I'm almost at the "season is written off" stage, I think there's no more than a 5% chance of promotion, injuries have hamstrung us (pun intended).
So, with an eye on next year, the last two seasons have been ruined by poor poor starts, we can't do that again. What should we do in the next 14 games to get as ready as possible for next year?
I guess we need to look at the squad and who will be here:
Here net year: Dieng, Glover, Smith (if fit), Rav, Clarke, Fry, Bangura, Lenihan, Engel, Hackney, I Jones, Azaz, Lath, Silvera, Coburn, Forss (16)
Open to offers: Barlaser, McGree, Gilbert (3)
Fighting for a contract: J Jones, Ayling, Thomas, Howson, O'Brien, Greenwood (5)
Out: Dijksteel, McNair, Crooks, Hoppe (4)
This is what I suggest:
1 - That core 16 need melding into a team, ok Smith, Bangura, Lenihan aren't going to play, but we need to make sure Rav plays every game to get his experience up, he should be first choice next year.
2 - Dieng needs to be back in goal to get the relationship with the defence.
3 - Hackney has to be in his proper position CM to build around
4 - Lath needs a run up front once fit to learn the english game more
5 - The McGree conundrum. If he is out the side because of fitness, get him out completely and let him get 100% fit for next year. Take the opportunity to give Silvera and others game time to learn for next year. If McGree is out of the side because Carrick doesn't fancy him (possible because we did sign Ramsey last year to take his place) then it's pointless playing him and taking game time from others like Silvera who have a future here.
6 - I guess we need that agreement with Dael for an extra year OR, do we sell and buy a top quality replacement? If we are going to sell, I'd look at playing Rav RCB and Clarke alongside
7 - Give Thomas a go and talk to him about signing long term, he looks way better than Engel.
Looking at that core 16, it's pretty obvious what we need to be signing in the summer:
1 - First choice RB
2 - A LB if we are writing off Engel
3 - A backup CB or a first choice if Fry is sold
4 - Howsons replacement, a top quality CDM
5 - competition at CM
6 - A quality wide forward or sign Greenwood and improve him
7 - A quality CF
Could take 15m investment to get this where we want. Or 10m and a couple of good loans. At least we have loads of FFP room to invest and 7-8 signings instead of 11 (plus 3 in january)