The Squad planning thread

[CΛL]

I think if we sign anyone this summer for the forward group, it should be Olise. Spent some time at City academy.

I took a stupid amount of hate for the Olise > Mahrez take on here last year but I assume you've all come around now. Mahrez obviously brilliant but everyone on here seems to forget he was a rotation player throughout his tenure. I think he was left out of the starting XI 25 times in our treble season. Love the lad. Top player. Not trying to be disrespectful.

But we have Olise with 41 G+A through 37 games this season from the wing. He is in the pool for the Balon d'Or for a second year running and just turned 24 a few months ago. Yes farmers league yada yada but the guy is a joy to watch and his ability is clear (was also clear last season but alas).

I can't see him staying in Germany forever. Too easy. Rumours online that Liverpool, Madrid, and ourselves are interested and that has prompted Bayern to look into a 2 year-contract extension before the World Cup. I think our wingers are all great at what they do, but I'm not sure any are this good. I think he'd be a mainstay in the XI on the right when healthy.

Potential of a double with Kompany and Olise in a few seasons?
View attachment 186075

Mahrez was better

 

[uwe rosler 28]

I think if we sign anyone this summer for the forward group, it should be Olise. Spent some time at City academy.

I took a stupid amount of hate for the Olise > Mahrez take on here last year but I assume you've all come around now. Mahrez obviously brilliant but everyone on here seems to forget he was a rotation player throughout his tenure. I think he was left out of the starting XI 25 times in our treble season. Love the lad. Top player. Not trying to be disrespectful.

But we have Olise with 41 G+A through 37 games this season from the wing. He is in the pool for the Balon d'Or for a second year running and just turned 24 a few months ago. Yes farmers league yada yada but the guy is a joy to watch and his ability is clear (was also clear last season but alas).

I can't see him staying in Germany forever. Too easy. Rumours online that Liverpool, Madrid, and ourselves are interested and that has prompted Bayern to look into a 2 year-contract extension before the World Cup. I think our wingers are all great at what they do, but I'm not sure any are this good. I think he'd be a mainstay in the XI on the right when healthy.

Potential of a double with Kompany and Olise in a few seasons?
View attachment 186075

Not saying he's not a good player but many have done well in Germany not at bayern too!! Difference is mahrez took leicester to a title olisse made sure palace avoid relegation!! More than happy with our forward options going into next season can't see them changing.

 

[ScottSinclair]

We have built a squad with a weak mentality. Not sure how to rectify it

 

[walker_is_faster]

We have built a squad with a weak mentality. Not sure how to rectify it

Starting by having a captain who is a leader.

 

[Mad 4 It]

When are we going to get rid of Sav he just bottles it every time. Doku ain’t much better, both mentally weak

 

[Sir Joe Aguero]

I think if we sign anyone this summer for the forward group, it should be Olise. Spent some time at City academy.

I took a stupid amount of hate for the Olise > Mahrez take on here last year but I assume you've all come around now. Mahrez obviously brilliant but everyone on here seems to forget he was a rotation player throughout his tenure. I think he was left out of the starting XI 25 times in our treble season. Love the lad. Top player. Not trying to be disrespectful.

But we have Olise with 41 G+A through 37 games this season from the wing. He is in the pool for the Balon d'Or for a second year running and just turned 24 a few months ago. Yes farmers league yada yada but the guy is a joy to watch and his ability is clear (was also clear last season but alas).

I can't see him staying in Germany forever. Too easy. Rumours online that Liverpool, Madrid, and ourselves are interested and that has prompted Bayern to look into a 2 year-contract extension before the World Cup. I think our wingers are all great at what they do, but I'm not sure any are this good. I think he'd be a mainstay in the XI on the right when healthy.

Potential of a double with Kompany and Olise in a few seasons?
View attachment 186075

Got to wonder why we weren’t in for him when Chelsea got done for tapping him up and a release clause was established. Probably too expensive now.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

We have built a squad with a weak mentality. Not sure how to rectify it

We’ve sold/ lost a lot of proven winners and replaced them with decent players with no experience of winning anything.

 

[ScottSinclair]

We’ve sold/ lost a lot of proven winners and replaced them with decent players with no experience of winning anything.

Foden and Haaland is two players talented enough to be world-class in their position and wer part of our great squads that won loads, but none of them seem to have growm into leaders. Both turning into fickle confidence players. Very disapointing and damaging for us. Who is going to drag us forwards

 

[Mad 4 It]

We’ve bought loads of average players so what can we expect. Anderson will definitely help but both wingers are poor for different reasons. Both should be moved on

 

[Gabriel]

More run about players with inconsistent technique will only continue the slide. We’ve been filling the squad with guys to challenge domestically, but they’re still a couple of seasons short of the quality needed to dominate on all fronts.

 

[domalino]

We really miss a player of KDB’s calibre.

Marmoush, Reijnders, Gonzalez, Doku, Semenyo…. they can all be good players but they’re not top 5 in the world quality and never will be.

We’ve spent an incredible amount of money and wages on…good.

 

[ono]

We really miss a player of KDB’s calibre.

Marmoush, Reijnders, Gonzalez, Doku, Semenyo…. they can all be good players but they’re not top 5 in the world quality and never will be.

We’ve spent an incredible amount of money and wages on…good.

Yep said the same on a different thread. All OK players, but when you put them all together, they form more than half the squad.

 

[Gumzy97]

We really miss a player of KDB’s calibre.

Marmoush, Reijnders, Gonzalez, Doku, Semenyo…. they can all be good players but they’re not top 5 in the world quality and never will be.

We’ve spent an incredible amount of money and wages on…good.

We’ve got one on the bench in Cherki. Most assists and chances created last season in Europe.

He’s got the most assists for us from midfield this season and created the most chances for us. But he’s on the bench.

 

[dubblue]

We need to start being serious in the transfer market again and compete for elite players.

 

[Kladze]

We really miss a player of KDB’s calibre.

Marmoush, Reijnders, Gonzalez, Doku, Semenyo…. they can all be good players but they’re not top 5 in the world quality and never will be.

We’ve spent an incredible amount of money and wages on…average.

FTFY.

 

[sutty66]

Where’s Richards30 and his sources…..

 

[sutty66]

Doku Savinho not top tier-SOLD
Olise in
Anderson in
Hall in

Haaland
Semenyo Cherki Olise
O’Reilly Anderson
Hall Gvardiol Ghuehi Nunes
Donnarumma

 

[Damanino]

the lack of experience in CL later stages/high pressure situation is a big problem.
Guehi, Semenyo, Ait Nouri, Cherki, Marmoush, Khus, Nico G. likely never played much or any CL last 16, last 8 games or if they did they didnt win. Nico may have had some with Porto in last 16 games etc.
Doku, Savinho, Gvardiol, Nunes same category they may have had some outing with Sporting and Leipzig but mostly heavy losses in last 16.
whoever we have left from treble winner side likes of Dias, Rodri, Bernardo, Stones, Ake, Haaland. 3 of those leaving this summer.
Donnarumma has it with PSG, Trafford has none.

I am talking specifically of the QF, semis high pressure ties in CL vs top sides or very good sides.

since the treble we only won one KO stage tie, vs Copenhagen in last 16 in 2024 then exited vs Real the next round.
most players from treble win not even around anymore.

I would like us to to get at least two players in this summer that has serious CL final stages experience. before we just scout lower half PL sides again for our next targets who never even played in CL before. we can get one or two of those but add players with serious CL pedigree too. we need it in ties like we just playing.

 

[robbieh]

Think we need a rebuild with a view to the future.

With that in mind this is next season's starting xi

Donarumma
Nunes Khusanov Guehi Ait Nouri
Nico G Rodri O'Reilly
Cherki
Marmoush Semenyo

Width provided by FBs. More stable midfield.

Subs
Gvardiol
Foden
Reis
Nypan
Stones if he can stay fit


Given that they are senior players and not in my starting xi

Sell Haaland, Bernie, Dias

Given that Savinho and Doku are average at best let's drop the non scoring winger obsession.

Sell them both.

We therefore need a RB and LB as cover. Don't want to shunt O'Reilly around.

And another midfielder. Anderson looks likely to fit the bill. And a top, mobile striker.

 

[blueparrot]

Lose a game and the sillyness starts, we are growing a new team set backs will happen, next season we'll better again even without new signings which we will get.We weren't ready to go past the quarters anyway, or compete in the final stages of 4 competions.