robbieh said:
I think it is usefull to think of the team in terms of a back six and front four. In squad terms this would equate to 12 back six type players and 8 front four type players.
Backs
Zabba, Vincent, Kolo, Lescott, Micah, Clichy, Kolorav, Barry, Nigel de Jong, Yaya and Milner and Javi Martinez
Forwards
Silva, Nasri, Kun, Mario, Edin, Guidetti and Lavezzi and Hazard
So out go
AJ, Tevez, Ade, Bridge, RSC
Forgetting all about who stays and who goes, it sounds like everyone can agree we will sell in the 60-80 pound vicinity. I like the idea of adding some width, but only as a secondary option, a la AJ is now.
Micah-----------Vinnie-----------Joleon-----------Clichy
Zabba----------
Kolo------------Savic------------
Kolarov
----------------Yaya-----------Gareth----------------------
----------------
Pizarro-------NDJ----------------------
Nasri--------------------------------------------Silva
AJ ----------------------------------------------
Milner
----------------------Kun----------------------------------------
----------------------Super Mario---------------------------------
----------------------
Dzeko--------------------------------
----------------------
Tevez--------------------------------
Bolded players are those who have been rumored to leave. I've left out Balotelli, because unless Mancini goes, Super Mario will be going nowhere.
So I ask... in the example above, we buy more world class players and only lose bench players... where and when are our new world class players playing?
My real question is, if we bring in a winger, do we expect Nasri to just run as Silva's backup? If we bring in two, do we expect Nasri AND a world class winger to sit the bench?
If we bring in another holding player, it must be a backup for Yaya other than Pizarro, or if it's a starter, then the sold player must be NDJ or Gareth, as moving Gareth to Yaya's backup doesn't work because he isn't a box-box playmaker.
It doesn't make sense to sell Milner because he can play any of the Midfield spots, a la Zabba in the back. So to add two new wingers mean we need to be 5 deep in the width. Doesn't make sense, especially when Kun and Mario are more than able to step in there.
To add even one new wide player means AJ MUST go and see us bring in a different type of winger. Better be damn sure it's the right tactical move, because the kid can play and we would be moving Nasri to the bench.
As far as the forwards, this is the only spot I can see us spending on a starter. If we sold Tevez and Dzeko/Super Mario, we could have a new number 1 or number 2 without disrupting things too much, although remember that Dzeko has been unhappy at number 3, Guidetti will surely be at least a bit unhappy with number 4 and Super Mario has already settled in as Number 2...
In fact, the more I think of it, I don't want a new starter anywhere on the pitch unless it is specifically Lavezzi or the like, a starting winger who can also start as our third strike option when called upon, leaving Kun and Mario's spots theirs, as starters.