In the first of his blog's Kyle Mitchell takes a look ahead to the coming Sky Bet League 1 season and considers what the club needs to do to improve on last season's up and down campaign.
Moving forwards onto next season, after what many count as a disappointing season but I think it was about right for us, we have a lot to look at. Throughout this season we showed a lot of bright spots and we ended the season well (despite the 8-2 loss which I think had to be expected against a Championship quality Bristol City side). Moving onto next season a lot of people have said different things about what should happen and how we should change, but here is what I personally think we should do.
Keep Deano
A lot of people are calling for the sack now and I think he is the best man we can have in charge. We need somebody who is going to run the club well without putting us at risk. It would be nice to bring in a couple of players but at the same time I don't think we need it. Deano has developed the club from the ground up. Everything starts at the youth system and who he can bring through to play in the first team. The likes of Morris, Rico and Kinsella have all come through this season and played well. People argued against him all season but he is the best man going forward for us.
Play the youngsters
I expect players like Morris and Rico to be starters most of next season. They have shown they are good players and they have the quality to do well at this level. Morris will be brilliant down the wing and will create and score goals. Rico will beat out Taylor for the starting job at left back due to the fact that he is strong defending as well as he is going forward. Bakayoko and Murphy are apparently developing well and I can see them featuring a bit next season, unless they get loaned out. The young players we bring through tend to play with more motivation knowing they are fighting for a place and a future and this is what we need in the team, also to make sure the current starters don't become complacent with their position in the team.
Cain and Hiwula
I can see both of these coming back to us on loan at least. With Leicester looking likely to stay in the premiership I think Cain will go out on loan for another year and Hiwula won't play at City. They have both been a key part of our team this year and both are players I would like to see again. I can see Cain being coming to us permanently in the next couple of years. He has been brilliant most of the season and despite missing out at Wembley he has kept his head high and finished the season well, he shows a passion and skill we need in CM.
Hiwula has also been great for us. Scoring goals from the wing is great for us and this is what we need. Similar to what we had with Paterson and Brandy. The more goals we get from out wide the more pressure that is taken away from Bradshaw and Sawyers. I can see both Hiwula (or whoever plays on the right wing) and Morris coming close to 10 goals next season.
Sawyers
Now many people don't like him but he is still the best technical player we have. He doesn't always show his skill but as Mantom said the other day Sawyers does a lot more than people give him credit for. No matter what he provides space for the players around him, even if he isn't playing well he can't be left alone as he showed against Bristol City at home. He could chip in with a few more goals but he is definitely a key player for us and will continue to be until somebody tries to buy him.
James and Adam Chambers
Now I don't think they will feature as much but they can still be good options to have. Adam Chambers started to show his age towards the end of the season but he has been brilliant all season commanding the midfield and helping in defence. James Chambers has been brilliant at CB after transitioning. I can see him being moved back to RB this season if we don't bring anybody in (I don't see Kinsella as a RB) and playing a key role still whilst Adam will become a bench option and "club" captain.
By: Kyle Mitchell.