07 May 2026 09:50:46
We’ve got 28 players, from what I can make out, in our current first team squad. Trying to be non-knee jerk with my opinion, I’ve gone through the squad and played a game of keep, sell or loan. I ended up with 16 players in the keep column. You can add Penders, Emegha, Quenda and potentially Barco to that 16, which would leave us with 20 - there’s also a young LB coming over from Brazil, but I don’t expect him to come into the first team.
If others did the same, there would, no doubt, be different players in each column, but the numbers in the keep column would, I guess, be pretty similar.
Effectively, the club, hopefully with the new coach in place and involved, need to buy 4-6 first team players this summer, proper first team, all killer no filler, players. It’s such a huge summer, the biggest summer I can remember and they can’t afford to get it wrong. But, if (big if, given the recent decision making) they get it right, this ship can be turned around quickly and be stabilised.
07 May 2026 15:45:48
J, have you factored in the "Maresca leaving effect"? A number of players were really bought into his ideas and really liked playing for him. Those same players will likely want to leave now. It really could be a huge revolving door this summer.
07 May 2026 15:53:42
The "Maresca leaving effect." Good riddance, and "anyone" who is unhappy for any reason, including Maresca leaving, can go swivel.
J, I think we will sell eight players.
07 May 2026 16:18:33
Nathan Ake is rumoured to have agreed to join us, and is currently having a house built in Cobham.
07 May 2026 16:26:55
I didn't want us to sell him years ago but I'm not sure about him nowadays.
07 May 2026 17:06:39
Me neither, Tom.
07 May 2026 17:20:37
I wouldn't care less if the whole squad left (excluding academy players). Greenaway, and Tom, you have both made your views plain about Maresca - time to put it to bed.
07 May 2026 17:25:45
Jimbo, I think I will be the judge of when to end my comments, thanks.
07 May 2026 17:44:32
Tom, you are the judge of what you post and on what subject even if it's done to death. I am entitled to get bored with it.
07 May 2026 17:53:59
You'd think Maresca was the second coming of Jose 05 the way he's spoken about at times - he did a decent job and won a C-rate joke of a European tournament and a glorified summer friendly cup.... Everyone forgets the run up to him getting sacked was awful, results-wise, and some of the worst football we've seen played.
Time to move on - this is a huge, club-defining summer. Just pray someone gets the manager pick right.
07 May 2026 17:58:44
Jimbo, you getting bored with my post or any person's posts is of zero interest to me. I will just let the Editors Edit.
07 May 2026 18:00:34
Kazblue, I think this may be one of the most critical management appointments in my lifetime of supporting CFC. I am full of apprehension.
07 May 2026 18:21:08
Jimbo, fair comment and point taken. Kaz, I agree, this is a huge summer for the club.
07 May 2026 18:53:42
Greenaway, I enjoy your posts and admire your passion for the club, and agree with your criticism of the SDs. I think this summer will be crucial for the club. The next coach appointment must be someone who can change the culture of the squad and give the supporters some hope for the future.
Also, the profile of any new signings will give an indication of the club's ambitions. I am keeping my fingers crossed on both counts. We all need to go into next season with some hope of better things to come.
08 May 2026 09:37:04
It was certainly a shock for quite a few players when Maresca left after plotting his exit to City, and I certainly think that because of his CWC win in particular, he had banked a lot of respect from his players. But it would be a mistake to think that all was completely well under him this season. He won 8 games, drew 6 and lost 5, and CFC were 5th - not 4th - on 30 points when he left, and 15 points behind Arsenal, who were leading. If we had kept that form up under him, we would have finished on 60 points and may or may not have qualified for Champions League football, though Villa could well have won the UEFA League Cup and qualified that way. It is also likely that we would not have had quite as appalling run of form as we have had in this run-in. But who knows, and frankly who cares now that EM decided, anyway, he wanted to leave and was speaking not only to City but Juventus as well.
Yes, we can blame it on SDs, plus owners and transfer strategy. But EM is a ship that has long sailed.
J is absolutely right that this transfer window could now be make or break in terms of CFC fortunes for the next few seasons. What clearly is also key is who is appointed as head coach. Iraola, Hoeness or Alonso seem to be names most often mentioned. Perhaps Iraola, with his EPL experience, may be the best bet, but the CFC job is still a big step up from Bournemouth. Hoeness may understandably want to stay in Germany and could be eyeing the Bayern job. Alonso could have respect from players as one of high quality himself, and clearly did superbly as a coach in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen, but only lasted 5 months at Real Madrid, which had started well before a fall out with Vinicius Jr. and dropping points after a v good start. Might be a good pick for us though?