It's Quiet the £250m return

[Georgian Maestro]

You're not far off. Or alternatively everyone's right back is better than ours and that's why we're going to get relegated!

I think the issue is the fact that our previous right back was Kyle Walker. His pace and power was integral to every Pep title win and we've not replaced it.

 

[alexmcity]

I think the issue is the fact that our previous right back was Kyle Walker. His pace and power was integral to every Pep title win and we've not replaced it.

Walker was mostly on the bench when we were winning the Treble. Shockingly, Akanji started most big games at RB back then. And some games at LB, too.

 

[BillyShears]

I think the issue is the fact that our previous right back was Kyle Walker. His pace and power was integral to every Pep title win and we've not replaced it.

Football is rarely that simple. In fact almost never. For example, Fernandinho and Rodri were completely different players. Haaland and Aguero, completely different players. David Silva and Bernardo completely different players. Silva and KDB completely different players.

I think rather than obsessing about one position (not saying are, but some people are), think it makes sense to look at how much more balanced our squad is this season than last, and how much pure fucking quality and experience we have throughout it. I appreciate that that's not really "fun" for a lot of people/posters, but it doesn't make it any less true.

 

[Gumzy97]

Cherki is the one. I keep saying about him. But we’ve genuinely got potentially the best technical footballer in the world. Everything is easy and effortless to him.

That ball to Foden in the club World Cup , also the dink to Haaland in the other game off his other foot both balls took out the defence . Only special players can do that

 

[Quinny851]

LET IT GO!!!!!
In all seriousness you have to accept that Khusanov, Reis, Echeverri, Marmoush, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, Reijnders, Gonzalez Trafford, Nypan, and others (EDS and Academy) is a lot of recruitment in 2025. Some of those players were simply bought earlier but scheduled for this season's impact. I personally don't think that RB is an issue, but if the club wish to recruit specifically for that position then fair enough. I would have no problem continuing with Nunes and Lewis, but I get that the HG issue will require priorities to be made and some players to be released for the wider good.
It wasn't only injuries either: the psychological toil of relentless winning and reaching every goal possible is hard to imagine and I believe that some players reached a psychological peak from which they could not return and deliver once more.
I also don't support the idea of too much loyalty: we were having a torrid time and throwing inexperienced players into that cauldron could have caused dire consequences for their future. We finished third against that backdrop and now we live again.
We have a window that finishes in September, with players back from holiday two days ago. I am sure there will be movement out, as indicated several times here and elsewhere.

That's an enormous amount of activity in 2025.

I'd loved to be proved wrong but I just don't see how much impact Reis, Echeverri & Nypan will make this season given who they have in front of them. Are they going to get much playing time in the PL, I highly doubt it.

Again, this is my opinion but also one that is shared amongst many other supporters, if we go into the season with Nunes & Lewis as our two right back options then we won't be winning the league as they are simply not good enough for the level where we want to operate.

I'm not sure how much of the problems were psychological given that the season after winning the treble we somehow went and won an unprecedented 4th PL title. I think the issue more than likely points towards fatigue, it's no secret that Ake & Akanji in particular were "forced" to play with injuries.

There's a beautiful irony about your comment about us having torrid time and throwing inexperienced players into that cauldron could have caused dire consequences for their future as it was our heavy reliance on inexperienced players that ended up getting us into 3rd - especially O'Reilly & Marmoush.

There's a long way to go to address what many of us think are gaping holes in the squad but given the whispers that are coming out about our incoming business being over, it does cause concern.

 

[Ajm1985]

Wonder if Rodri could play centre of the back 3 and be a hybrid 6 at the same time.

Interesting - I'd be a lot more confident with that idea if he wasn't coming back from an ACL, as it might be too much to ask of him, and if it wouldn't place Dias as a wide CB. Guess it depends on how Pep wants to build up as we've done 2-3 and 3-2 over the years

 

[Georgian Maestro]

Football is rarely that simple. In fact almost never. For example, Fernandinho and Rodri were completely different players. Haaland and Aguero, completely different players. David Silva and Bernardo completely different players. Silva and KDB completely different players.

I think rather than obsessing about one position (not saying are, but some people are), think it makes sense to look at how much more balanced our squad is this season than last, and how much pure fucking quality and experience we have throughout it. I appreciate that that's not really "fun" for a lot of people/posters, but it doesn't make it any less true.

I agree that the replacements for our previous big players have rarely been like for like and we have continued to be successful but this feels different. I just don't see how we can play the Pep way and win the league without a physical monster in the backline.

 

[BillyShears]

I agree that the replacements for our previous big players have rarely been like for like and we have continued to be successful but this feels different. I just don't see how we can play the Pep way and win the league without a physical monster in the backline.

I guess the run in during the treble season is instructive of how you can play without Walker. I also think in general, Pep is one step ahead of all of us. If he's happy to not sign a right back, which he will be if they're not signing one, then he's got a plan.

 

[YatesA]

In a perfect world reis will get a year of quality pro football and return to replace Stones next season and Stones this season is essentially 5th option luxury player. Khusanov should be getting any and every opportunity over akanji and ake as well as both should also be moved on next season with hopefully juma bah being given a look too

 

[Blue tiger]

Football is rarely that simple. In fact almost never. For example, Fernandinho and Rodri were completely different players. Haaland and Aguero, completely different players. David Silva and Bernardo completely different players. Silva and KDB completely different players.

I think rather than obsessing about one position (not saying are, but some people are), think it makes sense to look at how much more balanced our squad is this season than last, and how much pure fucking quality and experience we have throughout it. I appreciate that that's not really "fun" for a lot of people/posters, but it doesn't make it any less true.

I agree that we have undoubtedly improved the quality and and balance of the squad, but so have our rivals. I think the main point with the RB position is its such an obvious weakness in the team. The 2 lads who are likely to be put there have consistently made mistakes and not looked up to the level. When I look at Arsenal and Liverpool I don't see obvious weakness in their starting 11s, I see some positions where they are obviously stronger than others, but no positions like our RB position which looks so poor.

 

[BillyShears]

I agree that we have undoubtedly improved the quality and and balance of the squad, but so have our rivals. I think the main point with the RB position is its such an obvious weakness in the team. The 2 lads who are likely to be put there have consistently made mistakes and not looked up to the level. When I look at Arsenal and Liverpool I don't see obvious weakness in their starting 11s, I see some positions where they are obviously stronger than others, but no positions like our RB position which looks so poor.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I think both Arsenal and Liverpool have serious weaknesses in their squad. Liverpool have two centre backs. Unless you count Joe Gomez. They have one number six, Ryan Gravenberch, who isn't really a six. Arsenal have probably got better depth than LFC in most areas of the pitch, but they don't have our array of attacking talent or midfield talent.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

Interesting - I'd be a lot more confident with that idea if he wasn't coming back from an ACL, as it might be too much to ask of him, and if it wouldn't place Dias as a wide CB. Guess it depends on how Pep wants to build up as we've done 2-3 and 3-2 over the years

I’d have Dias as the back up to Rodri in that system. We’d need mobility in our wider centre backs.

I’d only really try it against the poorer sides and see if it worked. It’d have potential to make Rodri our “quarterback”, spraying passes round if we could create the pocket of space for him.

 

[TonyColemansbagofapples]

We'll have to agree to disagree. I think both Arsenal and Liverpool have serious weaknesses in their squad. Liverpool have two centre backs. Unless you count Joe Gomez. They have one number six, Ryan Gravenberch, who isn't really a six. Arsenal have probably got better depth than LFC in most areas of the pitch, but they don't have our array of attacking talent or midfield talent.

I think Arsenal's squad is far superior to the Dippers. Through gritted teeth I think they will provide the biggest challenge to us this season. What Chelsea will conjure up is anybody's guess.

 

[BillyShears]

I think Arsenal's squad is far superior to the Dippers. Through gritted teeth I think they will provide the biggest challenge to us this season. What Chelsea will conjure up is anybody's guess.

Chelsea are dark horses for the title, especially if they can get a decent goalkeeper in. I think the gap between the two 4 and the rest will be bigger this season than it was last season with Chelsea taking Newcastle's place somewhere in the 4.

 

[Blue tiger]

We'll have to agree to disagree. I think both Arsenal and Liverpool have serious weaknesses in their squad. Liverpool have two centre backs. Unless you count Joe Gomez. They have one number six, Ryan Gravenberch, who isn't really a six. Arsenal have probably got better depth than LFC in most areas of the pitch, but they don't have our array of attacking talent or midfield talent.

I agree they have weaknesses, but we literally have no RB. We've got 2 midfielders being asked to do a job. I genuinely hope you are proved right though.

 

[CΛL]

Walker was mostly on the bench when we were winning the Treble. Shockingly, Akanji started most big games at RB back then. And some games at LB, too.

Akanji mostly just sat back, and he was no slouch himself, so same end product really.

 

[Tb1981]

We'll have to agree to disagree. I think both Arsenal and Liverpool have serious weaknesses in their squad. Liverpool have two centre backs. Unless you count Joe Gomez. They have one number six, Ryan Gravenberch, who isn't really a six. Arsenal have probably got better depth than LFC in most areas of the pitch, but they don't have our array of attacking talent or midfield talent.

I’d say liverpools biggest weakness will be overconfidence

 

[Tb1981]

I guess the run in during the treble season is instructive of how you can play without Walker. I also think in general, Pep is one step ahead of all of us. If he's happy to not sign a right back, which he will be if they're not signing one, then he's got a plan.

Much as I trust pep…..we need a right back
Even if it’s a stop gap for a year
We play Nunes there and we won’t win anything this season

 

[BillyShears]

I agree they have weaknesses, but we literally have no RB. We've got 2 midfielders being asked to do a job. I genuinely hope you are proved right though.

Partially my optimism comes from the fact that Rico played A LOT of right back during the treble winning season and actually in some ways was a catalyst in turning that season on it's head (remember the happy flowers comments I think after Spurs). I also think we haven't seen Nunes in a stable team. It's almost impossible to judge any players off the back of last season when so much of it was spent with half the squad injured, and a general malaise of complacency.

The new players, new coaches, new voices, new energy should ensure this season is much more energised, committed, hungry etc. I'm really really optimistic. I think Marmoush, Haaland, Cherki, Foden, Doku, Savinho, Bobb, could ALL end up having huge seasons. They all have the potential to go nuts. I also think Reijnders is as good as ANY player our rivals have in their midfield options.

 

[WRicko]

I think Arsenal's squad is far superior to the Dippers. Through gritted teeth I think they will provide the biggest challenge to us this season. What Chelsea will conjure up is anybody's guess.

Who have the dippers lost to take them from well top 2nd or third and to counter the 100 millions they have spent on attacking talent most people think they have smashed the window and we should all give up