The Squad planning thread

Really struggling to see how we share minutes within the attacking unit of the side next season.

Assuming Grealish, McAtee and Silva all join KDB in leaving, and we don't register Echeverri, and assuming we signed MGW and Wirtz (or a Wirtz equivalent) we will have Haaland, Marmoush, Wirtz, MGW, Foden, Doku, Savinho, Bobb, Gundogan, Kovacic and Lewis competing for 5 spots in the starting 11. Given that Haaland, Wirtz and maybe even Marmoush would be a shoe-in for most games, we then have 8 players left to fight for 2 positions. And this is assuming Nico O'Reilly remains at left back and Nico Gonzalez plays purely as an understudy to Rodri.

I keep hearing 'there are plenty of games' but I just don't think people are doing the maths, or looking at the squad composition. At all. Having a big squad is OK when you have clear heirarchies such as:

Key Players - expecting to start most games
First Team Regulars - expecting to be involved in most games
Squad Players - will start cup games and may start the more winnable league games
Young Players not expecting to play - except for domestic cup games or be brought on as a sub when games are won

What we have is a handful of key players, and then everyone else (with a couple of exceptions) really mainly falls into the First Team Regular category. The 'young players' - Bobb, O'Reilly and Lewis are already ready to play a lot of minutes and are at ages where they need it for their development. Bobb, for example, will be 22 by the time the new season starts.

Unless we are planning on selling Gundogan and Kovacic, signing two additional attacking players doesn't make any sesnse, and actually will likely lead to us losing someone like Bobb, or Nico O'Reilly - which to me, would be absolutely criminal given their talent.
 
Gundogan is the biggest problem, next to Bernardo, those guys are physically destroyed after thousands of minutes played at a crazy intense level.

It seems that Pep does not see that and will unfortunately use them next season as well. I don't see that anyone in the club is so gifted with the balls to cut the transfer deadline and say; guys. I love you and thank you for everything done so far, but we have to part here, it's better for all parties. Grealish, Stones, Gundogan and Bernardo goodbye. we need fresh blood that won't be overpowered and physically trampled by every midfield in the world. so in addition to Rodri, at least two new midfielders, young, ready (MGW? and someone else?) Nico Gonzalez and Kovačić can be useful usable reserves.
 
skybluepower said:
Gundogan is the biggest problem, next to Bernardo, those guys are physically destroyed after thousands of minutes played at a crazy intense level.

It seems that Pep does not see that and will unfortunately use them next season as well. I don't see that anyone in the club is so gifted with the balls to cut the transfer deadline and say; guys. I love you and thank you for everything done so far, but we have to part here, it's better for all parties. Grealish, Stones, Gundogan and Bernardo goodbye. we need fresh blood that won't be overpowered and physically trampled by every midfield in the world. so in addition to Rodri, at least two new midfielders, young, ready (MGW? and someone else?) Nico Gonzalez and Kovačić can be useful usable reserves.
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Yes I agree in an ideal world, but in the real world Gundogan and Kovacic will be here. Especially since Kovacic has been really good lately. So for me, that creates an issues unless we are going to drastically reduce Foden, Bobb, Doku and Savinho’s involvement. Not feasible for them to all get the type of mins that will satisfy them. And actually it will be at our own detriment because we are hardly at our best when we constantly rotate players.
 
Was looking at Barcelona's midfield last night.

De Jong Pedri and Olmo

Obviously Rodri is better than de Jong, but now that Kevin, Bernie and Ilkay are all past there best we need 2 players od that level. Phil can't control a game like Pedro but could do the Olmo role.

I think we need someone a bit more like David Silva than Wirtz. Anyone out there?
 
In:

MGW
Cambiasso
Wirtz


Out:

KDB
Bernardo
robbieh said:
Was looking at Barcelona's midfield last night.

De Jong Pedri and Olmo

Obviously Rodri is better than de Jong, but now that Kevin, Bernie and Ilkay are all past there best we need 2 players od that level. Phil can't control a game like Pedro but could do the Olmo role.

I think we need someone a bit more like David Silva than Wirtz. Anyone out there?
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Cherki, Simons maybe, in terms of operating in the small spaces and creating chances.

Really there is no David Silva, nobody even comes close in terms of controlling games.

Pedri is half way there but unattainable.
 
ono said:
Really struggling to see how we share minutes within the attacking unit of the side next season.

Assuming Grealish, McAtee and Silva all join KDB in leaving, and we don't register Echeverri, and assuming we signed MGW and Wirtz (or a Wirtz equivalent) we will have Haaland, Marmoush, Wirtz, MGW, Foden, Doku, Savinho, Bobb, Gundogan, Kovacic and Lewis competing for 5 spots in the starting 11. Given that Haaland, Wirtz and maybe even Marmoush would be a shoe-in for most games, we then have 8 players left to fight for 2 positions. And this is assuming Nico O'Reilly remains at left back and Nico Gonzalez plays purely as an understudy to Rodri.

I keep hearing 'there are plenty of games' but I just don't think people are doing the maths, or looking at the squad composition. At all. Having a big squad is OK when you have clear heirarchies such as:

Key Players - expecting to start most games
First Team Regulars - expecting to be involved in most games
Squad Players - will start cup games and may start the more winnable league games
Young Players not expecting to play - except for domestic cup games or be brought on as a sub when games are won

What we have is a handful of key players, and then everyone else (with a couple of exceptions) really mainly falls into the First Team Regular category. The 'young players' - Bobb, O'Reilly and Lewis are already ready to play a lot of minutes and are at ages where they need it for their development. Bobb, for example, will be 22 by the time the new season starts.

Unless we are planning on selling Gundogan and Kovacic, signing two additional attacking players doesn't make any sesnse, and actually will likely lead to us losing someone like Bobb, or Nico O'Reilly - which to me, would be absolutely criminal given their talent.
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Lewis isn’t a attacking player at least not for us and your assuming we will get two forward midfielders not one although your also making big assumptions about Silva McAtee and Grealish
 
WRicko said:
Lewis isn’t a attacking player at least not for us and your assuming we will get two forward midfielders not one although your also making big assumptions about Silva McAtee and Grealish
WRicko said:
Lewis isn’t a attacking player at least not for us and your assuming we will get two forward midfielders not one although your also making big assumptions about Silva McAtee and Grealish
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By attacking, I don’t mean an actual attacker. I mean any player outside of the back four and the #6. We only have five starting spots outside of the back four and the #6.
Click to expand...
 
It's strange looking at the current team, and I think it's not too difficult to make 2 teams of 11 (In a 4231, that shifts 1 fullback to be 3241) and it looking still pretty good?

Pep may not do this system, may continue with the 4222, or the Stones CB into CDM treble system which I like as well, but I have a gut feeling he will go back to this.

Obviously we need the keeper situation sorted out, but this could be anyone. But I think it's not too hard to make 2 teams, 1 very strong, and 1 pretty good, even with many departures.

Both of these will be put as a 3241, with 1 fullback wide and 1 winger wide, obviously the fullback drops to make the defensive 4231 shape (which we can use as the pressing shape, or specifically the 424).

Team 1 (Younger, highest potential team)
GK

Khusanov
Bah
Gvardiol

Rodri
Nico G

Savinho
Foden
Marmoush
O Reilly

Haaland

Team 2 (Older players, remaining youth)
GK

Akanji
Dias
Ake

Kova
Bernie

Nunes
McAtee
Bobb
Doku

Haaland

Reserves: Echeverri, Lewis, Reis, Gundogan, Reserve GK

26 man squad (25 if we ignore reserve GK). Anyone not there I am assuming is gone based on information we know (I dropped Stones, as it seems insane to keep all 3 of Stones, Ake and Akanji).

Team 1 looks very good and Team 2 is not bad, but shows the areas that we could improve in...

- With 3 very young CB's, and the other 3 more experienced ones, this part of the defense looks set. Even if 1 or 2 CB's get injured, it should still be enough depth. I don't see this spot as a pressing need for many years now, especially with Reis on the bench.

- The 2 DM's show a need earlier than CBs, with Bernie and Kova likely still here for maybe 1 or 2 years, but I don't see past that, Adam Wharton is perfect here in a year (or now im fine with).

- The 1 attacking fullback in Nunes or O Reilly... is perfectly good, but I think another fullback is definitely needed for depth. Someone like Cambiaso who while primarily a LB, can potentially do a decent job as a RB as well. Again, I am assuming only 1 attacking fullback, if we do the current system, obviously 2 fullbacks are necessary.

- The 1 "true winger" on the opposite side of the attacking fullback, Savinho and Doku. Perfectly happy with that considering Bobb can easily play as a wide guy if necessary, Echeverri and some promising academy wingers (McAidoo, Heskey) can fill in here.

- The 2 attacking players (1 CAM, 1 inverted winger) I have here behind the striker has: Foden, Marmoush, Bobb or McAtee.

There are lot's of rumours McAtee will leave, and if he does, then very clearly we buy an Attacking Midfielder.
And while obviously we get a Wirtz if we can, I'm also of the mind of, if we can convince McAtee he will be important here (english quota reasons or whatever aside), then I'd love to trust in him to be that option, especially if it means keeping McAtee means MGW is not necessary.

- Reserves of Echeverri, Lewis and Gundogan I see as filling an "extra" need, and with eventual injuries, easily will see some game time in midfield. I'm not even sure as is, Echeverri can even make the squad for homegrown reasons (somebody can check if he can't fit). Nor am I sure bringing Cambiaso and Wirtz alone is even possible for this reason, hence another reason I am fine with keeping McAtee (I know Wharton should be possible for english quota).

With only 2 additions (Wirtz directly replaced a McAtee for ex), the team is now at a squad of 28... holy crap how are we going to add loads of players, so many more have to leave than I realized. Keeping Gundogan in hindsight definitely seems like a big waste, likes of Echeverri very likely have to be loaned out I think as well.
 
Interestingly, Bobb becomes homegrown from next season according to Jack Gaughan this morning. That would help massively.
 
WallyA said:
Why does that help.

There is a max on foreign players. Bobb has no bearing on that as he is an academy player.

Bobb not being u21, and now in the homegrown list means nothing?
Click to expand...

Fair points. Got my wires crossed.
 
So our 8 homegrown players are currently

Lewis
Foden
Carson *
Grealish*
Stones*
Ake
Bobb
McAtee*

Potentially 4 of those leave. So this means we need 4 homegrown signings? If the above lot leave?
 
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