How "Deep" Do You Expect Our Squad To Be?

[RichieS]

For comparison (and because I have nothing better to do):

Liverpool
Alisson, Adrian
Clyne, Alexander-Arnold
van Dijk, Lovren, Gomez, Matip
Robertson
Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Firmino, Mané, Salah, Shaqiri, Lallana
Origi

Man City
Ederson, Bravo, Carson
Walker, Cancelo
Stones, Laporte, Mangala, Otamendi
Mendy
Gündoǧan, Rodrigo, Fernandinho
de Bruyne, B. Silva, D. Silva, Mahrez, Sterling, Sané, Zinchenko, Foden
Agüero, Jesus

I don't want to soil my browser history with Chelsea or Arsenal.

 

[markiespurs]

Squad depth is always a carefull balancing act. You need enough quality in depth to rotate, rest players and cover for any injuries.

The squad also needs to be flexible enough for differ’nt tactics and formations.

While you need quality in depth, too much quality in depth will inevitably lead to unhappy players due to lack of playing time. Too much quality in depth also limits the opportunities for youngsters to break into the first team squad.

Looking at the squad posted by the op, I think we’ve got the squad balance almost right, we’ve generally got two decent players for every position and a number of players, like Dier, who can play in multiple positions. Just as importantly though there is still room for quality youngsters, like Parrot, to get some experiance of being in and around the first team squad.

 

[markiespurs]

For comparison (and because I have nothing better to do):

Liverpool
Alisson, Adrian
Clyne, Alexander-Arnold
van Dijk, Lovren, Gomez, Matip
Robertson
Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Keita, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Firmino, Mané, Salah, Shaqiri, Lallana
Origi

Man City
Ederson, Bravo, Carson
Walker, Cancelo
Stones, Laporte, Mangala, Otamendi
Mendy
Gündoǧan, Rodrigo, Fernandinho
de Bruyne, B. Silva, D. Silva, Mahrez, Sterling, Sané, Zinchenko, Foden
Agüero, Jesus

I don't want to soil my browser history with Chelsea or Arsenal.

Looking at that City squad and, Foden aside, what is the point in them having an academy.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

Everton must have the deepest left wing squad in the league....


View attachment 54077

I'm told Onyekuru hasn't stepped in the UK yet. Everton couldn't get his work permit sorted after buying him in 2017. Tried three times so far, all failed, and yet by all accounts he had a very decent season in Turkey last year. Football is strange. ?

 

[RichieS]

Looking at that City squad and, Foden aside, what is the point in them having an academy.

A money maker. A transfer fee here, a loan fee there - it soon adds up to a respectable amount which can help a club fall into line with FFP (see Chelsea).

 

[markiespurs]

A money maker. A transfer fee here, a loan fee there - it soon adds up to a respectable amount which can help a club fall into line with FFP (see Chelsea).

From a business perspective you absolutely right.

But as a fan I love to see players that have come through the ranks, players like Kane, Winks and Skipp.

 

[GetSpurredOn]

I’m going to assume 433 but obviously that could flex based on Poch’s views with this current squad, to a 4231 with Eriksen and Lo Celso joining the attacking 3, or a diamond with Alli and Lamela dropping to midfield taking up the point of the diamond.

GK - Lloris, Gazzaniga, (Austin/Whiteman)
RB - Aurier, Walker-Peters
LB - Rose, Davies, Georgiou
RCB - Alderweireld, (Foyth)
LCB - Vertonghen, Sanchez, (Tanganga)
DM - Winks, Dier, Wanyama, (Skipp)
RCM - Ndombele, Sissoko
LCM - Lo Celso, Eriksen
RF - Moura, Lamela
LF - Alli, Nkoudou, (Sessegnon)
CF - Kane, Son, (Parrott)

Bold = HG
(Brackets) - no need to PL register
Note - I have listed Davies as non HG based on CL.

23 players registered, 17 non HG and 6 HG.
This could soon change based on the future of Wanyama and Nkoudou for starters, but there are enough options to cope with that.

 

[coys200]

Any injuries to Kane or Son and we have problems.

Pretty sure Liverpool could same of Salah mane or city Aguero sterling.

 

[coys200]

If Eriksen stays, Aurier has a Sissoko season, Parrott has a Rooney emergence style season anything is possible lol. Yes joking but all of those 3,are to a degree feasible and it’s shit like that which tips the balance.

 

[Lighty64]

That's the second strongest group of players in the league imo. Personally, I would only get slightly twitchy if Hugo got a long term injury but I know that's irrational (how often is any team forced to play their 3rd choice GK?).

too often the last few seasons, that's also how Gazzaniga got the 2nd spot from Vorm

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Depth is more than having bodies. It’s having players who can come in and do similar jobs. If Winks and Kane are key players, who do particular jobs, there’s no-one in the squad who really replicates their style when injured.

Yes but there’s also the balancing act of having players who can replicate a ‘first teamer’ and then those who can do something different in other circumstances (like playing a team with a specific strength or weakness, or when plan A is not longer right mid game).

For instance, there will be instances that command the brute force of Sissoko over the imagination Lo Celso, or the physical stature of Dier over the nimble subtlety of Winks, the defensive reliability of Davies over the atacjing exuberance of Rose, or the drive and aggression of Lamela over the pace and incision of Son.

I think the squad is deep, well balanced, and equipped for most eventualities. I think both routine rotation and enforced change are possible all over the pitch, and I can’t see any obvious frailties. Yes, Kane is irreplaceable, but not more so than Agüero, Salah and Aubameyang.

 

[Lilbaz]

Any injuries to Kane or Son and we have problems.

Any injuries to lloris and gazzaniga and we're in trouble. Nobody seems to mention goalies though just goalscorers.