The Squad

[Zatara]

Attack

Barkley -- Lukaku -- New Player
Lookman -- Calvert-Lewin -- Mirallas
​

We need a top left sided forward and also a centre forward to rotate with Lukaku.
*Bolasie also to return + Dowell to come through?

Midfield

Davies -- Schneiderlin -- Gueye
Besic -- Barry -- McCarthy
​

The starting three looks strong but Besic/McCarthy are injury prone and Barry is past it. Ideally we need another to come in here to add another dimension and in case of injuries.
*Walsh and Williams to come through?

Defence

Holgate -- New Player -- New Player -- Baines
Kenny/Connolly -- Penno/Jags -- Williams/Mori -- Galloway
​

We lack pace in the central areas and if we are going to push up the pitch and attack teams then we need to play a high line, none of our centre backs are able to do this. It's crucial that we bring in a couple of centre backs who are more suited to playing a high defensive line.
Additionally we need a new left back to take over Baines position.
*Coleman also to return

Keeper

New Player
Robles/Stekelenburg
​

We have a keeper with lots of experience and also another one who is getting experience but isn't quite good enough. It's imperative that we sign a new keeper.


Players required
First choice keeper
First choice centre back
First choice centre back
First choice left forward
Rotation left back
Rotation centre midfielder
Rotation centre forward


GK -- New player / Robles / Stekelenburg
RB -- Holgate / Kenny / Connolly /Coleman
CB -- New Player / Jagielka / Pennington
CB -- New Player / Williams / Mori
LB -- Baines / New player / Galloway
DM --Schneiderlin / New Player / Barry
CM -- Davies / Besic
CM -- Gueye / McCarthy
LF -- New player / Mirallas
CF -- Lukaku / New player / Calvert-Lewin
RF -- Barkley / Lookman / Bolasie

This squad is then already 31 players ignoring Dowell, Walsh. Williams and others coming through....we are likely to lose:

Deulofeu (I think he will leave although I like him)
Kone (free)
Lennon
Cleverley (gone for 8mil)
Valencia (end of loan)
Tarashaj
Browning
Grant
McAleny
Garbutt
McGeady
Niasse
Rodriguez

Who else can we sell on to trim our squad down to 25 players as it will be huge if we make the necessary signings this summer? This will impact our wage budget which allows us to sign the first team players needed to push to top 4.

 

[LABlue2]

Summer transfer thread is that way ---->

 

[Zatara]

Summer transfer thread is that way ---->

That's for signings. I'm asking how to trim the squad down.

Who people want to see in the squad based on potential signings but mostly about who is good enough to be kept on.

 

[LABlue2]

That's for signings. I'm asking how to trim the squad down.

31 players
- 3 goalies
- 2 center backs (why do we need 6? Particularly when 5 aren't kids/young)
- 1 right back (don't count two kids who don't play, maybe count one)
- 2 long term injuries
- 1 left back (don't need 3)
= 22 proper outfield players

 

[Zatara]

31 players
- 3 goalies
- 2 center backs (why do we need 6? Particularly when 5 aren't kids/young)
- 1 right back (don't count two kids who don't play, maybe count one)
- 2 long term injuries
- 1 left back (don't need 3)
= 22 proper outfield players

We don't have 3 keepers to lose? Stek and Robles only?
Would you move on jags/Williams/pennington/mori?
RB -- Holgate but we need to count Kenny/Connolly or at least one of them as they will get games
LB -- Why 1 left back? If its baines and hes injured then....what next?
2 long term injuries would have us at 29...

I don't understand the keepers point?

 

[LABlue2]

We don't have 3 keepers to lose? Stek and Robles only?
Would you move on jags/Williams/pennington/mori?
RB -- Holgate but we need to count Kenny/Connolly or at least one of them as they will get games
LB -- Why 1 left back? If its baines and hes injured then....what next?
2 long term injuries would have us at 29...

I don't understand the keepers point?

I'm saying 31 minus those players which I counted.

Removed the goalies because I'm judging the size of the non-goalie outfield players (10 positions)

We only need two left backs (Baines/Galloway)
Remove one of Kenny/Connolly
Etc..

Leaves us with 22 decent players (some are still kids) for 10 positions, so the squad wouldn't be huge

I'd only sign 1 CB (guaranteed starter type signing) unless we have unlimited dosh. Move on Pennington regardless as he's behind 3-4 CBs not even counting Galloway and Holgate

 

[kithnou]

Attack

Barkley -- Lukaku -- New Player
Lookman -- Calvert-Lewin -- Mirallas
​

We need a top left sided forward and also a centre forward to rotate with Lukaku.
*Bolasie also to return + Dowell to come through?

Midfield

Davies -- Schneiderlin -- Gueye
Besic -- Barry -- McCarthy
​

The starting three looks strong but Besic/McCarthy are injury prone and Barry is past it. Ideally we need another to come in here to add another dimension and in case of injuries.
*Walsh and Williams to come through?

Defence

Holgate -- New Player -- New Player -- Baines
Kenny/Connolly -- Penno/Jags -- Williams/Mori -- Galloway
​

We lack pace in the central areas and if we are going to push up the pitch and attack teams then we need to play a high line, none of our centre backs are able to do this. It's crucial that we bring in a couple of centre backs who are more suited to playing a high defensive line.
Additionally we need a new left back to take over Baines position.
*Coleman also to return

Keeper

New Player
Robles/Stekelenburg
​

We have a keeper with lots of experience and also another one who is getting experience but isn't quite good enough. It's imperative that we sign a new keeper.


Players required
First choice keeper
First choice centre back
First choice centre back
First choice left forward
Rotation left back
Rotation centre midfielder
Rotation centre forward


GK -- New player / Robles / Stekelenburg
RB -- Holgate / Kenny / Connolly /Coleman
CB -- New Player / Jagielka / Pennington
CB -- New Player / Williams / Mori
LB -- Baines / New player / Galloway
DM --Schneiderlin / New Player / Barry
CM -- Davies / Besic
CM -- Gueye / McCarthy
LF -- New player / Mirallas
CF -- Lukaku / New player / Calvert-Lewin
RF -- Barkley / Lookman / Bolasie

This squad is then already 31 players ignoring Dowell, Walsh. Williams and others coming through....we are likely to lose:

Deulofeu (I think he will leave although I like him)
Kone (free)
Lennon
Cleverley (gone for 8mil)
Valencia (end of loan)
Tarashaj
Browning
Grant
McAleny
Garbutt
McGeady
Niasse
Rodriguez

Who else can we sell on to trim our squad down to 25 players as it will be huge if we make the necessary signings this summer? This will impact our wage budget which allows us to sign the first team players needed to push to top 4.

Good analysis.
Add McCarthy to that lot for me and you are spot on.

 

[Zatara]

I'm saying 31 minus those players which I counted.

Removed the goalies because I'm judging the size of the non-goalie outfield players (10 positions)

We only need two left backs (Baines/Galloway)
Remove one of Kenny/Connolly
Etc..

Leaves us with 22 decent players (some are still kids) for 10 positions, so the squad wouldn't be huge

I'd only sign 1 CB (guaranteed starter type signing) unless we have unlimited dosh. Move on Pennington regardless as he's behind 3-4 CBs not even counting Galloway and Holgate

So;

GK - New player / Robles / Stek
RB -- Holgste / Kenny
CB -- New Player / Jagielka
CB -- Williams / Mori
LB -- Baines / Galloway
DM --Schneiderlin / New Player / Barry
CM -- Davies / Besic
CM -- Gueye / McCarthy
LF -- New player / Mirallas
CF -- Lukaku / New player / Calvert-Lewin
RF -- Barkley / Lookman

That's 25, the snags are;

Baines/Williams/Jagielka/Barry can do a distin at anytime + the midfield cover is injury prone.

 

[Zatara]

Good analysis.
Add McCarthy to that lot for me and you are spot on.

Personally think we need to ship out a lot more players...McCarthy id move on due to his injuries, same with besic. Barry is also past it so we then have no midfield cover apart from a new signing

Additionally we have an overload of defenders...

 

[TheFinnFan]

Attack

Barkley -- Lukaku -- New Player
Lookman -- Calvert-Lewin -- Mirallas
​

We need a top left sided forward and also a centre forward to rotate with Lukaku.
*Bolasie also to return + Dowell to come through?

Midfield

Davies -- Schneiderlin -- Gueye
Besic -- Barry -- McCarthy
​

The starting three looks strong but Besic/McCarthy are injury prone and Barry is past it. Ideally we need another to come in here to add another dimension and in case of injuries.
*Walsh and Williams to come through?

Defence

Holgate -- New Player -- New Player -- Baines
Kenny/Connolly -- Penno/Jags -- Williams/Mori -- Galloway
​

We lack pace in the central areas and if we are going to push up the pitch and attack teams then we need to play a high line, none of our centre backs are able to do this. It's crucial that we bring in a couple of centre backs who are more suited to playing a high defensive line.
Additionally we need a new left back to take over Baines position.
*Coleman also to return

Keeper

New Player
Robles/Stekelenburg
​

We have a keeper with lots of experience and also another one who is getting experience but isn't quite good enough. It's imperative that we sign a new keeper.


Players required
First choice keeper
First choice centre back
First choice centre back
First choice left forward
Rotation left back
Rotation centre midfielder
Rotation centre forward


GK -- New player / Robles / Stekelenburg
RB -- Holgate / Kenny / Connolly /Coleman
CB -- New Player / Jagielka / Pennington
CB -- New Player / Williams / Mori
LB -- Baines / New player / Galloway
DM --Schneiderlin / New Player / Barry
CM -- Davies / Besic
CM -- Gueye / McCarthy
LF -- New player / Mirallas
CF -- Lukaku / New player / Calvert-Lewin
RF -- Barkley / Lookman / Bolasie

This squad is then already 31 players ignoring Dowell, Walsh. Williams and others coming through....we are likely to lose:

Deulofeu (I think he will leave although I like him)
Kone (free)
Lennon
Cleverley (gone for 8mil)
Valencia (end of loan)
Tarashaj
Browning
Grant
McAleny
Garbutt
McGeady
Niasse
Rodriguez

Who else can we sell on to trim our squad down to 25 players as it will be huge if we make the necessary signings this summer? This will impact our wage budget which allows us to sign the first team players needed to push to top 4.

Do you really think that we need two new centre backs....Williams not up for it??? Or Jags...Cmoon now

 

[TheBigIguana]

So;

GK - New player / Robles / Stek
RB -- Holgste / Kenny
CB -- New Player / Jagielka
CB -- Williams / Mori
LB -- Baines / Galloway
DM --Schneiderlin / New Player / Barry
CM -- Davies / Besic
CM -- Gueye / McCarthy
LF -- New player / Mirallas
CF -- Lukaku / New player / Calvert-Lewin
RF -- Barkley / Lookman

That's 25, the snags are;

Baines/Williams/Jagielka/Barry can do a distin at anytime + the midfield cover is injury prone.

I think one of Mori/Jags needs to go and 2 CBs brought in. Also I would like to see an additional wide option to what you have added maybe someone who can play off Rom up top too

 

[edge]

Personally think we need to ship out a lot more players...McCarthy id move on due to his injuries, same with besic. Barry is also past it so we then have no midfield cover apart from a new signing

Additionally we have an overload of defenders...

agree with you on McCarthy,not a bad player but misses to many games and I think Koeman will be fed up with the messing about with the nation team.
Besic for what we would get for him would keep around, and hope his injuries clear up , decent for the squad.
jags /Barry might be worth keeping around for a season if they are happy to be bit part players.
Think Rom and possibly Barkey might go.
Mori I would sell to, average at best

 

[Zatara]

Do you really think that we need two new centre backs....Williams not up for it??? Or Jags...Cmoon now

If you read the comments I made, I didn't mention either of them leaving. I said we needed 2 new centre backs with pace so we can play a high line.

If were dominating a game then our defenders should be around the halfway line, if we play jags or Williams neither can do this as they don't have the pace to get back to defend a counter attack.

The defence needs to be deep so they aren't exposed, meaning that the midfield needs to sit deeper and so the attack is isolated.

That's why we need pace, id actually keep them for a season more, let Galloway and Holgate develop In the full back positions before switching them gradually into the centre to replace jags and Williams in 12months odd.

But we need 2 first choice new centre backs now.

 

[Zatara]

I think one of Mori/Jags needs to go and 2 CBs brought in. Also I would like to see an additional wide option to what you have added maybe someone who can play off Rom up top too

Id do this as centre back

Next season;
2 centre backs + Williams and Jags

Sell Mori and loan/sell Pennington

Season after
2 same centre backs + Holgate and Galloway


Edit: I think one additional left forward and one centre forward should be enough shouldn't it?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I can see one of Jags and Williams being moved on, as well as Barry simply due to their age. Central defence is the main area of concern as you could argue we need two players there. I don't think the young lads have really staked a claim for the spot in the way Davies has in midfield.

Midfield is probably okay providing McCarthy and Besic stay fit, as we have Williams and Walsh who can contribute. If both the senior lads are out injured though it leaves us very short. If money is finite though it will probably be spent elsewhere.

With Bolasie to come back we're probably okay in the wide areas, but our attacking options will depend hugely on what happens with Rom and Ross in the summer. We're hugely dependent on both for our attacking threat so we can't really plan until we know what's happening with them. I wouldn't say that either DCL or Lookman have put down a firm case for more than fringe inclusion as yet though. Hopefully Dowell will continue to progress and stake a claim for a place too, which together with Bolasie and Mirallas will mean we have plenty of depth up there, it's more a case of quality.