PRE-SEASON
Well now the planning time arrives. Boro will not have too much money to spend, so it’s free transfers, bargain buys and promising players I’m on the lookout for. If we don’t manage to stay up then I’ll still have a good inexpensive (wage wise) side in the Championship. At this point the “planning me”, does not take into account the “rage quit me”, if I did the I wouldn’t talk about relegation because I would have deleted long before then.
The initial budgets are set, £250k/week in wages and £20,27m in transfers.
So where do I need to strengthen ?
GK - Steele is a star in the Championship and can be good in the Prem. Still need a back-up or someone to challenge for his place.
DL - Joe Bennett has potential but rarely fulfills this. A good left back is needed
DC - McManus and R.Williams are good but I need another at least.
DR - Hoyte is good enough but could do with another.
DMC - R.Williams, Thomson, Geremi
MC - Thomson and then just a load of nearly good enoughs.
AML - Emnes - need to find quality here
AMR - Hernández, Kink
ST - Sanogo, McDonald - need one other
I’ll strengthen my coaching staff with one goalkeeping coach, one fitness and an attack or shooting coach - again not too many in case we go back down.