The Squad planning thread

[richards30]

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.

He never said but Pep wanted Wirtz badly it seems so i cant imagine he`s best pleased.

 

[brian the blue]

He never said but Pep wanted Wirtz badly it seems so i cant imagine he`s best pleased.

He can’t have wanted him that badly if he was out of the country when Wirtz and his family came to look round the other week.

 

[brian the blue]

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.

Not saying it’s what I want to happen, just what I think will happen. I agree we need more of a refresh but we can’t shift the players.

 

[johnny crossan]

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.

I think we all know the grim reality of existing contracts. Phillips will be on our books until 2028 wherever he hangs his boots and he won't be alone in getting huge absentee wages. Our much needed rebuild is set to be a big disappointment to everybody including Pep.

 

[Bluemoon has risen]

Heard Ake and Stones have both got interest in them and good chance they leave. No idea how that works with the homegrown allowance.

 

[Mad_fer_it]

Any links to a LB for us? Cannot be persisting with Gvardiol there, man's wasted as an LB. He's x10 better at CB (shock!). O'Reily is a great player to push whoever we buy (assuming we do).

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Any links to a LB for us? Cannot be persisting with Gvardiol there, man's wasted as an LB. He's x10 better at CB (shock!). O'Reily is a great player to push whoever we buy (assuming we do).

Kerkez & Cambiaso

 

[richards30]

He can’t have wanted him that badly if he was out of the country when Wirtz and his family came to look round the other week.

He had already spoken to Wirtz and his family and had gone back home to see his?

 

[Cozmo Bozo]

Heard Ake and Stones have both got interest in them and good chance they leave. No idea how that works with the homegrown allowance.

It hardly matters for Stones, he's pretty much a vacant spot as it is.

 

[Semper aggressus]

Hopefully we don’t just end up with the average MGW for about £80m and some unknown youngster from abroad that never ends up playing.

After this season everyone can see we need fullbacks, and pace and energy in midfield, someone who can create and score more than about 4 a season!

 

[CΛL]

I think we end up with:

• Reijnders
• Gibbs-White
• Wesley
• A GK if Ederson leaves, more than likely Diogo Costa
• Maybe a left back but we're barely linked with anyone other than Kerkez and he seems Liverpool bound

And I reckon that's it - fully depends on how many we can get rid of. Still leaves us in a much better position with MGW and Reijnders, along with Nico G shaking up the midfield.

 

[richards30]

Costa
Wesley
Cambiaso
Reijnders
Gibbs-White
Trincao

I reckon.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

Heard Ake and Stones have both got interest in them and good chance they leave. No idea how that works with the homegrown allowance.

Flog them both and get Guehi.

 

[Gumzy97]

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?

Viana will sell what he wants to sell for the good of the club , he ripped Sporting apart.

Viana has an eye for talent. He’s very good at spotting young talent that can become world class in their position.

I just don’t think Viana works with Pep. Pep wants ready made, Viana wants projects there is going to be a clash somewhere down the line. I think our board have looked at the scouting and talent Viana has found and thought if he could do that here.

It would save money and the players we get from that strategy wouldn’t be sold since we don’t have too. It’s basically Sporting and Brighton model with the constant scouting for talent and not having to sell the talent that’s already here

 

[Delphinho]

Heard Ake and Stones have both got interest in them and good chance they leave. No idea how that works with the homegrown allowance.

Rather keep Ake as a backup than Akanji

 

[CΛL]

Flog them both and get Guehi.

We should flog them both and sign no replacement - or if we do we should get a left footer and loan out one or two of the younger lads.

Aside from Stones, we have 5 right footed centre halves:

Dias
Akanji
Khus
Reis
Bah

In total with Gvardiol we'd still have 6 centre halves unless a couple of those go on loan, too many. With Stones and Ake we'd have 8. Nuts.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

We should flog them both and sign no replacement - or if we do we should get a left footer and loan out one or two of the younger lads.

Aside from Stones, we have 5 right footed centre halves:

Dias
Akanji
Khus
Reis
Bah

In total with Gvardiol we'd still have 6 centre halves unless a couple of those go on loan, too many. With Stones and Ake we'd have 8. Nuts.

Reis and Bah wont be a factor imo. They'll both be loaned. Id sell Akanji for a starting RB as well if i could

Akanji and Nunes gone for Livramento & Wesley
Ake and Stones gone for Guehi.

in pure fantasy booking.

 

[CΛL]

Reis and Bah wont be a factor imo. They'll both be loaned. Id sell Akanji for a starting RB as well if i could

Akanji and Nunes gone for Livramento & Wesley
Ake and Stones gone for Guehi.

in pure fantasy booking.

We're going to have to get rid of at least 3 on loan or in sales otherwise we'll be in trouble, especially if we're to play wingbacks now, reduces the available spots in the backline from 3/4 to 2 for all the centre halves.

Livaremento would be a dream, such a great player.

 

[Lord Blue]

it's not so much that we need a bigger squad, it's that we need serious player turnover.

 

[Gaz (FMwkdsoul)]

We're going to have to get rid of at least 3 on loan or in sales otherwise we'll be in trouble, especially if we're to play wingbacks now, reduces the available spots in the backline from 3/4 to 2 for all the centre halves.

Livaremento would be a dream, such a great player.

Agree. Gonna be interesting to see this pan out. think its doable with some clever moves, gonna have to be ruthless with a few guys though