Maybe. But the sale has to go through, then they have to identify the signings they want and convince them (you'd imagine that has started but decent players won't wait around for months). And they are still stuck with Heckingbottom.
Both are unlikely, but I can foresee tougher seasons ahead for Brentford (no Toney until January - how many points has he won this season?) and Brighton (small squad which now has to cope with European football - their recruitment has been good but can they get enough in).
Strong disagree. Kenilworth Road definitely doesn't deserve to be in the premier league. But if Luton win on Saturday, then they obviously do and, equally obviously, they have to play there.
Brentford have good team structure and quality. They are good with and without the ball. I don't see us being better than them any time soon. Although Toney is a massive loss (he's one of the top five centre forwards in the division currently), I don't see them looking like Everton without Calvert-Lewin. I also expect them to recruit a few, and well.
Bournemouth have a decent squad, that I could still see SSC doing well with, but they are a very achievable target for us.
Wolves can't score, and could get worse (loss of key player(s)), rather than better.
Wet Hams are likely to continue to struggle, as a club lacking a modern structure and identity, in a ground that they don't really enjoy.
Pale arse are a funny one, a very decent squad (I'm a particular fan of Andersen who seems to go a bit under the radar). Will depend on what they do with the manager. Could go titsup but likely to trundle along mid-table-ish. I look at their squad, and SSC would do very well with it.
Then there's whoever manages to scum staying up, and the three promoted teams.
There are a large number of our squad that in an ideal world we really don't want going into the next campaign....but that is going to make recruitment critical. The world famous city ground, and retaining our 'ship status, should put us ahead in the pecking order of at least the promoted teams. Have a good recruitment and hand SSC a do-able squad (rather than requiring him to complete a third consecutive miracle) and we have a very good chance.
I was thinking about this this morning. We got a new squad last summer, a new one again in January and had a significant number of injuries. The players now each other, the league and the structures so I would argue we are better so should stay up. Insert weasel caveat.
Lots of rumours Luton will look to play at Stadium MK next season if they win promotion, as it is simply too onerous/expensive to make Kenilworth Road EPL ready, such as changing room size and number of press seats for example (look at the work we had to do).
They have significantly upgraded their manager though. He’s the guy you want when you have to do what they have to do. Hard to imagine that Dyche isn’t going to be several points better than Lampard was over the games he had.. which is all it takes.
If they stay up, maybe their manager would like to bring in a familiar face with lots of premier league experience up front? I can think of an outstanding candidate.