Realistic squad for the first game next season

I don't think it necessarily matters how the three behind Pelle line up on paper. Id like them to interchange, swapping positions regularly. After the damage Mane and Long caused swapping wings on Saturday I thought I'd just throw Rodriguez straight in for Ward-Prowse. If we had Jay at his best there on Saturday then it might have been 7 or 8-1 at half time

 

I'm taking that with a pinch of salt. Chances are he'd want to come here if we bid for him

 

Way he said it sounded different tho. He said he had enjoyed his time in the Prem but enjoys it far more being at Burnley.

 

Their personal goals scored, or the team's? The former is easy...the latter might take me a bit to work out. PL goals per minute:

- Pelle: 1 every 266 minutes.
- Long: 1 every 290 minutes.
- Mane: 1 every 204 minutes.


For kicks, last year Jay was 1 every 171 minutes.

 

Surely Jay played more than 171 minutes

 

Can't criticise him for that...in fact I admire that if he sticks to it.

 

Fine with me. Not keen on him.

 

After a season out does he revert back to "no-goal" until he scores again?

 

He'll always be "One Goal"

 

New GK (Forster, Gazzaniga)
Clyne (Mugabi), Fonte (Gardos), Alderweireld or new CB (Yoshida), Bertrand (Targett)
Schneiderlin or replacement (Clasie), Wanyama (Reed)
Rodriguez (Long), Mane (Ward-Prowse), Tadic (Davis)
Pelle (New Striker)

So we need a new GK, new striker, and replacements for any departees, as a minimum.
However, if we play Europa league next season, we wither need to #onlyplaytheU21s or invest in a deeper squad (e.g. keep this year's loanees and maybe get some more)

Personally I'm pretty relaxed going into this summer. We're likely to keep the best asset in our squad (Ron) and I trust in him and Les. Good times

 

When Shane Long is playing, we average 1.89 goals scored per 90 minutes and a goal difference per 90 of 1.03.

He is the best player in the squad by these metrics.

Morgan Schneiderlin has the best record for goals conceded per 90 minutes with 0.66.

 

Can't compare players only by stats, because presumably Ron picks Long for certain types of match...where we are planning to attack.

 

Ok, here it is for me. I've read a lot of "wouldn't be back up" and "keeping players happy" or "wouldn't get enough games."

Next season I think Ron should rotate a little more for the cup games. If Mane is keeping Long out the league team, play Long in the cup. If Tadic is keeping Jayrod out, do the same. This would give enough of these players playing time and have a better chance of keeping them happier. I'm not talking in terms of "play the kids" or a weaker team, but consciously making sure players are getting game time.

If we have the numbers of quality in the squad, that could work.

 

Heaton
Clyne Fonte Alderweireld Bertrand
Wanyama Clasie
Tadic
Mane Rodriguez
Austin

Subs: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Gardos, S.Davis, Ward-Prowse,Long,Pelle