The Squad planning thread

I think there has to be a ‘bigger’ squad of players on which to call, simply because we also need to be mindful of potential injuries to players that did so much last season. In that regard, I’m hoping that the new coaching staff will be far more assertive in monitoring players during games and calling for earlier substitutions. The sooner it starts and the more it happens, to everyone, the faster it will be accepted as part of the culture. It’s our best hope of arriving in the spring with a squad fit enough to compete on both main fronts.
I think that's the plan. I don't think what Bernie said about the players preferring a deeper squad was a throwaway comment. He's been here too long to not know better. It sounds like he was making the player's feelings on the squad size publicly known.
 
Dunno mate, but it'll certainly help. There's others with no future at City too, not to mention Philips, Walker, Grealish & McAtee none of whom are at the CWC. There's Stones too who hasn't played a second of the tournament, presumably because the club know he'll break the moment he crosses the chalk line.
As @Gareth Barry Conlon helpfully pointed out in post #4,651 above, 3 names need to go from the ‘foreign’ list.
 
I think that's the plan. I don't think what Bernie said about the players preferring a deeper squad was a throwaway comment. He's been here too long to not know better. It sounds like he was making the player's feelings on the squad size publicly known.
That’s a fair conclusion to draw. Viana is still going to have some awkward conversations.
 
I look at our squad now and I love it. I think defence is the main issue but to some extent it always will be because of the adventurous way we play. I also think the defence will be so much better protected this season with the likes of Rodders, Reindeer and Gonzalez. I also think the attacking options to support Erling, of Marmoush, Doku, Savinho, Cherki, Bobb and a rejuvenated Phil are really exciting.Hopefully Bernardo can play without being called on to defend or be a winger. Nunes and Ait Nouri are going to provide wonderful width. The future remains very Blue
 
True, but remuneration doesn't make the conversations any easier. Even when September arrives and the window closes, I think we're all still going to be asking questions.
At the end of the day, it's Hugo's job to act in the best interests of Manchester City Football Club. Both Hugo & Txiki would've had one of these difficult conversations with club legend & arguably the greatest City player ever, KDB.

I reckon if they could handle that one, they can handle any other players deemed surplus to requirements.
 
17 non home grown are allowed
Ederson
Ortega
Nuñes
Dias
Akanji
Khusanov
Reis
Gvardiol
Alt Nouri
Rodri
Reinjders
Kovacic
Gonzalez
Cherki
Gundogan
Echeverri
Cherki
Doku
Savinho
Bernardo

That's 20

So 3 of these have got to go.

Given the following are homegrown

Stones
Ake
Bobb
Foden
Bettenelli
O'Reilly

and 3 of these are currently defenders

I would say
Reis, Khusanov and Echeverri could be loaned out.

Although I'd prefer to see
Akanji Kovacic and Gundogan leave

As if Stones and Ake get injured we'll need Reis and Khusanov

Unless someone from the academy can step up.

You could make the argument that a couple of the younger non-HG players could stick around for domestic games and potentially come available for the 2nd half of the CL if injuries and form etc...

Etcheverri, Reis, Khusanov are all U21 and wouldn't need registering domestically, they're probably at risk though.
 
17 non home grown are allowed
Ederson
Ortega
Nuñes
Dias
Akanji
Khusanov
Reis
Gvardiol
Alt Nouri
Rodri
Reinjders
Kovacic
Gonzalez
Cherki
Gundogan
Echeverri
Cherki
Doku
Savinho
Bernardo

That's 20
I don't think it's been flagged, but that list includes Cherki twice and has omitted Marmoush + Haaland.

So the actual non-HG is 21 - though as pointed out above some are "under 21" for the PL list. Not sure for the CL though.

Either way, with 27 at the CWC and 5 not there (excluding the likes of Wilson Esbrand and Simpson Pusey from the academy who aren't really part of the first team pool), that's 32 in total, so we need to lose between 7 and 9 players.
 
Non-HG (17/17)​
Club HG (2/4)​
Association HG (3/4)​
U21 (Reg not required)​
U21 (Could play domestic but not CL)​
Sell/Loan​
1) Ederson1) Foden1) Ake1) Lewis1) Echeverri1) Grealish
2) Dias2) Bobb2) Stones2) O'Reilly2) Reis2) Mcatee ?
3) Akanji3) Bettinelli3) Khusanov3) Kovacic
4) Gvardiol4) Livramento ideally4) Bah
5) Ait-Nouri5) Walker
6) Rodri6) Phillips
7) Reijnders
8) Bernardo
9) Cherki
10) Doku
11) Savinho
12) Marmoush
13) Haaland
14) Nunes ?
15) Gonzalez ?
16) Gundogan ?
17) Ortega ?

I've question marked the bottom 4 as they seem most up in the air atm but most likely to be in the 17 as well.

1) We have to keep Nunes unless we sign a Livramento type player and even then you could make an argument for Nunes as a backup.
2) Gonzalez, I assume we'll keep as an understudy to Rodri, after Marmoush he's the next best equipped of the January signings.
3) Gundogan sounds like he wants to do the final year, if that's the case he'll make the cut.
4) Ortega you could replace, although he's the best backup goalkeeper in world football, you'd have to sign an English keeper ready to step in and that would mean selling one of Stones, Ake or Bettinelli or not signing someone like Livramento to make space. Unless you sign Trafford but unlikely to spend £40m on a backup, unless he agrees to spending 1 year as Ederson's understudy.
5) You could keep Echeverri, Reis and Khusanov for domestic games in the first half of the season, league cup, 'easier' league games, let them find their feet and then if we get injuries/form, register them for the CL knockouts. I think 1 or 2 of them get loaned out though.
6) There is space for McAtee if he wants to fight for his place. He probably should take a good permanent move though.

Fun problem to have though.

I think with the 2 extra CL games, UEFA could have allowed increased squads.
 
Non-HG (17/17)​
Club HG (2/4)​
Association HG (3/4)​
U21 (Reg not required)​
U21 (Could play domestic but not CL)​
Sell/Loan​
1) Ederson1) Foden1) Ake1) Lewis1) Echeverri1) Grealish
2) Dias2) Bobb2) Stones2) O'Reilly2) Reis2) Mcatee ?
3) Akanji3) Bettinelli3) Khusanov3) Kovacic
4) Gvardiol4) Livramento ideally4) Bah
5) Ait-Nouri
6) Rodri
7) Reijnders
8) Bernardo
9) Cherki
10) Doku
11) Savinho
12) Marmoush
13) Haaland
14) Nunes ?
15) Gonzalez ?
16) Gundogan ?
17) Ortega ?

I've question marked the bottom 4 as they seem most up in the air atm but most likely to be in the 17 as well.

1) We have to keep Nunes unless we sign a Livramento type player and even then you could make an argument for Nunes as a backup.
2) Gonzalez, I assume we'll keep as an understudy to Rodri, after Marmoush he's the next best equipped of the January signings.
3) Gundogan sounds like he wants to do the final year, if that's the case he'll make the cut.
4) Ortega you could replace, although he's the best backup goalkeeper in world football, you'd have to sign an English keeper ready to step in and that would mean selling one of Stones, Ake or Bettinelli or not signing someone like Livramento to make space. Unless you sign Trafford but unlikely to spend £40m on a backup, unless he agrees to spending 1 year as Ederson's understudy.
5) You could keep Echeverri, Reis and Khusanov for domestic games in the first half of the season, league cup, 'easier' league games, let them find their feet and then if we get injuries/form, register them for the CL knockouts. I think 1 or 2 of them get loaned out though.
6) There is space for McAtee if he wants to fight for his place. He probably should take a good permanent move though.

Fun problem to have though.

I think with the 2 extra CL games, UEFA could have allowed increased squads.

That Association HG doesn't sound or look good for me, there is two injury prone center backs and third keeper on that list that is not good, no one can tell me that is good, there is a reason why we signed in january two center back because Stones and Ake could not stay fit and that will not change we can not count on them for long term. We need fresh players, hungry players with energy that want to win and push each other to be better. There is no hate for any player. It's time for a change.

I think Ortega will go then we sign english keeper, think also maybe Gundo will go to Turkey,I would sell Ake and Stones because of their injury, and now Gvardiol will probably play center back, Reis can play only league and not UCL, then we can sign someone to take Association HG place.

Overall, no one should have a place in the squad because he is nice or for something good he is done from the past.
 
That Association HG doesn't sound or look good for me, there is two injury prone center backs and third keeper on that list that is not good, no one can tell me that is good, there is a reason why we signed in january two center back because Stones and Ake could not stay fit and that will not change we can not count on them for long term. We need fresh players, hungry players with energy that want to win and push each other to be better. There is no hate for any player. It's time for a change.

I think Ortega will go then we sign english keeper, think also maybe Gundo will go to Turkey,I would sell Ake and Stones because of their injury, and now Gvardiol will probably play center back, Reis can play only league and not UCL, then we can sign someone to take Association HG place.

Overall, no one should have a place in the squad because he is nice or for something good he is done from the past.

The issue is that it's not as easy to replace the homegrown players. There is no way we replace Ake and Stones. Not convinced either will go to be honest.

In your scenario of getting rid of both and Ortega and Gundogan, then one of Reis or Khusanov will get bumped into the 17. Gundo said he still wants to play at the top level and I wouldn't force Ortega out, unless a great offer comes in tbh.
 
The issue is that it's not as easy to replace the homegrown players. There is no way we replace Ake and Stones. Not convinced either will go to be honest.

In your scenario of getting rid of both and Ortega and Gundogan, then one of Reis or Khusanov will get bumped into the 17. Gundo said he still wants to play at the top level and I wouldn't force Ortega out, unless a great offer comes in tbh.
If we get rid of Stones & made a major play for Marc Guéhi who's in the final 12 months of his Palace contract, we'll get a physical upgrade with cheaper wages & replace HG for HG.
 
Non-HG (17/17)​
Club HG (2/4)​
Association HG (3/4)​
U21 (Reg not required)​
U21 (Could play domestic but not CL)​
Sell/Loan​
1) Ederson1) Foden1) Ake1) Lewis1) Echeverri1) Grealish
2) Dias2) Bobb2) Stones2) O'Reilly2) Reis2) Mcatee ?
3) Akanji3) Bettinelli3) Khusanov3) Kovacic
4) Gvardiol4) Livramento ideally4) Bah
5) Ait-Nouri
6) Rodri
7) Reijnders
8) Bernardo
9) Cherki
10) Doku
11) Savinho
12) Marmoush
13) Haaland
14) Nunes ?
15) Gonzalez ?
16) Gundogan ?
17) Ortega ?

I've question marked the bottom 4 as they seem most up in the air atm but most likely to be in the 17 as well.

1) We have to keep Nunes unless we sign a Livramento type player and even then you could make an argument for Nunes as a backup.
2) Gonzalez, I assume we'll keep as an understudy to Rodri, after Marmoush he's the next best equipped of the January signings.
3) Gundogan sounds like he wants to do the final year, if that's the case he'll make the cut.
4) Ortega you could replace, although he's the best backup goalkeeper in world football, you'd have to sign an English keeper ready to step in and that would mean selling one of Stones, Ake or Bettinelli or not signing someone like Livramento to make space. Unless you sign Trafford but unlikely to spend £40m on a backup, unless he agrees to spending 1 year as Ederson's understudy.
5) You could keep Echeverri, Reis and Khusanov for domestic games in the first half of the season, league cup, 'easier' league games, let them find their feet and then if we get injuries/form, register them for the CL knockouts. I think 1 or 2 of them get loaned out though.
6) There is space for McAtee if he wants to fight for his place. He probably should take a good permanent move though.

Fun problem to have though.

I think with the 2 extra CL games, UEFA could have allowed increased squads.
That's pretty much nailed it, though you have missed off Walker and Phillips from the Sell/Loan list. Both of those are going to be tricky to shift.
McAtee is really a no-brainer to sell as a) he's not signing a new contract b) any fee is 100% pure profit c) there are quite a few potential suitors.
 
That's pretty much nailed it, though you have missed off Walker and Phillips from the Sell/Loan list. Both of those are going to be tricky to shift.
McAtee is really a no-brainer to sell as a) he's not signing a new contract b) any fee is 100% pure profit c) there are quite a few potential suitors.
Thanks, I knew I was missing a couple of outs.
 

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