The Rebuild

[AjaxAndy]

I actually hate how poor this team is. The Ipswich match was a 4-0er (they're currently losing comfortably at Leicester) that they somehow blew and drew 2-2.

Today we've only won 2-0 against a woeful Southampton side that couldn't be arsed and really could have made it closer in that second half. Should have absolutely blew them away 5-0 in those circumstances. If Illi is out of the team for Harrison then I don't even think we win that game today.

Massive massive work to do.

We actually have some good players...

Pickford
Branthwaite
O'Brien
Gana
Ndaiye
McNeil
Alcaraz

That's 7 out of 11 players that would make for a top half team imo.

It's the makeup of the team that's an issue imo, we're extremely weak in both full back positions, we can't pass and retain possession and therefore can't control games we should be comfortable in, and we lack a striker who can hold up the ball consistently (did so great today but that's not usually the case).

If we add Coufal at RB and a new more attacking LB we'd be a different proposition out wide, and apparently we're after Angel Gomes on a free who is class at that deep lying playmaker role, and would give us a totally new dimension when it comes to ball retention... We're then a striker with good hold up play away from a top 8 team imo.

Squad depth will be an issue but I think sorting the starting 11 isn't all that challenging. I'm pretty excited about things moving in to the summer and expect us to be a lot more effective in the type.of games you mentioned next season.

[Bluebridge]

Forget today, it was all about Goodison not the game. Moyes knows what needs to be done.

[AjaxAndy]

I wasn’t meaning to describe him as a League 1 player (although I realise I sort of did), I was meaning that there must be other leagues he’s better suited to, too ones like you mentioned, where he could boss it and challenge for honours.

I do think there's an issue with British players only wanting to play in England even if it means sitting on the bench.

If my kid makes it as a pro and he's not getting game time I'll properly push him to go play in Holland or Belgium or Croatia or wherever he'll play and achieve the maximum success he can.

Too many British players just seem to think their careers are worth wasting because they don't want to move abroad.

[Shogun]

We actually have some good players...

Pickford
Branthwaite
O'Brien
Gana
Ndaiye
McNeil
Alcaraz

That's 7 out of 11 players that would make for a top half team imo.

It's the makeup of the team that's an issue imo, we're extremely weak in both full back positions, we can't pass and retain possession and therefore can't control games we should be comfortable in, and we lack a striker who can hold up the ball consistently (did so great today but that's not usually the case).

If we add Coufal at RB and a new more attacking LB we'd be a different proposition out wide, and apparently we're after Angel Gomes on a free who is class at that deep lying playmaker role, and would give us a totally new dimension when it comes to ball retention... We're then a striker with good hold up play away from a top 8 team imo.

Squad depth will be an issue but I think sorting the starting 11 isn't all that challenging. I'm pretty excited about things moving in to the summer and expect us to be a lot more effective in the type.of games you mentioned next season.

I mean, there are obviously more factors than just players but I reckon at most 4 of those get in the current Palace team and they're one place ahead of us in 12th, so not sure I'm seeing 7/11 for a top half team. They're all players along with Tarkowski who should be part of the squad though. Everyone else we've got to be moving on from.

Don't give new contracts to Doucoure, Keane or DCL. Get rid of Beto if the opportunity arises and the same goes for Garner, Mykolenko and Patterson.

Buy good footballers with some actual resale value. Not getting these Coufal or Soucek shouts at all, both players that are part of a team that has been even worse than us this season. Coufal has 146 Premier League appearances, is yet to score a goal and has 19 assists. He hasn't registered a single assist this season. You may as well keep O'Brien there than go for him. We need to be bringing in far more dynamic full-backs.

[Toddacelli]

I do think there's an issue with British players only wanting to play in England even if it means sitting on the bench.

If my kid makes it as a pro and he's not getting game time I'll properly push him to go play in Holland or Belgium or Croatia or wherever he'll play and achieve the maximum success he can.

Too many British players just seem to think their careers are worth wasting because they don't want to move abroad.

I think it’s the money isn’t it? There might be some who back themselves for a breakthrough, but staying and fighting for a shirt and not getting in is a lot more palatable when you’re on three times the wages and close to home, compared to moving abroad, learning another language and playing on a fraction of the wages.

[AjaxAndy]

I mean, there are obviously more factors than just players but I reckon at most 4 of those get in the current Palace team and they're one place ahead of us in 12th, so not sure I'm seeing 7/11 for a top half team. They're all players along with Tarkowski who should be part of the squad though. Everyone else we've got to be moving on from.

Don't give new contracts to Doucoure, Keane or DCL. Get rid of Beto if the opportunity arises and the same goes for Garner, Mykolenko and Patterson.

Buy good footballers with some actual resale value. Not getting these Coufal or Soucek shouts at all, both players that are part of a team that has been even worse than us this season. Coufal has 146 Premier League appearances, is yet to score a goal and has 19 assists. He hasn't registered a single assist this season. You may as well keep O'Brien there than go for him. We need to be bringing in far more dynamic full-backs.

Coufal wouldn't be my first choice but would be a smart way to get a competent full back for free... No assists this season, but 7 under Moyes in the league last year which I think is an important consideration.

[Shogun]

Coufal wouldn't be my first choice but would be a smart way to get a competent full back for free... No assists this season, but 7 under Moyes in the league last year which I think is an important consideration.

Depends how many of them are just tapping the ball to Bowen to take on 4 players and score

I wouldn't be signing a 33 year old full back who is clearly on the decline from a side that finished lower than us, that's all I'm saying. Like anything in life, buy cheap buy twice.

[blueToffee]

I actually hate how poor this team is. The Ipswich match was a 4-0er (they're currently losing comfortably at Leicester) that they somehow blew and drew 2-2.

Today we've only won 2-0 against a woeful Southampton side that couldn't be arsed and really could have made it closer in that second half. Should have absolutely blew them away 5-0 in those circumstances. If Illi is out of the team for Harrison then I don't even think we win that game today.

Massive massive work to do.

It's good to be grounded as to the levels of the squad. I do think there is a lot to be done in certain areas and the right recruitment is key.

That said, as a small counter point, I think it's good to think back to the Fulham game. There have been a few reminders this season of teams that we aspire to reach at the moment...not exactly being all that when push comes to shove.

So work to be done, but also IF we can make some smart additions the gap to the teams above maybe isn't as great as it has sometimes seemed in recent years.

I do think without additions, we start as part of the group of 6-7 or so who will be trying not to be relegated first and foremost (I'm assuming Man Utd and Spurs spend and improve). Our squad is very threadbare. Clearly though we have a lot of gaps to fill so there is potential for more.

[The Doc]

Depends how many of them are just tapping the ball to Bowen to take on 4 players and score

I wouldn't be signing a 33 year old full back who is clearly on the decline from a side that finished lower than us, that's all I'm saying. Like anything in life, buy cheap buy twice.

We wouldn't be buying him though, that's the point. Little freebie to cover during injuries etc.

[kramer]

Kind of wild that we’d be in the mix with 8th-11th without so many 2 goal leads collapsing.

Our squad’s not even particularly good as constructed. Defensive unit has largely been excellent mind you.

[Shogun]

We wouldn't be buying him though, that's the point. Little freebie to cover during injuries etc.

He's leaving West Ham because he's not a starter for them anymore. He's only started 10 matches this season in the league. Why swap their bench for ours?

Only way Coufal comes here is if he's promised a starting place and if that happens then we're probably in for a frustrating season.

[Shogun]

Kind of wild that we’d be in the mix with 8th-11th without so many 2 goal leads collapsing.

Our squad’s not even particularly good as constructed. Defensive unit has largely been excellent mind you.

As much as they don't offer much going forward at full back, Myko-Branthwaite-Tarks-O'Brien and Pickford in behind is as solid as it gets whilst obviously the wingers were mostly in their own half under Dyche.

[superpull]

Upgrade both fullbacks and Doucoure and all we need to do this summer is ensure we have a bit of depth in the squad.

That's enough for a top half fight and we can then push on

[The Doc]

He's leaving West Ham because he's not a starter for them anymore. He's only started 10 matches this season in the league. Why swap their bench for ours?

Only way Coufal comes here is if he's promised a starting place and if that happens then we're probably in for a frustrating season.

Well, because our bench for right back cover is Young, 40 and on loads of money, Coleman, probably retiring because he's done, and Patterson who needs game time at a lower level or selling.

We do need some frees. Don't wanna bang on with the same message in each thread but if we have limited spends, I'd like to see money spent on quality at LB, CM a wide forward and a striker.

The other positions we'll need loans, frees or cheap buys.

CB worries me too. Although to your point, if we spent well on a right back, we'd have 3 good CBs, so I get it, but I think Moyes fancies O'Brien at right back for another season.

[Cereal Killer]

I wouldn't be signing a 33 year old full back who is clearly on the decline from a side that finished lower than us, that's all I'm saying

He's leaving West Ham because he's not a starter for them anymore. He's only started 10 matches this season in the league. Why swap their bench for ours?

It’s like you’ve made a question up for your own previous answer