The Squad

[Zatara]

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.

I get the feeling that we'll keep the oldies for one more season whilst using them for back/up while we replace them in 12months with our u23s.

Other than keeper and centre backs, I hope walsh buys another starter for the left opposite barkley. We have the depth like you say but another top player there and we look good in midfield and attack

 

[Nymzee]

I'll humour you:

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

32 players competing over 4 competitions that start end of July. Normally you couldn't keep that amount of players satisfied but slightly different scenario:

1. Kenny RB back-up till Coleman is fully fit so he'll be happy even after Coleman takes his place.
2. Galloway/Connolly to get minutes in cups or whatever. Need 5-6 ready-to-go CB's for when we shift formation
3. Barry will be happy with any minutes we give him.
4. Besic/McCarthy depending on fitness could be the problem areas.
5. Calvert-Lewin will be happy with whatever minutes he can get.
6. Lookman for Bolasie till he's back fit.

A squad of 25 can't compete on 4 fronts with our injury record.

 

[COYBL25]

Not another one of these threads

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Not another one of these threads

You don't need to read them if you don't want to

 

[messymascot]

I would move out

Jagielka, Deulofeu(reluctantly), Kone, Lennon, Cleverley(sold already), Barry, Valencia, Niasse, Garbutt, McGeady, McAleny, Rodriguez, Grant, Tarashaj,

I would also have sold Mori.

I would bring in
2 CB
1 RB
1 LB
1 RW
1 AM
1 LW
2 ST

Replace any other players that leave like for like. I would also trim the youth squad out would go the following.

Byrne, Gray, Dyson, Duffus, Jones, Henen, Hunt, Brewster, Donohue, Bainbridge, Yarney, Kinsella

Need to see if we can get the right balance as we had far too many youngsters this year.

 

[Nymzee]

Crap, I forgot to say I'd keep Del in mine down the middle.

 

[Eggs]

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.

...he'll move the players on he doesn't want. The exception might be Jagielka who has done well of late but might be allowed to leave for regular football at this stage in his career. Williams might slip down the pecking order if replacements come in but RK will still need depth in his squad. I suspect a number of the U23s will move on to make way for players coming through, and that might include Walsh and Dowell.

 

[MACCA75]

One of McCarthy or Besic will go I think.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

...he'll move the players on he doesn't want. The exception might be Jagielka who has done well of late but might be allowed to leave for regular football at this stage in his career. Williams might slip down the pecking order if replacements come in but RK will still need depth in his squad. I suspect a number of the U23s will move on to make way for players coming through, and that might include Walsh and Dowell.

I suppose the question for me is how big a turnover of players is wise. We moved quite a few on in January, and it seems likely that a number will join them in the summer, whether that's those already with one foot out of the door (Cleverley, Kone, Geri et al), those on the fringes (Lennon and McCarthy) or older players such as Jags, Williams and Barry. And that's before you get to those we may not have a choice over (Barkley and Lukaku). That's an awful lot of churn, especially when you think we probably need to bolster the squad to cope with European football anyway.

 

[MKS]

Holgate-Williams- New CB - Baines

I think this will be the likely defence for the first match next season barring injury

RB- Holgate to hold down the fort until Seamus returns.
Kenny for cup matches

CB - Williams was signed in the summer for £11m not going anywhere. His leadership is one of the key reasons our defence has done almost a 180 from the joke it was last season

New signing. Take your pick rumours of VVD being out no.1 target would be huge signing. Who knows? But I think going into a season with Europa league with 2 starting CB well in their 30s is a disaster waiting to happen and I'm sure RK and Walsh would make this priority 1

Jags. Recent Renaissance makes him 3rd choice for me. He's proven he's still good enough and I'm sure his legs would appreciate reduced minutes.

Mori. More than capable for 4th choice but could want a move to keep his spot as first choice for Argentina in a World Cup year.

Pennington. Signed a new deal last week. (Which a lot of people seem to have missed) Which shows RK has seen enough to think he offers something and I agree. Never going to be a world class but a serviceable 5th choice.

LB
Baines. Still a class player and we have bigger problems so I think a replacement can wait one more year. Extra games might be too much for him now. Galloway 2nd choice. Could see a "walshy" for this spot though


* "Walshy. Slang for Steve Walsh bargain transfer that no ones ever heard of.

 

[nsno-chris]

Sell anything that Martinez touched, apart from Lukaku

 

[Eggs]

I suppose the question for me is how big a turnover of players is wise. We moved quite a few on in January, and it seems likely that a number will join them in the summer, whether that's those already with one foot out of the door (Cleverley, Kone, Geri et al), those on the fringes (Lennon and McCarthy) or older players such as Jags, Williams and Barry. And that's before you get to those we may not have a choice over (Barkley and Lukaku). That's an awful lot of churn, especially when you think we probably need to bolster the squad to cope with European football anyway.

...he's done very well getting rid of players he doesn't want which is some achievement given lots are happy sitting on big contracts and not playing. We can only assume the fringe players he'd like to get off the books. He rarely plays Lennon and McCarthy might well be in the bad books. Those two might well leave. I can see Jagielka going if he's not likely to get much game time but I doubt Williams will leave. Similarly, I expect he'll be happy to keep hold of Barry unless the player himself wants to leave.

Only my assumption.

 

[TheFinnFan]

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.

Think Jags will go...we'll get one top class CB VVD Keane or such...and maybe one upcoming cb but not two new ones who'd go straight into opening. I see Williams as another one.

 

[Barnfred 55]

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.

Fully agree with that mate. I'd keep Jags as back up for next season. We wouldn't get a transfer fee for him anyway and we'll need a bigger squad with the Europa league. I'd sell Mori though. He makes too may mistakes for me but luckily few of these have ended in goals conceded, so his stock is still high, especially with being Argentina's first choice. I reckon we could get around £15/20m for him from Spain/Italy, especially with some of the figures being quoted for defenders these days. He'd probably suit the style of football in those leagues and the fee would go a long way to covering the cost of his replacement.

The same with McCarthy in midfield. A good player but we have too many similar, especially with Besic on his way back. His stock is still good and we know he has suitors. I would put my money on Newcastle, assuming they come back up and think we'll get around £20m for him. I'd like to see him replaced in the squad by Tielemans who offers a different skill set. I guess you wouldn't object to this either Zat.

Not certain we'll go for a new keeper but if we do I'd question whether we need 3 in the squad. Most clubs rely on their reserve keeper as 3rd choice and I'm sure FIFA rules allow for emergency transfers of keepers outside of transfer windows if need be.

We wouldn't need Pennington/Galloway/Holgate as back up in addition to Williams/Jags, so Pennington could go on loan maybe.

This would be an additional 4 players released form your squad of 31.

The other thing to remember is that home grown young players (under 21) don't count towards the 25 man squad allowed, and your squad included 6 of these I believe. Plus we need 8 homegrown overage players, so we'll need to factor this in to our purchases. There should be plenty of leeway though but could be interesting if we have to replace Barkley and/or Lukaku. Is Schneiderlin classed as home grown?. I know he joined Southampton at a young age but not sure if he qualifies or not. Same with Bolasie, not sure about him either.

Also, as mentioned, we do need a larger squad with having to cope with Europe. I don't think that 28/29, given the number of youngsters included, is that large to be honest.

 

[Zatara]

Fully agree with that mate. I'd keep Jags as back up for next season. We wouldn't get a transfer fee for him anyway and we'll need a bigger squad with the Europa league. I'd sell Mori though. He makes too may mistakes for me but luckily few of these have ended in goals conceded, so his stock is still high, especially with being Argentina's first choice. I reckon we could get around £15/20m for him from Spain/Italy, especially with some of the figures being quoted for defenders these days. He'd probably suit the style of football in those leagues and the fee would go a long way to covering the cost of his replacement.

The same with McCarthy in midfield. A good player but we have too many similar, especially with Besic on his way back. His stock is still good and we know he has suitors. I would put my money on Newcastle, assuming they come back up and think we'll get around £20m for him. I'd like to see him replaced in the squad by Tielemans who offers a different skill set. I guess you wouldn't object to this either Zat.

Not certain we'll go for a new keeper but if we do I'd question whether we need 3 in the squad. Most clubs rely on their reserve keeper as 3rd choice and I'm sure FIFA rules allow for emergency transfers of keepers outside of transfer windows if need be.

We wouldn't need Pennington/Galloway/Holgate as back up in addition to Williams/Jags, so Pennington could go on loan maybe.

This would be an additional 4 players released form your squad of 31.

The other thing to remember is that home grown young players (under 21) don't count towards the 25 man squad allowed, and your squad included 6 of these I believe. Plus we need 8 homegrown overage players, so we'll need to factor this in to our purchases. There should be plenty of leeway though but could be interesting if we have to replace Barkley and/or Lukaku. Is Schneiderlin classed as home grown?. I know he joined Southampton at a young age but not sure if he qualifies or not. Same with Bolasie, not sure about him either.

Also, as mentioned, we do need a larger squad with having to cope with Europe. I don't think that 28/29, given the number of youngsters included, is that large to be honest.

Totally agree on defence and midfield.

Koeman said he wants 3 keepers...so I was expecting a top one to come in already rather than stek who ive always said isn't very good.

For the u21 that's true, for me though I was just thinking about who we would have in a 25 as I don't think we can bend too much on players if we want to put down high wages for current players and new signings