nnock1984

I'm fairly confident that you more experienced posters will be eating your words come the first game of next season. A list of realistic players who will be available this summer!

In Midfield I can see Milner(5.5m), Sidwell(free) and Reo-coker (4.5m) coming in with hendrie, berger, DJx2 (all free) McCann (2.5m) and Davis (3.5m) leaving!

In Goal/ Defence I can see Boruc (5m), L.Young (4m), and Distan (free) or Ferdinand (4.5m) coming in with Samuel, and Bardsley (both free) and Sorenson (2.5m) and Hughes (1m) leaving. Might also be in for a left back if Bridge or Baines become available.

In Attack I can see one player coming in out of four, and in order of my preference they are 1. Bent (15m), 2. Ashton (9m), 3. Defoe (12m), 4. Bellamy (8m). Sutton on his way!

Boruc/ Taylor

L. Young/ Delaney

Bouma/ (Distan or Barry as cover)

Laursen/Cahill

Mellberg/Distan/Ridgwell

A.Young/ Milner

Barry/ Maloney

Petrov/Sidwell

Reo-Coker/ Gardner/ Osbourne

Carew/ Moore

Bent/ Agbonlahor

Mido would be a good back-up to Carew, young as well!

Positions we need to strengthen in order of importance:

RB - L.Young, G.Johnson (or a foreigner)

DM - Barton, Sidwell, Reo Coker

ST - Bent, Ashton, Nugent, Defoe, Keane, Bellamy

RW - SWP, Milner (or a foreigner)

CB - Distan, Ben Haim,

GK - Gordon, Boruc

Gordon, L.Young, Distin, SWP, Barton and Ashton for me please Mr Lerner!

For me, the goalkeeping situation is very simliar to out left back situation. In Sorenson and Bouma, we have 2 very solid reliable players. Who with other similar quality players would be pushing for europe. So therefore in my opinion not a priority position to strengthen. However if a top quality player were to become available such as Boruc, Gordon, Carson, Bridge or Baines at the right price, then we should definately be in for them.

Bardsley was thought of as a back up in that selection, luke young would be the starting full back. Yes Dica looks quality, but i'd much rather go for premiership proven players because he may not make the transition.

ok, so 30 million plus sales

OUTS (clear out the dead wood)

Sutton - Free

Angel - 2m

Beger - Free

Hendrie - Free

DJDJ - 0.5m

Delaney - Free

Samuel - Free

Hughes - 1m

Taylor - 1m

=34.5 million

INS

Boruc - 4m

Bardsley - 2m

Disitn - Free

L.Young - 4m

Barton - 5.5m

SWP - 9.5m

That leaves 9.5m for a goalscorer, and I'm sure Randy would give us a few more quid if a truly top class striker came along.

Would also consider sidwell on a free if Petrov shows nothing before the end of the season and we need more competition in centre midfield. Also Saviola on a free would be a good shout on a two year contract if we struggle to get a top striker or want to send agbonlahor or moore on loan.

7 signings would propel us into european spots next season imo. These suggestions should be available and are in the order of which I would prefer them.

Goalkeeper - (Boruc 4m, Carson 4m, Gordon)

Right Back - (Young 4m, Neil 1.5m, Geremi 3m, G.Johnson 4m)

Left Back - (Bridge 5m, Baines 5m)

Centre Back - (Distin free, Ben Haim free, C.Davies 8m, Ferdinand 5m)

Centre Mid - (Barton 5.5m, Sidwell free, Reo Coker 4m)

Right Wing - (Milner 7.5m, SWP 9.5m)

Stiker - (Bent 15m, Ashton 10m, Defoe 12m, Bellamy 8m, Keane 8m, Smith 5m)

A realistic team for next year would be:

Goalkeepers - Boruc(4m), Sorenson, Olijnek

Right Backs - L.Young (4m), Bardsley (2m)

Left Backs - Bridge (5m), Bouma, O'Halloran

Centre Backs - Laursen, Mellberg, Distin (free), Cahill, Ridgewell

Right Wing - SWP (9.5m), Young

Left Wing - Barry, Maloney

Centre Mid - Sidwell (free), Petrov, McCann, Davis, Osbourrne, Davis

Striker - Bent (15m), Carew, Moore, Agbonlahor

I was extremely happy with the transfer window arrivals, and believe we now have a squad capable of finishing in the top 10. In the summer we need to stregthen further and I suggest the following:

Carson or Gordon

Richardson or Adu

Barton or Reo Coker

Bellamy, Bent, Defoe or Keane

If SWP becomes available we should go for him too!

Out will go Taylor, Berger, DJDJ, Hendrie, Angel and Sutton

Defence however is an interesting one, there are more question marks here than anywhere else in the squad.

Laursen - Needs to prove he can get back to full fitness, a solution would be Ben Haim or Distan or a free transfer.

Bouma - Needs to prove he has fully adapted to the English game, a solution would be Bridge.

Hughes - Just doesn't seem up to the job, but with Delaney on his way in the summer, do we really want to be buying two right backs in the summer?!

I'd Give O'halloran a chance, and make the Bardsley signing a permenant deal. I'd sign Bridge, Ben Haim and Luke Young.

Out would go Delaney, Hughes, Samuel, Bouma, Laursen

This will give us a first team in a 4-3-3 system of:

Carson, Young, Bridge, Ben Haim, Mellberg, Barton, Barry, Petrov, Young, Bellamy, Carew

and a 2nd team of:

Sorenson, Bardsley, Cahill, Ridgewell, O'Halloran, McCann, Davis, Richardson, Maloney, Agbonlahor, Moore

Very Strong in my opinion, might be too many changes just for the summer, so some could take in the next january transfer window.

Adu would be a good signing as he would provide cover for barry, and could also play on the left of a front three. Business wise it would also make good sense, as it would give us a further break into the US market.

I reckon we could get him on loan as they're in their close season.

Geremi would be an amazing signing

Lassana Diarra is having a good game today, possible loan move?! He has learnt from the best in Makalele, and could be available for a knock down fee as he has been in some troule. Would imrove on McCann in my opinion.

I reckon we will be trying all out for SWP in the summer, and we should also go for Wayne Bridge! Maybe a cheeky summer bid for Scevchenko for our 20 goal a season striker

In my opinion we need 4 more signings in midfield and attack before the start of next season. A defensive midfielder, a left sided midfielder, a right winger and a 20 goal a season striker!

1st Choice

Joey Barton (5.5m), Kieran Richardson(4.5m), SWP(10m) and Defoe or Bent (10m)

2nd Choice (more realistic)

Boupa Papa Diop or NRC (5m), Shaun Maloney(free), Robbie Keane (6m)

In defence we should be looking at players such as:

Carson (3m)

Bridge (5m)

L.Young (4m)

Ben Haim or Distan (free)

A team for the beginning of next season:

Sorenson, Carson

L. Young, Bardsley, Bridge, O'halloran, Ben Haim, Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell

Petrov, Davis, Barry, Richardson, Barton, Osbourne (McCann)

SWP, A.Young, Defoe, Agbonlahor, Carew, Moore