WakefieldVillan

2 year deal spot on for me. Fact of the matter is, if he is playing that well then there is an outstanding chance that we as a club are competing nicely too, IE clear from relegation which is essentially more money in the bank the season after. That aside I'm sure we can offer an extension should we wish.

I really hope that if we start our season campaign with a few losses and the players / coaching staff are struggling, that we can all just remember this thread and appreciate where we were as a club and support the team to the max. It has been a remarkable turnaround to be playing Premier League football next season with the predicament that we were in last summer, fair play to our new owners and everyone else involved.

Currently half way through season 4 of 6 of The Soprano's and really enjoying it, Pine Barrens been my favourite episode so far, can't wait to see how it all pans out (no spoilers please)! Watched a couple of episodes of The Wire but didn't get into it, do I need to go back to that? Judging by comments on here, I think I do. I would say my all time favourites are Breaking Bad, The Soprano's, Prison Break (first two seasons) & Sons of Anarchy - hard to call which one I like most though. I have the last season of GOT to still watch too, but heard the ending isn't great?!(Again, no spoilers) - Add to that Peaky Blinders & Handmaid's Tale are also ones I've enjoyed so far.

I must say I was pretty underwhelmed (and shocked) when I heard about Jota as a potential signing but having time to think about it I think he could be a decent signing for us. I remember thinking back to when the Birmingham signed him and thought it was a great signing for them and although perhaps his form hasn't been quite as good there I think that is more a reflection on the blues than it is on him. His he better than Adomah? For me yes. His better than Green? Currently yes. Will he improve our squad? Yes. I would however like to think that we have other (better) players lined up for Jota to compete for a place with.

Thanks guys appreciated. My preference would be Holte End but will decide once I know more details.

I am interested in getting two season tickets next season, first ones ever (glory supporter ) ! Not done any proper research but can anyone tell me what sort of price I can expect (roughly) and does it vary much from stand to stand? Also when do they usually go on sale? Thanks in advance.

I confess I have seen literally nothing of Guilbert but I am hoping that he has come here to be first choice and is a big improvement on what we already have (Elmohamady & Bree). Elmo had a decent finish to the season after a rough patch in December (particularly the home games against Stoke and Leeds that stand out as poor performances) - OK has an experienced squad member but not a regular starter hopefully.

Reece James from Chelsea is a class act, would love a loan deal (with a view to permanent), can't see it happening though.

Gutted to see Big Jed go, but I think it is probably for the best now given he will be 35 next season. Isn't the most gifted footballer (understatement) but what he lacked footballing wise, he more than made up with his aerial dominance, strength and passion. Chuffed to bits that he is leaving on a high and wish him all the best in the future whatever that may entail.

Ultimately I can see Kalinic being our first choice keeper next season , I feel he has more of a presence than Jed and is more capable overall. That said, Steer has had a really good run, produced a wonderful save in the semi final 1st leg from Rodriguez and topped it all off with the penalty heroics, he also made everything look pretty comfortable in the closing minutes at Wembley. Both keepers will feel that they can be no 1 which can only be a good thing and under the coaching of Neil Cutler I actually think we are fine going into the new season, albeit in the Premier League. Bunn nowhere to be seen to which can only be a good thing!

I agree, I have said in previous posts that we shouldn't just be looking solely in the championship, I just want players that fit in and improve our squad, regardless of the league they play in or their nationality.

Just to clarify I am not on some sort of commission with the football league for suggesting a whole host of Championship players that we should sign Far from it. The names I have mentioned are just ones that I think can definitely make the step up, are young, ambitious and could grow with what we have already got. Players that we can improve and will not lose money on or players that are coming for one last pay check. First things first, our concentration, for me, should be to try tie up the deals for El Ghazi, Mings, Hause and Tuanzebe, with the latter being probably the hardest acquisition. It is vital that we keep the strong nucleus of our team to keep the dressing room spirit that we have from the season gone. We then need to add to it with real quality and replace the weak links within our squad. I don't for one minute think that we will get (or go for) every decent championship player, but I see no harm in one or two if they are of real quality, hungry for success and are capable of the step up and are the right character to have within the dressing room. I realise that the market abroad is a lot more cost effective and I am sure we are searching wide and far for some hidden gems to find are own Bernado Silva or Riyad Mahrez and I would be concerned if our scouting network wasn't. I feel any signing made can come with a degree of uncertainty, we've had terrible signings going down the foreign route with the likes of Tonev, Helenius ETC but also wasted huge amounts on the likes of McCormack and Gestede from Championship teams. All that said, watching the video of Smith and Purslow makes me feel confident that we are in the right hands and it is going to be an exciting summer ahead.

How do you expect it to look or want it to look (realistically)?

Ah sorry mate, I think I was typing my long post with all my "championship" players at the same time you posted No don't get me wrong I agree with you, I hope our scouts are scouring every single country for class players and I'm sure they are, the ones I've mentioned are just suggestions that I think are better than what we've got. I don't for one minute think we will get them all Genuinely excited to see who we do bring in

Any names that come to mind from Serie A & La Liga? Not being funny, I've said before my knowledge of foreign players is poor so just wondering who'd be on your radar.

Fair comment. I've obviously watched a lot of Championship football the past few seasons hence some of the names suggested. Out of the 6 names in the starting line ups, 2 were playing premier league football last season and the other 4 will be in the future in my opinion. Now whether that is with us or at other clubs who knows but for me they all have the right ingredients to play at that level for sure. I don't see the comparison with Ipswich, maybe when we were under Lambert and we tried the 'young & hungry' approach we may have been, but we were essentially buying cheap. Ipswich have been struggling for the past few seasons and probably needed the relegation as we did. Whom would be your suggestions?

I like Bowen, but he would probably cost more. Josh Murphy who's been mentioned above actually, he's one I think we could get cheaper now Cardiff have been relegated. Staying in the Championship Daniel James from Swansea or Jack Clarke from Leeds, Ryan Kent at Rangers?! Not sure if most of these players would cost more or less though to be honest.

I'd like to see something like this by the end of the window; First choice XI Second String Steer Kalinic Guilbert Elmohamady New LB Hause Tuanzebe Chester Mings Schindler Bowen Murphy Phillips Whelan McGinn Lansbury Grealish Hourihane Abraham Maupay Lolley El Ghazi Other squad players or loans out; Sarkic, Bree, Davis, O Hare, Kodjia, Green, Hepburn-Murphy Other potential signings (or loan); Allioski? Justin? Marriott? Mount? Tomori? Carroll? Sell/Release; Nyland, Bunn, Hutton, De Laet, Taylor, Richards, McCormack, Elphick, Bjarnsson, Jedinak, Gardner, Adomah, Hogan. I think key is keeping a good nucleus of last season's squad, adding quality first team additions, especially in wide areas, adding more youth, retaining a bit of experience & signing good characters with ambition and that are on the way up not down or here for one last pay day. You can tell by my suggestions we've been playing in the championship a few seasons, obviously these are just suggestions which I think would make us much stronger but hoping that the scouts can pick some cheap quality foreign players up and also some decent lower league players too, whatever happens it should be an exciting summer!

Agree with most but I'd; Keep Lansbury, loan Green, sell/release Adomah and Taylor Think IF Lansbury can stay fit he's still got something to offer, Hause as back up LB/CB

I rate him highly but I think anything over £10 million and we should probably look elsewhere. If we could get him say for £8 million that would be a cracking piece of business, perhaps we could offer an unwanted player as part of the deal?! I'm not going to lie, regardless of the fact that he is a very good footballer, who can dribble, pass, has a terrific shot on him, the fact that he supports us is definitely a major reason for me wanting him to sign - For me, it just feels right. We already have the gaffer and the skipper (and the kit man) who support this wonderful club and I think Joe would fit in immediately and hit the ground running.

We have just spent 3 seasons in the championship, a few years ago Leicester were Premier League champions, I get we are a "bigger" club but we need to solidate our status among the elite. For what it's worth with Barnes, if he was at A N other club and it was a choice between Leicester or Villa, I think we would have a chance, but I couldn't envisage him leaving the foxes for us. I agree on Gayle and Maupay though. The latter all day long for me.

Barnes would be a fantastic signing, but it's a no from me for Albrighton, I think we need to move on from the ex players personally This. Unfortunately. Hopefully in time we will be a bigger pull than the Leicester's of this world.

I can see him leaving the club as a makeweight for someone that we are pursuing, my hopes would be either a deal with Brentford for Maupay and a return to the Bees for Scott or a deal involving Jack Marriott from Derby (not just because he scored against us) he has impressed me every time I have seen him and would be an obvious upgrade given Hogans' Villa form.

I think Schindler is a good shout, Huddersfield's player of the season I think last season, yes I know they have had a terrible season as a club, but he has been a very good signing for them and has a few years premier league experience. Wouldn't take many from players the 3 relegated teams this season, but I think for the right price (which I think it would be) then he would be a solid squad addition.

If someone told me 10 years ago how much I would like this guy I would have sent them to a mental institution! He has had such a positive influence since he came to the club and will always respect him for that and his attitude since he came here, as both a player and now as a coach. I may be biased but I really do believe that he should have another year with us (in the premier league - yes that feels so good to type!) and continue to learn the trade under Smith. Also, if and when he does leave, I don't think Middlesborough is the right fit personally.