Now that the dust has settled on the SW Derby (still watching Lowe's goal multiple times a day mind), I wonder what the make up of our squad will be next season?
I'd like us to keep Placheta for another season, he's offered a lot for us in his short stay so far, and although he's pretty limited, he's more than worthwhile to have as cover on the wing with Ginnelly.
Lowe sign permanently?
Allen again?
Naughton again?
Rushworth return?
I say the following whilst noting that the first ball of the season won't be kicked for another 5 months, but, I'm expecting next seasons targets to be...
- Upper Mid Table/Play Off challenge?
- Consistently attacking football (if not necessarily consistent results)
- Nail some key positions long term
Tough to say this early, but wonder what others think
As far as the attacking places are concerned right now we have Ginnelly and Parker to return from injury as well as Ronald. Ginnelly can play both in attacking midfield and on the left wing, we saw in his goal in the cup early in the season that he has an absolute cannonball of a shot on him and in the game where he picked up his injury he was giving his opposing fullback nightmares the whole game and they were trying to kick him off the pitch long before he went off injured.
Wood looks a much calmer player with Darling next to him and with his recent call up to the England U21s those who wanted to see us cash in on him might well see that happen though I hope we don't. I see flashes of the player he could be and having someone who isn't as error prone as Cabango next to him can only help his growth.
Naughton for me has shown that he is still a reliable full back when he isn't being asked to bomb up and down the flanks like a wing back and is worth offering a new 1 year extension to especially as I would expect him mostly to be operating as cover for Key when he is fully fit again.
Rushworth returning is either confirmed or all but confirmed depending on the news source and means that our goalkeeping position is covered. For me in the summer besides shipping out deadwood in the form of Cabango, Walsh, Yates and Pedersen and the out of contract departure of Ogbeta I would envision our priority summer work to be on two areas:
1. A long term successor to Joe Allen - Fulton has shown me that he is NOT that successor. He might be able to cover a position when the legs go but he doesn't maintain tempo, read the game, show for possession when the defenders are under the cosh or bring his team mates into play in the way that Joey does. I have heard great things about Abdulai but I have never seen him in what jasper_T says is his natural preferred position.
2. An experienced striker that fits the profile of what LW wants for his side. Presumably someone who is of a similar vein to Bony in his prime or Jason Scotland that can hold the ball, bring others into play and is a lethal finisher in and around the box. If we can find that ideal profile then Cullen and Kukharevych can be moulded to fit that profile by learning from him training with him week in week out.
Combine that with a new 2+1 year deal for Cullen, a 2+1 year deal for Lowe, a 1 year deal for Naughton, a 1 year deal for Allen and a 1+1 year deal for Paterson and I think we would actually be in really good shape for 24/25 season.
