Unless Stones spends next summer skinnydipping in the healing waters of Lourdes, he is going to spend even less time on the pitch than he is getting at the moment. There is no justification for keeping him unless his physicality improves.I don’t care how fragile he is, I’d keep Stones. He understands Pep’s tactics inside out and considering we’ve just bought two young centre backs in Reis and Khusanov - and with Gvardiol still being young - his knowledge and experience would be amazing for them.
Agree with most of this, but I'd like a quality central midfielder too. I imagine the Haaland back up will be Marmoush and an academy player, as opposed to signing another striker.Goalkeepers : Ortega, NEW SIGNING
Defenders: Khusanov, Reis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, one of Ake or Stones, NEW SIGNING
Midfielders: Rodri, Nico, Kovacic, Bernardo
Attacking midfielders: Foden, Marmoush, McAtee, NEW SIGNING
Wingers: Savinho, Doku, Grealish, Bobb
Striker: Haaland, NEW SIGNING/ACADEMY PLAYER?
That means KDB, Gundogan, Ederson, Walker and one of Ake/Stones to leave. If Grealish can't stay fit for the rest of the season he can be replaced too.
Agree with most of this, but I'd like a quality central midfielder too. I imagine the Haaland back up will be Marmoush and an academy player, as opposed to signing another striker.
Ederson from Atalanta is surely the man for that
Assume Nunes could be walking as well
Build the team around the core of Dias, Gvardiol, Rodri, Foden and Haaland. An incredible blend of experience and youth. Marmoush, Nico G and Khusanov all look like brilliant signings and will get plenty of experience before next season starts. Savinho will be a superstar too. Even if we let 7-8 players leave, we`re still left with a young but experienced squad. As you say, experience doesn`t matter all that much if you`re no longer good enough to start with. Bobb will be like a new signing, best player in pre-season by far. I just hope Doku can stay injury free, as his G&A number could explode in a more stable teamAll those saying we can sell all experience well that experience doesn’t have enough legs now
If we keep the experience then we are just inviting trouble and struggle
If experienced Kev and Silva aren’t able to contribute then there is no point in having them
The problem with us is that the experience which have cannot continue in their current state
Maybe, but my instinct is that we need a passer, rather than a destroyer.
Assume Nunes could be walking as well
Id be tempted to give kdb another year. But Gundo is done.I'd add Phillips to that as well since he hasn't got a place.
Seems risky for that much turnover in a window. Stones and Grealish would be hard to move on for different reasons, so I'm open to just keeping them.
5-6 out in summer 2025 feels like the right level of change, and the players you picked look right to me. All are either too old, too fragile, or too inconsistent to warrant selection.Goalkeepers : Ortega, NEW SIGNING
Defenders: Khusanov, Reis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol, one of Ake or Stones, NEW SIGNING
Midfielders: Rodri, Nico, Kovacic, Bernardo
Attacking midfielders: Foden, Marmoush, McAtee, NEW SIGNING
Wingers: Savinho, Doku, Grealish, Bobb
Striker: Haaland, NEW SIGNING/ACADEMY PLAYER?
That means KDB, Gundogan, Ederson, Walker and one of Ake/Stones to leave. If Grealish can't stay fit for the rest of the season he can be replaced too.
I've seen enough from de Bruyne to not extend him honestly. We can't keep holding on to the hope that he'll take the game over as a starter or sub when a lot of what he offers comes from his pace which he just doesn't have anymore.Id be tempted to give kdb another year. But Gundo is done.
All the rest have more time on contracts so you can only shift them on if an offer comes in. Some legends in there but I'd take whatever deals can be done. Grealish is 29, we should get good money if he can get fit. Stones and BSilva both only 30, but feels like time to move on.
Ederson is 31. That's young for a keeper. Not sure what's going on with him.
seen this Suzuki mentioned in the few threads, how is he with his feet and the highlights vids are all saves only.If say Gundogan, Grealish, KDB, Ederson, Walker, Stones, Nunes and Phillips and one of Kovacic or Bernardo are all off, how much would we recoup from any sales?
If we were to add a new keeper, new full back, new centre midfielder and new attacking midfielder that’s likely to cost a fortune. For example say Wirtz, Baleba, Suzuki and Cambiaso is well over £300m on 4 players so while the departures will give us plenty of room on wages we’ll need to get some transfer fees in.
Would also mean 8 out (I’m not including Phillips) with 9 between the January and Summer windows
Gundogan free, Grealish 20m, KDB free, Ederson 25m (Saudi), Walker 5m (loan fee + option), Stones 15m, Nunes 25m, Phillips 5-10m, Kovacic 5m, Bernardo 15-20mIf say Gundogan, Grealish, KDB, Ederson, Walker, Stones, Nunes and Phillips and one of Kovacic or Bernardo are all off, how much would we recoup from any sales?
If we were to add a new keeper, new full back, new centre midfielder and new attacking midfielder that’s likely to cost a fortune. For example say Wirtz, Baleba, Suzuki and Cambiaso is well over £300m on 4 players so while the departures will give us plenty of room on wages we’ll need to get some transfer fees in.
Would also mean 8 out (I’m not including Phillips) with 9 between the January and Summer windows