beloved_aunt

I said "big" championship job.

And if they did Houghton would be pretty much ideal for us wouldn't he!? He'll get the first big Championship job to become available next season and probably take whoever that is up. West Brom?

Always the way, incredibly hard to predict how someone will turnout at 15, loads touted as future England Captains at that age don't even make it to the pros. I think overall he's 5'5" and too old for the under 18s from next season, so they've thought he won't regularly get a game with the u23s so doesn't make sense to string him along.

And Jack Lee?

Maybe Charlie Adams could play alongside Richard Woods.

Good shout but we've already got two right backs and linked with another from Brentford. Where you playing them all?

Nick Powell.

Bruce likes the system and has used it before to great success, would save us having to buy loads of new wingers as we currently don't have any. Any chance he'll use something like this next season. Westwood Iorfa Lees Hector Palmer Reach Hutchinson Bannan Diame/Powell/Forestieri Fletcher Rhodes

He is the ultimate Sean Dyche player. Nailed on to go to Burnley.

We know about the 8 first teamers, but any news on some of the youngsters who are also up - Nielsen, O'Grady, Preston - and if they're being released?

Just shaved probably 250k per week off the wage bill (£13m a year) - if we can sell two more of our strikers and loan out the likes of Fox/Van Aken then we can certainly replace these with 5-6 singings and still be spending less that at the start of 18/19. I'd imagine this had a lot to do with it.

As it stands … Goalkeepers Current Westwood – keep everything crossed he re-signs and we can keep him as number 1 Dawson/Wildsmith – loan one of them out if possible, the youth team keeper Wallis is meant to be very good and should be adequate as third choice and in case of keepers you’ve got emergency loan and recall where necessary. Targets Don’t need to sign anyone new Full backs Current Palmer/Iorfa – should be good enough to cover the right back slot Penney – has a lot of potential but you’d want a recognised first choice ahead of him Baker/Fox – Not good enough, move on if at all possible Targets So, we need to sign a first choice left back. Hard to tell how good Aschraff Lazaar was on loan as injured a lot but might be fine with a full pre-season. Jake Bidwell is out of contract at QPR and Luke Garbutt might be a loan option from Everton. Centre backs Current Lees – Obviously keep unless we get a huge bid Thorniley – Wouldn’t be first choice but a great squad player Van Aken – Unless Bruce really is a miracle worker Hutchinson – Still think he’s a natural CB and playing him here reduces his injuries and cards as well Targets So, we need to sign 1-2 centre backs. Michael Hector is obviously first choice if we can get him. I’d also look at potential loans for Grant Hanley (not played much for Norwich this season), Ashley Williams and Axel Tuanzebe. On a free could there be a sentimental return for Gary Cahill? Centre midfielders Current Hutchinson/Bannan/Pelupessy/Lee – On the face of it a good balance and cover in the middle with Reach also able to fill in. But Lee/Hutch probably can’t be relied upon for a full season. Targets Probably lack a bit of physicality in here. Mo Diame on loan from Newcastle would be ideal. Nick Powell is out of contract at Wigan and if we could get him as a number ten would give us a lot more options in how to play. Wingers Current Reach – Only real option but also our most sellable asset if we do need to raise funds. Targets Will be an area where we need lots of activity, unless Bruce is tempted to use 3-5-2 as he has done before with Hull City and Birmingham and might suit us. Potential loan winger targets would include Rolando Aarons, Patrick Roberts, Yannick Bolasie. Could we also make a bid for Marcus Maddison at Peterborough? Strikers Current Fletcher/Forestieri/Nuhiu/Joao/Rhodes/Winnall – All have their strengths but we probably still need to get shot of 2/6. The annoying thing is that those on the biggest wages - Rhodes and Fletcher - will be hardest to shift which means we might have to sell the younger players taking up less wages (Joao and Nuhiu) which isn't the better long term interests of the club and would leave you with a foursome of strikers around 30 and not likely to all be fit for 40 games. Only positive is if we can actually get fees for any of them. Targets In this area of the team will probably be more of a question of moving on, but someone up top with genuine pace is still something we’re lacking and should be considered if we can sell 2-3 of our forwards.

I agree that we need to sell 2/6 strikers. The annoying thing is that those on the biggest wages - Rhodes and Fletcher - will be hardest to shift which means we might have to sell the younger players taking up less wages (Joao and Nuhiu) which isn't the better long term interests of the club and would leave you with a foursome of strikers around 30 and not likely to all be fit for 40 games.

I'm literally flabbergasted that people still make long term plans based around the presumed future fitness of Kieran Lee. What are they smoking?

As long as we've got a chance of the play offs I have no split loyalties. If we were mathematically out of it then I might think again.