Championship 2026/27 - Teambuilding

[Gutter Boy]

What about this is a possible squad:

--------------------Kinsky
Adam Smith---Phillips----Danso----Souza
---------Winks----Abbott----Devine
-----------Donley------Moore
---------------Lankshear

Subs: Austin, Davies, Dorrington, Byfield, Hall, Olusesi, LWB, Ajaji, Scarlett

I'd be really pleased to see us purge the mercenaries (and I don't see us being able to keep the crown jewels of Gray, Bergvall and Vuskovic) and build a team with a homegrown heart to it

 

[billyiddo]

What would be your League 1 starting XI the following year?

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

What about this is a possible squad:

--------------------Kinsky
Adam Smith---Phillips----Danso----Souza
---------Winks----Abbott----Devine
-----------Donley------Moore
---------------Lankshear

Subs: Austin, Davies, Dorrington, Byfield, Hall, Olusesi, LWB, Ajaji, Scarlett

I'd be really pleased to see us purge the mercenaries (and I don't see us being able to keep the crown jewels of Gray, Bergvall and Vuskovic) and build a team with a homegrown heart to it

I don't actually think it would be possible to sell the number of players you are talking about selling to get to that sort of squad. I think people will be surprised by the number of players that end up staying. Maybe not entirely willingly, but we won't sell more than 7-8 players. Once we hit the income mark we need to, we can start to say no. I think for example that if Kudus is having surgery now he won't be in a position to leave over the summer window. That is just one example and i could see Xavi, Tel, Maddison, Kulusevski and many others having to stick around.

 

[HarryBreadbap]

What about this is a possible squad:

--------------------Kinsky
Adam Smith---Phillips----Danso----Souza
---------Winks----Abbott----Devine
-----------Donley------Moore
---------------Lankshear

Subs: Austin, Davies, Dorrington, Byfield, Hall, Olusesi, LWB, Ajaji, Scarlett

I'd be really pleased to see us purge the mercenaries (and I don't see us being able to keep the crown jewels of Gray, Bergvall and Vuskovic) and build a team with a homegrown heart to it

Behave yourself.

You need to cut down on the dosage of the medication you are taking.

 

[lurker of old]

What about this is a possible squad:
Every message board needs someone to lighten the spirits, I like it! And maybe a double relegation would be what we need to stumble on players who are capable as acting as a team and winning. (then thinks Luton and changes mind)...

 

[demotw]

i would think:

--------------------Kinsky-------------------
--------------------Austin-------------------

Porro------Vuscovic-------Danso--------Udogie
Spence----Phillips---------Takai---------Souza


--------Bergvall------Bentacur------Maddison
----------Gray----------Sarr-----------Xavi-----
--------Devine----------??-------------??-------


Kulu----------------Solanke--------------Odobert
Tel-----------------Richarlison-------------Moore
Yang----------------Lankshear-------------??-----

Likely sold/released:

Pahlinha
Romero
Vicario
VDV
Kudus
Dragusin
Bissouma
Connor Gallagher
Soloman
Muani
Scarlett
Davies (coaching role?)




I think some of the other players we will be unwilling to sell or unable to sell. RDZ is also unlikely to let all of our players go, some these next 6 games may impact some things as well.

 

[Mikey10]

i would think:

--------------------Kinsky-------------------
--------------------Austin-------------------

Porro------Vuscovic-------Danso--------Udogie
Spence----Phillips---------Takai---------Souza


--------Bergvall------Bentacur------Maddison
----------Gray----------Sarr-----------Xavi-----
--------Devine----------??-------------??-------


Kulu----------------Solanke--------------Odobert
Tel-----------------Richarlison-------------Moore
Yang----------------Lankshear-------------??-----

Likely sold/released:

Pahlinha
Romero
Vicario
VDV
Kudus
Dragusin
Bissouma
Connor Gallagher
Soloman
Muani
Scarlett
Davies (coaching role?)




I think some of the other players we will be unwilling to sell or unable to sell. RDZ is also unlikely to let all of our players go, some these next 6 games may impact some things as well.

I think we’ll struggle to shift quite a few. I’d like to keep Pahlinha as I think he’d be exactly the type needed in the Championship, but he will probably want to move on and is one who will have suitors.

 

[Lemonade Money]

Any senior international is not going to risk playing for their country.
The only big players we will be able to keep (happy) are senior players who won't get a better deal, and younger players who have time on their side (and maybe a pay rise).
I can't see us keeping Porro, Udogie, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Solanke, or Richarlison.
We may be stuck with Gallagher because of wages.

 

[SirPercyHotspur]

I know there are internationals playing in the Championship but would have thought that some players like Spence for example are not going to hang around if they want international selection.

PS Ditto post above.

PSS Think Richy is going back to Brazil regardless of what division we are in.

 

[Zavod 311]

Winks?

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

i would think:

--------------------Kinsky-------------------
--------------------Austin-------------------

Porro------Vuscovic-------Danso--------Udogie
Spence----Phillips---------Takai---------Souza


--------Bergvall------Bentacur------Maddison
----------Gray----------Sarr-----------Xavi-----
--------Devine----------??-------------??-------


Kulu----------------Solanke--------------Odobert
Tel-----------------Richarlison-------------Moore
Yang----------------Lankshear-------------??-----

Likely sold/released:

Pahlinha
Romero
Vicario
VDV
Kudus
Dragusin
Bissouma
Connor Gallagher
Soloman
Muani
Scarlett
Davies (coaching role?)




I think some of the other players we will be unwilling to sell or unable to sell. RDZ is also unlikely to let all of our players go, some these next 6 games may impact some things as well.

Depends on Kudus injury - if he has surgery soon or over the summer, he may not be in a position to go. I am not sure a buying club will sign a player that has been out since January and is still in recovery during the window. If they were tempted would be a loan which likely does nothing for us and could see club refusing. Honestly i think this is partly the fear and anxiety impacting the players, they know their near-future top-level playing career is on the line. Nobody is guaranteed a move to a top-flight team in the summer and most are on long term contracts.

I could easily see this sort of squad/team in the championship next season:

Kinsky/Austin
Spence/???
Danso/???
???/Vuskovic
Udogie/Souza
Sarr/Bergvall
Gray/???
Kudus/Kulusevski
Maddison/Xavi
Tel/Moore
???/Lankshear

Would mean Vicario, Romero, VDV, Dragusin, Gallagher, Bentancur, Bissouma, Porro, Richarlison, and Solanke go, most of the highest earners and those we have interest in already that likely gets you the £200m odd we need to find and after that we start saying no.

 

[DubSpur]

Any senior international is not going to risk playing for their country.
The only big players we will be able to keep (happy) are senior players who won't get a better deal, and younger players who have time on their side (and maybe a pay rise).
I can't see us keeping Porro, Udogie, Bentancur, Kulusevski, Solanke, or Richarlison.
We may be stuck with Gallagher because of wages.

I doubt anyone will sign Kulu until he proves that he is over his injury. Out of the rest that you mentioned I wouldn't be too bothered by any of them moving on if we got a decent offer.

 

[SirPercyHotspur]

This is what Google AI says on wage cuts so how many of the current squad are going to hang around but can they get better deals, remember Danny Rose when he said 60 grand a week wasn't enough and he was leaving to get one last big pay deal and couldn't find anyone to sign him.

• Wage Reduction Clauses: Most modern Premier League contracts include mandatory pay cuts in the event of relegation.
  • The standard industry average is around 25–30%.
  • Prudent or recently promoted clubs often negotiate higher cuts of 40–50%.
  • For example, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly have 50% reduction clauses in the majority of their player deals.

 

[Gutter Boy]

i would think:

--------------------Kinsky-------------------
--------------------Austin-------------------

Porro------Vuscovic-------Danso--------Udogie
Spence----Phillips---------Takai---------Souza


--------Bergvall------Bentacur------Maddison
----------Gray----------Sarr-----------Xavi-----
--------Devine----------??-------------??-------


Kulu----------------Solanke--------------Odobert
Tel-----------------Richarlison-------------Moore
Yang----------------Lankshear-------------??-----

Likely sold/released:

Pahlinha
Romero
Vicario
VDV
Kudus
Dragusin
Bissouma
Connor Gallagher
Soloman
Muani
Scarlett
Davies (coaching role?)




I think some of the other players we will be unwilling to sell or unable to sell. RDZ is also unlikely to let all of our players go, some these next 6 games may impact some things as well.

Ambitious internationals like Porro, Udogie, Spence, Vuscovic, Simons etc. are never going to play in the second tier.

We're going to need to reduce our squad massively. We've got about 42 senior players on our books. We'll probably need about 22 (no midweek games).

De Zerbi won't be here either - he'll have a relegation clause in his contract. We'll be looking at Parker or Mason I'd imagine.

 

[SirPercyHotspur]

We'll probably need about 22 (no midweek games).

Are we not entering the League Cup next season be our only possible way into Europe with the FA Cup.

Also the bit about de Zerbi, if true he has already told porkies in his press conference he said there was no relegation get out in his contract .
He knew our PL status was in grave danger why would he negotiate a 5 year contract on better wages than either Brighton or Marseille and if he has any sense does not include a wage reduction clause in case of relegation, if he intends to clear off and give up millions.

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

Ambitious internationals like Porro, Udogie, Spence, Vuscovic, Simons etc. are never going to play in the second tier.

We're going to need to reduce our squad massively. We've got about 42 senior players on our books. We'll probably need about 22 (no midweek games).

De Zerbi won't be here either - he'll have a relegation clause in his contract. We'll be looking at Parker or Mason I'd imagine.

some will have to play in the second tier. Most of our squad are internationals either senior or U21 with ambitions for higher. I still go back to point: we are not selling our entire squad. I don't even think we will sell half our squad. Take Xavi Simons. He signed a huge contract. Market value it would rightly take well over £60-70m to buy him. Who is paying that for him?

 

[Seedy Ron]

Winks?

GB always plays the classics.

Presumably Mason is in as coach.

 

[DubSpur]

Ambitious internationals like Porro, Udogie, Spence, Vuscovic, Simons etc. are never going to play in the second tier.

We're going to need to reduce our squad massively. We've got about 42 senior players on our books. We'll probably need about 22 (no midweek games).

De Zerbi won't be here either - he'll have a relegation clause in his contract. We'll be looking at Parker or Mason I'd imagine.

De Zerbi doesn't have a relegation clause.

The players will all have massive pay cuts if we go down. Lots of players need to be sold but it won't mean we end up with the youth team that you seem to think it will.

 

[harr1984]

some will have to play in the second tier. Most of our squad are internationals either senior or U21 with ambitions for higher. I still go back to point: we are not selling our entire squad. I don't even think we will sell half our squad. Take Xavi Simons. He signed a huge contract. Market value it would rightly take well over £60-70m to buy him. Who is paying that for him?

I think people will be surprised at how many end up staying for a plethora of reasons. I'd imagine the likes of Gray and Bergvall would remain for at least one season to see if we go straight back up. Other clubs that have gone down have had agreements with players that they can go in the January window if it doesn't look like will go straight back up.

Beyond Romero and VDV going that will fetch a good amount of money in, I don't see there being many major outgoings - or at least the ones we are keen on keeping (not many I know) I think would be staying for the time being.....

 

[billyiddo]

Ambitious internationals like Porro, Udogie, Spence, Vuscovic, Simons etc. are never going to play in the second tier.

We're going to need to reduce our squad massively. We've got about 42 senior players on our books. We'll probably need about 22 (no midweek games).

De Zerbi won't be here either - he'll have a relegation clause in his contract. We'll be looking at Parker or Mason I'd imagine.

There's a lot of midweek football in the Championship.

There's 8 extra league games so it's like being in the group stage of a European competition