The Squad planning thread

[Dax777]

Having again next season in the squad at the same time: Walker , Akanji, Ake, Stones, Grealish, Gundogan, Nunes, Phillips and Bernardo is tantamount to suicide.

I hope they all leave.

Akanji and Grealish i might keep for 1 more season. We need more than 1 experienced Center backs. I'd like to replace Ake and Stones with Huijsen. Giving us 5 CBs. Dias starts with one of the young guys and Akanji is the experienced backup and backup RB.

I'd redeploy Grealish in the middle. We need home grown. We would have lost 4 already by summer end in Walker, Stones, Ake and Ipswich DM.

 

[YatesA]

Unless we add more pace and physicality in defence, especially at fullback, we’ll continue to get picked off by the likes of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona, which could be curtains if we draw them in the playoff rounds. I remember we shredded Feyenoord in de Kuip in 2017, when Guardiola had Walker and Voldemort on either side, and that, for me, remains the most balanced we’ve looked. Back to that blueprint.

I agree and we do have Khusanov who burned vinicius in a sprint, only issue with khus is his 1 to 1 defending isn't quite where walkers was so that could still be a weakness but lads only 20. But another quick defender would be useful

 

[King Jay]

Out: Walker, KDB, Gundogan; , Ederson maybe Ortega, Grealish. Possible: Ake, Bernardo, Nunes. Hard: Stones.

Realistic: the first 6 will leave.

New in: Suzuki, Livramento, Wirtz/Baena, Wharton, Gomes/ Bernabe, Huijsen.
Very expensive but possible if they all leave alone due to the amount of wages that gets set free.

I expect 3+2 GK though.
RB + 2 CM. Don’t see Wirtz coming sadly and Baéna looks like the type who doesn’t wanna leave his home country either.
The fact that many see Cambiasso as a RB when he is clearly a LB makes me worried.

 

[Dax777]

Out: Walker, KDB, Gundogan; , Ederson maybe Ortega, Grealish. Possible: Ake, Bernardo, Nunes. Hard: Stones.

Realistic: the first 6 will leave.

New in: Suzuki, Livramento, Wirtz/Baena, Wharton, Gomes/ Bernabe, Huijsen.
Very expensive but possible if they all leave alone due to the amount of wages that gets set free.

I expect 3+2 GK though.
RB + 2 CM. Don’t see Wirtz coming sadly and Baéna looks like the type who doesn’t wanna leave his home country either.
The fact that many see Cambiasso as a RB when he is clearly a LB makes me worried.

I think once we show interest in a player there are fans who don't want to feel like we lost out. So they continue hoping we get that player.

Didn't like the interest from the beginning. We were losing a specialist RB, why ger an utility player as replacement? We already have a utility RB in Rico.

 

[pbueno16]

Akanji and Grealish i might keep for 1 more season. We need more than 1 experienced Center backs. I'd like to replace Ake and Stones with Huijsen. Giving us 5 CBs. Dias starts with one of the young guys and Akanji is the experienced backup and backup RB.

I'd redeploy Grealish in the middle. We need home grown. We would have lost 4 already by summer end in Walker, Stones, Ake and Ipswich DM.

With the holes at center back, right back and midfield, Akanji and Grealish shouldn't be that high on the list of departures.

Stones and Ake are more likely to leave than Akanji given their respective ages and injury records, but who would buy them? Even if either or both of them end up staying, we still need a new center back regardless because we just can't trust their fitness. Troubling signs Dias looks to be injured as often as he's fit and takes a while to get match fitness.

In Grealish's case, I agree about trying him in the middle but Pep just isn't going to do it for some damn reason. For forwards, we already have Savio, Doku, Bobb, Foden, Marmoush and Haaland. That should be sufficient besides a backup to Haaland like Delap which is the only signing I'd like to see up top. Also considering Doku's availability issues and Bobb's return after missing over half a season, getting rid of Grealish this summer without a replacement or two could leave us short handed up front.

 

[Gabriel]

I agree and we do have Khusanov who burned vinicius in a sprint, only issue with khus is his 1 to 1 defending isn't quite where walkers was so that could still be a weakness but lads only 20. But another quick defender would be useful

With only one genuinely pacy defender, then we’re not developing but behaving as we did when we relied solely on Walker, and when he was absent, that ultimately proved costly.

 

[Dax777]

Front 4 is quality

Savinho---------Foden---------Marmoush
----------------------Erling--------------------------

I'd keep Doku, Bobb and one of Echeverri or McAtee..Sell Grealish, loan O'Reilly or convert to LB fulltime. Bring in a Starter(Wirtz) who allows for rotation/different formations with no drop in quality or an older No9 as Marmoush isn't a lone striker imo

--------Rodri--------Nico G--------

Could be a game dominating partnership, both good at getting forward so could pivot.
Get rid of Gundo, Kova, Nunes..Keep one of Bernie or Kev for their experience. Bring in a box to box mid or a pure 6 that allows other 2 lads to focus more on attacking/control if paired with.

New RB------Khusanov-----Dias------Gvardiol

Need a RB for sure, though would keep Rico as the 2nd option then Khusa as back up if defensive option needed. Move Reis up the pecking order and buy a left footed ball playing CB. Keep ONE of Ake, Stones or Akanji with view of being replaced by Bah after he has another loan.

Keep one of Ederson/Ortega and buy a younger keeper to replace. Extend Scott Carsons contract.

5 in
8 out

Promoting the roles of O'Reilly & Reis, and having Bobb back covers the extra 3 out.

Agree with every word. See it exactly the same. Except one minor addition. I want Akanji as the guy kept in CB coz he is the least injury probe of the 3. And I want Huijsen as the new CB. Also Akanji can play backup RB so that helps. But mostly coz he is more healthy than the other 2.

Team

GK Suzuki, Ortega, Carson
RB: Pablo Maffeo Rico, Akanji
RCB: Khusanov, Reis, Akanji
LCB: Dias, Huijsen, Gvardiol
LB: Gvardiol, O'Reilly'
CM: Rodri, Santos
CM: Gonzalez, Kovacic (Grealish)
LW:Marmoush, Doku
AM: Wirtz, Foden, Echeveri
RW: Savihno, Bobb
St: Haaland, Big backup

Anyone not on the list is presumed moved. That's the rebuild id envision. Granted we may or may not get Wirtz and I'll be fine with a resurgent Foden being pushed by a hopefully up and coming phenom in Echeveri.

But we need more competition and less complacency.

 

[Dipsis_LTU_MC]

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Echemerri and Reis need to be in the 17 for the C/L squad and it's very unlikely we go into next season with different squads.We would probably need to let Nunes and Kovacic both go,or just 1 of them and only buy 1 midfielder.

do wonder if they might try this with the 'project' players and just leave them out of the CL for a season or two, space and the rebuild, their development being what it is. (or we see move leave than we expect)

 

[blueparrot]

do wonder if they might try this with the 'project' players and just leave them out of the CL for a season or two, space and the rebuild, their development being what it is. (or we see move leave than we expect)

We never have and it will depend what they were told when they signed. The other issue is IF we fill the champions league squad then all those CL players will expect to be part of match day squad and would make if difficult to find room for players like Reis Echeverri maybe even Bobb to make the bench,especially if it's a younger fitter less injury prone squad.
I think its quite unlikely we have 2 different squads.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

We never have and it will depend what they were told when they signed. The other issue is IF we fill the champions league squad then all those CL players will expect to be part of match day squad and would make if difficult to find room for players like Reis Echeverri maybe even Bobb to make the bench,especially if it's a younger fitter less injury prone squad.
I think its quite unlikely we have 2 different squads.

yeah, but they are making lots of noise about squad numbers and things changing etc Just a thought on the possibility. Not a complete different squad but a couple of players on one PL and not CL for a year or two while they stagger what they can/cant bring in/sell. Reis probably harder to convince than Echerverri for the money though.

 

[Cityfan]

This is how I see us lining up:

New GK
New RB Kus Dias Gvardiol
Nico Rodri
Silvinho Marmoush New RW
Haaland

Thought Silvinho was old first time round I think you're optimistic if you think he'll be better now.

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

I've been having a sad epiphany recently. It seems to me our preferred style of high energy pressing cannot be maintained forever with the high # of games that we get into year after year.

Take Bernardo, we got him 2017, 6 years excellent, 7th year decline(2024) 8th year marked decline (2025) and he's the true exception! No one else comes close to him.

KDB.. started the system in 2017.. got pretty much all of 2019 off due to injuries.. but very reliable till 22. Somewhat declined and injured in treble season. I mean I love him but it's a fact he was injured and a bit slower that season. And even more so last season. This season marked decline. So again 6 seasons excellent. 7th season decline, 8th marked decline.

Foden.. broke into team 2020.. excellent till 2024.. decline 2025. 4 years excellent.. 5th year decline.

Jesus.. excellent for 5 seasons for us, after that there's been a decline.. maybe due to Arteta or maybe due to his body.

If you look at Mane and Salah 5 excellent seasons and then decline.


Apologies for the little rant there but maybe there is just a breaking point in the bodies of players beyond 50 games per season and we shouldn't give decade long contracts except for a very few superstars like Erling.

For the rest of the squad.. I think we may have to start doing 4-5 year contracts max and then say thank you for your service!

 

[simon23]

I've been having a sad epiphany recently. It seems to me our preferred style of high energy pressing cannot be maintained forever with the high # of games that we get into year after year.

Take Bernardo, we got him 2017, 6 years excellent, 7th year decline(2024) 8th year marked decline (2025) and he's the true exception! No one else comes close to him.

KDB.. started the system in 2017.. got pretty much all of 2019 off due to injuries.. but very reliable till 22. Somewhat declined and injured in treble season. I mean I love him but it's a fact he was injured and a bit slower that season. And even more so last season. This season marked decline. So again 6 seasons excellent. 7th season decline, 8th marked decline.

Foden.. broke into team 2020.. excellent till 2024.. decline 2025. 4 years excellent.. 5th year decline.

Jesus.. excellent for 5 seasons for us, after that there's been a decline.. maybe due to Arteta or maybe due to his body.

If you look at Mane and Salah 5 excellent seasons and then decline.


Apologies for the little rant there but maybe there is just a breaking point in the bodies of players beyond 50 games per season and we shouldn't give decade long contracts except for a very few superstars like Erling.

For the rest of the squad.. I think we may have to start doing 4-5 year contracts max and then say thank you for your service!

Yep...its a cycle - players cannot maintain their levels of performance....no matter how good the sports science is...you may get the odd one if they are freakish in physical nature (Walker maybe?) or extremely lucky with injuries but other than that...

The decline is more noteable in the players who are in the top 1% as well...KDB being a prime example of this. ...when they lose that extra % that makes them really stand out the fall off is very visable.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

I've been having a sad epiphany recently. It seems to me our preferred style of high energy pressing cannot be maintained forever with the high # of games that we get into year after year.

You may have something there but better utilisation of the squad is what is needed.
Age is going to catch up with all players, some quicker than others.
I'm a little 0ld fashioned in that I like to see like players for like players when a player is injured, tired etc and needs substituting.
i.e. a RB coming off is replaced by a RB.
At the start of the season we had Walker as our no.1 RB with possible back ups in Lewis, Couto and Kabore. 3 of them sent out on loan.
I'm not saying they are any better than Akanji who has filled in at RB but Akanji is flitting across several positions and getting little rest.
Its the same with several positions

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

I like to see like players for like players when a player is injured, tired etc and needs substituting.
i.e. a RB coming off is replaced by a RB.

Can't even argue with that..

Example Ake needs subbed, so we sub braindead Kova on and move Stones from midfield back to defense weakening ourselves in 2 positions in a game we had quasi control of.

 

[bhayes]

I hope moving forward we have a larger squad. The reality is we are playing more games and the small squads that pep likes are not going to work moving forward due to the amount of injuries and people playing injured.

 

[It'sBlue93:20]

I’d sell: Ederson, Stones, Walker, Gundogan, Kovacic, Nunes, De Bruyne, Grealish, Bernardo

 

[Roachy]

I’d sell: Ederson, Stones, Walker, Gundogan, Kovacic, Nunes, De Bruyne, Grealish, Bernardo

There's quite a few who wouldn't argue against that list.

 

[simon23]

I’d sell: Ederson, Stones, Walker, Gundogan, Kovacic, Nunes, De Bruyne, Grealish, Bernardo

There are two in that list for me are 50/50

Ederson - physically he is still more than capable....I think its mentally he has checked out - if he wants to check back in then we keep him as he is the best for the style of play we have.

Bernardo - he has had a poor season but I dont know if that is a physical thing or just an affect of playing in such a poor midfield and having to play roles he aint comfortable in.

The rest are easy decisions for me - they should all be let go....with Eddie and Bernardo if they are let go I wouldnt be too bothered either but they still have potential to play at the level required.