The Squad planning thread

xMatMcC said:
Sometimes I read posts like this and wonder if I'm the only one that watches us play. Either that or you're taking the piss and I've been baited.

Doku is one of the last names City would let go. Amazing player and profile. So so good. Has improved immensely this season. Sky is the limit for Doku.
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Agree, just needs more goals?
 
xMatMcC said:
Sometimes I read posts like this and wonder if I'm the only one that watches us play. Either that or you're taking the piss and I've been baited.

Doku is one of the last names City would let go. Amazing player and profile. So so good. Has improved immensely this season. Sky is the limit for Doku.
Click to expand...
Haven’t you heard though? They’d rather Doku come inside and get 15GA a season rather than stay closer to the touch line allowing Haaland, O’Reilly and Semenyo (All better finishers who can each hit 20+ GA) to get more space.

PSG’s wingers look so good because their only job when attacking is to move. Doku’s job is to hold width, draw players in and beat them 2v1 or 3v1 before providing an inch perfect cut back or cross. With all due respect, none of PSG’s wingers are doing that.
 
IN
Yan Diomande
Anderson
Quality young RB back up cafunes
Eichorn
HG keeper to replace Trafford sad
Reis

OUT
Bernie gone
Nico G if Rodri stays 40-50
Kova ? 20
Stones
Ake 20
Marmoush 50 or Savio 40
Trafford wont be a No2 50
Akanji gone 15
Grealish gone 30-35
Lewis sell or loan to a team who will play him in midfield 25
Wilson Es 5
Loan Echi Nypan
Phillips gone

Squad 20-21 with a couple of EDS
slight profit with EDS players
 
I wonder if the fact we had such a bad season last year or the fact we've been a bit up and down this season, but I think people are only really starting to wake up to how strong the squad is, add anderson, another RB and a winger in the summer and the team is going to look very stacked.

Last season + the attraction of liverpool's big money buys has allowed the clubs recruitment to go under the radar, but the quality and age profile of the squad is honestly astounding, and that's before even taking into account the potential of players out on loan.
 
Clembo said:
I wonder if the fact we had such a bad season last year or the fact we've been a bit up and down this season, but I think people are only really starting to wake up to how strong the squad is, add anderson, another RB and a winger in the summer and the team is going to look very stacked.

Last season + the attraction of liverpool's big money buys has allowed the clubs recruitment to go under the radar, but the quality and age profile of the squad is honestly astounding, and that's before even taking into account the potential of players out on loan.
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Still think we might need more midfielders LOL.

Gotta replace Bernardo, Kovacic, Nico G, Possibly Rodri and Foden.

Our pressing isn't what it used to be.
 
More links today to Ibrahim Maza. He's under the same agency as Marmoush and Ait Nouri. Algerian midfielder that dreams about playing for us apparently. He's 20

 
Clembo said:
I wonder if the fact we had such a bad season last year or the fact we've been a bit up and down this season, but I think people are only really starting to wake up to how strong the squad is, add anderson, another RB and a winger in the summer and the team is going to look very stacked.

Last season + the attraction of liverpool's big money buys has allowed the clubs recruitment to go under the radar, but the quality and age profile of the squad is honestly astounding, and that's before even taking into account the potential of players out on loan.
Click to expand...
I can't think of another club that is better run than this one. We shouldn't lose sight of that just because we are trying to finish a rebuild.
 
Maza statistically is the perfect Bernie replacement apparently.

I guess our midfield plans really rely on what we do with Nico OR, because let’s be honest it’s his best position and if he can do what he’s been doing currently at LB he’d be scary in midfield. Also did a good job as a 6 against Newcastle.

So if we said Anderson in for Kovacic as well would have something like

Rodri/Nico G
Anderson/Nico OR/Maza/Lewis
Cherki/Reijdners/Foden

Lewis is a great squad player if he’s happy to stay, not sure what happens there as his minutes have been limited. Same with Nico G - since Rodri has come back he gets nothing. So those 2 could easily go. Reijnders has been poor but played a lot so think he’ll get another season. He’s not the Gundo style of player I think we all thought we’d be getting. For me that’s Nico OR, his presence in the box is exceptional.

Foden and Cherki can play as 10’s but also out wide but you want one as a 10, Cherki has been excellent. Form is temporary, class is permanent- Phil will be back to his best soon enough.

You then have the loan players.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Reis was heavily involved in pre season as a 6, was reported Pep wanted to develop him there in the EDS when he signed but was needed as cover on the bench.
Echeverri and Mukasa I imagine will get another loan move.
 
Gumzy97 said:
More links today to Ibrahim Maza. He's under the same agency as Marmoush and Ait Nouri. Algerian midfielder that dreams about playing for us apparently. He's 20

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Wow that video is impressive.

I had to look him up on Fotmob.

Seems to mostly play in Leverkusens 343 as one of the attacking players on either side of the striker (he has played both sides).

Looks very comfortable on both feet.

But I dont see him as a Bernie replacement, he looks more forward focused than that for me and his stats kinda show this as well.

I like how he plays though, but I think Anderson is better defensively and more suitable here.
 
WallyA said:
Wow that video is impressive.

I had to look him up on Fotmob.

Seems to mostly play in Leverkusens 343 as one of the attacking players on either side of the striker (he has played both sides).

Looks very comfortable on both feet.

But I dont see him as a Bernie replacement, he looks more forward focused than that for me and his stats kinda show this as well.

I like how he plays though, but I think Anderson is better defensively and more suitable here.
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Remember where Bernardo played when we bought him?

Maza already has form for playing deeper, as an 8 and as part of the 2 sitting midfielders for Leverkusen.

If they think he can replace Bernardo then 100% get him in ASAP.
 
WallyA said:
That's true.

Im just not sure that's a good plan for the midfield next season, to sign a winger who may become a box to box 8.

I think he has high potential, but I think Anderson is a better immediate plan.
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How about both!
 
WallyA said:
That's true.

Im just not sure that's a good plan for the midfield next season, to sign a winger who may become a box to box 8.

I think he has high potential, but I think Anderson is a better immediate plan.
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He’s not a winger though. He’s played in the defensive 2 ahead of the back 3 for Leverkusen. He’s played in a midfield 3 for Algeria and played half a season in the bundesliga there for Herta.

So he can definitely play in midfield, he seems to have the same profile as Bernie, but he’s also 20, fast and 6ft.

Seems like the ideal player to have alongside Rodri, Nico O, Anderson, and Nico G or his replacement.

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Newcastle United, 10/12/2025 - UEFA Champions League - Match sheet

This is the match sheet of the UEFA Champions League game between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Newcastle United on 10/12/2025.
www.transfermarkt.co.uk www.transfermarkt.co.uk

www.transfermarkt.co.uk

Borussia Dortmund - Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 02/12/2025 - DFB-Pokal - Match sheet

This is the match sheet of the DFB-Pokal game between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 02/12/2025.
www.transfermarkt.co.uk www.transfermarkt.co.uk
 
Last edited:
domalino said:
He’s not a winger though. He’s played in the defensive 2 ahead of the back 3 for Leverkusen. He’s played in a midfield 3 for Algeria and played half a season in the bundesliga there for Herta.

So he can definitely play in midfield, he seems to have the same profile as Bernie, but he’s also 20, fast and 6ft.

Seems like the ideal player to have alongside Rodri, Nico O, Anderson, and Nico G or his replacement.
Click to expand...
I’m starting to think one of Reijdners or Nico G will go. Just with the profile of the squad - Nico OR ready to step up in midfield and the players linked.

Reijnders has had a lot of minutes and only first season, it would make more sense if Nico G wanted to go.

Also like Haaland, with Rodri it’s difficult. He’s shown he can play a lot even after coming back from the injury and him and Erl are superstars. If fit, they play.

Nico G definitely deserves more minutes but if Rodri commits to a new deal I can see us selling him and having players like Maza, Anderson, Nico OR, Reijdners and even Lewis help out in midfield.
 
Also interesting to see who Ake does. In Jan was talk of him leaving but that was because the World Cup coming up.

He will have 1 more year left and so settled here. I don’t think Reis should come back unless minutes for him, just keep him at Girona if that’s the case at least he’ll play.

Khusanov, Guehi, Dias all in front of him. Josko coming back from a big injury (and maybe also will play LB when back).

So we have room for him. Stones will go.
 
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