The Squad planning thread

[silvasdreamyfringe]

This is what I would do (obviously worth fuck all)

Out: Akanji, Gundogan, Grealish, McAtee, Ederson (all of these looking more likely) and Stones + hopefully Kovacic though maybe difficulty given his injury.

If we can't shift Kovacic feel Echeverri likely goes out on loan, if we can, then keep Echeverri around as I prefer Bernardo in a deeper role anyway.

Livramento obviously make sense for HG and RB being an obvious weak spot, though feel is unlikely. But this squad would 25 players so slightly large for pep's preferences I think but Ake's fitness can't be relied on and there are younger players that will not expect to start every week.

This squad would allow every player to be registered for the champions league within the rules. However if we did buy a non-homegrown RB, would mean one other non-homegrown players missing out of the champions league squad e.g. Reis, though all would still be eligible for domestic squads

 

[KS55]

I’m not sure Pep sees Cherki as a starter yet unfortunately and I’m not sure how happy Cherki will be with that situation

Even so, Pep will want him to bed in asap. He is, after all, a current international with a decent team.

 

[KS55]

It's quiet in work so we all had a chat about football, Villa, Wolves, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle fans and me.
The general consensus from them all is that our squad depth is shit compared to what it used to be and that our transfer business lately is shockingly bad ha.
Not one of them thinks we'll win the title next season

What? They mean we no longer have two internationals for every position? We have plenty of depth; what we are lacking possibly is a star player or two in midfield/attack: see Sane and Sterling or Silva and KdB or Mahrez and Foden.
Maybe Cherki fills that hole with a rejuvenated Foden or Bobb. I really don’t care if we don’t win the title, as long as we see a new top team emerging.

 

[KS55]

I don’t think it is harsh. Players like Doku, savinho and others aren’t as good as the previous players we had in my opinion. Fair - haaland is at one end of that rating.

Maybe a few more years and they will develop, but I’m not seeing it as quickly as I did with others. Player for player I don’t think we are as good

If you compare Sane and Mahrez to Doku and Savinho, it’s obvious we need more quality. Rodrygo?

 

[CΛL]

If you compare Sane and Mahrez to Doku and Savinho, it’s obvious we need more quality. Rodrygo?

None of them a patch on prime Sterling

 

[lightning Rodri]

None of them a patch on prime Sterling

It's a common thing here to overlook Sterling, who contributed much more than those two.

 

[VOOMER]

It's a common thing here to overlook Sterling, who contributed much more than those two.

100% agree.

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

It's a common thing here to overlook Sterling, who contributed much more than those two.

Sterling had 3 careers in 7 seasons with City.

1. Pre 2017-18
2. Prime Sterling
3. Post - Lyon miss

He's mostly overlooked because of post-lyon where he became a shade of what he was before.

And I still think it's mostly in his head.. that miss caused him major PTSD and basically ended his career.

 

[salfordbluetrue]

Feel free to correct me, i may be out with my numbers, CL group A is a maximum of 25 players, group B a maximum of 17 foreign players, which includes a sub group of 4 non European players , group C being a minimum of 4 academy players, with the rest taken up by association players, group D.
In the PL and cups , 3/4 of the games played, groups A, B, remain the same, group C and D amalgamate, and another group is added, the Zinchenko rule group, now i might not have this right but all players under the age of 21 at the start of the season are considered youth players.
Which should tell us that we do not need English players but we are over loaded, especially if we do not move players into the U21`s where they are still available for 3/4 of the games.
A list of midfielders some may have gone some never came, and some will make money, name the 3 you would keep. Grealish, Gundogan, Bernardo ,Kovacic, Perrone, McAtee, lewis, Phillips and KDB, you never know it might only be 1.

 

[citizen_maine]

Feel free to correct me, i may be out with my numbers, CL group A is a maximum of 25 players, group B a maximum of 17 foreign players, which includes a sub group of 4 non European players , group C being a minimum of 4 academy players, with the rest taken up by association players, group D.
In the PL and cups , 3/4 of the games played, groups A, B, remain the same, group C and D amalgamate, and another group is added, the Zinchenko rule group, now i might not have this right but all players under the age of 21 at the start of the season are considered youth players.
Which should tell us that we do not need English players but we are over loaded, especially if we do not move players into the U21`s where they are still available for 3/4 of the games.
A list of midfielders some may have gone some never came, and some will make money, name the 3 you would keep. Grealish, Gundogan, Bernardo ,Kovacic, Perrone, McAtee, lewis, Phillips and KDB, you never know it might only be 1.

You've not mentioned that several of the the recently purchased Under 21's won't qualify for the CL U21''s list as they haven't been at the club for 2 years yet

 

[Cobwebcat]

 

[salfordbluetrue]

You've not mentioned that several of the the recently purchased Under 21's won't qualify for the CL U21''s list as they haven't been at the club for 2 years yet

True but then most will not want to play in that competition. But that does show the difference, Pep has brought though 1 player a year, or tried to, which is great, but the academy can not guarantee bringing through a player, in a position that we need.

 

[Centurions]

Feel free to correct me, i may be out with my numbers, CL group A is a maximum of 25 players, group B a maximum of 17 foreign players, which includes a sub group of 4 non European players , group C being a minimum of 4 academy players, with the rest taken up by association players, group D.
In the PL and cups , 3/4 of the games played, groups A, B, remain the same, group C and D amalgamate, and another group is added, the Zinchenko rule group, now i might not have this right but all players under the age of 21 at the start of the season are considered youth players.
Which should tell us that we do not need English players but we are over loaded, especially if we do not move players into the U21`s where they are still available for 3/4 of the games.
A list of midfielders some may have gone some never came, and some will make money, name the 3 you would keep. Grealish, Gundogan, Bernardo ,Kovacic, Perrone, McAtee, lewis, Phillips and KDB, you never know it might only be 1.

I'm pretty sure the answer is no, but to be honest your question is confusing me ;)

 

[citizen_maine]

True but then most will not want to play in that competition. But that does show the difference, Pep has brought though 1 player a year, or tried to, which is great, but the academy can not guarantee bringing through a player, in a position that we need.

You've lost me. You think players won't want to play in the CL?

 

[Skrastins]

This is what I would do (obviously worth fuck all)

Out: Akanji, Gundogan, Grealish, McAtee, Ederson (all of these looking more likely) and Stones + hopefully Kovacic though maybe difficulty given his injury.

If we can't shift Kovacic feel Echeverri likely goes out on loan, if we can, then keep Echeverri around as I prefer Bernardo in a deeper role anyway.

Livramento obviously make sense for HG and RB being an obvious weak spot, though feel is unlikely. But this squad would 25 players so slightly large for pep's preferences I think but Ake's fitness can't be relied on and there are younger players that will not expect to start every week.

This squad would allow every player to be registered for the champions league within the rules. However if we did buy a non-homegrown RB, would mean one other non-homegrown players missing out of the champions league squad e.g. Reis, though all would still be eligible for domestic squads

I think the same with XI

But Livramento won’t happen, so the most likely will be something like Malo Gusto, maybe Kounde

 

[salfordbluetrue]

I'm pretty sure the answer is no, but to be honest your question is confusing me ;)

Not really a question, more of a conundrum which would you keep and which will Pep keep. The big question is how do you move players on big wages.

 

[johnny crossan]

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

It's a common thing here to overlook Sterling, who contributed much more than those two.

Mad innit. What we'd give for a winger who put up prime Sterling's raw numbers.

 

[Berti No Show]

Was talking to a lad at 5 a side Football last night who's brother's mate works within the club. Could be BS, but he said he's heard rumours inside the club that we have been closely looking at a few right backs, and even sent scouts to watch them numerous times. The names of the players are Jon Aramburu of Real Sociedad and Omar El Hilali of Espanyol.

I've never really watched any of these players so I don't know what they are like, but it's just what he told me. Might be BS like I said. I'm not an ITK, just passing information on.

 

[citytill1die84]

Alongside 23/24 Foden we need this Ruben Dias back :-) people have obviously forgotten how good of a player he is and can be.