The Squad planning thread

[BluestBlue]

Wouldn’t be ‘fancy’ enough for some on here, but if we’re dispensing with Savinho’s services, then we can hardly waste another season on someone coming from abroad and taking yet another year, or more, to acclimate.

You’re spot on, realistically you can’t go out there and spend 100 mil on a 19 year old diomande with one good season. We could wait and see him develop there. Because whoever we get outside the prem ain’t gonna blow everyone away. The club seems to prioritise players in league lately so there’s a chance

 

[ninjamonkey]

Assuming we sell Marmoush and Savinho - which seems to be the prevailing wisdom right now - how do you replace them?

Do you sign another backup striker, or just commit to using Semenyo and/or a false 9 when Haaland can't play? Do you sign a winger, or two? What kind of age and price range? Is it worth taking a look at the likes of Echeverri and McAidoo in pre-season and potentially saving ourselves £50m if Maresca likes them?

Innyour scenario where savinho and marmoush go (not sure the latter does) For me, semenyo is an adequate Haaland backup, knows how to get himself on to the end of things and can finish, don't think you will find anyone better that's going to act purely as a backup striker.

We need wingers. one that plays primarily off the right, not one that can play on the right amongst others, right wing is their position. Then probably a second one that is versatile.

 

[Pontypool Blue]

True I think that too , I think someone on here a couple weeks back said something about Summerville that would be interesting.

He's "Run away" ?

 

[YatesA]

Bloody hell. These names are depressing. We'd be building the ultimate midtable journeyman side if some of these suggestions were to materialise.

To be fair, we signed semenyo and he has done alright and for me personally I think bowen is better so it's not always about flashy names or country badges next to them

 

[Gabriel]

Harry Wilson has had two good seasons in five years at Fulham and one of them was in the championship. He’s 29 years old with one above average PL season, he wouldn’t cut it at Villa let alone City. Another person suggested Ismaila Sarr, who is 28 and injury prone.

If you look at the minutes Wilson played last season, by comparison with previous years, you’ll see that his return is quite consistent, and 10 goals and 7 assists in the League last year was more than either Doku or Savinho could manage. He also has 17 goals in 69 international matches.

Wilson also has other attributes that we currently lack, for example he is good on set pieces (free-kicks, corners) and he can cut in and hit a cross-field ball from the right wing to the left; we currently take 3 passes to get to Doku, by which time the defence is back and it’s walking pace football again.

Wilson’s age stands against him, true, but a bit more experience in the final third wouldn’t actually go amiss, and on a free he would allow even more money to be invested in the midfield. I’m not bothered if Savinho stays, but if he does go, then I could see the merits in signing someone like Wilson, a consistent back up, over someone who struggles with the demands of the League.

 

[Cobwebcat]

Opta team of the season. We have 3 players in it and looking to sign a fourth..

Premier League Team of the Season: Opta Analyst’s 2025-26 XI | Opta Analyst

With the campaign officially done and dusted, we look back on it by picking our Premier League Team of the Season for 2025-26.

theanalyst.com

 

[Ken92]

Bloody hell. These names are depressing. We'd be building the ultimate midtable journeyman side if some of these suggestions were to materialise.

exactly my thoughts..

 

[richards30]

exactly my thoughts..

Who would you like us to get who is realistic then?

 

[Ken92]

Who would you like us to get who is realistic then?

i don´t know what is realistic, do you? Neymar going for 230 mil ,was it realistic? don´t think so ,but he did. IF City was willing to splash 100 million pounds for Grealish ,you might as well try to splash out 150 mil for every world class winger there is and see what happens. Going 60-70 mil for Marmoush,Semenyo and Gonzales type players won´t make us much stronger imo ,but that is my opinion. Will see ,what team and new coach will do.

 

[robbieh]

Given what we have and who we are rumoured to be buying, as well as the likely departure of a winger, I wonder if the inverted FB thing might not be our best setup and that width could be provided by the FBs.

Donnarumma
Khusanov. Guehi Gvardiol

Porro Rodri O'Reilly Air Nouri
Cherki Anderson
Haaland

Nunes, FB and midfield, Foden, Doku,Semenyo, Marmoush, all playing more centrally, Ake, Dias and even Reinders and Gonzalez could get plenty of game time.

 

[Gabriel]

i don´t know what is realistic, do you? Neymar going for 230 mil ,was it realistic? don´t think so ,but he did. IF City was willing to splash 100 million pounds for Grealish ,you might as well try to splash out 150 mil for every world class winger there is and see what happens. Going 60-70 mil for Marmoush,Semenyo and Gonzales type players won´t make us much stronger imo ,but that is my opinion. Will see ,what team and new coach will do.

Semenyo scored 11 goals and had 3 assists in 27 games, when everyone knows that joining a new team in January is incredibly difficult. If we identify 2-3 more like that we’ll be in clover.

 

[Ken92]

Given what we have and who we are rumoured to be buying, as well as the likely departure of a winger, I wonder if the inverted FB thing might not be our best setup and that width could be provided by the FBs.

Donnarumma
Khusanov. Guehi Gvardiol

Porro Rodri O'Reilly Air Nouri
Cherki Anderson
Haaland

Nunes, FB and midfield, Foden, Doku,Semenyo, Marmoush, all playing more centrally, Ake, Dias and even Reinders and Gonzalez could get plenty of game time.

you feel confident this is a premier league winning team and one to fight for champions league? I have my doubts ,but time will tell which players will leave and come.

 

[richards30]

i don´t know what is realistic, do you? Neymar going for 230 mil ,was it realistic? don´t think so ,but he did. IF City was willing to splash 100 million pounds for Grealish ,you might as well try to splash out 150 mil for every world class winger there is and see what happens. Going 60-70 mil for Marmoush,Semenyo and Gonzales type players won´t make us much stronger imo ,but that is my opinion. Will see ,what team and new coach will do.

But that season we sold £60m of players just to buy Grealish? Do any of the worlds best wingers want to come to England? There are also stronger financial rules in the Premier League than abroad as well so we cant just go out and spend that money? PSG flounced round the rules by saying he was an ambassador for their world cup as well and then they basically give him to PSG? Then that slimy khalifa twat get voted onto the board of UEFA so there is no issues for FFP with PSG! Viana and the board will of course be wanting to sign certain players but price prohibits it and maybe the player doesnt want to come?

 

[Ken92]

But that season we sold £60m of players just to buy Grealish? Do any of the worlds best wingers want to come to England? There are also stronger financial rules in the Premier League than abroad as well so we cant just go out and spend that money? PSG flounced round the rules by saying he was an ambassador for their world cup as well and then they basically give him to PSG? Then that slimy khalifa twat get voted onto the board of UEFA so there is no issues for FFP with PSG! Viana and the board will of course be wanting to sign certain players but price prohibits it and maybe the player doesnt want to come?

You don´t know before you try and i think City has plenty of budget even with those restrictions ,even more if we will be able to sell 4-5 players this summer. There are restrictions pretty much everywhere now, Real is waiting for every world class player to become free agent to sign them :D Liverpool splashed 400 mil last summer... Yeah ,ofc not everybody wants to come to England or play for Mancity ,but im still sure we can sign some world class players.

 

[Doc_Testosterone]

Assuming we sell Marmoush and Savinho - which seems to be the prevailing wisdom right now - how do you replace them?

Do you sign another backup striker, or just commit to using Semenyo and/or a false 9 when Haaland can't play? Do you sign a winger, or two? What kind of age and price range? Is it worth taking a look at the likes of Echeverri and McAidoo in pre-season and potentially saving ourselves £50m if Maresca likes them?

Savinho could be replaced by anyone on Bluemoon. Marmoush by below 70 years of age Bluemoon members. Reijnders replacement just needs a pulse.

 

[blueparrot]

you feel confident this is a premier league winning team and one to fight for champions league? I have my doubts ,but time will tell which players will leave and come.

I don't think thats how we will line up, but do think we will have enough to potentially win the league, probably not to win the CL yet but depending on the draw ,for example a draw like arsenal had, then challenge yes.

 

[Bluearmy]

If you look at the minutes Wilson played last season, by comparison with previous years, you’ll see that his return is quite consistent, and 10 goals and 7 assists in the League last year was more than either Doku or Savinho could manage. He also has 17 goals in 69 international matches.

Wilson also has other attributes that we currently lack, for example he is good on set pieces (free-kicks, corners) and he can cut in and hit a cross-field ball from the right wing to the left; we currently take 3 passes to get to Doku, by which time the defence is back and it’s walking pace football again.

Wilson’s age stands against him, true, but a bit more experience in the final third wouldn’t actually go amiss, and on a free he would allow even more money to be invested in the midfield. I’m not bothered if Savinho stays, but if he does go, then I could see the merits in signing someone like Wilson, a consistent back up, over someone who struggles with the demands of the League.

Im with you. Wilson for free as a squad player and getting £45mil for Savinho is good business for me.

Then go for a more versatile player, someone like Kroupi with the funds from Savinho contributing to that purchase.

Would give us Haaland, Semenyo, Doku, Kroupi, Wilson, Cherki and Foden for the attacking positions... With NOR and maybe McAidoo to give extra cover if needed. Something like that would give us better squad composition than last season imo

 

[oldius]

It is an exciting time.
I personally feel that Savinho will go on to have a stellar career, but if we have decided to let him go, so be it. We will need a replacement winger.

I always felt that all we need is a very physical midfielder to play alongside Rodri. Bernardo's departure means that we need two. That could come, of course, from one plus Nico O. We have a bit more flex there with Gvardiol's return from injury, R A N, and the potential return of Stephen Mfuni. I suspect the latter will get one more year on loan, but I am convinced that when he does eventually return, he will never leave the first XI. Should he stay on loan then an additional full-back is probably required. Danté Headley is a class act in the academy but is very young. Shame, as I think he will also be a top player.

I am very much looking forward to the close season and the board's efforts to keep us competitive in the face of Pep's departure.

 

[Doc_Testosterone]

The quality of football players have dropped significantly in the past few years. Don’t think there is a team currently that could compete against Pep’s previous teams, hence why Arsenal won the league. I wouldn’t even say last year’s PSG team were of such high quality.

The market seems barren. Anderson is going for 100m would replicate the joke of Rice going for a similar fee. Neither are worth the money, but the market has created this.

Unfortunately we wasted money on Reijnders that has crippled our chance for the PL this year.

 

[ALDN_Ko]

If you look at the minutes Wilson played last season, by comparison with previous years, you’ll see that his return is quite consistent, and 10 goals and 7 assists in the League last year was more than either Doku or Savinho could manage. He also has 17 goals in 69 international matches.

Wilson also has other attributes that we currently lack, for example he is good on set pieces (free-kicks, corners) and he can cut in and hit a cross-field ball from the right wing to the left; we currently take 3 passes to get to Doku, by which time the defence is back and it’s walking pace football again.

Wilson’s age stands against him, true, but a bit more experience in the final third wouldn’t actually go amiss, and on a free he would allow even more money to be invested in the midfield. I’m not bothered if Savinho stays, but if he does go, then I could see the merits in signing someone like Wilson, a consistent back up, over someone who struggles with the demands of the League.

The issue is his age. If Doku was 28 and still only getting 10 league GA, I wouldn’t be against the move but Wilson plays one game a week, has played way more minutes than Doku and still only has 7 more GA. Doku’s just entering his prime and his floor was 10 GA in the league even with injuries and three games a week.