It’s one of those where at the moment on current form I think it’d be hard to improve on our XI without signing an elite player that would likely already be at a bigger club than ours. I don’t think we should ever stop looking to improve though, if an opportunity arises we should take it. I think the squad needs considerable improvement though and that’s been the case for a while. We can probably sign new players in just about every position too. I’d say Perisic is only the proven player who could’ve stepped into the XI on a regular basis and we wouldn’t have seen a drop in quality, so it’s only right he got injured... I don’t think we have any other player capable of doing that though. I don’t expect a bench of players equal to their starting counterparts but the gap needs closing. Maddison and Bissouma don’t even have any direct competition for places either.
I think Kulusevski could do with some serious competition…I like the boy and what he brings but unless he gets it bang on everytime then what he brings is the same thing and quite predictable. I know this sat on the couch…top teams will know this too. Richarlison also needs replacing
The only obvious replacement in my mind is Richarlison, a nice to have is back up for CBs and Maddison
Depth is definitely where the squad is lacking ATM, best summed up by the fact that Ben Davies is our fourth-choice CB and/or main cover at LCB, which makes it plain we need to consider bringing in a CB when the January window opens, even if it's a loan Similar can be said in midfield, because against Fulham there's obviously an issue in who plays where as Sarr can play Bissouma's role, but neither Hojbjerg nor Skipp can play Sarr's effectively - while neither Hojbjerg nor Skipp can play Bissouma's and would be playing a very different role entirely, with the ball moving differently as a result That being said, a CF could certainly improve the first xi and it doesn't need to be an Mbappe or a Haaland, as the way we play is ideal for someone like Jonathan David or Lois Openda
I was only half serious, but as I don't recall any of their players being carded for (repeat) shirt-pulling, I think that's a remote possibility
Could probably do a separate thread with a sort of squad ranker/ squad importance type of analysis but I’d say: Untouchables: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie, Bissouma, Bentancur (if he returns as the same player), Maddison, Kulu and Son. Good players: Sarr and Johnson Good squad players: Perisic and Solomon, potentially Gil too. Reliable squad players who can improved on: Forster, Lloris, Davies, Emerson, Hojbjerg and Skipp. Sell immediately: Dier and Richarlison Retire/ cancel contracts: Sessegnon, Ndombele and Lo Celso. I would put Richarlison in here too but there’s still a glimmer of hope some Saudi club might bid for him in the future to save us making a catastrophic loss.
It’s crazy that now at least 9 of the starting 11 now picks itself. Arguably 10 while Bentancur remains injured. I think if Johnson can get a run of games then that will be our first 11 pretty much every game from now until the end of the season, barring injuries and suspensions. Considering all the chopping and changing we have done the last few years, with generally at least 4-5 players starting that should be nowhere near the first team it’s a remarkable turnaround. I agree with what DH has said except I think Lo Celso should be kept as cover, up until the time we can find that cover for Maddison. If Maddison gets injured I can see us really struggling, he’s that important to us.
I think Brennan Johnson's supposed to be competition for the RW spot. He can also play various other roles, but that's probably his strongest.
Another way to look at it is who could (theoretically) be replaced with a member of the U21s Replacing Dier with Phillips and/or Dorrington is the most obvious (and most Football Manager) play, while TBH the only reason Whiteman and Austin aren't dumped in favour of Keeley or Gunter is because the two of them are propping up our HG and CG numbers for another season - while at this point if you threw a beanbag at the U21 or U18 squad you're likely going to hit somebody who could, should and would be a better option than Ndombele Solomon and Perisic being out while Johnson and Gil have knocks to work out of their systems potentially opens the door to Santiago, too
Ironically we may have created an unintended headache for ourselves by moving Sonny to CF, because doing so has created an opening on the LW Not helped by we're currently giving Richy a very public demotion by playing him there while the other options are either injured (Perisic, Solomon) or lacking match fitness (Johnson, Gil), are currently having a one-man Goal of the Month competition in the U21s (Santiago), or as tempting as it is to give them a runout it's clearly a tad too early to give them regular starts (Moore, Irow)
Wouldn't disagree with much of that, but I would shift Sarr up a category. His development alongside Bissouma has been key for us, and as such a young lad that's bloody impressive. And whilst he can be improved upon - and by all accounts he wants out anyway - I think Hojbjerg has been excellent in the cameos of the last few games. We were asking too much of him in a weak side with little support.
Sarr’s been very impressive and I’m not even surprised over that as I knew he was an elite talent when we signed him but you wouldn’t pick him over a fit Bentancur. Our best XI on paper with everyone fit would have Sarr on the bench and that’s why for now at least I’d say he isn’t an untouchable. But considering his age, he almost certainly will become one with more progression.
Did loads with my youngest in Bournemouth... we had a great weekend together...I left her at 3pm for a bus transfer to Southampton...10 mins late...then the journey took 25 mins longer than advertised so I missed a train. 30 mins later I got on a train that travelled 1 stop before staying still for 15 mins to have another train coupled to it. Then spent the whole journey (including several long stopages) been told that there were extra seats cos...you guessed it ... we had coupled with another train. The ****e WiFi kept cutting out so I missed chunks of the footie on sky and had to listen to the people in front talk about (I kid you not) the best way to host a dinner party. Then got to waterloo an hour late. Then got on a tube filled with gooners until I got to canning town (where I am still waiting for a fecking DLR ) to be surrounded by bubble blowing hammers...**** my life
