Fans are already coming up with lists of players they would like to retain or be found a lower league club. Even if we can't agree on the names, there is broad agreement that some of the players are not up to Championship standard.
One fan writing on social media put forward the argument in nuanced terms that perhaps some of the players have potential that is yet to be fully developed. The trouble is that leads us back to the old 'Jones is a waste of space' argument and I can't see the owners letting him go.
One big known unknown is how much money the owners are prepared to 'invest' in players. An unknown unknown is whether they can succeed in finding an additional investor. It would seem that with events in the Middle East, and some investments turning out to be more troublesome than anticipated (Chelsea) US private equity investors are holding back.
Thinking about strategy, I would take a look at Leicester City who are going to have a fire sale. Oxford United may be rubbish, but they have one or two decent players who might want to stay in the Championship with a club that has a proper stadium.
Then there are fringe Premier League players who get scarcely a look in at a top club. I was struck by how many players Southampton have who were originally with Manchester City. These players are likely to be hungry to make a name for themselves.
Then there are players who have outperformed in League One. For example, Kyrell Lisbie who has done well at Peterborough.
Finally, we must be prepared to take a risk on a few relatively unknown foreign players.
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