Imo we needed another CM and AM looking at that squad. Maybe a LWB too ideally

It is not the perfect squad, but it is a very streamlined and versatile one. Overall there is good cover for all positions.

Obviously a key man out is not ideal, but I think we could swallow any of them.out now without seeing a dip. Probably a few, as long as they were not concentrated in one area.

Of the rivals:

City
They have a real dearth of defensive players. 3 fullbacks, 3 centrebacks. They are a Kompany injury away from trouble. Amazing forwards

Liverpool
Top-heavy like City. No complaints going forward, but neither keeper is very good. Matip holds it together, past him they not great at CB and light of numbers. No DM of note.

Chelsea
Much like us, a good first XI and some versatilty there. The left side is a bit bare, and still doubts about Batshuayi, but Drinkwater and the Italian RB have filled gaps. A solid 18

United
Probably the strongest squad overall, without necessarily having the best XI to put out. Fullback looks a bit light, both sides.

Arsenal
The defense is a real concern for them. If playing 3 at the back there is a real lack of depth and quality. Gibbs, Ox, Gabriel all gone and only Kolasinac in, and Chambers back. Not a happy place at present. The Sanchez and Wenger situations possibly a poison.

Everton
Plenty of filler, not much thriller. Lukaku's goals missing is a huge blow, but the squad looks equipped for Europe now. Good group of youngsters. On the up, but well short of others

comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 5 minutes ago
Imo we needed another CM and AM looking at that squad. Maybe a LWB too ideally
----------------------------------------------------------------------

That is why I wanted Barkley. He ticks both boxes, and him for Sissoko would have been ideal. In the future anyway, as he is injured.

LWB yeah. Need better really. Davies does a job, KWP can play that side. Ideally Wimmer would have stayed for me, until January anyway. Just for senior numbers across the defensive positions.

If by some quirk of fate that entire first XI was missing I guess we would go with a back 4.

.........................Vorm

Trippier.....Sanchez....Foyth....Davies

.................Sissoko......Winks

Son..................Lamela.............Nkoudou

.......................Llorente

Still a lack of quality in the attacking areas with question marks as to how or when Lamela will regain form and fitness. Sissoko and N'Koudou don't cut it for me and are mid-table players.

comment by Ledders' knee surgeon - Football Manager ... (U20121)
posted 4 minutes ago
Still a lack of quality in the attacking areas with question marks as to how or when Lamela will regain form and fitness. Sissoko and N'Koudou don't cut it for me and are mid-table players.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

We are well covered at centre forward

If we are going three at the back, there are only two other spots. Eriksen and Alli. Then Son. Kane may well play a bit deeper off Llorente at a push.

Another attacking midfielder instead of Llorente would have been my preference, but perhaps it opens the door for Edwards to get some minutes

I think there is little to choose between the first 11 of City, United, Chelsea and Spurs. The best balanced may be Chelsea but they still lack depth. City's overly offensive tactics are their weakness. United will revert to negative tactics by December. Spurs have a problem with Wembley.

comment by HRH King Ledley (U20095)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
If by some quirk of fate that entire first XI was missing I guess we would go with a back 4.

.........................Vorm

Trippier.....Sanchez....Foyth....Davies

.................Sissoko......Winks

Son..................Lamela.............Nkoudou

.......................Llorente
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lamela - no where to be seen
Nkou - never given minutes
Winks - still lots to prove
Sissoko - not a DM or CM and questionably a footballer at times
Foyth - likely to be a development player

Therefore we do not have cover everywhere.

With Lamela out and assuming Rose was available. No injuries our strongest team imo:

Lloris
Dier/Sanchez Alderweireld Vertonghen
Aurier Wanyama Dembele Rose
Alli Eriksen
Kane

Bench: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Dier/Sanchez, Son, Winks, Llorente

That is decent but few areas of concern is lack of cover in attacking mid if we play 4231 and if Dembele or eriksen get injured we are looking seriously average

comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by HRH King Ledley (U20095)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
If by some quirk of fate that entire first XI was missing I guess we would go with a back 4.

.........................Vorm

Trippier.....Sanchez....Foyth....Davies

.................Sissoko......Winks

Son..................Lamela.............Nkoudou

.......................Llorente
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lamela - no where to be seen
Nkou - never given minutes
Winks - still lots to prove
Sissoko - not a DM or CM and questionably a footballer at times
Foyth - likely to be a development player

Therefore we do not have cover everywhere.

With Lamela out and assuming Rose was available. No injuries our strongest team imo:

Lloris
Dier/Sanchez Alderweireld Vertonghen
Aurier Wanyama Dembele Rose
Alli Eriksen
Kane

Bench: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Dier/Sanchez, Son, Winks, Llorente

----------------------------------------------------------------------

All of the above players are in a position they have played regularly in their career, so the cover is there. Sissoko included, as he was originally a DM at Toulouse.

It is beyond unlikely every player would be missing, it is likely we would rely heavily on about 7 or 8 of that 2nd XI, and the versatility of the core group.

It is unlikely Wanyama, Dembele and Dier are ever all injured for example, so Winks and Sissoko would never be a pair.

It is unlikely three of Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sanchez and Dier were unavailable and Foyth would have to play in a back four at this stage.

Ditto Nkoudou. There will always be another option. Two up front, Kane dropping off. Sissoko.

Dier isn't good enough in midfield recently. All it takes is an injury to Dembele and we are weak imo

Why post an article about something we already know?

comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 1 minute ago
Why post an article about something we already know?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm glad your wait to say that is over

I don't get why you are posting about the back 3 & 2 versatility when we knew about this last year?

comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 1 minute ago
I don't get why you are posting about the back 3 & 2 versatility when we knew about this last year?
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I will humour you...

I did not think the squad was very versatile last season. If Dier or Wanyama were out we were not versatile at all - it was a back four.

Sanchez for Wimmer changes that. Far more balanced.


To make you feel better I will post an article later about how I know Kane is a top striker, but that he does not score in August.

The fact that you deem that comparable confirms that you didn't understand the article. Shame, but not surprising.