The Squad planning thread

bell_mcfc said:
We know Madrids recent transfer strategy is to disrupt players and get them on a free. Cant see them bidding for Rodri just flirting with him and trying to get him on the cheap.
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I'm fine with it because he's professional enough to not play like he isn't bothered. The issue is we are most likely to lose Nico G which does seem unwise in the long term.
 
Think the cat's out of the bag now, but there needs to be some course correction with our wages. Giving Dias and Savinho new deals when their forms didn't quite warrant them and starting Reijnders and Marmoush at the level they're at is hard to maintain when it comes to paying your actual heavy hitters in the squad.
 
Doesn’t feel like Viana has done a big extension yet?

Dias, Rico, Savinho and O’Reilly. Not amazing really, all feel very straightforward.

The big man’s 10 year deal arguably the most important but this is another area where I feel we haven’t really kicked on. We’ve added to the team but haven’t really extended our stalwarts.

Rodri feels unlikely but guys like Gvardiol and Doku etc
 
Rodri leaves and City Let Reijnders leave for Italy or somewhere again.. not technically good enough for Pep, maybe for his successor though (similarly to that Pep converted Nunes to a fullback cos of deficiencies).. and bring in Tonali and Anderson.

With Nico G, that I very much hope stays then, circulated sustained attacks like against Arsenal last weekend will be the standard again. With Cerki centrally or inverting and hopefully a maturing Foden? the standard will still be very high in ball possession even after Bernie goes.

If Reijnders stays I very much prefer Tonali, who Ive always rated from his Italy time. Conductor.
 
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I might have underestimated the ramifications of Rodri leaving.


Before him

Marmoush is likely to leave
Trafford is likely to leave
Savio isn’t ready
Bernardo is gonna go
Kovatic is gonna go
Rico Lewis is gonna go
Barca want Nico G apparently

There is no way Pep can leave now. He has to stay one more season. The change will be too much we can’t lose Rodri Bernardo AND Pep that’s our heart basically.


Anderson was perfect because he complimented Rodri, he could do what he struggles with getting around and duels.

But now we’re losing a player that does everything at a high level, incredible mentality etc he’s not replaceable.

We would actually need Wharton AND Anderson. The best of both worlds, technical and physical prowess. Add Nico OR and you have the most talented midfield in the league. But I fear we have too many young players that will dominate in a few years. We need ready now players. We all know his name. He’s having the best season of his life. He’s still 28. Bruno G is not 100 m anymore, probably the same price as Anderson. We’d have to look at everyone in that position. I’d spare no expense to this midfield to not repeat mistakes of the past.

I’d test PSG’s resolve with Joao Neves he hasn’t signed an extension yet. Even Enzo 40 g/a in the last 12 months, 2nd most g/a from midfield behind the rat at Utd. He may not be great attacking wise but he’s got good numbers and knows how to pass the ball. There are many options out there the club likely will need 2 midfielders that improve our starting 11.


Nico G, Bruno G, Nico OR with Reinjders and Foden on the bench

Anderson, Nico G, Foden with Reinjders and Tonali on the bench

Wharton, Anderson, Cherki with Foden Reinjders on the bench .

there’s a bunch of options
 
loio said:
Rodri leaves and City Let Reijnders leave for Italy or somewhere again.. not technically good enough for Pep, maybe for his successor though (similarly to that Pep converted Nunes to a fullback cos of deficiencies).. and bring in Tonali and Anderson.

With Nico G, that I very much hope stays then, circulated sustained attacks like against Arsenal last weekend will be the standard again. With Cerki centrally or inverting and hopefully a maturing Foden? the standard will still be very high in ball possession even after Bernie goes.

If Reijnders stays I very much prefer Tonali, who Ive always rated from his Italy time. Conductor.
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Not enough technical played in the team imo.
 
WRicko said:
What should we do about fullback left and right ?

I would keep Lewis for his home grown status and his pep style but he isn’t a RB and isn’t an amazing midfielder he could take Kova midfield minutes. Would that work tho ?

Nunes is now a good RB

Buy a back up Rb ? Or Trent ?

Left back Rayan Ait Nouri good but week defensively so him and ? Gvardiol ? O Reilly ?

Should we not be using Gvardiol exclusively as a CB and O Reilly as a Midfielder ? How would that affect players like Reis, Lewis Khusanov ?
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Givario Reed as an understudy for Nunes since we’re cooked when he’s not available. Nunes will play every important and let Reed bed in slowly like when we had Fernandinho and Rodri at the same time.

Left back is sorted for eons it’s our most competitive position esp when Gvardiol comes back and notices Khusonov x Guehi is unstoppable and we’ve seen the best of Gvardiol at LB. So if will forever be a massive headache for the manager.
 
richards30 said:
Anderson
Read
Reis back
Diomande or Nusa

I think Nunes has really thrown a spanner in works regarding LB, maybe a younger more inexperienced player to come in and learn may be the way forward like Read? Reis back with Stones and Ake out leaves us strong at CB and Anderson in obviously. Still think that Savinho should go and one of Nusa or Diomande would be great.
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Nusa is great shout but I really want a super technical player after watching Marmoush Semenyo Haaland. Cherki x Ait Nouri are a joy to watch I want to add to that.


I see Marmoush leaving possibly, Semenyo is the better version of him and he just doesn’t fit here would be better suited elsewhere. Savio is just not ready in my eyes. I’d sign illiman ndiaye.

I strongly believe technical quality will always beat physical quality. PnP is just a trend rn I think there’s still a place for the Pedri’s Yamal, Olises, of the world.
 
waspish said:
Liverpool links to Olise so another record fee then and why would Bayern sell him unless it’s a premier record fee!
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I honestly don’t see him leaving. He’s practically Robben reborn his numbers are bonkers, the league is too easy, he’s too comfortable.
 
Skrastins said:
that most likely is Hjulmand

good work rate, intelligent, efficient passing

not very effective against high press, he does not fully replicate Rodri’s elite tempo control
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He openly stated that he’s a Madrid fan lol
 
ALDN_Ko said:
We absolutely need a ball player in midfield. Look how easily we nullified Arsenal because their midfielders are shocking at building through the midfield. Not sure Anderson and/or Tonali are that good at it.
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You’re spot on. Our build up play has gone back light years. Without Rodri it will only get worse. Sounds like Wharton and Joao Neves to me,
 
pbueno16 said:
I'm fine with it because he's professional enough to not play like he isn't bothered. The issue is we are most likely to lose Nico G which does seem unwise in the long term.
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So we're losing Nico along with Pep, Rodri, Marmoush, Trafford, Bernardo, Stones, Ake, Akanji, Haaland, Uncle John Cobbly and all............will the last person there turn the light out please.
 
ALDN_Ko said:
We absolutely need a ball player in midfield. Look how easily we nullified Arsenal because their midfielders are shocking at building through the midfield. Not sure Anderson and/or Tonali are that good at it.
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Agree. I've heard links about Pep wanting Vitinha. If he is interested, we've got to be all over that.

I think if we brought in Anderson and Tonali, I don't think that is technically good enough in the middle. We need a Vitinha, Pedri, De Jong or João Neves to compliment the runner in the midfield. Anderson and Tonali seem to be similar type of players. We need a conductor. Someone who is press resistant in the middle and can control the rhythm of a game.
 
We need a couple of top class players this summer to send the message we aren’t just about youngsters! I know Anderson is only 22/23 but add a Tonali level signing and it shows the likes of Haaland we aren’t still serious about trying to reach the level when he first signed
 
BluestBlue said:
Givario Reed as an understudy for Nunes since we’re cooked when he’s not available. Nunes will play every important and let Reed bed in slowly like when we had Fernandinho and Rodri at the same time.

Left back is sorted for eons it’s our most competitive position esp when Gvardiol comes back and notices Khusonov x Guehi is unstoppable and we’ve seen the best of Gvardiol at LB. So if will forever be a massive headache for the manager.
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All our CB apart from Gvardiol next year are Right footed. (Ake will go) If Gvardiol plays LCB then we are left with a good left back who downs r defend very well and midfielder who can play left back. We know pep likes CB who have the foot of the side they play
 
Berti No Show said:
Agree. I've heard links about Pep wanting Vitinha. If he is interested, we've got to be all over that.

I think if we brought in Anderson and Tonali, I don't think that is technically good enough in the middle. We need a Vitinha, Pedri, De Jong or João Neves to compliment the runner in the midfield. Anderson and Tonali seem to be similar type of players. We need a conductor. Someone who is press resistant in the middle and can control the rhythm of a game.
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De Jong is he even any good these days ?
 
my group of players to start the 2026/2027 season

Donnarumma 27
Trafford 23
Bettenili 34

Nunes 28
young right back -25
O'Reilly 21
Ait Nouri 25

Días 29
Khusanov 22
Gvardiol 24
Guehi 26
Reis 20

Nico Gonzalez 24
Anderson 23
Wharton 22
Tonali 26

Cherki 23
Foden 26

Semenyo 26
Doku 24
Savinho 22
Haaland 26

The Anderson + Wharton + Tonali project is expected to cost around £230 million.

The price of a right-back should be in the region of 30 to 50 million pounds sterling

expenses ≈ 280 million sterling

The players we should release:

Grealish 25M
Ake 15M
Akanji 15M
Kovacic 15M
Max alleyne 15M
Rico Lewis 20M
Reijnders 35M
Marmoush 60M
Rodri 60M
Bernardo 0
Stones 0
K Philips 0

≈260 million pounds sterling
 
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