Teddie Lamb gone for £355,000

[Top of the JES]

Swansea fans (or at least some of them) were upset that they let Abdulai go. We had to pay an "undisclosed" fee to get him but I have been told it was six figures. Ethan was never a part of that deal not sure why you think Swansea would do us any favours? It just does not work like that.

As far as REG is concerned - be amazed because we did pay a fee as confirmed by Lingy in his rounding up of the transfer window interview and again it was supposedly six figures - I think REG is a far better player than you give him credit for - Almost every deal now has some sort of sell on involved that is the way the market works.

We also paid small fees for Williams to secure his release from Bolton and for Perkins although he has a large sell on if he does well and goes in the future.

[Hoover Attack]

Swansea fans (or at least some of them) were upset that they let Abdulai go. We had to pay an "undisclosed" fee to get him but I have been told it was six figures. Ethan was never a part of that deal not sure why you think Swansea would do us any favours? It just does not work like that.

I'm fully aware Ethan was not part of that deal, and said that's not how things work when it was raised on here at the time: viewtopic.php?p=422075&hilit=swansea#p422075

I'm just saying that makes it less likely the fee was in anyway significant at all.

[Hoover Attack]

As far as REG is concerned - be amazed because we did pay a fee as confirmed by Lingy in his rounding up of the transfer window interview and again it was supposedly six figures - I think REG is a far better player than you give him credit for - Almost every deal now has some sort of sell on involved that is the way the market works.

I've no doubt we paid a fee of some sort for REG. But I'd be amazed if it was anywhere near that sort of level. And despite the position we were in at the time, I'd question if it was good value for money.

(I do like him, he's ok as our 4th choice CB).

[PKM]

As well as the transfer fees, there is also the not inconsiderable commitment to wages for those brought in in the January window.
I’m pretty sure this took us beyond our budgeted allowances and hence the Lamb transfer money allowed us to push the boat out in the Jan window.

[Stan1972]

If Ethan is sold to a Championship club before start of season, I hope the £2-3M we receive will be re-invested back into the squad for next season, as we need to re-build the squad, and add a few permanent signings, before we go back into the loan market again.

GK - Keeley would be amazing, I feel he will be on his way to Championship - New GK needed, if we cannot sign Keeley or agree another 1 year loan?
RB - New RB needed, James would be back up.
LB - Currie if any chance we can sign we must try to sign him, would be fantastic signing, if not new LB needed, Sweeney would be back up.
DCM - Pratley will he/wont he retire, will he sign for 10 more years? I think he will retire end of season, so replacement needed
CM - New CM needed - El Miz??
ACM - Donley like Keeley probably on his way to Championship loan next season, so new ACM needed, unless we can agree 1 year loan??
Attacking wide players - Theo & Graham, will they be offered new deals or released? Also DJ is not good enough, and Markanday will go back to Blackburn, Williams, will he sign longer deal? so we will need reinforcements in wide areas.
Striker - 2 x No.9 needed - Kelman + a No.9 goalscorer

[Top of the JES]

If Ethan is sold to a Championship club before start of season, I hope the £2-3M we receive will be re-invested back into the squad for next season, as we need to re-build the squad, and add a few permanent signings, before we go back into the loan market again.

GK - Keeley would be amazing, I feel he will be on his way to Championship - New GK needed, if we cannot sign Keeley or agree another 1 year loan?
RB - New RB needed, James would be back up.
LB - Currie if any chance we can sign we must try to sign him, would be fantastic signing, if not new LB needed, Sweeney would be back up.
DCM - Pratley will he/wont he retire, will he sign for 10 more years? I think he will retire end of season, so replacement needed
CM - New CM needed - El Miz??
ACM - Donley like Keeley probably on his way to Championship loan next season, so new ACM needed, unless we can agree 1 year loan??
Attacking wide players - Theo & Graham, will they be offered new deals or released? Also DJ is not good enough, and Markanday will go back to Blackburn, Williams, will he sign longer deal? so we will need reinforcements in wide areas.
Striker - 2 x No.9 needed - Kelman + a No.9 goalscorer

I think your valuation of Ethan is a bit OTT, we will do well to get £1.5 million. He will have less than 12 months on his contract.

[PKM]

If Ethan is sold to a Championship club before start of season, I hope the £2-3M we receive will be re-invested back into the squad for next season, as we need to re-build the squad, and add a few permanent signings, before we go back into the loan market again.

GK - Keeley would be amazing, I feel he will be on his way to Championship - New GK needed, if we cannot sign Keeley or agree another 1 year loan?
RB - New RB needed, James would be back up.
LB - Currie if any chance we can sign we must try to sign him, would be fantastic signing, if not new LB needed, Sweeney would be back up.
DCM - Pratley will he/wont he retire, will he sign for 10 more years? I think he will retire end of season, so replacement needed
CM - New CM needed - El Miz??
ACM - Donley like Keeley probably on his way to Championship loan next season, so new ACM needed, unless we can agree 1 year loan??
Attacking wide players - Theo & Graham, will they be offered new deals or released? Also DJ is not good enough, and Markanday will go back to Blackburn, Williams, will he sign longer deal? so we will need reinforcements in wide areas.
Striker - 2 x No.9 needed - Kelman + a No.9 goalscorer

There are just 12 players under contract for next season, assuming we activate the extra year for Galbraith
The 12 include Warrington, Cooper, Obiero , whose future with us is open to question. If Galbraith is sold, we could end up with 8 under contract if the aforementioned 3 are moved on.
That means we will need around 17 players in, a massive rebuilding exercise, which is now a yearly event given our reliance on maxing out loan numbers and two years being the normal contract length.
Theo & Graham will not be offered new contracts.
DJ, interesting, he brings something different to the side, he’s not without a large bucket of skill. He’s under contract next season anyway and he is one that I think could have a good second season with us.

[Lifelongfan]

Cooper warrington Obeiro will be here. Warrington I am sure will improve

[gshaw]

Cooper warrington Obeiro will be here. Warrington I am sure will improve

Cooper not so sure, he's been poor every time Richie has needed him and the comments when Cooper went off with cramp sounded like a manager who's had enough of the player (imo). Given we have REG and Happe under contract, plus Beckles fairly certain to sign means there's a bit of flexibility in how we deal with Simpson's end of contract and potentially shipping Cooper out to make an improvement in that area.

Warrington, not doing particularly well in League 2 so again another one that might come back briefly to be shipped out again.

Obiero should go out on loan for regular football, preferably top half L2 then come back more ready for L1 first team. More likely he'll be a squad player for cups etc.

If Ethan is sold to a Championship club before start of season, I hope the £2-3M we receive will be re-invested back into the squad for next season, as we need to re-build the squad, and add a few permanent signings, before we go back into the loan market again.

GK - Keeley would be amazing, I feel he will be on his way to Championship - New GK needed, if we cannot sign Keeley or agree another 1 year loan?
RB - New RB needed, James would be back up.
LB - Currie if any chance we can sign we must try to sign him, would be fantastic signing, if not new LB needed, Sweeney would be back up.
DCM - Pratley will he/wont he retire, will he sign for 10 more years? I think he will retire end of season, so replacement needed
CM - New CM needed - El Miz??
ACM - Donley like Keeley probably on his way to Championship loan next season, so new ACM needed, unless we can agree 1 year loan??
Attacking wide players - Theo & Graham, will they be offered new deals or released? Also DJ is not good enough, and Markanday will go back to Blackburn, Williams, will he sign longer deal? so we will need reinforcements in wide areas.
Striker - 2 x No.9 needed - Kelman + a No.9 goalscorer

GK - would love Keeley back but he's earnt a shot at the next level so imagine we'll need a new keeper. Vital to get it right.

LB - agree, splash the cash for Currie. Release Sweeney

RB - need a new one as Clare is a CM now

Also some sort of utility player to cover those roles, James in theory as he can do both sides

CDM - Clare looks the heir to Pratley but needs to stay fit, another signing required there for depth / competition.

CM - as above get El Miz, not fully convinced by Ball whether he'll complete a full season or be another one of those bit-part never quite fit players

CAM - will need to replace Donley / Galbraith (who will likely go for £1.5 million ish in summer)

Wingers - release Archibald and Graham, let the former train with the club and offer pay as you play or sign on non contract basis if he can get back to fitness. Sadly doubt either will get back to the level they once were.

Markanday and Williams will need replacing, be surprised if either come back. DJ offers something a bit different in that physical Tehoué-esque way so would keep him around. Not sure where Perkins fits in.

Strikers - sadly doubt we'll be able to afford Kelman or Agyei so this area will be really tough to recruit. Need a third striker too seeing as we didn't get one in January.

Massive rebuild required, will need to channel the January window energy and make bold moves quickly to get a team together that doesn't look like a bunch of strangers for the first 2-3 months of the season.

[Cheshunto]

Good luck to Teddy and Great business for the club

Of course, I wish the kid the best of luck in his career, but I wouldn't particularly want City to keep ramming it down my throat as to how good a signing he's been.

Yes, I agree but maybe he may return here on loan in a few years time,
Or come back to Orient if he doesn’t make the City first team,
I wish him well whatever

[PKM]

Cooper warrington Obeiro will be here. Warrington I am sure will improve

Cooper not so sure, he's been poor every time Richie has needed him and the comments when Cooper went off with cramp sounded like a manager who's had enough of the player (imo). Given we have REG and Happe under contract, plus Beckles fairly certain to sign means there's a bit of flexibility in how we deal with Simpson's end of contract and potentially shipping Cooper out to make an improvement in that area.

Warrington, not doing particularly well in League 2 so again another one that might come back briefly to be shipped out again.

Obiero should go out on loan for regular football, preferably top half L2 then come back more ready for L1 first team. More likely he'll be a squad player for cups etc.

If Ethan is sold to a Championship club before start of season, I hope the £2-3M we receive will be re-invested back into the squad for next season, as we need to re-build the squad, and add a few permanent signings, before we go back into the loan market again.

GK - Keeley would be amazing, I feel he will be on his way to Championship - New GK needed, if we cannot sign Keeley or agree another 1 year loan?
RB - New RB needed, James would be back up.
LB - Currie if any chance we can sign we must try to sign him, would be fantastic signing, if not new LB needed, Sweeney would be back up.
DCM - Pratley will he/wont he retire, will he sign for 10 more years? I think he will retire end of season, so replacement needed
CM - New CM needed - El Miz??
ACM - Donley like Keeley probably on his way to Championship loan next season, so new ACM needed, unless we can agree 1 year loan??
Attacking wide players - Theo & Graham, will they be offered new deals or released? Also DJ is not good enough, and Markanday will go back to Blackburn, Williams, will he sign longer deal? so we will need reinforcements in wide areas.
Striker - 2 x No.9 needed - Kelman + a No.9 goalscorer

GK - would love Keeley back but he's earnt a shot at the next level so imagine we'll need a new keeper. Vital to get it right.

LB - agree, splash the cash for Currie. Release Sweeney

RB - need a new one as Clare is a CM now

Also some sort of utility player to cover those roles, James in theory as he can do both sides

CDM - Clare looks the heir to Pratley but needs to stay fit, another signing required there for depth / competition.

CM - as above get El Miz, not fully convinced by Ball whether he'll complete a full season or be another one of those bit-part never quite fit players

CAM - will need to replace Donley / Galbraith (who will likely go for £1.5 million ish in summer)

Wingers - release Archibald and Graham, let the former train with the club and offer pay as you play or sign on non contract basis if he can get back to fitness. Sadly doubt either will get back to the level they once were.

Markanday and Williams will need replacing, be surprised if either come back. DJ offers something a bit different in that physical Tehoué-esque way so would keep him around. Not sure where Perkins fits in.

Strikers - sadly doubt we'll be able to afford Kelman or Agyei so this area will be really tough to recruit. Need a third striker too seeing as we didn't get one in January.

Massive rebuild required, will need to channel the January window energy and make bold moves quickly to get a team together that doesn't look like a bunch of strangers for the first 2-3 months of the season.

Absolutely correct re massive rebuild. 19 players due to leave and a few more that are contracted need to be moved on.
Thick end of a new squad required!