What would be your strategy for next season

[Rjk]

If you were the manager?

Aside from the obvious "get better players" given our last accounts were an £11m loss we can't have much wriggle room (if any) with FFP, so you'd think it's unlikely we will be splashing the cash.
The obvious problem this season has been goals and crating chances, I don't think anyone will disagree with that.

The crux of the problem for me is that we play a formation with 1 central striker and attacking wingers, but they are almost always far too isolated. Our midfield doesn't get up in support quickly enough, and the forwards don't hold the ball up enough to let them get there. Some strikers can do that job on their own well enough to bring other players into the game - unfortunately they are hard to come by and none of our current strikers really fit the bill.

For me a change of formation would be the best approach - I would be looking at a 3-5-2 (or 3-4-1-2).

At Centre back we will have Goutas, McGuinness, Ng and presumably Tsunoda to choose from, with possibly one of the youngsters bolstering that (although I believe Malachi Fagan-Walcott is out of contract in the summer) which seems like a good mixture of players for a back 3 - with Goutas and McGuinness providing the strength and Ng or Tsunoda able to bring the ball or pass the ball out of the defence.

Wing backs we would need to strengthen - if Ng is going to be in the back 3 again then we would ned a specialist RWB and I'm not sure Romeo is upto it, so that would be a big prioroty - I believe Drameh is out of contract.
Left side we have Collins, O'Dowda and the returning Bagan who can all do a job - it would be nice to improve on that though also as its such a key role for this formation.

Central midfield we have some sorting out to do whatever the formation. We have Ralls, Siopis, Wintle, Turnbull, Ramsey, Rinomhota, Adams and then the likes of Eli King and Joel Colwill to fit in - even if you class turnbull and ramsey as attacking midfielders only we still have a lot and it would be nice to bring in some extra quality as well.

Attacking midfield we would have R Colwill, with Turnbull and Ramsey possibly Robinson (if he can patch things up with the manager)

Up front we will have Meite, Etete, Robinson and the returning Isaac Davies, With Cian Ashford coming through as well - I think all of these work much better as part of a front 2 than on their own.

So we would definitely need a RWB to play this way - and then whatever other better players we can bring in as well.

The alternative would be to keep with the current formation but bring in a kind of striker that will make it all work.
This could make a significant difference - IF we can find that type of player (and a backup in case they get injured)
We would still have our ridiculous midfield to sort out and we would need to bring in wingers to replace Grand and Bowler (who are decent players at this level) unless we ant to play the likes of Maite, Davies and Ashford out wide?

Either approach COULD work, but It seems the 3-5-2 is more easily achievable with the current squad.

What would be your approach?

[JumpersforGoalposts]

First and foremost we will have plenty of "wriggle room" with FFP as the 2022 loss of £27m drops out of the next assessment period, so assuming we are within FFP at the end of this season we can lose up to that 2022 amount in the next period.
My assessment is:
'keepers - we are fine
Defenders - could do with a CB who can pass the ball and a LB who can get up the pitch (preferably someone better than Collins but at least a capable back up)
Midfielders - we are stuffed with CMs of on kind or another but need someone with a bit more energy to support the forwards.
Forwards - we are absolutely desperate for a decent CF and probably a decent back up option too. Out wide whether they are forwards or wide mids we have a few options but are also short of any quality (apart from O'Dowda).

My signing targets list in order of priority would be:
CF
back-up CF
Right-sided Forward/Mid
CB who can pass the effing ball
LB who can get up and down the whole pitch
Left-sided Forward/Mid back up for O'Dowda

[North Cardiff Blue]

Keep Bulut and let him buy more attacking players and a left-back and leave the tactics to him as none on here have a clue, we are just fans, if any of us tried to manage the team we would have been relegated by Christmas.

He knows what we need, he just wasn't able to buy quality ones in January or during an embargo.

[North Cardiff Blue]

First and foremost we will have plenty of "wriggle room" with FFP as the 2022 loss of £27m drops out of the next assessment period, so assuming we are within FFP at the end of this season we can lose up to that 2022 amount in the next period.
My assessment is:
'keepers - we are fine
Defenders - could do with a CB who can pass the ball and a LB who can get up the pitch (preferably someone better than Collins but at least a capable back up)
Midfielders - we are stuffed with CMs of on kind or another but need someone with a bit more energy to support the forwards.
Forwards - we are absolutely desperate for a decent CF and probably a decent back up option too. Out wide whether they are forwards or wide mids we have a few options but are also short of any quality (apart from O'Dowda).

My signing targets list in order of priority would be:
CF
back-up CF
Right-sided Forward/Mid
CB who can pass the effing ball
LB who can get up and down the whole pitch
Left-sided Forward/Mid back up for O'Dowda

Agreed on positions they are priority.

[Dorcus]

Replace Tan

[jeepster]

Keep Bulut and let him buy more attacking players and a left-back and leave the tactics to him as none on here have a clue, we are just fans, if any of us tried to manage the team we would have been relegated by Christmas.

He knows what we need, he just wasn't able to buy quality ones in January or during an embargo.

I can not believe i agree with you.
First time for everything.

[Jordi Culé]

Having the players score a few more goals, concede a few less, passing the ball forward, even perhaps they try running around a bit and looking as if they can be arsed?

Simple things really.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Striker and backup

A genuine midfield general

[Mr Soul '68]

What would be your approach?[/QUOTE]

To stop playing the ball f*ckin' backwards and f*ckin' sideways so feckin' often! The 3rd goal scored against us a couple of weeks back v Hull, when Ralls hit the ball BACK instead of FORWARD at the free kick, kinda summed up our season for me.

We need a decent attacking midfielder, a decent LB to replace Collins (who is okay, but not the best). A couple of decent wingers and a couple of centre forwards in the Kiefer Moore mould. Also someone to replace O'Dowda. My season ticket Bristol City supporting mate, warned me when we fist signed him that he would spend more time on the injury table than on the pitch. Sadly, it has turned out that way. Oh yeah, and another CB. I wish we could sign Phillips but it ain't gonna happen methinks.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Keep Bulut and let him buy more attacking players and a left-back and leave the tactics to him as none on here have a clue, we are just fans, if any of us tried to manage the team we would have been relegated by Christmas.

He knows what we need, he just wasn't able to buy quality ones in January or during an embargo.

So what makes you think he'll be able to buy quality players this summer? Where is this money coming from?

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

So what makes you think he'll be able to buy quality players this summer? Where is this money coming from?

And what's his idea of quality - a CF who works hard in defence? Wingers who are good at playing on the wrong side and cutting in on their stronger foot every time they get the ball? CMs who specialise in passing back to their defenders?

[North Cardiff Blue]

So what makes you think he'll be able to buy quality players this summer? Where is this money coming from?

We will always find enough money in every transfer window to get in a few decent players, we managed it last year with a transfer embargo.

Some big wages will leave we can use some of that.

We don't need a total rebuild this time, we need a few more bricks to add to the half built CCFC top half team

Thats the main advantage for sticking with Bulut he will know whats needed.

[North Cardiff Blue]

I can not believe i agree with you.
First time for everything.

[Rjk]

We will always find enough money in every transfer window to get in a few decent players, we managed it last year with a transfer embargo.

Some big wages will leave we can use some of that.

We don't need a total rebuild this time, we need a few more bricks to add to the half built CCFC top half team

Thats the main advantage for sticking with Bulut he will know whats needed.

Which big wages will leave?- Sawyers is out of contract - and the loanees will go back i guess

[J R Hartley]

We will always find enough money in every transfer window to get in a few decent players, we managed it last year with a transfer embargo.

Some big wages will leave we can use some of that.

We don't need a total rebuild this time, we need a few more bricks to add to the half built CCFC top half team

Thats the main advantage for sticking with Bulut he will know whats needed.

Practically half the team is on loan you peanut, its just as much of a rebuild as last season.

Bulut and his valium football OUT.

Vermind at least weve tied Ralls, Wintle and Shitopis down for next season eh.

[2b2bdoo]

We still need a hell of a lot of players and a lot of players moved on

At least a CB, LB, CM, 2 Wingers, 2 strikers as a minimum

Then ideal, A RB, another winger and another striker and a 10.

[Rjk]

We still need a hell of a lot of players and a lot of players moved on

At least a CB, LB, CM, 2 Wingers, 2 strikers as a minimum

Then ideal, A RB, another winger and another striker and a 10.

you going with a squad of 50 then?

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Assuming all the loan players go:
* 1 maybe 2 CBs (if Tsunoda & Fagan-Walcott aren't deemed good enough in pre-season)
* A LB & RB (to challenge Ng & challenge/improve on Collins)
* Goodness knows what to do to sort out our midfield. We've got far too many. Like to see King get a chance. Let Adams, Sawyers & Rinomhota go. Joel Colwill loan perhaps? Not impressed by Siopis & Wintle but they're going nowhere.
* Attacking midfielders - Colwill to start most games. Not sure we'll see much of Ramsey, but Turnbull can play there too.
* Wingers - loan for Tanner. Can't rely on O'Dowda being fit much.
* Up front - Can't see Robinson staying. Like to see Davies get a chance, and Ashford. Need an experienced striker as well with good movement and pace.
* Desperately need to change formation - either 3-5-2 or 4-4-1-1, depending on whether we've got FBs or WBs.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

We will always find enough money in every transfer window to get in a few decent players, we managed it last year with a transfer embargo.

Some big wages will leave we can use some of that.

We don't need a total rebuild this time, we need a few more bricks to add to the half built CCFC top half team

Thats the main advantage for sticking with Bulut he will know whats needed.

There's an answer that tells us nothing, but I'll address each point made.

"We will always find enough money in every transfer window to get in a few decent players, we managed it last year with a transfer embargo."

Last summer our permanent signings were Goutas, Meite, Ramsey and (eventually) Siopis. Meite is crap, Ramsey won't be fit next season (might even be retired), Siopis is nothing special at this level and Goutas is an ok defender. Add to that Horvath, who I don't see as any better than Alnwick, and Turnbull, who has offered nothing so far. Our permanent signings haven't been up to much. Even if we have £3-4 million to spend, there is absolutely no guarantee of bringing in much better than what we have currently.

"Some big wages will leave we can use some of that. "

Which big wages are these? I can't say I follow players' contracts or wages with much interest, but according to Transfermarkt, only Collins and Sawyers are out of contract this summer. 9 players' contracts are due to expire in a year's time. They are Alnwick, Ramsey, Meite, Ralls, Goutas, Robinson, Romeo, Etete and O'Dowda. Goutas and O'Dowda are worth contract extensions, Ralls possibly. I can't see too many offers for the others (Ramsey apart, who will be retired by then), so do we pay up their contracts as we've done way too often in the past?

"We don't need a total rebuild this time, we need a few more bricks to add to the half built CCFC top half team"

This summer we'll be losing Phillips, Grant, Bowler, Wilson-Esbrand and Diedhiou. Sawyers and Collins will likely leave. Our keeping situation is ok for this division. We may have Tsunoda, a total unknown. Bagan might be back. We could also have King, Rinhamota, Adams, Davies, Ojo and Denham. Lots of returning players but not many that makes me think they'll improve us. King perhaps, Davies if he's used properly. I don't know if any of those will be out of contract.

"Thats the main advantage for sticking with Bulut he will know whats needed."

I wish he did. Probably more defensive midfielders.

[2b2bdoo]

you going with a squad of 50 then?

No like I said a lot have to be moved on.
CB, LB, Wingers x 2 and striker just replace the loan players we can’t really rely on ODowda and Ramsey. I would hope we can move on Sawyers, Rino, Romeo and ideally Wintle. Out on loan probably go Bagan, Tanner, Ashford.

[2b2bdoo]

There's an answer that tells us nothing, but I'll address each point made.

"We will always find enough money in every transfer window to get in a few decent players, we managed it last year with a transfer embargo."

Last summer our permanent signings were Goutas, Meite, Ramsey and (eventually) Siopis. Meite is crap, Ramsey won't be fit next season (might even be retired), Siopis is nothing special at this level and Goutas is an ok defender. Add to that Horvath, who I don't see as any better than Alnwick, and Turnbull, who has offered nothing so far. Our permanent signings haven't been up to much. Even if we have £3-4 million to spend, there is absolutely no guarantee of bringing in much better than what we have currently.

"Some big wages will leave we can use some of that. "

Which big wages are these? I can't say I follow players' contracts or wages with much interest, but according to Transfermarkt, only Collins and Sawyers are out of contract this summer. 9 players' contracts are due to expire in a year's time. They are Alnwick, Ramsey, Meite, Ralls, Goutas, Robinson, Romeo, Etete and O'Dowda. Goutas and O'Dowda are worth contract extensions, Ralls possibly. I can't see too many offers for the others (Ramsey apart, who will be retired by then), so do we pay up their contracts as we've done way too often in the past?

"We don't need a total rebuild this time, we need a few more bricks to add to the half built CCFC top half team"

This summer we'll be losing Phillips, Grant, Bowler, Wilson-Esbrand and Diedhiou. Sawyers and Collins will likely leave. Our keeping situation is ok for this division. We may have Tsunoda, a total unknown. Bagan might be back. We could also have King, Rinhamota, Adams, Davies, Ojo and Denham. Lots of returning players but not many that makes me think they'll improve us. King perhaps, Davies if he's used properly. I don't know if any of those will be out of contract.

"Thats the main advantage for sticking with Bulut he will know whats needed."

I wish he did. Probably more defensive midfielders.

I’m pretty sure Bulut said Collins has extended by a year because of the number of games, which I think is a good thing even if he ends up being back up, he’s a useful player.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Practically half the team is on loan you peanut, its just as much of a rebuild as last season.

Bulut and his valium football OUT.

Vermind at least weve tied Ralls, Wintle and Shitopis down for next season eh.

All teams max the loan market you'd be mental not too that's always a given.

[J R Hartley]

All teams max the loan market you'd be mental not too that's always a given.

Absolutely, so stop with this nonsense we just need to add a few players onto an already settled team when we are sending 5 loan players back.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Serious question. Leaving aside the back 4, when was the last time we had a player who was genuinely 'class' ? Tomlin ? Moore ? Hoillet ? NML ? When you consider what's come through the revolving door the past 3 seasons, I can only think of Philogene. Everything's just so ordinary. For me there's no anticipation when the subs. are coming on, just an anxious squint across to the dug out to check it's not Wintle. If it's down to wages, ditch what we can and bring in a good championship striker and a good centre midfielder. You can't bring the youngsters into this current squad..

[JamesWales]

Steady and dare I say it boring progress.

We aren't that far from the play offs. We lack consistency which probably will improve with experience in not changing too much.

We need a striker who can score more than half a dozen goals.

I absolutely want Bulut to stay. It's not been a bad season (not a good one) and he deserves a chance to build.

As ever I'd like to see more youth come through, even if it's short periods at the tail end of games where we are winning.

I'd like a more formal role for Ramsey off the pitch, training, ambassadorial, the odd game where he can etc.

Something to improve the atmosphere. I don't know what exactly, but I really don't think it helps.