Like I said before, our signings will shape how we look to set up next season and which direction Thelwell, Webber and Jackett feel we should go. We should certainly be looking for flexible footballers who can allow us to change formation/shape easier, I think that is something we struggle with in matches. Every now and then something works (Edwards playing on the left against Blackpool and getting the winner) but then we rely on that and give up on it when it doesn't work. I'm sure we work on changing shape during games in training but there is still plenty to improve on.
Keepers wise, if Kuszczak is happy to stay and battle with Ikeme I'm fairly happy for him to sign a new contract. I think people forget he went without a pre-season, and didn't play competitive football for a good 8 months or so. He will look quicker, stronger and more confident with a pre-season behind him. His clean sheet record is also very good while he has played.
Defensively, again I'm fairly confident with what we have. It's a chance for Hause and Ebanks-Landell to stake a claim at centre back when we come back as Batth will still be recovering. Whether KJ has confidence in them just yet will show if we look to sign a centre back or not. Also, not so much a huge area I feel we need to buy in but if we could sign a better back up left back we should. Rowe us shown to be poor there and Hause while solid is uncomfortable out there. It was good for his development to play games there but long term it would do him more harm than good. At right back Iorfa will hopefully cement his place further, while Doherty and EEL are capable back ups
Centre back targets: Harry Maguire, Liam Cooper Left Back targets: James Husband, Reece James, Sean Kavanagh
I really feel if we could sign a quality centre midfielder, McDonald would be able to go up another level. He started and finished the season very well, but it's still too obvious that if you stop K-Mac you stop Wolves to a certain degree. An excellent centre midfielder next to him and it improves us and him. Price and Evans have been able to get another 20 odd games at this level, which is fantastic and both have done very well for us at times. The challenge for Evans being maintaining his good form. He's clearly someone who trains well and has impressed in both pre-seasons, but he needs to get past set backs better. He was unlucky this season with his injury, as beforehand he was by a distance our player of the year at that point. Saville has it all to prove but KJ has spoken well of him and we will want to get the most of a sizable investment.
Centre Midfield targets: Nathaniel Chalobah, Danny Drinkwater, Massimo Luongo, Ashley Westwood, Rohan Ince.
In front of our midfielders I feel we need an extra spark. van la Parra and Henry have done fairly well this season, Henry more of a goal threat while (and however jammy they be) van la Parra creates a lot for us. Rajiv has a great chance to become a key player for us, if he can become more direct when taking on his full back and improve his end product he will be fantastic at this level. We will obviously be looking to replace Sako, whether it be directly or signing someone who may fit a different system. Graham, Hunte, Ismail and Bancessi all have opportunities to impress and claim a place in the first team squad next season. I suspect Jacobs will be sold.
Attacking Midfielder targets: Jed Wallace, George Williams, Jonny Williams, Alex Pritchard (ambitious)
If Afobe and Dicko had been available to us all season I'm fairly confident both would have 20 goals each in this league. Keeping them fit and together is crucial. When teams focus on Afobe, they will have Dicko bearing down on them. Attend to him, and Afobe is making runs in behind. Both of them are fantastic in front of goal too. What they need now is help. Sadly, McAlinden doesn't seem up to it. It feels like he will always be on the periphery. Hopefully he can improve again in pre-season but I don't think anyone will be expecting much. Clarke will rightly be released. We just need another good forward, who can contribute with goals and assists and also be prepared to fight his way in. Whether that is a young forward with something to prove, or a more experienced player, I don't personally mind as long as our team wouldn't fall apart if they needed to play like how we did with Clarke in the side.
Forward targets: James Wilson (ambitious again), Chris Long, Gary Hooper, Joe Garner, Tom Bradshaw.
We will have our list of targets already, hopefully we can act quickly before another team makes a stupidly expensive signing and skews the market. We will have hopefully learned from last summer where I think we misjudged the situation.