Summer 26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[PaulWinch again]

I don’t think it’s papering over the cracks at all. If we win a trophy and finish top 5 it’s an incredibly successful season - the most successful since winning the European Cup.

However, as I mentioned before, the downturn in league form since the turn of the year is a pretty good indicator the squad is coming to the end of a cycle. We need to do a fair bit in the summer.

[Rigadon]

It's a bit like where the end result of a game dictates how people remember / consider it (good, bad, shit, amazing etc).

This season could either be our best in 40 odd years (win Europa, finish top 5), or it could still be one of the most depressing ever - and I know people will point to the relegation years (circling and then being flushed) and say I'm being silly - but if we finish 6th and don't win the Europa, the disappointment will be enormous.

In terms of the squad rebuild, without CL it will be nigh on impossible to replace those leaving with as good as / better options.  The next 2 or (hopefully not) 3 games are probably era defining.  Better than being 10th with nothing to play for though eh!!!!

[Clampy]

It is so hard to tell whether this squad is good enough. The final league position and a trophy is a very good indicator. But I can’t help feeling it might also be papering over some very large cracks.

Also, we don’t want to wait until the squad falls off a cliff before making those changes. We should act from a position of strength. So I’d advocate a major overhaul now, whilst there is still some debate.

How can a final league position and winning a trophy be papering over cracks?

Well it’s very fine paper, obviously. Like that stuff Boris and his missus put in the Downing St flat.

My point is, we are simultaneously on the brink of a very fine season and also teetering on the edge of needing a massive rebuild just to stay in the game.

Just try and enjoy it. Our first European Final in over 40 years and you sound absolutley ecstatic.

[Dante Lavelli]

However, as I mentioned before, the downturn in league form since the turn of the year is a pretty good indicator the squad is coming to the end of a cycle. We need to do a fair bit in the summer.

I think it is probably somewhere in the middle.  We are not as bad as our current form, but equally we are not as good as when we were in touching distance of top, but massive outscoring our XG (apologies haters).

Without doubt we haven't got much/any value out of Sancho, Guessand, Bailey and Elliot.  Reallocation of those resources alone will hopefully mean we stay competitive i.e. top 6 and a cup run.