administration and they are unlikely to be the last – victims of not just their time in the Premier League but victims of a pandemic that could rip the heart and soul out of community football.
We have talked many times about just how damaging the lack of desire to see a pay impact on the playing side of clubs (which is by far the majority expenditure for pretty much every club) and it could be that more and more clubs could end up relying on youth next time around.
It is difficult to know right now what side’s squads will look like next term and it is certainly close on impossible to see too many sides in the Championship going on a spending spree, not even those that eventually fall out of the Premier League to join us. It could yet mean that the likes of Dyer, Naughton and Routledge do end up signing new contracts despite not being on the retained list just yet . Whilst in years gone by they may have been able to secure that final signing on fee elsewhere that money may just not be in the game and could see them extend their stay at Swansea.
Given the likely nature of our squad for next season retaining those three could be essential given their experience at the higher level as well as this one. Our desire to rely on youth next season could also be a reason why we end up retaining Steve Cooper despite the poor form of the team and that is cause of his perceived ability to get the best out of young players. Let’s hope we see that ability in spades if that is to be the case.
Overall though I have to say that the retained list worries me unless we can add some experienced names to it because on the face of the below it is not a squad that will find Championship football easy. Let’s hope this isn’t the next chapter of the next level
Retained: Joel Asoro, Andre Ayew, Steven Benda, Jake Bidwell, Matthew Blake, George Byers, Ben Cabango, Rio Campbell, Bersant Celina, Oli Cooper, Brandon Cooper, Liam Cullen, Yan Dhanda, Jack Evans, Jay Fulton, Jordon Garrick, Josh Gould, Jordi Govea, Matt Grimes, Declan John, Joe Lewis, Barrie McKay, Kristoffer Peterson, Connor Roberts, Joe Rodon, Tivonge Rushesha,
It’s basically the U23 squad from 18 months ago.
Depressing
@swanjaxs It’s worse than that as the U23’s haven’t had Toshack around them for quite some time.
Andy Scott and his team better be on the ball with their work over the next two months.
We have heard snippets about a long list of targets but now the hard work starts with the task of securing a squad that can compete.
I know it’s quite easy to speculate and rumour when it comes to the transfer market and the squad numbers for next season. However, I am always presently surprised when it comes to our activity. I mean, I remember people panicking before January, and we strengthened really well. It’s the manager who can’t put them to task, lol.
It won’t much matter who have in the squad if Cooper remains.
Will be interesting to see how much money is going to be made available for team strengthening after the sale of Joe Rodon.?
As far as I can recall, the only money spent last summer was 500k on Kristoffer Peterson on the back of the Oli Mcburnie sale.
Something tells me, taking into account the fan lockout… about 50p
@swanjaxs If we don’t shift Ayew off of the books then we won’t be spending much.
@coopermaNIf we do shift Ayew we have a hell of a big hole to fill on the pitch.
@badlands Agree, but I do think Ayew is the main reason we have no width, we were similar when he was played out there in the Premier League, it made us unbalanced.
I hope Peterson and Cooper can kiss and make up. All is not lost with him imo.
The main reason we might have looked a bit unbalanced with Ayew in the team in the Prem is the same reason we might look it now.Shit management. Monk & Cooper.
@dr-winston Point taken.
@risc What we need then are wide players to fulfil a wide role, this Andy Scott guy …
Can have all the wide players you like. If team management show no inclination or ability to get the best out of them it’s a waste of time.
@badlands We could do a lot of good things by redeploying even half of his wages. It just needs a good recruitment drive…
Even if we do shift Ayew I don’t expect us to spend much. The right manager might be able to blend youth, loan players and other teams’ cast offs but not our current incumbent.
Not even thinking about the Rodon money being reinvested into players, as long as it goes some way to safeguarding the club from the shortcomings made with this Covid stuff going on. We are actually lucky to have a sizeable asset on the books during these times.
I don’t think there will be alot of money spent across the whole of the Championship, my main worry is with our manager who looks to be out of his depth, and the remaining squad players who aren’t very good at their chosen profession.
@risc Can’t argue with that.
I hope Peterson actually gets a run of games for us, been treated unfairly imo.
Brewster will probably get a loan at a Premier League team so we will also need a striker as we only have Cullen on the bench.
Very worrying list though
Wide players as a species are notoriously inconsistent and need to play regularly to get the best out of them. Many of them suffer from cameo appearances off the bench and are expected to change the game in 15 minutes. When they can’t they get labelled ineffective or worse.
How long is left on Ayews’ contract then? I thought it ended this Summer, am I wrong?
@kgriz16 Another year and circa £4m to run.
@cooperman Surely he’s earned a move to someone like Palace with performances this season?
@kgriz16 I’d tend to agree. A bottom half team, a few million transfer fee and one last pay day. Leaves the city of Swansea and never looks back, ever.