Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: Chris Black come back on April 19, 2025, 09:39:51 am
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It is not a straightforward situation given we don't know what league we are going to be competing in next season, but that aside, we don't have many players contracted currently for the 2025 / 26 season. In particular, we have no keeper whatsoever and only one centre back and one striker:
McGrath
Sterry
Senior
Maxwell
Nixon
Bailey
Broadbent
Sbarra
Close
Westbrooke
Flint
Clifton
Straughan-Brown
Gibson
Molyneux
Hurst
Ironside
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Close and Westbrook interesting cases. Really important summer moving players out as much as getting them in. League one is a really big step up. We need to recruit exceptionally well.
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McCann has had a comparatively large budget this season in League Two and has made decisions both in terms of sheer size of squad and some expensive luxuries that he could afford to do so. If we get promoted this season, he will not have that option. You would imagine we would have a lower mid budget. He will have to make much better use of that budget. Close and Westbrooke are two obvious candidates as higher earners in the squad who just haven't contributed this season. Likewise I imagine Ironside is a higher earner. A lot of budget tied up in players not adding on the pitch. A luxury we could afford in League Two that will not be there in League One.
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Budget will be bigger next season,
One of close/westbrooke will stay and other will be off. I think close will stay
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McCann has had a comparatively large budget this season in League Two and has made decisions both in terms of sheer size of squad and some expensive luxuries that he could afford to do so. If we get promoted this season, he will not have that option. You would imagine we would have a lower mid budget. He will have to make much better use of that budget. Close and Westbrooke are two obvious candidates as higher earners in the squad who just haven't contributed this season. Likewise I imagine Ironside is a higher earner. A lot of budget tied up in players not adding on the pitch. A luxury we could afford in League Two that will not be there in League One.
And of course, it doesn't matter so much that our budget will rise in cash terms, it matters where that budget sits relatively among other League One sides, if we do get promoted. We have probably had a top six budget this season in League Two. We will likely have a bottom six or eight budget in League One if we go up next season. So for us to survive and stabilise next season in League One, we are going to have to be much more savvy about how we use that budget, to outperform that budget disadvantage.
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McCann has had a comparatively large budget this season in League Two and has made decisions both in terms of sheer size of squad and some expensive luxuries that he could afford to do so. If we get promoted this season, he will not have that option. You would imagine we would have a lower mid budget. He will have to make much better use of that budget. Close and Westbrooke are two obvious candidates as higher earners in the squad who just haven't contributed this season. Likewise I imagine Ironside is a higher earner. A lot of budget tied up in players not adding on the pitch. A luxury we could afford in League Two that will not be there in League One.
And of course, it doesn't matter so much that our budget will rise in cash terms, it matters where that budget sits relatively among other League One sides, if we do get promoted. We have probably had a top six budget this season in League Two. We will likely have a bottom six or eight budget in League One if we go up next season. So for us to survive and stabilise next season in League One, we are going to have to be much more savvy about how we use that budget, to outperform that budget disadvantage.
The key to being successful is being able to get more value out of your budget than you are putting in in monetary terms. I just don’t see a route to doing that with the clubs current set up.
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If we do go up, I think we need to sign a new keeper, 2 new centre mids, a left winger, a striker and keep olowu.
Lo-tutala
Haks
Street
Craig
Would be decent signings as we know McCann can get the best out of them
Starting 11 of
Lo-tutala
Sterry
Olowu
McGrath
Maxwell
Molyneux
Bailey
Craig
New centre mid
Haks
Street
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Budget will be bigger next season,
One of close/westbrooke will stay and other will be off. I think close will stay
Westbrooke is better than Close
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For L1 we’d need
GK
x2 CB
attacking LB
CM with legs
CM who can pass
LW who can run in behind
x2 Strikers one like Street, one target man who would be an upgrade on Ironside
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Unless we can convince contracted players to move on and out, we have four senior full backs and six senior central midfielders contracted next season. Whether people think they are good, bad or indifferent, we are very well staffed up there at present. The priorities are a keeper(s), centre backs and another striker.
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I feel sure that the club will have plans in place for next season.
Grant will have players in mind and might even have already spoken with agents about them.
Looking at the potential fixture list if we go up it would appear that match day income will rise significantly too.
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Budget will be bigger next season,
One of close/westbrooke will stay and other will be off. I think close will stay
Westbrooke is better than Close
Not suggesting otherwise, just saying who I think grant will keep out of the two
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Kasper Williams is also signed for next season, and some out of contract will have an option which can be taken up.
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Think Grant has washed his hands of Adelakun after he didn't sign last summer, wouldn't even mention his name in interviews afterwards. Street surely will be in Lincoln plans, they have a player on loan though who fits the profile of someone the club would be after, on loan of course, Joe Gardner
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I agree with Haks. Didn’t want to sign when we wanted him. Move on from him. He made his bed
I can see Ironside going, maybe back to Cambridge when they get relegated. Last season he was phenomenal. This season( I know he hasn’t played regularly) but when he has come on, not the same player. Could be the Sharp signing that knocked him back. But we don’t see what happens in training
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We have got to go all out for Olowu. That would be big news if he signed - similar to when Moly renewed last yr.
Personally I really rate Charlie Crew, I would be looking to take him on a season long loan next year in L1. I expect Leeds would be on board with that as its a step up in leagues for him. Won't be mega bucks. I think he would be a real big player for us.
Keeper wise - I would absolutely love to get TTL back but not sure if it's feasible, would command a fee and considering TSL is available on a free (I think?) Then it's probably more likely we would look to sign him.
Dematreiu is available on a Free - I would go for him.
Haks on a free - I would take him back.
Michael Cheek available on a free - guess there will be a que for him.
Also moving to L1 I think we would be offered better loanees from Prem teams so we will maximise these places.
I'm sure GM and the team are already all over this and have their targets in place.
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Grants alrrady said TSL is on a right packet at Chelsea, we couldn't afford him
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We have got to go all out for Olowu. That would be big news if he signed - similar to when Moly renewed last yr.
Personally I really rate Charlie Crew, I would be looking to take him on a season long loan next year in L1. I expect Leeds would be on board with that as its a step up in leagues for him. Won't be mega bucks. I think he would be a real big player for us.
Keeper wise - I would absolutely love to get TTL back but not sure if it's feasible, would command a fee and considering TSL is available on a free (I think?) Then it's probably more likely we would look to sign him.
Dematreiu is available on a Free - I would go for him.
Haks on a free - I would take him back.
Michael Cheek available on a free - guess there will be a que for him.
Also moving to L1 I think we would be offered better loanees from Prem teams so we will maximise these places.
I'm sure GM and the team are already all over this and have their targets in place.
Michael Cheek is 34 in August, no one will be in that queue.
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We have got to go all out for Olowu. That would be big news if he signed - similar to when Moly renewed last yr.
Personally I really rate Charlie Crew, I would be looking to take him on a season long loan next year in L1. I expect Leeds would be on board with that as its a step up in leagues for him. Won't be mega bucks. I think he would be a real big player for us.
Keeper wise - I would absolutely love to get TTL back but not sure if it's feasible, would command a fee and considering TSL is available on a free (I think?) Then it's probably more likely we would look to sign him.
Dematreiu is available on a Free - I would go for him.
Haks on a free - I would take him back.
Michael Cheek available on a free - guess there will be a que for him.
Also moving to L1 I think we would be offered better loanees from Prem teams so we will maximise these places.
I'm sure GM and the team are already all over this and have their targets in place.
Demitriou signed a new contract last month
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I agree with Haks. Didn’t want to sign when we wanted him. Move on from him. He made his bed
I can see Ironside going, maybe back to Cambridge when they get relegated. Last season he was phenomenal. This season( I know he hasn’t played regularly) but when he has come on, not the same player. Could be the Sharp signing that knocked him back. But we don’t see what happens in training
Joe won't go back to Cambridge, he's a Sheffield lad & joined us so that he would be nearer to home.
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Malik wilks out of contract at Sheff W this year?
Also Andre Green at Rotherham out of contract, maybe kept out by wilks? Played 13 times in L1 this season got 3 goals and 4 assists.....decent return that, and only 26.
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It’s going to be a busy summer. Even though we’re fully stocked in midfield, we have to seriously try and get rid of some and bring better players in! Seriously worries me out midfield and that’s regardless of division we’re in.
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McCann has had a comparatively large budget this season in League Two and has made decisions both in terms of sheer size of squad and some expensive luxuries that he could afford to do so. If we get promoted this season, he will not have that option. You would imagine we would have a lower mid budget. He will have to make much better use of that budget. Close and Westbrooke are two obvious candidates as higher earners in the squad who just haven't contributed this season. Likewise I imagine Ironside is a higher earner. A lot of budget tied up in players not adding on the pitch. A luxury we could afford in League Two that will not be there in League One.
And of course, it doesn't matter so much that our budget will rise in cash terms, it matters where that budget sits relatively among other League One sides, if we do get promoted. We have probably had a top six budget this season in League Two. We will likely have a bottom six or eight budget in League One if we go up next season. So for us to survive and stabilise next season in League One, we are going to have to be much more savvy about how we use that budget, to outperform that budget disadvantage.
Coming back to this. We’ve done exceptionally well this season and outperformed what sounds like a top seven budget to potentially finish top.
Next season we will likely have a bottom seven budget. Talk of player coach role for Sharp or one more year for Anderson needs to take very firmly into account that the marginal pound spent is far, far more important in League One than in League Two given our relatively weak position on budget.
Likewise, it obviously does happen, but there are obvious reasons why clubs don’t allow young players to have two long term loans at the same club, albeit in our case now in the league above.
A fantastic season and we’ve outperformed budget but we start next season in the bottom reaches budget-wise and to be a competitive side we need to think very carefully about how we use the budget given our relatively weak position in League One.
Key word, relative. Relative.
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There will be the chance to pick up one or two better quality loans next season. Not that the young lads that came in this season were bad, but one or two of them were ‘first timers’ and a little raw to begin with. It’s debatable whether we could afford that bedding in time that’s needed with first timers?
From what I’m hearing, the Club are already searching out one or two ‘possibles’ for next season, so things are already in motion.
Getting Olowu on a longish deal has to be priority one, though.
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There will be the chance to pick up one or two better quality loans next season. Not that the young lads that came in this season were bad, but one or two of them were ‘first timers’ and a little raw to begin with. It’s debatable whether we could afford that bedding in time that’s needed with first timers?
From what I’m hearing, the Club are already searching out one or two ‘possibles’ for next season, so things are already in motion.
Getting Olowu on a longish deal has to be priority one, though.
This will be in motion probably as early as January if not earlier. List of targets based of the division we are in. The club should be well aware of who is available on a free at the end of a season and already sounded out contact with agents etc
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I wonder how Haks and his agent are now feeling .
That said I’d have him back here in a flash
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Budget will be bigger next season,
One of close/westbrooke will stay and other will be off. I think close will stay
Westbrooke is better than Close
Need better than both.
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Hurst an unused substitute for Queen’s Park yesterday.
We offered him a new contract so not really sure where we go from here with him or where he’d go out on loan next.
In attacking midfield I’d look at loaning Sbarra out and getting someone better in. Or even having Gibson as an option there and getting another winger or 2 in.
I’d keep Clifton as a squad player he’s a good grafter.
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McCann has had a comparatively large budget this season in League Two and has made decisions both in terms of sheer size of squad and some expensive luxuries that he could afford to do so. If we get promoted this season, he will not have that option. You would imagine we would have a lower mid budget. He will have to make much better use of that budget. Close and Westbrooke are two obvious candidates as higher earners in the squad who just haven't contributed this season. Likewise I imagine Ironside is a higher earner. A lot of budget tied up in players not adding on the pitch. A luxury we could afford in League Two that will not be there in League One.
And of course, it doesn't matter so much that our budget will rise in cash terms, it matters where that budget sits relatively among other League One sides, if we do get promoted. We have probably had a top six budget this season in League Two. We will likely have a bottom six or eight budget in League One if we go up next season. So for us to survive and stabilise next season in League One, we are going to have to be much more savvy about how we use that budget, to outperform that budget disadvantage.
Coming back to this. We’ve done exceptionally well this season and outperformed what sounds like a top seven budget to potentially finish top.
Next season we will likely have a bottom seven budget. Talk of player coach role for Sharp or one more year for Anderson needs to take very firmly into account that the marginal pound spent is far, far more important in League One than in League Two given our relatively weak position on budget.
Likewise, it obviously does happen, but there are obvious reasons why clubs don’t allow young players to have two long term loans at the same club, albeit in our case now in the league above.
A fantastic season and we’ve outperformed budget but we start next season in the bottom reaches budget-wise and to be a competitive side we need to think very carefully about how we use the budget given our relatively weak position in League One.
Key word, relative. Relative.
Reckon it'll be similar or above Exeter, Stevenage, Northampton, Burton and Mansfield... Potentially, one or two that come up with us too.
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That feels about right. Maybe even Lincoln City also.
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I think TB will try his best with the budget. I think we could have a lower middle budget but I expect us to out perform that again.
In League one there won't be as many teams who sit back against us, we are better against teams who are on the front foot. I think we will be top half pushing for play offs. COYR!!!!
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Anybody who thinks we'll have a similar budget to Mansfield is well off it. My Mansfield supporting pal tells me me they have several players on 6-8k a week which includes various bonuses
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I’ve read somewhere in the last few hours that Andersons 250 appearances trigger an extension to his contract, it might have been the Rovers guy on X
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Anybody who thinks we'll have a similar budget to Mansfield is well off it. My Mansfield supporting pal tells me me they have several players on 6-8k a week which includes various bonuses
More fool them. We've been there and spent more than we should have done. It doesn't guarantee success and we know we have to be smart with contracts and recruitment.
For what it's worth, I believe we have a better start to make the transition to League One than Mansfield 12 months ago. Although that could be tested with a couple of key personnel who might be uncertain of kicking off with us next season. I'm sure you noticed Molyneux reversing his shirt, which is normally a sign of 'Come and get me'. We know it's a possibility he could go and we'll have to find the next talisman.
Winning promotion will give McCann some advantages in the market and we also know he likes to get his business done early. Plus, offloading players with a promotion under their belt is an easier sell.
McCann already sounds positive about wanting to more than compete and I'm sure TB will enjoy some good conversations with him in the coming weeks/months.
We've just got to back the man who backs the manager. From what I hear, ticket sales are already up even before yesterday which is always a good sign. Momentum with some continuity counts for alot in football.