The Squad planning thread

What is the likelihood of us ever seeing left-footed and right-footed wingers on their respective wings again? Sane and Sterling allowed us to exploit the full width of the pitch, but Doku and especially Savinho have been largely shackled and forced into attacking the inside. With no overlapping fullback, it's become tiresome to watch. If we have mobility in midfield again, maybe we could have a little more variety on the wings.
 
What is the likelihood of us ever seeing left-footed and right-footed wingers on their respective wings again? Sane and Sterling allowed us to exploit the full width of the pitch, but Doku and especially Savinho have been largely shackled and forced into attacking the inside. With no overlapping fullback, it's become tiresome to watch. If we have mobility in midfield again, maybe we could have a little more variety on the wings.
I think we’re much more likely now to buy wingbacks high and wide and have inverted forwards like Marmoush and Foden.
 
Keen to hear what first 11, out of the current players (discounting KDB who is now off), people believe to be our strongest.

I'd say it's this when everyone is fit:

Ederson
Nunes
Stones
Dias
Gvardiol
Rodri
Kovacic/Nico
Foden
Bernardo
Marmoush
Haaland

Lacks width and pace though. I hope Pep plays Foden more central though next season.
 
Keen to hear what first 11, out of the current players (discounting KDB who is now off), people believe to be our strongest.

I'd say it's this when everyone is fit:

Ederson
Nunes
Stones
Dias
Gvardiol
Rodri
Kovacic/Nico
Foden
Bernardo
Marmoush
Haaland

Lacks width and pace though. I hope Pep plays Foden more central though next season.

Ederson
Nunes
Stones
Dias
Gvardiol
Nico Gonzalez
Rodri
Foden
Marmoush
Doku
Haaland
 
Ederson
Nunes
Stones
Dias
Gvardiol
Nico Gonzalez
Rodri
Foden
Marmoush
Doku
Haaland
Well if Ake and Akanji don't make either of the two teams selected then surely they need to go. And so does Grealish.

I'd actually go with
Ederson
Khusanov Stones Gvardiol O'Reilly
. Rodri
González Bernardo
Foden. Haaland. Marmoush

And therefore for me Gundo joins Ake, Akanji, Jack, Kev, Walker and Phillips.

Kovacic and Nunes are useful players to have around, Lewis too.
 
Well if Ake and Akanji don't make either of the two teams selected then surely they need to go. And so does Grealish.

I'd actually go with
Ederson
Khusanov Stones Gvardiol O'Reilly
. Rodri
González Bernardo
Foden. Haaland. Marmoush

And therefore for me Gundo joins Ake, Akanji, Jack, Kev, Walker and Phillips.

Kovacic and Nunes are useful players to have around, Lewis too.

One of Stones or Ake will be kept imo mate as they are homegrown?
 
Well if Ake and Akanji don't make either of the two teams selected then surely they need to go. And so does Grealish.

I'd actually go with
Ederson
Khusanov Stones Gvardiol O'Reilly
. Rodri
González Bernardo
Foden. Haaland. Marmoush

And therefore for me Gundo joins Ake, Akanji, Jack, Kev, Walker and Phillips.

Kovacic and Nunes are useful players to have around, Lewis too.
Id actually argue Nunes and Lewis are almost "too useful" and it's becoming a bit of a detriment to us.

Having players that can play multiple positions is a must for any Pep system/squad, but having players who can play multiple positions to a 6/10 standard at the maximum (I know I'm being quite unfair there) is harming us, I feel.
 
Id actually argue Nunes and Lewis are almost "too useful" and it's becoming a bit of a detriment to us.

Having players that can play multiple positions is a must for any Pep system/squad, but having players who can play multiple positions to a 6/10 standard at the maximum (I know I'm being quite unfair there) is harming us, I feel.

Was thinking the other day - 7 or 8 years ago we basically had a first choice 11 that you could predict from game to game. It felt like the best players, the best system, the best manager.

Now we can probably predict about 4 or 5 players from game to game, with others selected based on the system Pep wants to use - inverting, playing high, runners, etc.

And like you mention it does feel like this added flexabilibity/versatility in the squad means that if the players Pep wants to use for a specific game are injured, the replacements usually provide something different. Not always something as good for that match.
 

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