The Squad planning thread

MCFC1993 said:
Could easily see it though, especially if there are communication issues, fact is he hasn't fancied him since our form turned around at half time in the FA Cup against Bournemouth.

O'Reilly
New Left Back

Gvardiol
Dias
Akanji
1 of Ake/Stones

Nunes
New Right Back

Only thing that might stop the loan is he cost £33m, if he was £10-£15m I reckon he'd be loaned. Reis cost nearly £30m though and I think he'll get loaned too.

I think they were both injury crisis gambles, we went young as they'll always have resale.
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We have won in spite of akanjis return rather than because of it and he's only going in one direction in age, fitness and reliability and same goes for ake and stones. Pep can't talk about availability and then continue to stick with all his aging players.
 
Pep still sticks to his favourites, so his comments last night were no surprise.
Our rebuilding will start in earnest after Pep leaves.
 
deano ou812 said:
Bar Kev they’ll all be at the club for the start of next season..
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If grealish is still here then I'd be shocked. If Stones doesn't go then ake or akanji have to be gone. If what you say is true then pep has just been chatting shite all season.
 
YatesA said:
We have won in spite of akanjis return rather than because of it and he's only going in one direction in age, fitness and reliability and same goes for ake and stones. Pep can't talk about availability and then continue to stick with all his aging players.
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I don't think Akanji is a world beater but he still looks twice the player that Khusanov is imo. Coming back from his first decent injury since arriving here, Akanji was always going to be a touch rusty. Only 29, he's got a few more years left. He's played 48, 48 and 35 games over 3 seasons, that's reliable enough to stick around.

I agree on Ake and Stones, 1 has to go but I don’t think both, both levels ahead of Khusanov but can't say fit. We still need to meet the homegrown quota and have to be wary about losing that winning mentality within the squad. Ake has averaged 28.6 games a season over 5 years, Stones has managed 28.8 games over the past 5 years. It's a tough call on those 2.
 
IrishBlueSince92 said:
Probably just hoping for less injuries
Its a gamble, but seems he really doesn't want a 24/25 man squad
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I appreciate why. It's not good for squad harmony to be in and out of matchday squads. It causes headaches for the manager and coaching staff, it causes rifts behind the scenes and is largely unhelpful. If we can have a good group of young players to call upon and a core of players who aren't injury prone then only bad luck when it comes to injuries will stop us doing what we've done in previous campaigns.

The trouble is Stones and Ake have had their constant injuries so do you just write them off? If fit they start. If not then they're not seen for months and you need cover.

A big summer ahead. Depending how seriously we take the CWC, and I'd anticipate we go for it, we also have the same issue of little rest and potential injuries from fatigue.
 
supercity88 said:
I appreciate why. It's not good for squad harmony to be in and out of matchday squads. It causes headaches for the manager and coaching staff, it causes rifts behind the scenes and is largely unhelpful. If we can have a good group of young players to call upon and a core of players who aren't injury prone then only bad luck when it comes to injuries will stop us doing what we've done in previous campaigns.

The trouble is Stones and Ake have had their constant injuries so do you just write them off? If fit they start. If not then they're not seen for months and you need cover.

A big summer ahead. Depending how seriously we take the CWC, and I'd anticipate we go for it, we also have the same issue of little rest and potential injuries from fatigue.
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Yes we've already seen that in the last week with the controversy/outrage at McAtee and Lewis not making the FA Cup final squad.

I hadn't realised just how big the squad now was until yesterday when I saw the bench and thought of who wasn't there or is still out injured.
 
richards30 said:
It doesn’t sound harmonious does it?
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No to be honest. Body language and the things he's saying are concerning. Nothing lasts forever, he’s been incredible. However, some of the decisions over the last 18 months/2 years have been head scratching at times. Im 50/50 if he’ll sort it out or we’ll continue in the same vain!!
 
Mulling over Pep’s squad size comments from yesterday I looked at our first team roster. Including the two lads out on loan (Kalvin and Perrone) we have 17 midfielders in the first team squad, completely mental.

Worryingly still, all the players we’re linked with seem to be midfielders. Suspect a fair few had their last home match for us yesterday.
 
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IrishBlueSince92 said:
Yes we've already seen that in the last week with the controversy/outrage at McAtee and Lewis not making the FA Cup final squad.

I hadn't realised just how big the squad now was until yesterday when I saw the bench and thought of who wasn't there or is still out injured.
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McAtee and Lewis are the two I’d be happiest to see leave. Nowhere near the level we need.

Replace two average ones with one top quality player if Pep wants a small squad.
 
If we had champions league football secured i reckon we would already have positive noises about incomings and outgoings.
 
Bearing in mind what Guardiola has said, any new arrivals would have to be first-team ready and, if it is to remain a smaller squad, presumably versatile. Depending on outgoings, we might only end up with Gibbs-White/Reijnders/Cambiaso, and maybe only two of those. Better hammer shut the door to the sick bay when they're all in the States...
 
richards30 said:
Ederson(if he wants out)
Stones
Bernardo
De Bruyne
Grealish
Nunes
KDB
Gundogan
Mcatee
Reis (loan)

These should be sold/released/loaned if possible as the squad number isnt the problem, we need a refresh of hungry younger players who are desperate to win? I cant help thinking the comments last night are Pep basically saying if you sell my favourite boys then i`ll quit.
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I'd keep Bernardo. Ake should go, same as Stones, he's always injured.
 
Most managers would die for a big squad of players, let's hope dad's army doesn't continue
 
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