Yes mess not results wise but squad wise a lot of big senior players are done. We let top players go and replaced them with inferior players or didn’t replace them at all.
Now the squad needs a huge overhaul when we could have been just adding the odd one or two top players over the last few windows
Doubt we’ll start in January, we will know our targets for the summer,targets that are looked at as players we want for the next 5 years or so. If one is available in January to cover Rodri then maybe we’ll do it but if not we won’t. We have 2 spaces, though Rodri won’t need registering so 3, Echeverri is one, so we may well bring in a-midfielder if the one we want long term is available.I don’t think stones will go either but we can’t depend on him to much with his injuries. We need a replacement for Alverez and back up for Rodri.
Im hoping we start this “re build” in January rather than a big overhaul in the summer. The club need to be putting a bit of pressure on Pep to make his mind up as well this uncertainty over his future can’t be helping the players and won’t help with any new signings
Ederson is why I said maybe 5, Stones and Grealish won’t be going anywhere. KDB, Walker, Gundogan are the 3 Bernardo a maybe. Normally we would have done something other than bring Gundogan back last summer and done KDB ,Walker next summer.
I think there are a few reasons we didn’t last summer that added up to it being better to wait until next summer. We didn’t in the hope we’d be okay we still might be ,but missing Rodri for a whole season was something we didn’t plan for. Long term I have no worries.
In our family group football chat last night, I said six need to goI don’t think stones will go either but we can’t depend on him to much with his injuries. We need a replacement for Alverez and back up for Rodri.
Im hoping we start this “re build” in January rather than a big overhaul in the summer. The club need to be putting a bit of pressure on Pep to make his mind up as well this uncertainty over his future can’t be helping the players and won’t help with any new signings
Don’t agree with Lewis and think Stones will stay though probably not extend. We’ll need a new right back, 2 midfielders.In our family group football chat last night, I said six need to go
Walker, Stones, Lewis, KDB, Gundogan and Nunes
Walker, KDB and Gundogan are sadly all past their best. It a harsh comment to make, but time catches up with everyone
Stones is too unreliable fitness wise
Nunes just isn't good enough for a top class side, not even as a squad player
Technically, Lewis is a great footballer, but he is constantly bullied and is Zinchenko esq in that he is neither a defender nor a midfielder
We are desperate for a proper right back, two top quality midfielders and a number ten/ Alvarez replacement
It’s always a balancing act age, minutes, contract, but I thought we had & still have enough to get through then Txixi works with the new sporting director & possibly the new coach to plan before a big exciting summer.
As I’ve been writing it makes me think Pep is going & they are organising for 3/4 big signings with the new coach.
It makes sense that the incoming spends not the outgoing Sporting Director & coach.
Merino and Calafiori no thanks.We could have got Merino & Calafiori for about £75mil combined. Dumfries out of contract in summer so probably could have gotten him for £30mil.
With our summer outgoings, that’s breaking even with 3 solid additions to the squad and a lot of cover for injuries.
Akanji wasn’t seen as a level raiser, but that was smart business.Merino and Calafiori no thanks.
We need level raisers not more squad players like Nunes and Doku
Calafiori makes John Stones look like the fittest man in football.We could have got Merino & Calafiori for about £75mil combined. Dumfries out of contract in summer so probably could have gotten him for £30mil.
With our summer outgoings, that’s breaking even with 3 solid additions to the squad and a lot of cover for injuries.
Another issue if he is leaving is that not only would we want to keep that quite as long as possible but so will his replacements club.I think Pep had decided this will be his last season but probably and hopefully won’t want his legacy to end on a damp squib so may decide to stay on. The CWC also throws a spanner in the works does he wait until the end of that giving the new manager a couple of weeks before the new season or does he do a Klopp and pack it in soon and stay until may and we know who the new manager will be coming in and to start in May.
Sad but exciting times ahead