The Squad planning thread

PragueBlue said:
I must admit that I have had that feeling for a little while. I hope I'm wrong though.
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There was some chat after the Crystal Palace home game but its growing and growing now about Pep and his releationship with Viana? Was intensified after the game on tuesday as my cousin was in the chairmans lounge and once people around starting having a drink or ten, they start talking? By all accounts in there, the chat was that Pep doesnt want project type players like Wesley as he wants ready made top class guys ready to go as he only has two years left? He also is seriously pissed that some of his trusted players are up for the chop and isnt happy that his opinion is now being overruled by Viana whereas Txiki would let Pep have the final say? Like i say, was a chat among executives etc when the drinks were flowing but may have weight behind it with Peps comments after the game?
 
richards30 said:
With the rumours (And only rumours at the moment) of what the dippers and arse are looking to do and our current rumours, are we getting further away if all things happen for all clubs that the links are strongest for?
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If everyone is mentally ready and physically fit then we immediately close the gap. It's been a tough season but we aren't a million miles away from where we need to be.
 
Reading between the lines after Pep’s comments I think it’ll be

Outs
De Bruyne
Grealish
Walker
Ederson
Phillips
McAtee
Khusanov
Reis
Echeverri
Bobb

Ins
Gibbs-White
New Full back.
Costa
 
richards30 said:
There was some chat after the Crystal Palace home game but its growing and growing now about Pep and his releationship with Viana? Was intensified after the game on tuesday as my cousin was in the chairmans lounge and once people around starting having a drink or ten, they start talking? By all accounts in there, the chat was that Pep doesnt want project type players like Wesley as he wants ready made top class guys ready to go as he only has two years left? He also is seriously pissed that some of his trusted players are up for the chop and isnt happy that his opinion is now being overruled by Viana whereas Txiki would let Pep have the final say? Like i say, was a chat among executives etc when the drinks were flowing but may have weight behind it with Peps comments after the game?
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There's definitely something in that. People are thinking he has lost the plot by sticking with the older heads, but he sees them in training everyday and clearly doesn't feel the new signings are ready yet.

He has come out firing asking for quality over quantity. We don't need to be a project team developing young players and selling them on. We have the money and stature to attract players who are already showing their talent. Whilst the likes of Bernardo, De Bruyne etc weren't world class when we bought them they were incredibly good players with clear evidence they had the quality to improve us.

Taking punts on young players is what Sporting have to do. We need to be looking at players who have had outstanding domestic seasons or have showcased their ability in the CL. Otherwise Pep's job is so much harder than it needs to be.

We have a long list of players where there's a genuine question over whether they're good enough. And that isn't right with the level we aspire to be.
 
supercity88 said:
There's definitely something in that. People are thinking he has lost the plot by sticking with the older heads, but he sees them in training everyday and clearly doesn't feel the new signings are ready yet.

He has come out firing asking for quality over quantity. We don't need to be a project team developing young players and selling them on. We have the money and stature to attract players who are already showing their talent. Whilst the likes of Bernardo, De Bruyne etc weren't world class when we bought them they were incredibly good players with clear evidence they had the quality to improve us.

Taking punts on young players is what Sporting have to do. We need to be looking at players who have had outstanding domestic seasons or have showcased their ability in the CL. Otherwise Pep's job is so much harder than it needs to be.

We have a long list of players where there's a genuine question over whether they're good enough. And that isn't right with the level we aspire to be.
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Thats the jist mate yeah. Pep doesnt want a load of new project signings that he doesnt feel are good enough to play?
 
supercity88 said:
There's definitely something in that. People are thinking he has lost the plot by sticking with the older heads, but he sees them in training everyday and clearly doesn't feel the new signings are ready yet.

He has come out firing asking for quality over quantity. We don't need to be a project team developing young players and selling them on. We have the money and stature to attract players who are already showing their talent. Whilst the likes of Bernardo, De Bruyne etc weren't world class when we bought them they were incredibly good players with clear evidence they had the quality to improve us.

Taking punts on young players is what Sporting have to do. We need to be looking at players who have had outstanding domestic seasons or have showcased their ability in the CL. Otherwise Pep's job is so much harder than it needs to be.

We have a long list of players where there's a genuine question over whether they're good enough. And that isn't right with the level we aspire to be.
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nearly every target so far at least falls into one of these imo.
 
richards30 said:
There was some chat after the Crystal Palace home game but its growing and growing now about Pep and his releationship with Viana? Was intensified after the game on tuesday as my cousin was in the chairmans lounge and once people around starting having a drink or ten, they start talking? By all accounts in there, the chat was that Pep doesnt want project type players like Wesley as he wants ready made top class guys ready to go as he only has two years left? He also is seriously pissed that some of his trusted players are up for the chop and isnt happy that his opinion is now being overruled by Viana whereas Txiki would let Pep have the final say? Like i say, was a chat among executives etc when the drinks were flowing but may have weight behind it with Peps comments after the game?
Click to expand...

I wonder what Pep's opinion was on us ending the pursuit of Wirtz.

I get what he means about not wanting projects etc but there needs to be a mix and he also needs to realise his boys are getting old - can't keep them all.
 
brian the blue said:
21.

2 keepers.

Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Stones, Ake, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, new FB

Rodri, Nico, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Gibbs-White, Foden, Savinho, Doku

Marmoush, Haaland.

He doesn’t want to leave people in the stands.
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No Lewis, Juma Ba, 3rd keeper? I agree it might be just a full back and possibly a KDB replacement this window but he will have 25 players in the squad for sure. (Including 4 association trained)
 
johnny crossan said:
No Lewis, Juma Ba, 3rd keeper? I agree it might be just a full back and possibly a KDB replacement this window but he will have 25 players in the squad for sure.
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Sorry yeah Lewis will stick around and there will be a 3rd keeper.

That Bah lad will be sold for a profit with buy back I’d assume.
 
brian the blue said:
21.

2 keepers.

Nunes, Akanji, Dias, Stones, Ake, Gvardiol, O’Reilly, new FB

Rodri, Nico, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Gibbs-White, Foden, Savinho, Doku

Marmoush, Haaland.

He doesn’t want to leave people in the stands.
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I don’t think that’s good enough. Need greater refreshment than MGW. Akanji Stines Ake are too injury prone. One RB? 2 ineffective wingers.
 
johnny crossan said:
Don't think Pep will risk the same 4 CBs he started with this season.
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He clearly doesn’t rate Khusanov and Reis and we know he loves Ake and Stones.

So I don’t think he has that much of a choice.

The big issue is that this isn’t a video game, we can’t just put Stones and Ake up for sale and watch clubs come offering transfer fees for them. The only way out for them is us loaning them and paying their wages like Walker, or terminating their contracts. Both of which I can’t see us doing.
 
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