Summer 2023 squad discussion

[GetSpurredOn]

We desperately need the following this window:

CF (not a young kid with potential)
WF - pacy, can score and good 1vs1
CB cover

The fact we are only linked with Orban is very worrying. His all round game is not ready for the prem at all and he will need a lot of work.

We also seem to be the only team that struggles consistently to sell our players.

Once agian we are leaving everything to the last minute and will probably be left short as always. No other team would sell their best player, the best CF in the world and not adequately replace. This window is simply not good enough and extremely worrying so far.

I agree in principle, but with a slightly different slant.

I agree we need another CB, ideally one capable of playing left or right, so there is no drop off in quality if Romero or VdV are not available.

The second two points are slightly interlinked for me. If Ange see’s Son as a better fit for CF in his system, then I feel a higher quality Winger/WF is required, and then we can afford to take a gamble on a project CF. If Ange actually wants someone with physical presence as the focal point in the box, the that changes the picture somewhat.

I would add a CM onto the list, assuming PEH goes. I feel the way Bissouma is operating in the 6 role is key to Ange’s tactics, and I’m not sure any of our other options in there have the same skillset, the blend of athleticism/agility, tenacity and technique.

 

[vegassd]

We also seem to be the only team that struggles consistently to sell our players.

Once agian we are leaving everything to the last minute and will probably be left short as always. No other team would sell their best player, the best CF in the world and not adequately replace. This window is simply not good enough and extremely worrying so far.

I understand your frustration, but we definitely aren't the only club who struggles to sell crap players. My brother in law is a United fan and he talks about how they can never sell their fringe players - often citing Phil Jones being given multiple new contracts to protect his sale value whilst never actually being played or sold.

I imagine most fans believe their club is the only one who can't sell players, simply because they only really follow their own club when it comes to transfers for fringe players. It makes sense.

If the window shut today then I totally agree that we are looking short in those areas. However, I reckon most of us would agree that it's more important than ever to get the right players in, and get the right squad balance. If that means giving Ange as much time as possible with Richy/Solomon/Deki to work out what the best solution up front is, then I think that's part of the patience we need to show.

It's also worth bearing in mind that the crap players typically don't move until very late in the window anyway. It's not just about us setting prices, it's about other clubs not necessarily wanting Lloris/Dier/Reguilon as their primary signing for a position. Just the way it is I think, so on that particular front I don't think it's worth being worried just yet.

 

[Flobadob]

Two risky signing’s with the Kane money for me but with big potential.

Chiesa (LW)- we could make it happen if we chuck money at Juve and there’s been rumours that he doesn’t enjoy playing for Allegri, so it’s a small possibility if we really push hard.

Pedro Neto (RW)- Another risk but there’s a reason Arsenal we’re bidding for him to compete with Saka 18 months ago, he’s top class when he’s fit and he’s looking much better so far this season in pre-season and he was electric against United, just had no quality support when he was breaking on United and his teammates didn’t pick him out on at least one occasion where he was through on goal.

Two very quick wingers that can beat a man out wide and deliver quality crosses. It’s exactly what we need. Move Son to striker and use whichever suits the situation better out of him and Richy and he can back up Chiesa and let Neto and Kulusevski fight for the RW slot with Kulu also getting minutes in the 8 position.

Chiesa/Solomon, Richy/Son and Kulusevski/Neto would be a much improved forward line and add the kind of wingers we need. Also take the punt on Orban if the price doesn’t get crazy

 

[King of the Lane]

If we are going down the fast, goal scoring winger route with Son being used more as a CF then here is a list of wingers that I think we should target:

Chiesa
Nico Williams
Ansu Fati
Adeyemi
Sancho
Barcola
Adli
Gnonto

Or if we really want a project option then Johan Bakayoko could be worth a punt for the future

 

[Now it's Spursonal]

If we are going down the fast, goal scoring winger route with Son being used more as a CF then here is a list of wingers that I think we should target:

Chiesa
Nico Williams
Ansu Fati
Adeyemi
Sancho
Barcola
Adli
Gnonto

Or if we really want a project option then Johan Bakayoko could be worth a punt for the future

I think it’s actually more important that it’s a fast, 1v1 specialist rather than a goalscorer personally.

That said I’d take Sancho and Fati off your list and add Ernest Nuamah and Armand Lauriente.

Johan Bakayoko is an interesting shout though, apparently Everton are preparing a bid so could potentially gazump them again

 

[Flobadob]

If we are going down the fast, goal scoring winger route with Son being used more as a CF then here is a list of wingers that I think we should target:

Chiesa
Nico Williams
Ansu Fati
Adeyemi
Sancho
Barcola
Adli
Gnonto

Or if we really want a project option then Johan Bakayoko could be worth a punt for the future

What do you think of Adeyemi? Seen a lot of him? I’ve only seen a few matches for Dortmund but he looks pretty high potential to me. Pretty raw but he is very rapid and does look like he has an eye for goal too

 

[DFF]

 

[spursville]

View attachment 130724

"As I revealed yesterday...blah blah blah..." What a very annoying person with very little insight.

 

[DFF]

"As I revealed yesterday...blah blah blah..." What a very annoying person with very little insight.

Agreed. And what about Ornstein?

 

[King of the Lane]

What do you think of Adeyemi? Seen a lot of him? I’ve only seen a few matches for Dortmund but he looks pretty high potential to me. Pretty raw but he is very rapid and does look like he has an eye for goal too

He is very rapid as you say and that is his main strength. Not the most refined overall game just yet and can be pretty wasteful infront of goal at times. Good cross though especially low ones which is why I think he could be quite effective for us and Ange's system. Lots of potential there so will be interesting to see if he reaches it.

 

[Chello90]

If we are going down the fast, goal scoring winger route with Son being used more as a CF then here is a list of wingers that I think we should target:

Chiesa
Nico Williams
Ansu Fati
Adeyemi
Sancho
Barcola
Adli
Gnonto

Or if we really want a project option then Johan Bakayoko could be worth a punt for the future

Add Lauriente to that list!

 

[Ginola+Tonic]

View attachment 130724

I double bloody dare Levy to not sign anyone else this window off the back of selling our star academy striker.
He can’t be that stupid surely!!!!

Id still expect at the very least 2 a striker and centre back.
Otherwise there’s massive holes once again in our squad.
I refuse to believe Levy is that stupid.

 

[Snarfalicious]

I double bloody dare Levy to not sign anyone else this window off the back of selling our star academy striker.
He can’t be that stupid surely!!!!

Id still expect at the very least 2 a striker and centre back.
Otherwise there’s massive holes once again in our squad.
I refuse to believe Levy is that stupid.

Narrator: He was indeed, that stupid.

 

[van_Pommel]

Starting to worry about how long the outs are taking. There may well be teams hoping to get our unwanted players on the cheap at the end of the window but if it doesn't leave us time to get players in what's the point? Might as well take the hit now before all the decent players get snapped up.

 

[mpickard2087]

Is it that surprising we're struggling to shift players? Was anything else expected?

Lloris - Will go in due course.

Spence - Zero PL pedigree, rumours of a difficult attitude.

Reguilon - Had a dud loan back to La Liga already, Spanish market is broke.

Tanganga - Another with zero pedigree whatsoever, has he ever started consecutive games at CB? Don't see many takers.

Dier - Has not as of yet been told to sling his hook.

Sanchez - We did accept an offer, whether he wanted to a) go to, or b) we're allowed to sell him to Russia remained to be seen... Since then, has seemingly played his way back into the reckoning.

Hojbjerg - We might be amenable to him going... but he's a good player, currently the main back up to Bissouma, and it's perfectly reasonable for us to want a decent bid for him before we let him go. All we've heard thus far is a low ball Atletico one.

Ndombele - Waste-man that anyone with sense will steer clear of.

Lo Celso - Seems part of the plans.

Perisic - The manager has said he won't be leaving.

You then have Gil and Sessegnon, both injured and required surgery, so probably rules out any departure this window.

And I haven't even mentioned the wages for each of these players, which in a lot of cases will put teams off.


Those are the ones most talked about to depart. Well that's mostly a mix of players at low stock/low ebb who are financially unattractive to teams, some with virtually no track record to interest clubs (plus probably on too much money to step down a level), some who have come back into the plans, and a couple of injured players.

I've said before, but if you spend badly and profligately the hangover for this is long lasting. The consequences linger on. It can't be any surprise that teams weren't snapping our hands off for all our duds. As ever, it will be the end of the window dealings to see who takes a bite - the odd sale, a few loans, and maybe eventually a contract torn up.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Is it that surprising we're struggling to shift players? Was anything else expected?

Yes. I do think it was expected that we would move some players out.

At this point I'd be content to use some of the Kane money just to clear the decks.

 

[Goobers]

Is it that surprising we're struggling to shift players? Was anything else expected?

Lloris - Will go in due course.

Spence - Zero PL pedigree, rumours of a difficult attitude.

Reguilon - Had a dud loan back to La Liga already, Spanish market is broke.

Tanganga - Another with zero pedigree whatsoever, has he ever started consecutive games at CB? Don't see many takers.

Dier - Has not as of yet been told to sling his hook.

Sanchez - We did accept an offer, whether he wanted to a) go to, or b) we're allowed to sell him to Russia remained to be seen... Since then, has seemingly played his way back into the reckoning.

Hojbjerg - We might be amenable to him going... but he's a good player, currently the main back up to Bissouma, and it's perfectly reasonable for us to want a decent bid for him before we let him go. All we've heard thus far is a low ball Atletico one.

Ndombele - Waste-man that anyone with sense will steer clear of.

Lo Celso - Seems part of the plans.

Perisic - The manager has said he won't be leaving.

You then have Gil and Sessegnon, both injured and required surgery, so probably rules out any departure this window.

And I haven't even mentioned the wages for each of these players, which in a lot of cases will put teams off.


Those are the ones most talked about to depart. Well that's mostly a mix of players at low stock/low ebb who are financially unattractive to teams, some with virtually no track record to interest clubs (plus probably on too much money to step down a level), some who have come back into the plans, and a couple of injured players.

I've said before, but if you spend badly and profligately the hangover for this is long lasting. The consequences linger on. It can't be any surprise that teams weren't snapping our hands off for all our duds. As ever, it will be the end of the window dealings to see who takes a bite - the odd sale, a few loans, and maybe eventually a contract torn up.

Yeah I cannot see all of the players that we would desire to leave having a suitable route out or getting good offers for.
You could argue the only way we are going to save money on the wage bill and reduce the numbers is to sell our best player which we have done, our captain and former World Cup winner and our Danish International who has been one of our best players in the last 3-4 years.
Sad state of affairs really but as you say this is about squad management. This needs to be looked at very carefully. A director of football's remit in my eyes is far more than simply scouting a brokering deals for incomings. They most have a vision of the squad moving forward and how to manage it and achieve it. This includes how we manage and loan our younger players. We have really good footballers at the club like Harvey White and Jpahet Tanganga whose careers are going nowhere and I think the club has to take responsibility or at least accept accountability.

 

[FinnYid]

Is it that surprising we're struggling to shift players? Was anything else expected?

Lloris - Will go in due course.

Spence - Zero PL pedigree, rumours of a difficult attitude.

Reguilon - Had a dud loan back to La Liga already, Spanish market is broke.

Tanganga - Another with zero pedigree whatsoever, has he ever started consecutive games at CB? Don't see many takers.

Dier - Has not as of yet been told to sling his hook.

Sanchez - We did accept an offer, whether he wanted to a) go to, or b) we're allowed to sell him to Russia remained to be seen... Since then, has seemingly played his way back into the reckoning.

Hojbjerg - We might be amenable to him going... but he's a good player, currently the main back up to Bissouma, and it's perfectly reasonable for us to want a decent bid for him before we let him go. All we've heard thus far is a low ball Atletico one.

Ndombele - Waste-man that anyone with sense will steer clear of.

Lo Celso - Seems part of the plans.

Perisic - The manager has said he won't be leaving.

You then have Gil and Sessegnon, both injured and required surgery, so probably rules out any departure this window.

And I haven't even mentioned the wages for each of these players, which in a lot of cases will put teams off.


Those are the ones most talked about to depart. Well that's mostly a mix of players at low stock/low ebb who are financially unattractive to teams, some with virtually no track record to interest clubs (plus probably on too much money to step down a level), some who have come back into the plans, and a couple of injured players.

I've said before, but if you spend badly and profligately the hangover for this is long lasting. The consequences linger on. It can't be any surprise that teams weren't snapping our hands off for all our duds. As ever, it will be the end of the window dealings to see who takes a bite - the odd sale, a few loans, and maybe eventually a contract torn up.

Reguilon, Lloris and NDombele will be gone one way or another, as things stand they won't be in squad come september due non-hg limit. One of Dier / Sanchez must leave if we are to bring in non-hg central half, luckily reckon those two probably have bit more proper demand and that might go through. Tanganga is probably on rather low wages and loan could be best option if we reckon he could enhance his value. If we bring in U21 to forward roles, then there is no need to cut more squad due non HG limitations and Perisic will leave in year anyway to free up slots. As will other one of Dier/Sanchez, possibly Gil too. Though Udogie and Sarr won't be U21 anymore. Höjberg is asset we could cash on and will likely play less next year and isn't one we neccesarily need to replace, however outside PL there are limited options who are able to pay what we want, pay his wages and are in need of him and prefer him over other options. Hopefully Atletico is doable. Leaves Spence, don't know if Forest are intererested and could he be used in deal for Brennan Johnson, if not, loan looks most likely.

A lot to do and chances are we won't be able to do 'em all.

 

[brasil_spur]

I don't see the outs as such a major issue either, as others have said: Lloris, Spence and Reguilon will go easily enough, even if it's a loan deal.

Getting development loan deals for Phillips and Veliz also seems like it should be easy enough to do.

That then leaves: Gil, Dier, Tanganga and Ndombele. I don't think there's a desperate need to shift Tanganga as he's not going to fetch much of a fee and is HG and won't be expecting much game time. I also don't think it should be that hard to find a deal for Gil either, assuming we want to. So it's really only Ndombele that will be the issue, as always.

That then leaves us with a squad of:

4 x U21: Udogie, VDV, Gil, Sarr
7 x HG: Forster, Whiteman/Austin, Skipp, Maddison, Sess, Davies and Tanganga.
15 x Non-HG: Dier, Emerson, Porro, Vicario, Romero, Sanchez, PEH, Bentancur, Bissouma, Deki, Solomon, Son, Richarlison, Perisic, Lo Celso

So we still then have space to add a couple more non HG players and that's assuming neither Dier or PEH are leaving, if either of them go then that's another spot.

Appreciate that we'll then have a fairly massive potential squad, which will mean many won't see much game time, but we're not currently stuck in terms of non-HG or HG spots available to bring in players.

 

[FinnYid]

I don't see the outs as such a major issue either, as others have said: Lloris, Spence and Reguilon will go easily enough, even if it's a loan deal.

Getting development loan deals for Phillips and Veliz also seems like it should be easy enough to do.

That then leaves: Gil, Dier, Tanganga and Ndombele. I don't think there's a desperate need to shift Tanganga as he's not going to fetch much of a fee and is HG and won't be expecting much game time. I also don't think it should be that hard to find a deal for Gil either, assuming we want to. So it's really only Ndombele that will be the issue, as always.

That then leaves us with a squad of:

4 x U21: Udogie, VDV, Gil, Sarr
7 x HG: Forster, Whiteman/Austin, Skipp, Maddison, Sess, Davies and Tanganga.
15 x Non-HG: Dier, Emerson, Porro, Vicario, Romero, Sanchez, PEH, Bentancur, Bissouma, Deki, Solomon, Son, Richarlison, Perisic, Lo Celso

So we still then have space to add a couple more non HG players and that's assuming neither Dier or PEH are leaving, if either of them go then that's another spot.

Appreciate that we'll then have a fairly massive potential squad, which will mean many won't see much game time, but we're not currently stuck in terms of non-HG or HG spots available to bring in players.

Gil and Micky not U21 players, so it's full quota even with just NDombele, Reguilon and Lloris leaving. If Reguilon was easy to get out, he would already be out. Sure if we pay most of wages on loan, but on other terms not an easy task. Reguilon is on big wages for smaller Spanish teams and he has practically one good season to his clame to fame and that was 4 seasons ago (loan stint at Sevilla). At least on top flight, of course there are good seasons on segunda before that. Still, hardly an enticing option for most of teams.