The Squad planning thread

Bluemoon has risen said:
I'm wondering if it's a bit of a dig at January's recruitment. We signed 2 defenders who were both young and unproven and now our other defenders are back were overstocked. We also didn't resolve the full back issues which will need to be resolved this summer so we'll have even more defenders. There will inevitably have to be casualties to the squad and I suspect Pep will want 4 or 5 proven quality players rather than projects like Echeverri and Reis.
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So Txiki has fucked up, I hope Pep has told him so.

And by the way, no Marmoush, no Khusanov, and to a lesser extent González, we wouldn't be 3rd.
 
TB369 said:
The comments about getting a smaller squad come off mard arsey to me. If he wants a small squad then he has to give up his often injured and aging favourites but he won't. This seems like he is slightly pushing back against Viana's january signings and summer plans.
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I think Pep said in January he wanted ready made players and not youngsters or something like that. I felt it was bit weird with who we were linked to at the time
 
robbieh said:
Khusanov played excellently against Newcastle, Real Madrid, and in several other games so at 20 years old not sure Ake, Akanji or even Stones were at his level.
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We don't need good for their age players though, we need world class players full stop. Although I think Ake and Stones were playing in the PL at that age but they were at Watford and Everton still learning.

Khusanov has done well when he's played but I'm just not entirely convinced and I don't think Pep is either. The issue is, when everyone is fit, he's 5th choice. It's only injuries giving him a look in, which is a valid argument but if we sign 2 new full backs, the injuries to centre halves will probably reduce as their game time is managed better.
 
TB369 said:
The comments about getting a smaller squad come off mard arsey to me. If he wants a small squad then he has to give up his often injured and aging favourites but he won't. This seems like he is slightly pushing back against Viana's january signings and summer plans.
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I think the timing of the comments are strange. I agree I think he's pushing back on the signings of the two young centre halves but to me, I think it could be also dig at our alleged withdrawal from the Wirtz deal
 
Be interested to hear the plan between Hugo and Pep on the 'project' players, we're they sold on being part of the squad now or just learning and earning time. Pep will treats them like first teamers when it comes to making the call on them not playing which he hates but they don't mind as they knew the plan etc.

Might see some loans we don't expect coming, i think on those lads.
 
dhruvblue said:
stones Ake are injured
Dias and Akanji too can get prone and be out

We need to now build around Reis Khusanov and whoever 2 stay fit
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I'm not convinced Reis will be ready next season. He's only 19 and not typically what Pep uses at CB. Khusanov is a bit older and more prepared but the fact he's not been picked in the squads and on the bench recently is pretty telling of where he stands in the pecking order.
robbieh said:
So Txiki has fucked up, I hope Pep has told him so.

And by the way, no Marmoush, no Khusanov, and to a lesser extent González, we wouldn't be 3rd.
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I agree they did, all I'm saying is I'm wondering if Pep would've preferred 2 or 3 proven players in Jan rather than 4 players, 2 of which were young CBs with little experience and a midfielder who needs moulding (but potentially will be a good player for us). Marmoush is the proven ready made player.

It's just a guess of the way I've interpreted it not saying it's right.
 
I appreciate you want world class players. However Akanji has never been, Ake maybe was and Stones isn't anymore. In a few years Khusanov will be world class. With us or someone else. As such I think he stays whilst at least one of the others departs.
 
robbieh said:
I appreciate you want world class players. However Akanji has never been, Ake maybe was and Stones isn't anymore. In a few years Khusanov will be world class. With us or someone else. As such I think he stays whilst at least one of the others departs.
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Ake has been at times a very good player. But never world class, that's a very high bar that he's never reached. I'm not disrespecting the guy but world class is for the truly elite.

Quite a claim that Khus WILL be world class. What have we seen to suggest that so far?
 
MCFC1993 said:
We don't need good for their age players though, we need world class players full stop. Although I think Ake and Stones were playing in the PL at that age but they were at Watford and Everton still learning.

Khusanov has done well when he's played but I'm just not entirely convinced and I don't think Pep is either. The issue is, when everyone is fit, he's 5th choice. It's only injuries giving him a look in, which is a valid argument but if we sign 2 new full backs, the injuries to centre halves will probably reduce as their game time is managed better.
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We sign 2 FBs and a minimum of 2 of our currents CBs are gone.
Stones - has to go, can't be relied on.
Ake - same applies (22/23 and 23/24 were anomalies for him)
(Which is a real shame for both as when fit they're outstanding - but we can't KEEP going with "hopefully he's fit 75% of the time")
Akanji - borderline as his forms fallen off a cliff.
We've gotta be ruthless this summer with players who can't be relied upon for minutes
 
Khusanov has 1 thing that sets him apart from 9/10 CB‘s. Athleticism and pace. You can’t learn that. You either are or you are not. Everything else is attainable. By the right coach he will reach a very good level. His passing can and will improve.
 
WesthoughtonJohn said:
We sign 2 FBs and a minimum of 2 of our currents CBs are gone.
Stones - has to go, can't be relied on.
Ake - same applies (22/23 and 23/24 were anomalies for him)
(Which is a real shame for both as when fit they're outstanding - but we can't KEEP going with "hopefully he's fit 75% of the time")
Akanji - borderline as his forms fallen off a cliff.
We've gotta be ruthless this summer with players who can't be relied upon for minutes
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I'd be tempted to sell all three and get a ready made starter who can play LCB and RCB if we could. Ruthless though.

Seen links to Zabarnyi, I like Guehi as well but zero links.
 
Pep says he wants a smaller squad fare enough but we also need 4 or 5 players coming in, so are we getting rid of 6 or 7 players doesn't add up to me.
O and I ain't moaning it's just an observation
 
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