Eberechi Eze

[blueparrot]

It's true, but two of them are also expected to cover CM. If Philips goes then we'd sort of have three players covering the two other spots. With Alvarez covering CF. That means there is a gap there. It's hard to see, but it's like Akanji last year... someone with the right profile slots in to cover four positions, and in fact get a load of game time.

Stones,Ake and Lewis are all capable of stepping into a defensive midfield role.This squad is plenty capable of versatility and adaptation,and is equipped for another assault on 4 trophies.

We'd have Rodri,Kovacic, Nunes, Foden,KDB, Bernardo, McAtee that can all play centrally, even Alvarez if needed.That's without Lewis and Phillips.

 

[rossmoss]

Grealish,Kev,Foden,Bernie,Alvarez,Doku,McAtee,Bobb.

We will usually only play 3 of the above.

Only foden, alvarez and kdb are attacking midfielders (kdb out 4-5 months) and we play with two attacking midfielders so I feel like another attacking midfielder would be quite helpful

 

[simon23]

I think the addition of Kova Doku and Nunes allows Pep a lot more freedom to rotate players with also plaayers playing a variety of roles.

Kova and Nunes will always (probably but you never know with Pep!!) play at least more centrally and deeper....Doku one would imagine, will always start wide right or wide left (at least at the begining of his career with us)

However this means that with one player who is definiely when he plays going to play wide.....we only have to play one more wide player out of Bernie, Foden, Grealish...I think for a while a lot of us have watned to see both Foden and Bernie closer to goal and more central.....the additions which we have made now allow this.....People were convinced that Grealish could also play this role......Im not so sure but again like the other two he could be tried there with any of the other players (Bernie, Foden, Doku) playing wider.

This is all before you factor in KDB after the new year.....

Also it allows Rodders to rest when appropriate....Kova and Nunes as 2 deeper lying midfielders with any of the above more central and closer to goal looks pretty tasty as well.

I get the feeling that as well with the additions of Gvardiol and with Stones hybrid role we are going to absolutely suffocate teams in the middle third even more....with all of those players mentioned very comfortable in possession and under pressure....we could see literally a 7 man midfield at times wit h only the likes of Dias, Erling (Ederson obviously) and maybe walker not invovled continuously in the build up in the middle third and attacking third

 

[FantasyIreland]

Only foden, alvarez and kdb are attacking midfielders (kdb out 4-5 months) and we play with two attacking midfielders so I feel like another attacking midfielder would be quite helpful

What do you class as an attacking midfielder? because to me,it covers the 3 spots behind Haaland,of which the players i listed can all play.

 

[Summerbuzz]

It's true, but two of them are also expected to cover CM. If Philips goes then we'd sort of have three players covering the two other spots. With Alvarez covering CF. That means there is a gap there. It's hard to see, but it's like Akanji last year... someone with the right profile slots in to cover four positions, and in fact get a load of game time.


Stones,Ake and Lewis are all capable of stepping into a defensive midfield role.This squad is plenty capable of versatility and adaptation,and is equipped for another assault on 4 trophies.

Lewis, yep. But he's 18 and Pep will want him to be an "extra". Also, he's listed as a defender. If you stop doing that, then we only have six, plus Gomez. Ooh, err. That means Stones and the other defenders need to be available for the "back four". Note that we don't have pacy wing backs to switch to an orthodox 3-5-2, reducing reliance on numbers of defenders. Stones role actually works the other way around.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Stones,Ake and Lewis are all capable of stepping into a defensive midfield role.This squad is plenty capable of versatility and adaptation,and is equipped for another assault on 4 trophies.

Lewis, yep. But he's 18 and Pep will want him to be an "extra". Also, he's listed as a defender. If you stop doing that, then we only have six, plus Gomez. Ooh, err. That means Stones and the other defenders need to be available for the "back four". Note that we don't have pacy wing backs to switch to an orthodox 3-5-2, reducing reliance on numbers of defenders. Stones role actually works the other way around.

My point still stands,the squad won a treble last year and,while the dynamic has changed a tad,its no weaker going into this season.

 

[sd33]

 

[houraisen]

 

[nmc]

Both of these are probably true… we probably enquired about Eze - suggested £60m. We’re told no chance and hence didn’t formally bid.

 

[Gabriel]

The cards of Eze and Paqueta have been marked. Be keeping a closer eye on the seasons they have and whether our interest remains next summer.