The Squad planning thread

There needs to be a brutal assessment of the squad this summer.

Players who need to be gone:

Ederson
Akanji
Nunes
Grealish
Kovacic
Gundogan

At the right Price, let them go:

Bernardo
Rico Lewis
Ake

If you tell Fabrizio, I'll deny it till the end... but I'm listening:

Marmoush
Nico G
Savinho
Dias
The most ridiculous post I’ve seen for a long time - probably a reaction to last night’s result. No way can any club change that many players in one window. Its not a computer game ffs

how do you replace them in time for the new season?? Sure, switch a few out IF there is a useful replacement but posts like this need moving to the caf
 
We really need some pace at the back.

Dias needs someone rapid next to him otherwise he gets exposed, Walker used to get him out of trouble a lot.

I'd love us to go for Guehi - we could pick him up for £50 million as well.

If not Livermento then we still need a 'proper' rb.
 
The most ridiculous post I’ve seen for a long time - probably a reaction to last night’s result. No way can any club change that many players in one window. Its not a computer game ffs

how do you replace them in time for the new season?? Sure, switch a few out IF there is a useful replacement but posts like this need moving to the caf
Of course you can. It just means that we have to accept the following season as a write off.

Ederson, Akanji, Ake, Gundogan & Kovacic are easily replaced by players currently at the club.

Nunes & Grealish would need replacing in the market but I personally don't think it's too difficult to do
 
Not surprising that there’s a lot of reaction to last night’s result. At the same time it’s clear that a lot of the issues from last season are still there.

For me regardless of last night’s result I have concerns over Ederson, he was absolutely brilliant in the treble season, less good the following season and off form last season. His contract is up next summer, considering his trajectory I would be a little worried that he’s basically hanging on until his contract expires.

I also think it’s time to move Akanji on, he’s not good enough at centre back and doesn’t suit the role as an attacking full back. Like Ederson he was excellent in the treble season but had regressed since. He’s also, perhaps coincidentally, usually on the pitch when things go wrong.
 
Based on who Pep is playing ill not be suprised if it's Khusanov, N.Gonzalez and Bobb heading out the door....and i wouldnt fucking blame them.

Khusanov behind every defender in every position despite being our best player when thrown into the team way back when.

Nico G is behind Rodri(fair), Reijnders, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Kovacic and probably inverted fullbacks

Bobb last choice forward, 2 sub appearance when games already won
 
Based on who Pep is playing ill not be suprised if it's Khusanov, N.Gonzalez and Bobb heading out the door....and i wouldnt fucking blame them.

Khusanov behind every defender in every position despite being our best player when thrown into the team way back when.

Nico G is behind Rodri(fair), Reijnders, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Kovacic and probably inverted fullbacks

Bobb last choice forward, 2 sub appearance when games already won
If those 3 leave then Pep should leave with them as he can't be on the same page as Tiki or more importantly Hugo
 
Based on who Pep is playing ill not be suprised if it's Khusanov, N.Gonzalez and Bobb heading out the door....and i wouldnt fucking blame them.

Khusanov behind every defender in every position despite being our best player when thrown into the team way back when.

Nico G is behind Rodri(fair), Reijnders, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Kovacic and probably inverted fullbacks

Bobb last choice forward, 2 sub appearance when games already won
Not sure Bobb is anywhere near 100% fit.
After last night, Nico's stock should have risen considerably. Khusanov's too possibly....
 
Why do you suggest that?
Well if Pep doesn't rate Khusanov, Ries and Nico Gonzalez who were all bought in January when Tiki had declining input and it was suggested Viana was close to Ries's club management I'm thinking that Viana and Pep need to be on the same page.
 
Not sure Bobb is anywhere near 100% fit.
After last night, Nico's stock should have risen considerably. Khusanov's too possibly....
But that's the point their stock should have risen with each poor performance from Gundo, Bernie, Kanji etc
That's why I feel less confident of seeing Khusanov and Nico this season whilst Akanji and Gundo plough on.
 
We have 34 players. We need to sell 9 just to fit in the squad cap and that's without buying a RB.

Pep wants a squad of 21 players or so. So 14 need to go if we buy the RB.

We have about 8 weeks to shift 14 in a market where many huge clubs are looking to shift players. Its not going to work
 
If this is peps last year then let him finish with his old guard( which should of been done this past season tbh) but he isint going to change so send likes of Khus Reis Nico G on season long loan. Let them come back next summer for the changing of the guard.
 
Well if Pep doesn't rate Khusanov, Ries and Nico Gonzalez who were all bought in January when Tiki had declining input and it was suggested Viana was close to Ries's club management I'm thinking that Viana and Pep need to be on the same page.
I think Viana was probably involved in the Reis deal, as it's exactly the kind of signing I would have expected Sporting Lisbon to have made. The other two I'm much less convinced about.

Khusanov has pace and we knew Walker was unhappy and leaving, so bringing him then made immediate sense, especially with our centre backs dropping like flies. However, subsequently, his technique has been exposed, unsurprisingly given his inexperience, so I wouldn't be shocked to see him leave on loan if we cannot get others out the door.

The Gonzalez signing is perhaps the oddest of all. He went to Porto in the summer of 2023, when Sporting Lisbon were also looking for a central midfielder. Viana could presumably have bought Gonzalez but chose instead to take Hjulmand from Lecce, who cost more and is arguably more akin to Rodri.

Only my opinion, but of the three that arrived, I think Reis might be the only one still with us when the window closes.
 
I think Viana was probably involved in the Reis deal, as it's exactly the kind of signing I would have expected Sporting Lisbon to have made. The other two I'm much less convinced about.

Khusanov has pace and we knew Walker was unhappy and leaving, so bringing him then made immediate sense, especially with our centre backs dropping like flies. However, subsequently, his technique has been exposed, unsurprisingly given his inexperience, so I wouldn't be shocked to see him leave on loan if we cannot get others out the door.

The Gonzalez signing is perhaps the oddest of all. He went to Porto in the summer of 2023, when Sporting Lisbon were also looking for a central midfielder. Viana could presumably have bought Gonzalez but chose instead to take Hjulmand from Lecce, who cost more and is arguably more akin to Rodri.

Only my opinion, but of the three that arrived, I think Reis might be the only one still with us when the window closes.
Thanks for that analysis. Ries does look a tidy player. But for the life of me can't see why Nico isn't getting minutes whoever is responsible for buying him. If it was Txiki presumably he talked to Pep about it.
 
Pace at the back solves most of our problems. We need what Walker provided for 6-7 years. If we get that we will challenge for the league and champions league.

The worry is whether Khusanov was bought specifically for this role and Pep just doesn't fancy him.
 
Thanks for that analysis. Ries does look a tidy player. But for the life of me can't see why Nico isn't getting minutes whoever is responsible for buying him. If it was Txiki presumably he talked to Pep about it.
Phillips, Nunes, Gonzalez: none of them have been good enough to deputise Rodri and allow us to retain the same shape and standard. Therefore, when we have played them in midfield, someone else has also needed to adapt their game to cover the adjustments, ultimately weakening us as a team.

Part of the problem has been that we've been banking on Rodri returning and playing 3,500+ minutes per season. That's highly unlikely this season. I think we need to bite the bullet now and start looking for the player that will both challenge him when he's available and ultimately replace him.
 

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