Squad & tactics (2025/26)

[buzza]

Aye... very wierd that wilson and ruddy are getting extended... kind of deja vu as per the Dummet and Ritchie saga

[andycap]

Not a bad first eleven but still weak as in midfield and defense cover. 

[Steve Charlton]

Sure i read a report Alfie Harrison will have a part to play this season,Anyone good enough from the reserves to replace Longstaff?

[Sibierski]

What are people thinking the squad will look like / should look like come end of the season? I've got it as the below:

 

GK - Pope, New GK, Vlac, Ruddy 

DF - Tino, Trips, Krafth, Lascelles, New CB, Schar, Botman, Burn, Hall

MF - Joelinton, Bruno G, Tonali, Miley, WIllock, 

AT - Murphy, Elanga, Osula, New ST, Isak, Gordon, Barnes

 

Out: Targett & Dubs

25 man squad - Osula, Hall, Miley and Ruddy not registered for UCL (first three don't need to be). 

 

FM type stuff, you get rid of Willock, Krafth and Lascelles, bring in the CM and younger defenders. But can't see us rocking the boat or doing that much business. Instead Krafth / Lascelles are for the changing room mostly in their final years with Trips, and we go big on the focus for young defence next summer as the main back 5 by seasons end you'd hope is settled with New GK/Tino/New CB/Botman or Burn/Hall.

 

If we are sticking with the ST signing, I can't see a CM coming in (because they would need to be a £30m+ player) unless Willock has a buyer. Also for domestic, Harrison/White would be the emergency 6th CM which you don't expect to see hardly play any serious minutes. Also Targett probably most realistic of the defenders to be able to move on and for little impact, where Tino can cover Hall (with Trips / Krafth / Murphy as RB cover), or you go Trips / Burn at LB. Not ideal, but it's net par than playing Targett there IMO.

[Nucasol]

Just now, Sibierski said:

What are people thinking the squad will look like / should look like come end of the season? I've got it as the below:

 

GK - Pope, New GK, Vlac, Ruddy 

DF - Tino, Trips, Krafth, Lascelles, New CB, Schar, Botman, Burn, Hall

MF - Joelinton, Bruno G, Tonali, Miley, WIllock, 

AT - Murphy, Elanga, Osula, New ST, Isak, Gordon, Barnes

 

Out: Targett & Dubs

25 man squad - Osula, Hall, Miley and Ruddy not registered for UCL (first three don't need to be). 

 

FM type stuff, you get rid of Willock, Krafth and Lascelles, bring in the CM and younger defenders. But can't see us rocking the boat or doing that much business. Instead Krafth / Lascelles are for the changing room mostly in their final years with Trips, and we go big on the focus for young defence next summer as the main back 5 by seasons end you'd hope is settled with New GK/Tino/New CB/Botman or Burn/Hall.

 

If we are sticking with the ST signing, I can't see a CM coming in (because they would need to be a £30m+ player) unless Willock has a buyer. Also for domestic, Harrison/White would be the emergency 6th CM which you don't expect to see hardly play any serious minutes. Also Targett probably most realistic of the defenders to be able to move on and for little impact, where Tino can cover Hall (with Trips / Krafth / Murphy as RB cover), or you go Trips / Burn at LB. Not ideal, but it's net par than playing Targett there IMO.

The Greek PSR pawn looks like going out on loan to Real Betis.

[Sibierski]

Just now, Nucasol said:

The Greek PSR pawn looks like going out on loan to Real Betis.

 

Sweet, straight swap with Dubs then in squad.

[r0cafella]

3 minutes ago, Nucasol said:

The Greek PSR pawn looks like going out on loan to Real Betis.

Shifting count vlach even on loan is a win. 

[ponsaelius]

43 minutes ago, Sibierski said:

What are people thinking the squad will look like / should look like come end of the season? I've got it as the below:

 

GK - Pope, New GK, Vlac, Ruddy 

DF - Tino, Trips, Krafth, Lascelles, New CB, Schar, Botman, Burn, Hall

MF - Joelinton, Bruno G, Tonali, Miley, WIllock, 

AT - Murphy, Elanga, Osula, New ST, Isak, Gordon, Barnes

 

Out: Targett & Dubs

25 man squad - Osula, Hall, Miley and Ruddy not registered for UCL (first three don't need to be). 

 

FM type stuff, you get rid of Willock, Krafth and Lascelles, bring in the CM and younger defenders. But can't see us rocking the boat or doing that much business. Instead Krafth / Lascelles are for the changing room mostly in their final years with Trips, and we go big on the focus for young defence next summer as the main back 5 by seasons end you'd hope is settled with New GK/Tino/New CB/Botman or Burn/Hall.

 

If we are sticking with the ST signing, I can't see a CM coming in (because they would need to be a £30m+ player) unless Willock has a buyer. Also for domestic, Harrison/White would be the emergency 6th CM which you don't expect to see hardly play any serious minutes. Also Targett probably most realistic of the defenders to be able to move on and for little impact, where Tino can cover Hall (with Trips / Krafth / Murphy as RB cover), or you go Trips / Burn at LB. Not ideal, but it's net par than playing Targett there IMO.

 

Osula and Hall do need to be registered for CL squad. They haven't been here long enough to be U21 players by UEFA qualification.

 

 

Edited July 18, 2025 by ponsaelius

[Sibierski]

41 minutes ago, ponsaelius said:

 

Osula and Hall do need to be registered for CL squad. They haven't been here long enough to be U21 players by UEFA qualification.

 

 

 

 

Thought it doesn't matter if they're u21 and national HG? So effectively we can only name 21 senior players and Osula/Hall are youth categorised, with Miley (can register him but doesn't change needle) and one space empty seeing we don't have 4 club HG. Then we've got more than 4 national HG anyway for the total 8 that's required.

 

Unless that's wrong, we are going to have to shift plenty out.

[kenlau88210]

51 minutes ago, ponsaelius said:

 

Osula and Hall do need to be registered for CL squad. They haven't been here long enough to be U21 players by UEFA qualification.

 

 

 

 

According to ChatGPT:

 

Eligibility for 25-26 Champions League List B: 

- The player must be born on or after 1 January 2004.

- From their 15th birthday, they need to have been eligible to play for the club for at least two uninterrupted years (or three consecutive years with a single ≤ 12‑month loan within the same association)

 

So Osula needs to be registered (List A) while Hall doesn't (List B) as he was born in 2004 and been here for 2 years

[ponsaelius]

17 minutes ago, Sibierski said:

 

Thought it doesn't matter if they're u21 and national HG? So effectively we can only name 21 senior players and Osula/Hall are youth categorised, with Miley (can register him but doesn't change needle) and one space empty seeing we don't have 4 club HG. Then we've got more than 4 national HG anyway for the total 8 that's required.

 

Unless that's wrong, we are going to have to shift plenty out.

 

In PL you're right, no U21 players needs to be registered.

 

But in UEFA comps the U21 players (B list) have to have been registered with the club between 15-21 for at least 24 months (or 36 months if it includes a loan away). So Osula definitely doesn't count, and pretty sure Hall doesn't either as he will not have been here 24 months yet (he may just creep in tbf, not sure the cut off for measuring it).

 

This is why our bench last time was full of the likes of Parkinson, Ndiweni and Huntley who had come through the club youht system - rather than the likes of Alex Murphy, Sanusi etc who we signed that summer. We couldn't physically name them on the B list. 

 

 

Edited July 18, 2025 by ponsaelius

[bobbydazzla]

Get it in the mixer, job done 

[buzza]

I Get the feeling we want to move to a more attacking 4231 this coming season 

Bruno and Tonali are both good at defending and bringing the ball out. A second striker or more Creative player behind Isak Will help us break down defenses and hopefully they Will be Press worthy and create upfield vía applied pressure.

We would have Big Joe to cover for any absences from tonali/Bruno and would realistically only need one other covering midfielder.

[kenlau88210]

I highly doubt we are moving away from 433. There will be times when we play 2 up front but 433 has been our blueprint for success. Joelinton's impact cannot be overstated. And based on our transfer activities or rumours it doesn't seem like we are actively looking for a number 10 player. 

[Sibierski]

Think it's more how we are in shape our of possession. Often at times last season we went into a defensive shape of 4-4-2. Generate turnover of the ball in that shape, it's better for us to captalise when it's another natural attacker (and finisher) through the middle alongside Isak, instead of Gordon. Gordon get's that edge back which he seemed to lose towards end of last season (either through fatigue or a bit of a dip in attitude) he can do the role of Joelinton on LM covering for Hall.

 

Getting that turnover and breaking with two strikers, then Gordon/Elanga in support on wings will be terrorising for opposition defences. Especially when so many teams in current game can't seem to cope with runners, which we'd have plenty of  

 

Edit: Requires the CBs to be back to front footed aggressive style of 22-23, which we did start to see more of last season.

 

 

Edited July 18, 2025 by Sibierski

[Astroblack]

Ultimate pessimism 11 

 

             Pope

Tino Schar Burn Hall

Tonali Bruno Joelinton

Elanga Gordon Barnes

 

Bench

Dubs

Osula

Murphy

Willock

Miley

Trippier

Lascelles

Botman - Dunno his fitness as of now

Krafth

Cordero

 

Feel like Hall could play midfield if any of the three go down, maybe even Trippier. Have a lot of defenders so will probably have to play a back five for a lot of games. 

 

 

Edited July 26, 2025 by Astroblack

[Turnbull2000]

1 minute ago, Astroblack said:

Ultimate pessimism 11 

 

             Pope

Trippier Schar Burn Hall

Tonali Bruno Joelinton

Elanga Gordon Barnes

 

Edited for Tino to City. City fans seem convinced this is happening.

[Sibierski]

To avoid posting in a different thread, been trying to think of what the actual long term plan can be for 2026 onwards, because there is SO MUCH that needs doing to the squad, especially if current window is fucked (and not rescued further in January).

 

GK - Not a fucking clue. It's a mess and I don't know what the club is thinking seeing all three of Ruddy, Ramsdale, Pope technically don't have a contract from 1st July 2026

RB - Tino, New RB 2026

CB - Burn, Botman, New CB 2025, New CB 2026

LB - Hall, New LB 2026

CM - Bruno G, Tonali, Miley, New CM 2025, Joelinton, New CM 2026

LW - Barnes, Gordon

ST - New ST 2025, New ST 2026

RW - Elanga, Murphy

 

That's based on we should be moving on at end of this season, Trippier, Schar, Lascelles, Krafth, Targett, Willock and potentially Osula if he doesn't stake a more visual squad place. Just reinforces how important this summers window is to avoid the serious knocks on next summer, like needing to sign two CBs in one window, or needing to extend Schar.

 

It's also based on Isak being only named outgoing, but wouldn't rule out another because there's serious decisions to be made next summer too. Barnes last window to get a sale or give new deal. Bruno G looking for final big new contract, that will be like £220k+ way into his 30s. Joelinton if it's another injury disrupted season. Botman if he's totally broken.

 

Seriously hope we get CEO / DoF sorted ASAP because they have a mega massive 12 months coming up, or we can kiss goodbye to the project and permanently accept we'll be a side thats outside the elite, but could hook up a good season occassionally if things go our way.

[kingxlnc]

Can honestly see Tonali and especially Gordon wanting to leave this coming summer as it wasn’t what was originally sold. Maybe even Bruno as he’ll be 29 so one last move. 

[GEFAFWISP]

4 minutes ago, kingxlnc said:

Can honestly see Tonali and especially Gordon wanting to leave this coming summer as it wasn’t what was originally sold. Maybe even Bruno as he’ll be 29 so one last move. 

Tino and Hall aren't sticking around either if the cartel come sniffing (which they will as they're both class).

[relámpago blanco]

Just now, GEFAFWISP said:

Tino and Hall aren't sticking around either if the cartel come sniffing (which they will as they're both class).

CL football, just won a trophy. What was sold?

[GEFAFWISP]

3 minutes ago, relámpago blanco said:

CL football, just won a trophy. What was sold?

Not me who said that but all bets are off now given the cartel dominance. I expect we'll find it really difficult to keep any top player now the cracks have been opened by this Isak saga and the window dealings overall. We've been put firmly back in our box this window and we're also part way responsible which is the harder pill to swallow.

 

 

Edited August 7, 2025 by GEFAFWISP

[Turnbull2000]

19 minutes ago, relámpago blanco said:

CL football, just won a trophy. What was sold?

 

That we'd be set to do so constantly. As it is, City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arse look to be building a vast advantage over us, essentially locking out top 4 unless one has as disastrous season. Man U will inevitably be back up there soon with their spending and reputation attracting players that we can't. Spurs will surely recover as well.

 

It's been a combination of punching above our weight, not playing in Europe and good fortune that's got us CL twice recently. We'll be lucky to finish 7th this season and probably run our key players into the ground. I think our squad depth has actually shrank since we were last in the CL ffs

 

There may also have been the expectation that we'd soon be able to offer cartel level salaries. That's not happening. Tino and Hall could go to City/Arse/Chelsea/Pool and double their salary and be guaranteed CL footy pretty much every year, whilst all have sufficient squad depth so not to forced them to play them till they break.

 

 

Edited August 7, 2025 by Turnbull2000

[Deuce]

Have to say, we have done well shifting players off the books this summer. Kelly, Lewis, Wilson, Hayden, Longstaff, Dubravka, Vlachodimos.

[Rich]

13 minutes ago, Deuce said:

Have to say, we have done well shifting players off the books this summer. Kelly, Lewis, Wilson, Hayden, Longstaff, Dubravka, Vlachodimos.

Certainly, even going back to Miggy. I’m still narrowing my eyes at Targett, mind, but the rest of ‘em can stay.