What do people think our squad will look like next season? Trying to be as realistic as possible, with is/outs and transfer fees.
GK - For me Onana has done enough to keep his roll as number 1. He's been very good since AFCON and is looking more and more like the keeper we thought we were signing. Bayindir and Heaton staying on as back ups, unless Altay has desire to be a number 1 elsewhere.
DEF - Dalot seems to be getting better and better every week and his versatility has been crucial considering the injuries to our full backs. Martinez is our best player from the back line when it comes to playing ETH's brand of football. Shaw is also a very good player, the worry is the injuries there. Martinez has also spent a lot of time out, but I think he's been more unlucky than being injury prone.
Of the rest I would start by saying I think Varane is actually our best defender and I would actually be happy to keep him, but I can see him being moved on due to his age, wages and availability... even though it's been good of late. In terms of depth I think we'd be looking to keep 2 of Maguire, Lindelof and Evans. I just think Lindelof is the lesser of the 3 and he did feel like a bit of a weak link yesterday, with indecision in his play, that usually leads to him just being by passed in no mans land. Harry has been very good of late and is a good option, whilst Evans is calm and has a lot of experience. I'd be looking to get at least 1 new CB, ideally a starter in the summer.
MID - Straight off the bat, Mainoo is the future, has to be playing. To get the best out of him we don't want him sitting as a 6. His ability to break the lines whilst carrying the ball is a great trait. Which is why my 2nd summer addition would be that of a CDM type player. Our midfield is so open at times with how we are set up, you just feel we could really do with a younger Casemiro or Busquets type player who can shield the back four and dictate the play. Just look how successful City have been with Rodri. Bruno would also be in there for me (some people may not agree, ha!) but he gives his all everytime he steps on the pitch.He's a quality player who just hasn't had the best form off late.
I'd be giving players like Mount a chance, with the right recruitment of a CDM he could be a more viable substitute. Casemiro is a player like Varane for me, love him as a player but think we may look to move him on due to age, wages and injuries. McTomminay massively divides people, one thing you can't fault is his passion and desire to play for the badge. I don't see him as a starter, but he has been scoring a lot of important goals and probably deserves a place in the squad. Eriksen seems to have massively dropped off, he also just doesn't have the legs to play in the EPL I don't think.
FOR - Hojlund and Garnacho, for me are no brainers, like Mainoo they have bright bright futures. The tricky one is Rashford. When on form he's great and he delivered last season very well. The question is if a big offer came in what should we do? As it stands I would be keeping him as we are likely to be seeing the back of Martial, Sancho (if ETH stays), Greenwood (Off-field issues and potential FFP related reasons for being homegrown).
Antony has been nowhere near good enough so far. I'm not sure he will be going anywhere though due to the fee and lack of benefit to FFP with his sale.
Amad is a must to get more minutes next season, I do think there is a player in there, a lot to do to break into the first 11 though. Forson has barely played so early days for him at 19 years of age. Shoretire I have no idea where he's at with his development either.
I think we could look something like this next season, but there our doubts over certain players fitness, as mentioned above. I've gone with 4 new players coming in.
----------------------Onana
Dalot--------NEW CB---------Martinez--------Shaw
-------------------- NEW CDM
-------------Fernandes-----Mainoo
Garnacho---------Højlund---------------Rashford
Squad:
Bayindir
Heaton
Wan Bissaka
Kambwala
Maguire
Evans
NEW LB
Malacia
Mount
Amad
Antony
NEW STRIKER
Outs:
Lindelof, Varane, Casemiro, Eriksen, Sancho, Greenwood, Martial
Thoughts?
Team for next season
posted on 18/3/24
comment by Glazers Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 39 seconds ago
comment by Kobra (U19849)
posted 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
Don't get the hatred for AWB.
Injuries aside he is a good player. In the cup game he and Onana are the most comfortable under the press at the back.
It was obvious he was given Slash as his duty and he marked him out the game. The lead up to the goal was huge space and 2 players he had to mark. Basically Rashy never helps the fullback.
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He's technically nowhere near the level required to play fullback in the modern game. That's the problem.
In the 90's when fullbacks didn't have to do as much attacking he'd have been perfectly fine but the game has moved on.
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Give me Denis Irwin any day of the week, he'd walk into any team now even Pep's!
posted on 18/3/24
comment by Kobra (U19849)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
Don't get the hatred for AWB.
Injuries aside he is a good player. In the cup game he and Onana are the most comfortable under the press at the back.
It was obvious he was given Slash as his duty and he marked him out the game. The lead up to the goal was huge space and 2 players he had to mark. Basically Rashy never helps the fullback.
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You can't really put the injuries aside though. Without checking, I'd guess that he's missed more football than Shaw has over the last 2 seasons - and he's nowhere near as good.
We need to do something about our full back situation because its cost us massively this season. If we had a right back who could stay fit, allowing Dalot to move over to the left, it wouldn't have hurt us as much as it has.
Something's got to give there and for me it's AWB. We also need a LB for depth, but I think we can almost 2 birds buy getting a good RB (who for the love of God can stay fit). Keep Shaw for now, but we can then also use Dalot for that side if needed. Presumably Malacia will be back by next season, but in what condition I don't know.
posted on 18/3/24
comment by Vengeance of Kungfu Ten Hag (U23079)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Hi I'm Pranks, the Tory who waanks over Prince Andrew and has never been to a match" (U22336)
posted 29 minutes ago
#stillsixth
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How's the Quad? 😉
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The same as everyone else’s
posted on 18/3/24
comment by -bloodred- (U1222)
posted 20 minutes ago
Pranks I heard you and Baz had a name change bet? What's he going to make you change it to?
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Fackin hell
posted on 18/3/24
comment by Hi I'm Pranks, the Tory who waanks over Prince Andrew and has never been to a match" (U22336)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Vengeance of Kungfu Ten Hag (U23079)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by Hi I'm Pranks, the Tory who waanks over Prince Andrew and has never been to a match" (U22336)
posted 29 minutes ago
#stillsixth
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How's the Quad? 😉
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The same as everyone else’s
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Sore!
🤣🤣
posted on 18/3/24
Onana - Needs another season
Bayshindir - Too early to say
Shaw - One of the best about, IF available
Malacia - Too early to say
Varane - One of the best about, IF available.
Martinez - A starter.
Maguire - A good 3rd or 4th option.
Lindelof - Weak. Not good enough. Needs replacing.
Dalot - A starter.
AWB - A strong 2nd choice RB.
Casemiro - A starter. Still a top player.
Mainoo - A starter. Huge potential.
Amrabat - Not good enough. Release.
Eriksen - A good squad option.
Mount - Too early to say.
McTom - A strong squad option.
Rashford - Disappointing.Gets 1 more season to impress
Garnacho - A starter.
Sancho - Disappointing. Needs to move on
Bruno - A starter. There to take risks and make things happen.
Amad - Too soon to say.
Antony - Too soon to say given off field .
Greenwood - A huge talent. I'd have him back.
Pellistri - Deserves more oppurtunities.
Hojlund - A Starter.
posted on 18/3/24
comment by The Mainoo Man (U23147)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
Onana - Needs another season
Bayshindir - Too early to say
Shaw - One of the best about, IF available
Malacia - Too early to say
Varane - One of the best about, IF available.
Martinez - A starter.
Maguire - A good 3rd or 4th option.
Lindelof - Weak. Not good enough. Needs replacing.
Dalot - A starter.
AWB - A strong 2nd choice RB.
Casemiro - A starter. Still a top player.
Mainoo - A starter. Huge potential.
Amrabat - Not good enough. Release.
Eriksen - A good squad option.
Mount - Too early to say.
McTom - A strong squad option.
Rashford - Disappointing.Gets 1 more season to impress
Garnacho - A starter.
Sancho - Disappointing. Needs to move on
Bruno - A starter. There to take risks and make things happen.
Amad - Too soon to say.
Antony - Too soon to say given off field .
Greenwood - A huge talent. I'd have him back.
Pellistri - Deserves more oppurtunities.
Hojlund - A Starter.
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I assume you don’t have a daughter?
posted on 19/3/24
comment by Never Mind the Defending: Here’s Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool (U3979)
posted 2 hours, 15 minutes ago
comment by The Mainoo Man (U23147)
posted 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
Onana - Needs another season
Bayshindir - Too early to say
Shaw - One of the best about, IF available
Malacia - Too early to say
Varane - One of the best about, IF available.
Martinez - A starter.
Maguire - A good 3rd or 4th option.
Lindelof - Weak. Not good enough. Needs replacing.
Dalot - A starter.
AWB - A strong 2nd choice RB.
Casemiro - A starter. Still a top player.
Mainoo - A starter. Huge potential.
Amrabat - Not good enough. Release.
Eriksen - A good squad option.
Mount - Too early to say.
McTom - A strong squad option.
Rashford - Disappointing.Gets 1 more season to impress
Garnacho - A starter.
Sancho - Disappointing. Needs to move on
Bruno - A starter. There to take risks and make things happen.
Amad - Too soon to say.
Antony - Too soon to say given off field .
Greenwood - A huge talent. I'd have him back.
Pellistri - Deserves more oppurtunities.
Hojlund - A Starter.
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I assume you don’t have a daughter?
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No, why?
posted on 19/3/24
Signings
CB - Branthwaite
CB - Adarabioyo (free transfer)
LB - Netz
DM - Koopmeiners
CM - Rabiot (free transfer)
CF - Gyokeres
Sell/release
Casemiro - 40m
Greenwood - 40m (pure profit)
Sancho - 35m
Van De Beek - 10m
Lindelof - 10m
Eriksen - 5m
Varane - free
Martial - free
Starting XI
Onana
Dalot
Branthwaite (left footed but has a strong right foot)
Martinez
Shaw
Koopmeiners
Mainoo
Fernandes
Garnacho
Hojlund/Gyokeres
Rashford
Subs
Bayindir
Wan-Bissaka
Maguire
Rabiot
Mount
Amad/Antony
Hojlund/Gyokeres
posted on 19/3/24
comment by Melbourne Red (U5417)
posted 0 seconds ago
Signings
CB - Branthwaite
CB - Adarabioyo (free transfer)
LB - Netz
DM - Koopmeiners
CM - Rabiot (free transfer)
CF - Gyokeres
Sell/release
Casemiro - 40m
Greenwood - 40m (pure profit)
Sancho - 35m
Van De Beek - 10m
Lindelof - 10m
Eriksen - 5m
Varane - free
Martial - free
Starting XI
Onana
Dalot
Branthwaite (left footed but has a strong right foot)
Martinez
Shaw
Koopmeiners
Mainoo
Fernandes
Garnacho
Hojlund/Gyokeres
Rashford
Subs
Bayindir
Wan-Bissaka
Maguire
Rabiot
Mount
Amad/Antony
Hojlund/Gyokeres
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Forgot two subs 😂
Add in Netz and McTominay, and swap Adarabioyo for Maguire