First thing is what does the current squad really look like
Ramsdale/Travers
Stacey/Smith - Mepham/Cook/Kelly/Simpson - Rico/Zemura
Brooks/Danjuma - Cook/Billing/Oforbhe/Gosling - Stanislas/Kilkenny/Taylor
Solanke/Surridge/Ndjoli/Dobre
I've left out King, Wilson, and Lerma as I fully expect them to be gone before the season starts. I might have missed the odd player here and there, so please shout up where yo think someone is an option and I've left them out. From the above the first obvious weak points to me seem to be keeper, left back, and up top.
I'd like to see Travers out on loan next season, so an experienced keeper happy to warm the bench would be useful. Whether that's Begovic returning, or maybe Camp out of contract, or someone else entirely
I'm not sure Zemura is really ready for the first team yet, but pre season will tell us more in that regard, so cover definitely required at LB, not sure about what specific targets, but heard good things about Max Lowe and Nathan Ferguson from Derby and West Brom. Simpson might find his time is up as well, perhaps Ibsen Rossi or Dinesh Gillella will find themselves stepping up to that CB cover slot or getting decent level loan moves
Midfield looks pretty stacked, and no Eddie likely means no winger purchases this summer. Could yet see Billing move on (or even Lerma staying) which would mix it up a bit, but it's not an immediate need really
Up top, assuming we lose Cal and Josh, then Dom and Sam seem to pick themselves, but the drop off in quality/experience after that is pretty severe. Could be Scrimmies season to shine but he's not yet played at a professional level so Championship is a big ask. Ndjoli has done alright in Scotland, but also it seems a big step up. So cover and competition definitely needed. Likely in the form of Ivan Toney, there's been persistent links for a couple of years now, or any other suggestions
If it is the former, then frankly it’s highly likely that we get relegated. This side desperately needs fresh blood that can make a difference, the current crop has gone stale. At least Surridge can provide this to an extent, but if Max is genuinely serious about promotion then we can’t lose all of our best players and not replace them.As above if JT gets the job the first thing he'll do with tie Franno, Surman and Daniels to 1-2 year contracts, and fair enough I suppose. Tindall will need all the lieutenants and experienced pros in the camp that he can get onside, to help bend the dressing room to his command.
I think recruitment will be minimal. Not only is there basically no time, just the vibes I'm getting from all this is that Max wants to the club is live more within the means he's spent the last 10 years providing. No further significant injections for now at least.
That'll mean we sell a 3-4 to balance books a bit, target a couple of additions, probably youngsters, but predominantly expecting Tindall to fashion something using the squad he's got (not untalented or insubstantial as it is).
If we can only recruit 1-2 then it'll have to come up front or out wide, assuming that King and Wilson are off and Fraser is gone.
Of course I could be totally wrong, and Max will not only appoint Tindall but then give him a huge warchest to go shopping with. But given everything in the current circumstances, I highly doubt it.
Solanke and Surridge will score in the championship. But I agree we obviously cannot go into the season with them as our only two forwards.I agree with the players likely to leave then I think we are short up front . We will be reliant on two guys up front who probably don’t have 10 league goals between them
According to the press currently, the vultures are circulating with the intention of cherry picking our best players. We could lose as many as six/seven players which would leave us in a perilous position with little time to recruit replacements. Whilst we stand to make a lot of dosh selling our stars, I fear for the future.