The new manager’s inbox

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PatrickA

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England
May seem premature to consider this at the moment, but forward planning and all that….

1) the futures of Doucoure and Franca in his plans
2) whether to exercise the one year option on Lerma
3) whether the current players fit the system he wants to implement (e.g a back four v 3 at the back, 2 or 3 in midfield)?
4) assuming JPM and Uche go that still leaves Sarr, Larsen, Johnson, Pino, Nketiah and potentially Guessand as forward options - leaving aside any new player he may want to bring in. My suspicion is that one or two of the current crop could be surplus to requirements.
5) the makeup of the midfield. Kamada is going to, and possibly Lerma, and maybe even Wharton if the offer is good enough.
That leaves Hughes who isn’t get any younger and I’m unaware of any of our young midfielders that are near the first team.

We’re in for a summer of upheaval.
 
I have made a similar point on a few threads now so apologies for repeating myself, but to me number 1 item in the in-tray is how to get value from the forwards we have bought.

We have spent big on Nketiah, Johnson, Pino, and Larsen, and given most of them top wages. We surely cannot afford to go out and buy a new group of forwards and, as things stand, I doubt we would get many buyers for any of these guys if we wanted to recoup even three quarters of what we paid for them. As such, they will be the forward line for next season, along with Sarr, who didn't cost the earth but is the best preforming by miles.

I think the new coach must work out a way to get a front three to operate, as that makes best use of the resources. Few of these guys have done well playing as no10s in Glasners system, so I expect a different approach - perhaps one centre forward and two wide forwards.

Larsen and Nketiah are No9s. That should cover that position. Sarr can play on either side or down the middle. Johnson seems to have had his best times scoring goals arriving in the box from a wide right position. That suggests a Sarr/Larsen/Johnson forward line. Plenty of pace and width, but not a lot of creativity.

Then item 2 in the inbox naturally becomes reshaping the midfield to make the forward line work. It may be painful but necessary to sell Wharton to do this, though hopefully not. I would love to get another year from him. Either way, a new shape and some new personnel in midfield seems likely. To lose both Kamada and Lerma at once would seem too much, so I expect the latter to be retained.

I think once all that is done, the next thing, which can only come after the first two are achieved, is to get all the players on board with the idea that this is a new chapter with new players, a new system, and not an untidy stumbling onwards from the high point of last season. At the moment that feels like what we have. A transition period being overseen by a manager and staff who will be gone soon themselves. That can't be helped, but if the new guy has a clear vision for the team that the players can get behind, it will go a long way.
 
We must also wager in the fact that Eddie seems to be made of glass.
 
Dear Mr Glasner,

Thank you for accepting the new contract details provided to you,......


😁
 
PatrickA said:
May seem premature to consider this at the moment, but forward planning and all that….

1) the futures of Doucoure and Franca in his plans
2) whether to exercise the one year option on Lerma
3) whether the current players fit the system he wants to implement (e.g a back four v 3 at the back, 2 or 3 in midfield)?
4) assuming JPM and Uche go that still leaves Sarr, Larsen, Johnson, Pino, Nketiah and potentially Guessand as forward options - leaving aside any new player he may want to bring in. My suspicion is that one or two of the current crop could be surplus to requirements.
5) the makeup of the midfield. Kamada is going to, and possibly Lerma, and maybe even Wharton if the offer is good enough.
That leaves Hughes who isn’t get any younger and I’m unaware of any of our young midfielders that are near the first team.

We’re in for a summer of upheaval.
Click to expand...
Ozoh possibly can replace lerma, we've needed an extra cm since last Jan as it is, so 2 maybe 3 potential starters needed in there.
 
aashman12 said:
Ozoh possibly can replace lerma, we've needed an extra cm since last Jan as it is, so 2 maybe 3 potential starters needed in there.
Click to expand...
If we can get Lerma to stay we should. We need his experience. Yes he had a shocker against Burnley but overall his contribution is generally good. Given we lose Kamada this summer and possibly Wharton we need to hold on to Hughes and Lerma if we can. Are there any decent CMs out of contract this summer? Feels like we could do with another experienced player given the lack of leadership in the squad
 
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