The Squad planning thread

Dax777 said:
Stones is a phenomenal CB and a below average CDM. The system of putting a CB in midfield ( be that Stones or Akanji) was part of our biggest problem last season.

It was an interesting quirk that worked for a few months 2 seasons ago. It helped us get back on a run. But by the last month of the season, teams had already begun to figure it out and nullify it's advantages.

Last season, it was mostly a detriment. We simply need technical footballers on the ball in the midfield. The real trick is to switch to a double pivot, so whoever the Rodri back up is, actually plays next to him a often. Hence why the Newcastle kid was a very good call.

We are looking for a Kovacic upgrade. It's why we wanted Rice (Thank God we didn't get him though). But someone of that caliber. A 6/8 hybrid. The Portuguese kid I love. Albeit a little short.

But by God, we want fewer defenders on the ball when we are in possession. Frankly a switch to a 3 -6-1 will be great.
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I don't recall Stones being utilised in that role much at all last season - mostly Akanji, even when Stones was playing. Very odd. Akanji was decent enough apart from around the box, which massively limited the effectiveness. Completely agree on a double pivot being the best shout - needed with having out and out wingers as well.
 
Ajm1985 said:
I don't recall Stones being utilised in that role much at all last season - mostly Akanji, even when Stones was playing. Very odd. Akanji was decent enough apart from around the box, which massively limited the effectiveness. Completely agree on a double pivot being the best shout - needed with having out and out wingers as well.
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Stones played in early years in DM

1721105483689.png
 
i dont know why, but City registered Zack Steffen last season - most likely a plan D if everything went south in gk department, but by the looks of things we have lots of space for new players, also with Gomez out and not registering Kalvin and Cancelo

www.premierleague.com

2023/24 Premier League squad lists

View the full squad of each Premier League club now the summer transfer window has closed.
www.premierleague.com www.premierleague.com
 
johnny crossan said:
Time to get my list out....
View attachment 125428
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Thanks for that - find that format helpful. Good to see all the players that have moved on, especially the Locally Trained ones as they might be options to strengthen the squad without taking up the Free List spaces.

However, two bits of accuracy - It is Tommy Doyle who has moved to Wolves and Calum Doyle remains on our EDS list.
 
cyan said:
Thanks for that - find that format helpful. Good to see all the players that have moved on, especially the Locally Trained ones as they might be options to strengthen the squad without taking up the Free List spaces.

However, two bits of accuracy - It is Tommy Doyle who has moved to Wolves and Calum Doyle remains on our EDS list.
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Corrected - thanks
 
johnny crossan said:
The rest - Couto, Kabore, Mbete, Doyle, Gomez, Esbrand, McAttee, Phillips, Perrone, Bobb and Delap - are all tipped to move on loan or permanently before the PL season starts...​
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HaalandEffect said:
Doubt that Bobb is going anywhere, he is having a good progression and it will not be good for him to move to another club that you are not guaranted playtime.
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He is, in fact, not going anywhere.
 
NikT said:


Wonder if any of them will get a chance this season.
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If we dont sign a fullback, then Galvez looks like the one

The same i can say about Susoho or Wright, he is training in the 1st team
 
Dax777 said:
Hence the 361 shout. Let's assume for a second we got say Wharton for that understudy slash co CM role role

..............................Eddy/Ortega....
.
Walker/Akanji....Stones/Dias.....Gvardiol/Ake


.............Rodri/Wharton.....Wharton/Kovacic.......
Savinho/Bobb...............................Doku/Grealish
............Foden/ Kevin.......Bernado/Olmo.......


............................Haaaland/ Alvarez........


Something like this. 3 defenders 6 mids with 2 DMs and 4 attacking mids.
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So this is just the 541 formation Leverkusen uses but your using wingers as wingbacks.

Listen, im all for it, I have suggested this a few times as I believe we arw better with wingers out wide than fullbacks.

It does require alot of tracking back for those wingers because in rest defense they need to make a back 5.

As much as you dislike the CB into CDM role, it was actually genius of Pep to invent this. He had wide wingers like you have, but they arent wingbacks, there are defensive fullbacks behind them for cover. It retains the back 4 Pep prefers, I believe for pressing reasons, Pep will never do a back 5 as he feels it is inferior.

I say all this while liking your 541, but I can see valid concerns of wingers as wingbacks (too much burden), and when defending the formatiom tends to sit too deep for Pep to start pressing with.
 
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