The summer ahead. The play off money was nice. But we lose our parachute payments. I read in one pre-play off final article that we had got a 7.2m loan from a Swiss company last October to steady our finances. I would therefore hope we are in a position where we don't have to sell, but would be surprised if we have any money for net expenditure. It should therefore be a test of Blackwell's horse trading abilities [insert Van Nis joke here]. Our strength will remain our club size and potential, and ability to offer better wages than most, to get the best Bosman's at this level.
To me the priority has to be to actually get a balanced squad, which we have never really done in the last 2 years. Working on the basis of zero net expenditure, I would sell either Blake or Healy - we only need 4 strikers, and so leave us with Cresswell, Hulse, Blake (assuming Healy gets better bids) and Beckford. Hope we can offload Moore on a free. Accept the inevitability of Ricketts remaining and send him out on loan when possible. Midfield. No more cr*p from Blackwell saying we couldn't play 4-4-2 because one player got injured or we didn't have a natural wide man. Stone will hopefully come good but we must have cover for him and assume he could break down any minute. Am also concerned by Stone and Lewis as wide men - total absence of pace, though at least Stone will bring work rate to the team. Let Douglas and Miller leave. Hope O'Leary misses out on Milner and takes Bakke on a freebie as a consolation prize to get rid of his wages and generally questionable attitude. Assume Rose will come into play during next season as an impact sub. Try and work out why we signed Griffiths and Einarsson (and even more bafflingly extended Gylfi's), eventually give up, and let them be released from their contracts at some juncture. We can dream that someone will take Wright off us on a free, more likely like Ricketts we just loan him out during the season as he runs his contract down. That leaves us with Derry, Lewis, Stone. So at least 3 more needed here - one first team centre mid, one cover for Lewis / Stone and one utility. Priority has to be the 4 P's - pace, passing, presence and potential. So not some lumbering 34 year old on a last pay day. Please. Defence. Butler will stay around for his final year, and will do as cover. I'd like to see Harding stay and develop, but Blackwell doesn't really do developing potential, so I think he'll go to bring in some pennies / recoup losses, especially as he is on a deal where we pay more instalments based on appearances, so selling him has a double cash advantage (though Brighton will get a %). Gregan should be offloaded. I reckon someone will take him on a minimal fee, the issue there will be wages. Crainey looks like an unavoidable evil, especially with Pugh gone / Harding going. That leaves us with: Kelly, Killer, Butler, Walton, Crainey, Richardson. So a first team left back and a first team centre back needed. Centre back will need to be a strong physical presence, a leader and please not a 34 year old. We should be bringing in people this summer who could make the step up for the season after. Decisions need to be made on Walton - will he make it as a centre back? Keepers I'd leave as is. So to me that's 5 signings we absolutely need, to be financed by Healy / Blake and Harding cash. Probably a 4th midfielder would not go amiss. Who trusts that Blackwell will go for pace, passing and potential? Or will he go for 'solid pros who can do a job at this level (more Gregans)'? David W ******* This message and any attachment are confidential and may be privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, please telephone or email the sender and delete this message and any attachment from your system. If you are not the intended recipient you must not copy this message or attachment or disclose the contents to any other person. For further information about Clifford Chance please see our website at http://www.cliffordchance.com or refer to any Clifford Chance office. _______________________________________________ the Leeds List is an unmoderated mailing list and the list administrators accept no liability for the personal views and opinions of contributors. Leedslist mailing list [email protected] http://list.zetnet.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist 12000 bulldozed homes.....
