Squad Depth

[RedReet]

i'd be shocked to see johnson and kelly go

only reasons for selling would be...

Johnson - we got good money and where able to buy a good, younger, first team quality, right back who would be on less wages - but who?

Kelly - if he's crocked and we can't get him fully fit and again we identify a similar quality player who is fit and we can get

There was a nothing article yesterday that suggested Johnson will have to take a pay cut to sign a contract extension. There were no quotes and said we won't be looking at the situation until next summer, which made it quite pointless. Although, it did say that he'll be 31 when his current contract expires and that he's on £135k p/w, so you would expect it mightn't be too far fetched.

Snippets from other articles about Johnson wanting to play in Spain and FSG not wanting to play RB's astronomical wages etc. would have me worried that he will be off sooner, rather than later.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

We'd be in real trouble if we do that. I can see us keeping Johnson on even if he doesn't sign a new contract. Good fullbacks for our system are very hard to find.

I think the club is in a position of strength for the contract talks. Given his age and wages, which other club would readily come in for him?

[RedReet]

Kelly is at the point where it might be an idea to cut our losses and give another young player a go. He and Wisdom have been around the fringes for a while and keep getting goes at fullback where they aren't well suited to the system. I'd rather we give chances to specialist fullbacks given how we play.

Since Sakho's arrival I've been worried about Agger's long term future. I still think he's our best defender and think Rodger's rates him very highly, but due to his age, wages, injury record and the fact that we'd get a decent return on him, I'm worried he might be let go.

That's why I think we’ll keep hold of Wisdom and Rodgers possibly sees him, Ilori and Sakho as our 3 main CB’s for the future.

[PTP]

There was a nothing article yesterday that suggested Johnson will have to take a pay cut to sign a contract extension. There were no quotes and said we won't be looking at the situation until next summer, which made it quite pointless. Although, it did say that he'll be 31 when his current contract expires and that he's on £135k p/w, so you would expect it mightn't be too far fetched.

Snippets from other articles about Johnson wanting to play in Spain and FSG not wanting to play RB's astronomical wages etc. would have me worried that he will be off sooner, rather than later.

it'll be similar to reina/mignolet -

tbh i've no issues with that providing the player coming in is of a decent enough calibre

[PTP]

Since Sakho's arrival I've been worried about Agger's long term future. I still think he's our best defender and think Rodger's rates him very highly, but due to his age, wages, injury record and the fact that we'd get a decent return on him, I'm worried he might be let go.

That's why I think we’ll keep hold of Wisdom and Rodgers possibly sees him, Ilori and Sakho as our 3 main CB’s for the future.

we'd be mad to even consider allowing Wisdom to go imo

20 yrs old, England under 21 captain, strong, quick, committed and from all accounts a model pro (apparently he acted 'beyond his years' as captain during the U21's abysmal summer)

yeah he's a bit raw, but he'll keep improving all the time

i do agree re agger and possible skrtel

in fact - if sakho settles well, toure stays fit, ilori is better than coates and wisdom continues to improve then we could well see both going with next season centre back options being

Sakho - 1st choice
Toure(experienc)/Wisdom(coming through) as the partner
Ilori coming through as cover.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

I wonder if Coates can still have a future with us. He's only 22 after all and has time and potential on his side.

[Lee]

Forgot about Coates.

Nah, I can't see it working out for him here. No chance.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

Forgot about Coates.

Nah, I can't see it working out for him here. No chance.

I wonder. Agger and Toure making up the experienced players, Sahko for the present and future, and between Ilori, Wisdom and Coates (and hopefully Kelly) we'll be sorted out at centrehalf for a long time, and would allow us to focus on other areas of the pitch.

[reds123]

When will joe allen return?

[Exiled_red]

Forgot about Coates.

Nah, I can't see it working out for him here. No chance.

me too, there must be at least, what 5 other players ahead of him at CB?

[RedReet]

I wonder. Agger and Toure making up the experienced players, Sahko for the present and future, and between Ilori, Wisdom and Coates (and hopefully Kelly) we'll be sorted out at centrehalf for a long time, and would allow us to focus on other areas of the pitch.

I think we should just cut our losses on Coates, let him go for whatever we can get but put in a big sell on clause.

I read recently that Parma value Paletta at €35 million.

[Exiled_red]

I think we should just cut our losses on Coates, let him go for whatever we can get but put in a big sell on clause.

I read recently that Parma value Paletta at €35 million.

He must have learned to play football then since he left us

[baitman]

At this present moment in time we are experiencing an ongoing headcount freeze in our human resources department. These Jenga blocks just dont stack up and I do not want to be under a wonky tower when it falls.

[I, Ravel Morrison]

He must have learned to play football then since he left us

Imagine if Paletta and Insua had stayed... we'd have a €35 million defender and the second-best leftback of Atletico Madrid!

[Exiled_red]

Imagine if Paletta and Insua had stayed... we'd have a €35 million defender and the second-best leftback of Atletico Madrid!