Looking ahead…

[Qprtanpa1]

Assume we miss the playoffs given our recent form, injuries, etc.

Further assume we shed our loaned players, sell of one of our prized assets (Dieng), and see our beloved Barbet head back to France.

We still begin the next campaign with real potential to compete.

First, change the formation back to 4-4-2. We don’t have the horses to play the wingback folly.

Okay to start the season with Marshall, Archer and Walsh in goal. Dieng has much more upside, but we need the cash from selling him now.

Bring Masterson and Jordy back to reinforce Dunne and Dickie in the middle. Retain either Ball or Kakay. Add one of the youngsters (Gubbins?), and recruit an additional CB and speedy prospect on the left. Play 4 in the back.

Field remains our mainstay at defensive midfield, backed by Ball.

Stefan is good enough to anchor the middle part-time; must bring Amos more and more into that role.

Work on the interplay between Chair and Willock behind a two-striker offense led by Dykes; recruit two new strikers + promote one of our youngsters. Charlie has to commit to getting in shape, or agree to step out altogether.

Commit not in words but actions to giving our youth a chance to play — in particular Duke-MCKenna, Battache, and Armstrong.

Then, if we are in or near the playoffs in January, tell fans we won’t stand pat, that we’re going for it.

2022 will likely end up as a good yet disappointing season, but the one ahead could be full of new energy, excitement and fortune.

[72bus]

Stopped reading at kakay

[SheepRanger]

I will be completely amazed if Willock is with us when the transfer window closes. I cannot see him staying.

We made a loss of £3.5m in the season the Eze transfer money of £16m hit the accounts. Even with crowds back I can see sales of £15-20m to balance the books. The Willock transfer will the the big one towards that total.

[QPRDave]

Ffp is set to be scrapped by uefa.
another financial restrictions will be introduced but will give clubs more scope on financial affairs

[SheepRanger]

Perhaps Dave, but that doesnt necessarily mean our owners will want to keep pumping in £12-15m a year to maintain player budgets.

How much they're prepared to put in every season is not known. But I doubt they'd like to see a £10m player walk away for free when hes out of contract. I assume theres an element of business sense there now rather than being their play thing to throw money at. They've tried that already.

I still think we'll bring in £15m in player sales this summer if the offers are there. It's a bit difficult to plan formation for next season when we dont know which of our best five players will be sold.

[Pal]

Stopped reading at kakay

Did better than me mate, I stopped at 442.

[dave58]

No Promotion, I see this Dieng, Willock,Chair,Dykes all gone with possibly Dunne, & Dickie too, as for Kakay half his name is correct the first 3 letters, Squad will be decimated the next few years not challenging and bottom half of league, our best chance to get up and do things the right way is now, but manager too stubborn to change and lethargic football, doesn't seem to be any urgency

[SheepRanger]

No Promotion, I see this Dieng, Willock,Chair,Dykes all gone with possibly Dunne, & Dickie too, as for Kakay half his name is correct the first 3 letters, Squad will be decimated the next few years not challenging and bottom half of league, our best chance to get up and do things the right way is now, but manager too stubborn to change and lethargic football, doesn't seem to be any urgency

Bang on.

[stanistheman]

No Promotion, I see this Dieng, Willock,Chair,Dykes all gone with possibly Dunne, & Dickie too, as for Kakay half his name is correct the first 3 letters, Squad will be decimated the next few years not challenging and bottom half of league, our best chance to get up and do things the right way is now, but manager too stubborn to change and lethargic football, doesn't seem to be any urgency

Sadly, I agree.

A lot really will depend on player recruitment and maybe even a change of manager otherwise I think we will struggle to make any impact on the top 6 next season and it could be a few more years before we have another crack at making the playoffs.

Our record at this level is not that good if you take out our promotion winning seasons. We are usually a bottom half side with more relegation battles than promotion challenges.

[rodman]

Did better than me mate, I stopped at 442.

Yep, stopped here too.

Stubborn , clueless manager won't be changing anything, anytime soon, so the rest of the post meant nothing.

[Abseits]

I'm trying to remember the last time that we simultaneously owned and regularly fielded a decent solid specialist left-back AND right-back pairing.

I'm thinking it was early 90s with Brevitt, Wilson and Bardsley.

Have I missed something??? Is it really 30 years??? NB loanees and CBs shunted to LB/RB don't count!

[RussianRanger]

I'm trying to remember the last time that we simultaneously owned and regularly fielded a decent solid specialist left-back AND right-back pairing.

I'm thinking it was early 90s with Brevitt, Wilson and Bardsley.

Have I missed something??? Is it really 30 years??? NB loanees and CBs shunted to LB/RB don't count!

13/14 season when we got promoted. Had Danny Simpson at RB and Assou-Ekotto (although he was on loan) and Traore (he`s been actually pretty good that season) at LB.

[FurtiveFox]

The advantage of English football being so strong and popular is there are an awful lot of players who in years gone by would be getting eased into Premiership sides who aren't getting a look in. Game time is vital to develop players. A club like us further down the food chain is attractive to players looking to take that next step in their careers and get that game time. Dunne prime example. Amos and Field too although both been unlucky with injuries. Loan wise look how we developed players like Eze, Dieng and Chair by sending them out.

Principle same really as when we were a regular top division team. We would buy mainly on the cheap, develop and sell one or two players a year to balance the books.

My only real concern is the lack of youngsters this season. None have made any impression on the first team and we have sent any number out on loan and not heard much good about them either. I'm not noticing anyone who we are expecting to get into the team next season.

[Isleworth116]

The advantage of English football being so strong and popular is there are an awful lot of players who in years gone by would be getting eased into Premiership sides who aren't getting a look in. Game time is vital to develop players. A club like us further down the food chain is attractive to players looking to take that next step in their careers and get that game time. Dunne prime example. Amos and Field too although both been unlucky with injuries. Loan wise look how we developed players like Eze, Dieng and Chair by sending them out.

Principle same really as when we were a regular top division team. We would buy mainly on the cheap, develop and sell one or two players a year to balance the books.

My only real concern is the lack of youngsters this season. None have made any impression on the first team and we have sent any number out on loan and not heard much good about them either. I'm not noticing anyone who we are expecting to get into the team next season.

Totally agree, no young players look anywhere near first team level. Very disappointing.

[SheepRanger]

The advantage of English football being so strong and popular is there are an awful lot of players who in years gone by would be getting eased into Premiership sides who aren't getting a look in. Game time is vital to develop players. A club like us further down the food chain is attractive to players looking to take that next step in their careers and get that game time. Dunne prime example. Amos and Field too although both been unlucky with injuries. Loan wise look how we developed players like Eze, Dieng and Chair by sending them out.

Principle same really as when we were a regular top division team. We would buy mainly on the cheap, develop and sell one or two players a year to balance the books.

My only real concern is the lack of youngsters this season. None have made any impression on the first team and we have sent any number out on loan and not heard much good about them either. I'm not noticing anyone who we are expecting to get into the team next season.

I thought Masterson has been getting good reviews and Kelman since he went back.

If Masterson doesnt get in the team next season then he should be sold to a L1 club. He 24 this Sept ffs.

Will Bettache make the break through?

But I take your point - there doesnt seems to be anyone who will get bums off seats.