So who do we sign for next season

[barrie_burn]

Splash the cash for Trippier?

If not who else?

[Vintage Claret]

Assuming no one is leaving then we may be in need of a replacement left back, but I’m not sure it would be wise to pay £20M for Trippier, who will be 30 years old in September, although he is still a good player in that position. If the price was considerably lower then it may be a good option.
We need a replacement central defender to replace Gibson, hopefully we could sell Gibson and get a replacement on a no or little cost basis. The problem is who would want to take Gibson on and pay a transfer fee for him, as he has been out of action for a considerable period. Although Kevin Long had a poor game yesterday I think he is a good squad player who rarely lets us down.
The main area for concern is in mid-field yesterday we allowed Brighton to dominate that area. It is fairly obvious that with the injury record of both Brady and JBG we need some improvement in that area. Ideally we need some pace and flair in mid-filed.
Our attacking options are reasonable, but it was noticeable that with Barnes and Wood both out injured we played some of our best football, without having to resort to the long ball option. Maybe a player who has the pace to beat the offside trap regularly would be a good buy.
Unfortunately I can not see Mr. Garlick allowing a substantial sum to be spent on the team, but I live in hope.

[Deadlydave]

I think we need to add with Younger players. Two reasons Costs; Transfer fees and wages and the average age of our team is high and we don't want them all fading away at the same time like Leeds did in the 1970's. In addition, younger blood gives us resale value and the potential to get some pace into this team, especially in the wide areas. Hopefully we can keep hold of Pope etc over the summer although it feels like winter! The Gibson situation is a strange and tricky one deal with; if relations are so bad then there is one one option and that is to get rid so a quality young CB for the future would be good. I would love us to find a young striker with pace to give a different option and stop defenders squeezing up space. Lets hope Dyche is still here and we can get a few decent new faces in as I can't see why not.

[Supersub6]

Vintage ---puzzled by your saying that we need a left back and then mention Trippier who is definitely a right back.

[1959_60]

Left back, right back, central defender, creative midfield and a speedy winger needed.

That's assuming we keep the players we have.

[Vintage Claret]

Vintage ---puzzled by your saying that we need a left back and then mention Trippier who is definitely a right back.

Sorry I can't tell my right from left, I should have said a right back. I am more than happy with Taylor.

[1959_60]

I am more than happy with Taylor too. But we need sustainable back up, so I reckon we need a decent left back as well. Eric Pieters is decent but he will be 32 when we kick off. I love Bardsley, but he is 35. We need to be looking at younger options here, there are some bloody quick wingers in the Prem.

[sinkov]

I'm not getting too excited about incomings, we have two keepers, two right backs, two left backs, three CBs, plus one on the groundstaff at Middlesborough, three CMs, three wingers and four strikers. That's 20, plus a whole shed load of future stars coming through the Academy, or so I'm told.
I suspect Mr Garlick will look at that little lot and tell Sean he has enough to be going on with, we don't need anyone else. One out, one in, will be as good as it gets I reckon and the Dry Powder store keys will remain locked somewhere at the back of the Boardroom safe.

[Vintage Claret]

I have a problem understanding our transfer policy. I could understand Dyche wanting to keep Hendrick, but I thought that Hart and Lennon were expensive luxuries in that they were probably amongst the high wage earners at the club when compared to their actual playing time.
We do need to reduce the age profile of the first eleven and I would hope that we could identify some targets in this transfer window. We do need to avoid costly mistakes such as Gibson & Drinkwater but I am unconvinced that our recruitment team is up to the job.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I have a problem understanding our transfer policy. I could understand Dyche wanting to keep Hendrick, but I thought that Hart and Lennon were expensive luxuries in that they were probably amongst the high wage earners at the club when compared to their actual playing time.
We do need to reduce the age profile of the first eleven and I would hope that we could identify some targets in this transfer window. We do need to avoid costly mistakes such as Gibson & Drinkwater but I am unconvinced that our recruitment team is up to the job.

I think we have finally found Clarets Mad's, "Master of Understatement".