Squad & tactics (2025/26)

[La Parka]

Who's the next one to agitate for a move?

 

We need a lb and cm probably in the next two windows. Possibly a CB. 

 

 

[Sibierski]

I can’t see anyone agitating a move, but if we miss out on UCL and don’t get key players tied down, we are open to being picked apart, especially now players know if they go on strike the deal will happen.

[mondonewc]

19 hours ago, Rich said:

Pope/Ramsdale/Ruddy/Gillespie

 

Livramento/Trippier/Krafth

Schär/Thiaw/Lascelles

Burn/Botman

Hall/A. Murphy

 

Guimarães/Willock

Tonali/Miley

Joelinton/Ramsey

 

Elanga/J. Murphy

Woltemade/Wissa

Gordon/Barnes/Soo

 

This where we land? Looks like the strongest squad we’ve ever had to me. There’s still two PL places going spare in the 25, too…

Pretty amazing the squad we've now assembled in a relatively short space of time with PSR constraints. Everyone fit and available:

Pope

Tino
Schar
Burn
Hall

Bruno
Tonali
Joelinton

Elanga
Woltemade
Gordon

Ramsdale
Trippier
Thiaw
Botman
Miley/Willock
Ramsey
Murphy 
Wissa 
Barnes

I'd want to play Burn and Botman together if possible, think Botman has to play when fully fit and no way I'd drop Burn, leave that to Eddie to figure out

Given our net spend this Summer as well, should be plenty room to strengthen again next Summer, then we really are putting a team together to genuinely challenge year in year out. 

[Sibierski]

Trippier, Schar and Willock the moving on and replacements / upgrades next summer. 
 

Then I’d argue one or both of Murphy / Barnes moving on and replacements in for something different outwide as we evolve our attacking options. 
 

Strong season, we are one summer window away from cementing our place permanently in the top group IMO. 

[macphisto]

35 minutes ago, Sibierski said:

Trippier, Schar and Willock the moving on and replacements / upgrades next summer. 
 

Then I’d argue one or both of Murphy / Barnes moving on and replacements in for something different outwide as we evolve our attacking options. 
 

Strong season, we are one summer window away from cementing our place permanently in the top group IMO. 

Next summer will depend a lot on the fitness levels of Botman and Joelinton this season. If they're injured a lot then it's obvious that we have to replace them. If they play only a decent amount of games (not sure what that would be) then it's tricky as do we sell when we can still get money for them? Obviously if they play most games and Bunce is happy with their fitness then we'd keep them. 

[kingxlnc]

Next summer if we get CL or win another trophy this season, I’d want to do a full blown three to four purples to actually go for a title challenge. Howe will be five years in at that point. Big names like Leao/williams/Rodrygo on LW, a top ST, a top CM and a top CB too.? Maybe even a keeper. 

[Kanj]

3 minutes ago, kingxlnc said:

Next summer if we get CL or win another trophy this season, I’d want to do a full blown three to four purples to actually go for a title challenge. Howe will be five years in at that point. Big names like Leao/williams/Rodrygo on LW, a top ST, a top CM and a top CB too.? Maybe even a keeper. 

Feel like I need a few days to reset my mind and think about the future but there’s no reason we shouldn’t keep pushing and trying to land a coup of a deal + calculated gambles like Woltemade  + Wissa style experience 

 

keep the no dickhead policy in place and onward and upward. 

[Colos Short and Curlies]

Change on formation needed but I'd love to see

 

Ramsdale

 

Tino - Thiaw - Sven - Hall

 

Bruno - Tonali

 

Murphy - Nick - Elanga

 

Wissa

 

Ramsdale over Pope simply for the ball playing in this formation.

[Myleftboot]

When everyone’s fit:

 

                    Ramsdale 

 

tino.         Thiaw.      Botman.      Hall

 

      Bruno       Tonali.      Ramsey

 

   Elanga.       Waltamade.     Gordon 

[nemtizz]

Ramsdale 

[Fak]

8 minutes ago, Myleftboot said:

When everyone’s fit:

 

                    Ramsdale 

 

tino.         Thiaw.      Botman.      Hall

 

      Bruno       Tonali.      Ramsey

 

   Elanga.       Waltamade.     Gordon 

 

Would go:

 

Ramsdale

 

Livramento

Thiaw

Botman

Hall

 

Bruno

Tonali

Joelinton

 

Elanga

Woltemade

Gordon

 

Wissa

[Colos Short and Curlies]

Just now, Fak said:

 

Would go:

 

Ramsdale

 

Livramento

Thiaw

Botman

Hall

 

Bruno

Tonali

Joelinton

 

Elanga

Woltemade

Gordon

 

Wissa

 

I doubt even the cartel 6 would get away with that formation

[nemtizz]

These set pieces are somehow worse since that lad came in. Quite impressive I must say

[robbo_11]

With Pope, Ruddy, Gillespie, Thompson and Ramsdale all set to depart under current contracts next summer we must but looking for another GK or two? I could see Thompson getting an extension with Harris having another loan spell. This does seem a pressing position to strengthen hence the Trafford links.

 

We've also got Trippier, Schar, Lascelles, Targett and Krafth all out of contract too. We either have Shahar step up to cover RB or go out and get a replacement with a younger CB to come in to act as cover to Burn, Botman and Thiaw. 

 

I really hope club are working in advance of the next couple of windows as the turnover is going to be quite big.

[54]

Genuinely think going forward when we need to rotate one of our CB's due to fatigue, we should just swap both of them out. 

 

Botman - Thaiw 

 

Burn - Schar 

 

Two very tidy, but also different types of CB partnerships, that will allow us tactical flexibility depending on the opposition we're playing. Then big Jamal can fill in a times if needed too. 

[Lucky]

I’d like to see us try this when everyone is fit. The front 3 can switch around but the idea is to have Wolt play a little deeper to pass to either Gordon or Wissa playing on the shoulders of defenders.. Big Joe can help defensively on the left, or switch with Sandro when he chases back. And then Elanga would be the outlet.. and have the pace to get back and hold up any counters.

 

There’s enough flexibility to adjust that lineup if something wasn’t working in segments of games.

 

 

[The Prophet]

5 hours ago, Lucky said:

I’d like to see us try this when everyone is fit. The front 3 can switch around but the idea is to have Wolt play a little deeper to pass to either Gordon or Wissa playing on the shoulders of defenders.. Big Joe can help defensively on the left, or switch with Sandro when he chases back. And then Elanga would be the outlet.. and have the pace to get back and hold up any counters.

 

There’s enough flexibility to adjust that lineup if something wasn’t working in segments of games.

 

 

 

Good lord.

[TRon]

5 hours ago, Lucky said:

I’d like to see us try this when everyone is fit. The front 3 can switch around but the idea is to have Wolt play a little deeper to pass to either Gordon or Wissa playing on the shoulders of defenders.. Big Joe can help defensively on the left, or switch with Sandro when he chases back. And then Elanga would be the outlet.. and have the pace to get back and hold up any counters.

 

There’s enough flexibility to adjust that lineup if something wasn’t working in segments of games.

 

 

 

 

Opposition wingers would have a field day with that line up. 

[Mole]

It’s far too early in the morning for this level of FM noncery.

[James]

6 hours ago, Lucky said:

I’d like to see us try this when everyone is fit. The front 3 can switch around but the idea is to have Wolt play a little deeper to pass to either Gordon or Wissa playing on the shoulders of defenders.. Big Joe can help defensively on the left, or switch with Sandro when he chases back. And then Elanga would be the outlet.. and have the pace to get back and hold up any counters.

 

There’s enough flexibility to adjust that lineup if something wasn’t working in segments of games.

 

 

are you Kevin Keegan’s more naive twin?

[La Parka]

                 Wissa     

Gordon Woltemessi Murphy

           Tonali Bruno

    Hall. Burn Schar Livra

                 Pope

 

 

Best lineup for me on paper. Though any CBs and RW up for grabs. 

 

 

[kingxlnc]

2 hours ago, La Parka said:

                 Wissa     

Gordon Woltemessi Murphy

           Tonali Bruno

    Hall. Burn Schar Livra

                 Pope

 

 

Best lineup for me on paper. Though any CBs and RW up for grabs. 

 

 

Replace Pope for Ramsdale

Schar for Thiaw (although interchangeable)

Burn for Botman - this one is clear that Botman is our best defender so must play
Murphy for Elanga (Elanga has a higher ceiling and frightens the opposition more so gives the others more freedom too)

I agree with the rest. Would like to see us play that system once Wissa is back. 

Miley is good backup to Tonali 
Joelinton could be back up to Gordon or Bruno in this
Ditto Ramsay

In January we need:

A backup left back
Another CM (let go of Willock)
To let Lascelles go

In the summer I'd like: 
Another top striker
Let Joelinton go and get a replacement

A world class goalkeeper

A replacement for Trippier

 

[gazza ladra]

 

 

[andycap]

Do you think when wissa is available again we could see him maybes slotting in on one of the flanks? He would have the instincts to arrive in the box for crosses that miss the big man at the back post. 

 

[Tiresias]

I briefly wondered if we'll try a 3-5-2 to accommodate 2 up top but doubt it. I don't think Wissa playing wide would depend on his defensive work, which I've heard was fine when he did play wide but doubt howe would want to bench Gordon for that