• All - as you will understand, the forum is exceptionally busy at this time. The admins and moderators simply don't have time to read every post in every thread. Could you PLEASE use the "Report" option below a post to flag any content that you feel we need to be aware of. We'll review everything reported as a priority and deal with it accordingly. Thank you.

Current state of the squad

D

dr_horse

Geoff Thomas
Notcher said:
He was the one I kept going back and forth on between or . Had this been a week ago he would have had the green tick but I saw enough against City to suggest strong potential of Aina fulfilling that in a back 3.
Click to expand...
Agree with that. If we could get him for nowt then I'd be up for it though. I know he's only been less than useless in about 2.5 games but we're short on wingers and I wouldn't be surprised seeing Aina play further up at some point.

Sent from my M2101K6G using Tapatalk
 
R

Red Dog in a Forest

Viv Anderson
If Boly and Tavares stay, and Abbey and Richards come into the squad, we’ll still need 4 or 5 players.

The squad has been reduced massively over the season.

I’d see if we could extend Ribeiro for pre-season / end of August to see how he goes.

Barkley and Morris would be cheapish options, with a few others going the other way (Worrall, Toffolo and O’Brien).

LB (if no Richards or Tavares - Burrows from Peterborough…Aguilera & Hwang on loan).
CB (another cheap / experienced player like Boly).
CM (Barkley as mentioned - possibly out of contract at Luton).
WGR / AM (possibly a loan - OTB).
FWD (Morris…10 goals and 4 assists, likely happy to rotate in the squad).

That’s the Aldi version.
 
F

forest_forever_99

First Team Squad
Looks like Sels is a reasonable option in goal, but not at the Henderson level.
Overall back four has positives and negatives.
Neco and Aina are both wing backs, and both have a weakness defending, especially balls in the air
Our centre backs are not great in the air, and apart from Murillo,not great at playing the ball out
Defensive midfield weak at progressing the ball forward, and do not contribute goals (Danillo one, Yates non) or assists
Wide players, have their moments and have five goals each, but CHO no assists
MGW, five goals which given his role and opportunities is poor
Wood 12 goals and Taiwo 6 goals, fairly good return.

Either defenders improve especially on crosses and corners, or we need new CD and LB
Midfielders need to progress tha ball and score more, or min one new one CDM needed
Wingers, more consistently required,
Wood and Taiwo can work, but ones old and one always injured

So without significant player improvement, or three to four new impact signings, already we are a bottom five team next year.
 
I

IdiotTricky

First Team Squad
forest_forever_99 said:
Looks like Sels is a reasonable option in goal, but not at the Henderson level.
Overall back four has positives and negatives.
Neco and Aina are both wing backs, and both have a weakness defending, especially balls in the air
Our centre backs are not great in the air, and apart from Murillo,not great at playing the ball out
Defensive midfield weak at progressing the ball forward, and do not contribute goals (Danillo one, Yates non) or assists
Wide players, have their moments and have five goals each, but CHO no assists
MGW, five goals which given his role and opportunities is poor
Wood 12 goals and Taiwo 6 goals, fairly good return.

Either defenders improve especially on crosses and corners, or we need new CD and LB
Midfielders need to progress tha ball and score more, or min one new one CDM needed
Wingers, more consistently required,
Wood and Taiwo can work, but ones old and one always injured

So without significant player improvement, or three to four new impact signings, already we are a bottom five team next year.
Click to expand...
Personally, I think there's been so much uncertainty around the squad, in terms of AfCon, injuries and FFP/PSR and f*ing VAR, that we haven't yet seen the best of this set of players.

I'll probably be shot for saying this, but I think Sangare will come good next season precisely because he is the sort of deep-lying midfielder who plays forwards quickly. As neat and tidy and generally lovely as Mangala is, he isn't that sort of player.

I actually really like our squad, currently, and think we're a handful of adjustments away (and a fit Taiwo) from becoming a decent mid-table team. It's perhaps disappointing not to be able to follow Villa's trajectory, but how many teams do? We're going to see the back of a lot of players this summer but, imho, we now have a solid core to build on. If we can be Fulham or Bournemouth next season, I'll be happy.

Not disagreeing with your post. Just the way I see it - *if* we manage to stay up.
 
I

IdiotTricky

First Team Squad
Red Dog in a Forest said:
FWD (Morris…10 goals and 4 assists, likely happy to rotate in the squad).

That’s the Aldi version.
Click to expand...
I had Carlton Morris in an FM save a few seasons back (I usually play lower leagues up to the Champ before I get bored). Liked him ever since. I just can't get over his skinny ankles, though. He needs to have a word with Grealish's trainer.
 
Gyros Peter

Gyros Peter

Sauce salad?
Assuming we stay up I find it interesting to wonder on how/where we shape what I believe is the core of a good squad. Completely ignoring the financials I feel we are a stellar CDM away from being a very dangerous first 11, but beyond that have little to no depth in key positions. I fear it's another one where, with the volume of players at the end of their contracts (thanks and good riddance to most), we need substantial numbers...

We've found a good keeper in Sels - whether we stick there with Turner as his back up or bring another in to compete will depend on cash available. I'd be happy with Sels as out one for the year though - he's earned that.

Full backs are a bit wonky - Williams is now established and Aina has done enough for another couple of years. It's great both can play either side, but we desperately need a first choice quality LB who can do it all. The guy who suggested Tsimakis has it right, in that someone of that quality might allow us to retain Toff as backup and Aina as competition for both sides.

Centre back is light - we've four now assuming Boly gets another year, which is at least one short. I see at least one of the two lads at Oly coming in with some financial wizardry, though perhaps we see one go in Murillo. That's lots of lefty's too, so if Mur goes we'll need a righty. I'm assuming Worral has left, though still think he's a good option in a three if we intend to play that.

Midfield is light - we've no competition for Morgan who may or may not move on. I hope not. CDM wise we've no choice really but to persevere with Sangare and hope he can push on, but even so need more competition. Interesting to see what happens with Dominguez, who has his qualities but currently isn't favoured. It's him v Danilo and Sangare v Yates currently... with Kouyate going, Mangala gone and Sangare doing nothing we're going to need more. Aguilera hasn't pulled up any trees since his return from injury, albeit at clogger level.

Winger/forwards - were almost well stocked at striker but need one more. Perhaps the kid is that - there's an option in place iirc.

Winger wise we are short on back up and need at least one, preferably who can play either side. In an ideal world id see a play across the line type in, or a winger/striker type. I keep banging on about Archer and think he'll be available one way or another. Needs work but will get there imo.

As a bare minimum with no outgoings I think we need five, realistically I think it could be lots more with quite a bit of wheeling and dealing... Depending on who goes I suspect we may recruit for a different setup too... Safety first then more scheming...
 
M

MaxiRobriguez

Bob McKinlay
Berkshire Red said:
Anyone else concerned that Elanga has been pretty ineffective for a few months?
Click to expand...

Looks not fully recovered from injury. Think he'll be ok next season after a bit of a break.
 
M

MaxiRobriguez

Bob McKinlay
Summer activity for me is a left back, two wingers, a striker and another holding midfielder if we can get rid of Sangare, but suspect we're stuck with him. We'll also need a new LCB if we cash in on Murillo, unless Niakhate is succession plan with McKenna back as backup.

Squad would be:

GK: Sels, Turner
RB: Williams, Aina
RCB: Boly, Omo
LCB: Murillo*, Niakhate
LB: NEW, Toffolo
RCM: Sangare*, Yates
LCM: Danilo, Dominguez
RW: Elanga, NEW
AM: MGW, Aguilera
LW: CHO, NEW
ST: Awoniyi, NEW, Wood

Anyone not listed can go.
 
Steve B

Steve B

Jack Armstrong
Up front is where we need some serious attention this summer.

More competitive teams have top quality match winners that give them an extra dimension and make them much more dangerous than us (Villa Watkins, Boremth Solanke, Brent Toney, Wolves Cunha etc.). It’s a vital ingredient for a decent prem team.

Big T & Chris Wood have done their bit, I like them, but we badly need to upgrade if we’re going to progress. I’d be going all in for 1 or 2 top strikers.
 
valspoodle

valspoodle

Steve Chettle
We're still in competition with teams who spend £100 million on one player, but we have less than that to furnish half a team. Buy quality in key positions as much as we can. Very careful spending this Summer.
 
Red Ray's Redlist

Red Ray's Redlist

Viv Anderson
Impossible to say what we need unless we know what shape we'll be playing.

Ideally we'd play 4321 with the 2 wide, but that means no AM so where would MGW fit, which was the very problem Coops failed to solve. I'd try him a little deeper, especially if he still wants a shot at playing for England.

All things remaining equal that means a new left back, a cdm with positional discipline to compete with Sangare (with top coaching that could be Danilo but like Yates I'm not sure he can help himself chasing the ball and breaking forward). A speedster winger with a brain (not a Diakhaby). Ideally a tricky forward who can slot into a wing position in an emergency. And at a push a new centre back to cover Boly missing game time, though I'd be happy with Worrall coming back.

Doesn't sound a lot, but you can guarantee none of that comes cheap.

Let's hope we've found some of those creative accountants that knock around the Fulham and Bournemouth parts of the country.
 
Captain Sinister

Captain Sinister

Senior doom Monger
Malwood said:
It would be nice to get some upgrades, but I feel that we're not getting the best out of the players we've got, and if we brought a load more in we won't get the best out of them either.
Click to expand...
The Club surely have to bin the recruitment shot-gun, and bring the sniper’s rifle out of the gun room.
Assuming we avoid the drop, still not certain, my thoughts are:
We are ok with Sels in goal and Turner as (hopefully) unused back-up;
With Williams, Aina, Toffo, Richards and maybe Tavares, full-backs seem ok;
Centre backs: Bolly, Niakhate, Murillo Omobamidele all ok, but we could do with another big stopper;
Midfield: despite having a full quota we will be relying on Sangare to come good - probably need another decent central defending midfielder. We seem vulnerable in midfield despite the potential we have in Dominguez, Danilo, Yates, and Sangare;
Attacking midfield: CHO, MGW, Elanga, look dangerous, but injuries would leave us weak - buy Ben Brereton!
Strikers: hoping to see Ribeiro deployed more; Adebayo would be a good addition to replace Origi.
 
Last edited:
Rubics

Rubics

Bin VAR!
Most of us are agreed we’ve got the basis of a decent squad. Fine tuning is all that’s needed, 2 or 3 signings and a couple of loans with options and were sorted. Stability is the word for next season - we all need a quiet / no drama season!
Do the above and get the ground improvements underway.
 
Robertson

Robertson

Geoff Thomas
Malwood said:
It would be nice to get some upgrades, but I feel that we're not getting the best out of the players we've got, and if we brought a load more in we won't get the best out of them either.
Click to expand...
Time, stability, and continuity can work wonders. We should try it sometime. I believe we have the talent with two or three of the right additions.
 
B

Bohinens_chip

A. Trialist
Browser79 said:
We need to strengthen in the head as much as the feet. No team loses this many points from winning positions, concedes this many from set pieces, is so much worse away than at home without being mentally fragile. We need leaders and some steel.

And yes, at least 1 striker.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about this but am I right in saying that at a minimum niakhate, dominguez and Sels were club captains at their previous clubs?

With apparently mature and serious professionals like yates, toffollo and Wood, I can't see that we have a deficiency of good character. Maybe it is someone who can knit good characters together on the pitch.

would be good to get a Milner/Henderson, though they are like rocking horse shit.
 
Strummer

Strummer

Socialismo O Muerte!
LTLF Minion
Bohinens_chip said:
I was thinking about this but am I right in saying that at a minimum niakhate, dominguez and Sels were club captains at their previous clubs?
Click to expand...
Sels and Niakhaté certainly were. Not sure about Nico Dominguez though? (Anyone?)
 
Y

youreds1986

Geoff Thomas
I'll reiterate that if we spend big on one signing it should be a big horrible bastard of a CB that heads and kicks everything and bollocks everyone around him.

Essentially a better and.more available version of Boly.
 
A

ARedChester

First Team Squad
Thinking positively, a forward as 3rd choice now to bed in and develop for season after next for when Wood moves on, plus when (more likely than if) TA gets injured we have 2 CFs good to go.

I think we need to find a way of moving Sangare on. Whilst the jurynis out, he has had sufficient chances for a good quality player to make his mark, but failed. Another CM is required as I like Yates, but he has his limits. Danillo is great and Dominguez I think is good, but we need a bit more weight in there.

A decent CB is required who can head. We have sufficient options to play with him and rotate/cover injuries.

3 or 4 players max.

Finances will be the issue to our recruitment. We have the.core for a mid table team, small tweaks only.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom