Squad & tactics (2025/26)

[gbandit]

Double No but the first one is a very large no 

[Lush Vlad]

29 minutes ago, andycap said:

Do you think them could work? 

 

No. 

[andycap]

18 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

No. 

Great insight 

[Lush Vlad]

 You asked. 
 

I mean. Gordon as a RWB? We barely try him right wing and he seems to sulk there when he has played. Often looking reluctant to go down the line. 
 

That back 3 in both looks immobile and has a midfielder instead of a wing back on the right. They’re not getting much protection there. 
 

Why are we trying to shoehorn Osula into the team? What’s he done that’s so special? He looks like he has potential. But plays at a million miles an hour and a bit of a clown show at times. 
 

Do many teams actually play a 3-4-3 set up like that and with two strikers on the pitch? The back 3 and midfield 2 would get torn to pieces no? 
 

The second one is better than the first. 
 

 

[Lotus]

I’d like us to be circumspect with the ball. We keep either banging hopeful balls forward with little result of it coming off or players with ability trying to play the Hollywood pass nearly every time. We relentlessly give the ball away often after very few touches. 
Don't see any benefit to us becoming a ‘possession’ side but being more careful with the ball when a magic through/over the top/around the corner pass has only a 10% of connecting I think would help us a bit. Some patience and just working our way up the pitch, making the other team run around a bit. Move them about, see if their positioning/ marking gets a little loose under pressure.
Players like Bruno, Sandro, Isak, Miley, Hall, Trippier and even Schar, Gordon and Botman can see and execute clever passes in and around the opponents box. 

[The Prophet]

Burn echoing what we've all been saying. We're too inconsistent, the goals we concede are too soft, etc. 

 

You can guarantee they'll come up with away to flip our form, we just need it to be sooner rather than later.

[andycap]

22 hours ago, Lush Vlad said:

 You asked. 
 

I mean. Gordon as a RWB? We barely try him right wing and he seems to sulk there when he has played. Often looking reluctant to go down the line. 
 

That back 3 in both looks immobile and has a midfielder instead of a wing back on the right. They’re not getting much protection there. 
 

Why are we trying to shoehorn Osula into the team? What’s he done that’s so special? He looks like he has potential. But plays at a million miles an hour and a bit of a clown show at times. 
 

Do many teams actually play a 3-4-3 set up like that and with two strikers on the pitch? The back 3 and midfield 2 would get torn to pieces no? 
 

The second one is better than the first. 
 

 

Who else is there Wilson Murphy? I'd take a chance on osula. 

[Lush Vlad]

5 minutes ago, andycap said:

Who else is there Wilson Murphy? I'd take a chance on osula. 

Or we could not just cobble together an incredibly disjointed and crap looking formation with two strikers and Osula in? 

[andycap]

1 hour ago, Lush Vlad said:

Or we could not just cobble together an incredibly disjointed and crap looking formation with two strikers and Osula in? 

Why not? 

[Lush Vlad]

Fucking hell. This is hard work. You complained about me just saying ‘no’ when asked if your formations and teams would work.
 

I elaborated further. Yet you’ve not given one reason why these shit formations are going to work and why Osula should be playing. Other than simply saying ‘why not.’ So to parrot you great insight. 
 

All the best. I’m out. 

[andycap]

9 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

Fucking hell. This is hard work. You complained about me just saying ‘no’ when asked if your formations and teams would work.
 

I elaborated further. Yet you’ve not given one reason why these shit formations are going to work and why Osula should be playing. Other than simply saying ‘why not.’ So to parrot you great insight. 
 

All the best. I’m out. 

Calm down lad. 

It was just a question about if they'd work and you basically said there shite even though you don't know if they'd work. 

I think the second formation would work. 

[Lush Vlad]

Great insight. 

[Myleftboot]

Would like to see a 4-2-3-1. 
 

                      Dubravka 

 

tino.         Shar.       Burn.       Hall

 

          Joelinton         Tonali

 

  Murphy.     Bruno      Gordon 

  

                       Isak

 

could have miley instead of Joelinton or miley in place of Bruno and Bruno instead of Joelinton.

[Ronson333]

We’re 3rd in the away league table so far this season, it’s gone under the radar how good our away form has been.

 

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/gasttabelle/wettbewerb/GB1/saison_id/2024

 

1  Liverpool152235

2  Arsenal151227

3  Newcastle15224

4  Bournemouth15623

5  Nottm Forest14-123

[Rod]

8 minutes ago, Ronson333 said:

We’re 3rd in the away league table so far this season, it’s gone under the radar how good our away form has been.

 

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/gasttabelle/wettbewerb/GB1/saison_id/2024

 

1  Liverpool152235

2  Arsenal151227

3  Newcastle15224

4  Bournemouth15623

5  Nottm Forest14-123

And we are away on Sunday  . Oh shit, I've just noticed Liverpoo.

[James]

With hindsight I am actually really pleased that we barely signed or sold anyone in the past 18 months.

 

We’ve been on a journey with a group of lads for 3.5 years, yesterday was the culmination of that journey and we saw the likes of Schar, Burn, Pope, Trippier, Wilson, Krafth, Joelinton, Willock, Longstaff and Murphy all win a major tournament before we move on to the next phase of the club.

[andycap]

So what are we thinking as far as players leaving? 

Dubs

Trippier

Lascelles

Targett

Longstaff

Wilson

Anymore than that and we will need a decent budget to replace them. 

[Rich]

GK
RW
CB
ST

 

At the very least, surely?

 

Could easily see us doing something at CM and wouldn't be surprised if we signed yet another GK and shuffled a few of our existing ones out:

GK: ?????, Pope/Dúbravka, ?????, Ruddy/Gillespie

RB: Livramento, Trippier, Krafth

 

CB(R): ?????, Schär, Lascelles

 

CB(L): Burn, Botman

LB: Hall

CM(R): Guimarães, ?????

CM: Tonali, Miley

 

CM(L): Joelinton, Willock

RW: ?????, Murphy

 

ST: Isak, ?????, Osula

 

LW: Gordon, Barnes

 

Not sure we'd want to do too much more than that, really, and even six signings might be a bit ambitious.

 

We'd have two gaps in the 25-man squad, given Hall and Miley are still classed as U21, and we'd only have one club-grown player for Europe.

 

(I'll fight anyone advocating selling Joelinton btw)

 

Moving this from Rumours to here, to try and avoid clogging that thread.

[Rich]

On 07/04/2025 at 10:53, andycap said:

So what are we thinking as far as players leaving? 

Dubs

Trippier

Lascelles

Targett

Longstaff

Wilson

Anymore than that and we will need a decent budget to replace them. 

 

I'd keep Dúbravka if he'd be happy to stay as #2 and there was a market for Pope.

 

I'd definitely be keeping Trippier regardless.

 

Lascelles probably should stay as a depth option and for his overall leadership.

 

Targett would ideally be sold, but I'd be surprised if there were any takers.

 

Longstaff or Willock have to go this summer, and based on how Longstaff's already been phased out, it's surely him first off the bus?

 

Wilson can get in the sea.

 

In addition to those, we have to try and shift Vlachodimos, one or both of Ruddy and Gillespie, Ashby, Alex Murphy, and Hayden.

[r0cafella]

5 minutes ago, Rich said:

GK
RW
CB
ST

 

At the very least, surely?

 

Could easily see us doing something at CM and wouldn't be surprised if we signed yet another GK and shuffled a few of our existing ones out:

GK: ?????, Pope/Dúbravka, ?????, Ruddy/Gillespie

RB: Livramento, Trippier, Krafth

 

CB(R): ?????, Schär, Lascelles

 

CB(L): Burn, Botman

LB: Hall

CM(R): Guimarães, ?????

CM: Tonali, Miley

 

CM(L): Joelinton, Willock

RW: ?????, Murphy

 

ST: Isak, ?????, Osula

 

LW: Gordon, Barnes

 

Not sure we'd want to do too much more than that, really, and even six signings might be a bit ambitious.

 

We'd have three gaps in the 25-man squad, given Hall and Miley are still classed as U21, and we'd only have one club-grown player for Europe.

 

(I'll fight anyone advocating selling Joelinton btw)

 

Moving this from Rumours to here, to try and avoid clogging that thread.

This is pretty much where I'm at.

 

I think we go into next season with some holes, I don't think we can get another players in of the level we need with our budget tbh.

[HawK]

Keeper

I think the most important and transformative signing for the first XI is a ball-playing keeper for several tactical reasons. 

 

After this comes the rest imo. 

 

Central midfield

I think our depth at CM is worrying and that's where I'd put money next, 2 injuries to our 3 starters and we'd be struggling to control the middle and it throws our whole formation/game plan out the window.

 

Fullbacks

We need a long term plan for what's happening in both full back positions. Currently, Livramento is twice the player at LB as his at RB. Hall is just as good in a different way. What's the plan for RB? We play Livramento there until he comes good? If this is the case we're OK squad-wise for next season for the two positions presuming we're keeping Trippier and Krafth. If Howe see Livramento as starting LB and keeping Hall out, I think I'd really like to see Lewis Hall as the third man in the middle with Bruno and Tonali as we progress to a more possession-orientated, front-foot team. Probably Football Manager thinking but he's played there before in his youth, he's got great close control, passing and doesn't get flustered and hounded off the ball. Could he be the deep 6 we've been looking for - letting Tonali and Bruno be more dangerous near the opponent's box? Joelinton would be a great option when we're under the cosh or against strictly better players as his strength, ball carrying and engine is phenomenal. Not so good vs teams who sit back though, and I think this is where someone like Hall would be a net gain.

 

Right wing

Murphy is fantastic when he gets time on the ball, but in games where he doesn't, he's really only contributing defensive effort. We need someone who's good on the ball and can work hard defensively. This will be the hardest position to buy for I think. I have no suggestions, I'll see who turns up. It's unfortunate that it seems clear Gordon isn't going to be playing there, I think it plays to a lot of his strengths and would solve a £50m problem for nothing.

Edit : Striker

We need a body who can take minutes off Isak, anyone cheap, young or old but experienced and can do a job even if he won't uproot trees.

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by HawK

[t00nt00n313]

1 hour ago, HawK said:

Keeper

I think the most important and transformative signing for the first XI is a ball-playing keeper for several tactical reasons. 

 

After this comes the rest imo. 

 

Central midfield

I think our depth at CM is worrying and that's where I'd put money next, 2 injuries to our 3 starters and we'd be struggling to control the middle and it throws our whole formation/game plan out the window.

 

Fullbacks

We need a long term plan for what's happening in both full back positions. Currently, Livramento is twice the player at LB as his at RB. Hall is just as good in a different way. What's the plan for RB? We play Livramento there until he comes good? If this is the case we're OK squad-wise for next season for the two positions presuming we're keeping Trippier and Krafth. If Howe see Livramento as starting LB and keeping Hall out, I think I'd really like to see Lewis Hall as the third man in the middle with Bruno and Tonali as we progress to a more possession-orientated, front-foot team. Probably Football Manager thinking but he's played there before in his youth, he's got great close control, passing and doesn't get flustered and hounded off the ball. Could he be the deep 6 we've been looking for - letting Tonali and Bruno be more dangerous near the opponent's box? Joelinton would be a great option when we're under the cosh or against strictly better players as his strength, ball carrying and engine is phenomenal. Not so good vs teams who sit back though, and I think this is where someone like Hall would be a net gain.

 

Right wing

Murphy is fantastic when he gets time on the ball, but in games where he doesn't, he's really only contributing defensive effort. We need someone who's good on the ball and can work hard defensively. This will be the hardest position to buy for I think. I have no suggestions, I'll see who turns up. It's unfortunate that it seems clear Gordon isn't going to be playing there, I think it plays to a lot of his strengths and would solve a £50m problem for nothing.

Edit : Striker

We need a body who can take minutes off Isak, anyone cheap, young or old but experienced and can do a job even if he won't uproot trees.

 

 

 

 

I doubt we can afford to fill all those roles at least without selling isak.

 

We're gonna have to decide which positions be we can afford to leave as is for at least another year.

 

Pope and dubravka aren't great keepers but they are decent enough to get by so think we should hold onto them for now. 

 

I think defense and right wing are the areas we need to strengthen the most, particularly as we don't have enough cover in these areas.

[nufcjmc]

I wonder if say a longstaff sale allows a hidden gem for under 20m say as a replacement or go towards the pot for other positions? 

[HawK]

10 minutes ago, t00nt00n313 said:

I doubt we can afford to fill all those roles at least without selling isak.

 

We're gonna have to decide which positions be we can afford to leave as is for at least another year.

 

Pope and dubravka aren't great keepers but they are decent enough to get by so think we should hold onto them for now. 

 

I think defense and right wing are the areas we need to strengthen the most, particularly as we don't have enough cover in these areas.

 

Was my thoughts on squad building rather than what to do next window but I understand your point.

 

If we can get Livra full speed and we can solve RW from within our current group, the squad then needs imo -

 

1. New no.1

2. Cover central mid 

3. Cover striker

4. Cover central defence