Squad & tactics (2025/26)

[Lucky]

Assuming we’ll lose another of our top players at some point, what is the current realistic value of our squad?

 

And based on that, who could we afford to lose?

[Sibierski]

On 11/10/2025 at 19:06, Tiresias said:

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

I feel if Wolte really settles in over this next period to next break and he effectively makes himself a key player this early, it’ll give Howe more emphasis to go 4-4-1-1 and our future transfer targets changes. Like another striker could be on the cards, or someone who’s good playing off the striker centrally.
 

Ramsey for example is more than capable of being a LM option in that if Barnes goes next summer, so the signings this summer are capable of playing it (Elanga too on RM).

 

I’d be really excited for a 4-4-1-1 (which is near enough a 4-4-2). Think the key is getting some pace in defence though for recovery, so it would need Tino back fit. Thaiw / Botman central can be very strong.

 

 

Edited October 14, 2025 by Sibierski

[janpawel]

Might be just me but I can't see us moving away from the 4-3-3, it's the best position for the way Eddie Howe likes to play 

 

I feel like most of the top teams play 3 CM's, at least in the more challenging fixtures 

 

Deffo can see us being flexible though as and when it helps , playing with 2 strikers etc 

 

In a way it's a bit pointless talking about positions as binary as this, as the shape in possession and out of possession shape is what's meaningful. 

 

 

[JigsawGoesToPieces]

Ross Wilson's got some work to do over the next couple of transfer windows, players look very stale and predictable.

 

Wasted £120m this summer on mid table players that haven't improved us.

 

[Guest]

Posted this in the Eddie How thread but probably just as applicable here:

 

This lack of creativity and goals from midfield and wide areas can work if you have the high intensity game where you cause mistakes or catch the opponents off guard like we used to do.

 

I guess due to all the injuries a few years ago when in the CL Eddie decided to change/lower the intensity but still with the same type of players.

 

To be constantly at the top you need quality creditors and goal threads around your striker. We don’t have that.

 

I really think it’s that simple. I cannot come with any other reason for this total crap away from home and against the mid table teams.

 

I think Eddie got it wrong signings wise. Most of us have screamed for a creative attacking midfielder for years. Still none. And we just don’t have the quality from wide areas either. Lacking both we get this I’m afraid.

[Lush Vlad]

We still have no clue how to beat a press. It’s not just not having the players who are technical enough. Our patterns of play always seem very rigid, slow and predetermined. 
 

I always feel like our players/lines are miles apart. I’d love to see data on it if it exists. But I feel like it would be the highest in the league. 
 

Not being able to beat a low block is a recurring theme. But I think most teams struggle with this. 

[JigsawGoesToPieces]

I really struggle to see what our identity iswhen we play 

 

When Howe first joines it was intensity and passion with very high pressing.

 

Now we dont have any intensity, we dont really press, we seem to slowly pass it about, loads if sideways passing trying to play like Man City but without any of the quality they have.

 

Thats why we need a huge refresh in the next 2 windows we need to sell

 

Gordon - too inconsistent if we got a good offer

Joelinton - declining physically and not good enough technically

Murphy - need to improve backup option

Targett - not good enough

Vlach - not good enough

 

Sell as contract due to expire soon

 

Pope

Burn

Schar

Lascelles

Krafth

Ruddy

Gillespie

 

[Kilcline]

Couple of things I've thought for a while.

 

Although our press generally works, I'd like us to not press high by default. Drop off, stay more compact, and press more off triggers. Lessens the physical load on the players, leaves fewer gaps if they do get out, leaves less space behind, means we're closer together to play a pass when we win the ball and there's more space in behind to play a killer ball first time.

 

No Shit Sherlock award here...we're far too easy to play through, which becomes even more frustrating when we're so slow and sideways so often with the ball. It's one thing Barcelona playing through the lines and being straight at your back 4, but fucking Fulham and West Ham is another. But that's the flat midfield which Howe won't change. Appreciate he won't change the press either like 😂

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2025 by Kilcline
Added context

[Sibierski]

Thing is, last season we did trigger press, with turnovers inside our half the main strength. This season, we don't seem to do that and instead choose to sit off and just outright counter, or get ball and slow build up as opposition sit off.

 

Something been off and it does feel the tactical approach is lost so far

[Sibierski]

Mentioned it earlier in thread about what we do when Wissa is back, and that will be a massive decision for Howe. Don't think you can sign a £65m and £55m strikers and have one on bench at all times. They have to play together more often then not, with Osula the back up option. In which case, we really should start moving towards a 4-4-1-1 sooner rather than later. This 4-3-3 with Wolte is not helping us nor him in short term, despite his goals being good for us.

 

Tino, Thaiw Botman, Hall: Gordon, Tonali, Bruno G, Elanga: Wolte: Wissa

 

That's probably what should be best XI when all available. With what's available currently, probably should be:

 

Trippier, Thaiw, Botman, Burn: Gordon, Tonali, Bruno G, Murphy: Wolte: Elanga

 

Get Elanga centrally so there's pace and movement around Wolte and us playing attacking moves with Wolte in those positions ready for Wissa. Does feel Ramsey is a bit of a spare part, unless he rotates with Wolte in that role.

[Lucky]

We could talk all day about types of players who should be brought into the squad/first team but I do think there’s a sentimentality that holds us back from making tough decisions on who to let go.

[Smal]

Again, our press has been the most effective in the league and we give up very few chances with only Arsenal having a better xG against in the league than us so for this season. The pressing and defence is literally the least of our worries. 

 

 

[Sibierski]

What are our turnovers won % like compared to rest of league based on that pressing statistic?

 

Also the defensive one is hard to take, when it feels like we've been solid defensively (playing 3 at the back at times) which has come at massive sacrifice to our attack. I'll happily take that defensive one with a pinch of salt.

[Kilcline]

13 minutes ago, Smal said:

Again, our press has been the most effective in the league and we give up very few chances with only Arsenal having a better xG against in the league than us so for this season. The pressing and defence is literally the least of our worries. 

 

 

Where's this from out of interest?

 

Fbref has us as making the fewest tackles per 90 in our attacking third in the league, be interested to look into if it's teams hoofing it, knocking it out of play, or something else.

[Smal]

21 minutes ago, Kilcline said:

Where's this from out of interest?

 

Fbref has us as making the fewest tackles per 90 in our attacking third in the league, be interested to look into if it's teams hoofing it, knocking it out of play, or something else.

 

https://markstats.club/england/2025-2026/teams

 

when you watch us press it is less about tackles (not many tackles actually get made a game by the Opta definition fbref use anyway, which iirc is just a measurement of when a player has been tackled as part of an actual take-on/dribble attempt) and more about trapping the opponent into an area - usually out wide in our case - so that they're forced to go long or into a player who is being marked with nowhere to go. Probably one of the reasons we have the highest amount of throw-ins per 90 in the league, for example. 

[Kilcline]

34 minutes ago, Smal said:

 

https://markstats.club/england/2025-2026/teams

 

when you watch us press it is less about tackles (not many tackles actually get made a game by the Opta definition fbref use anyway, which iirc is just a measurement of when a player has been tackled as part of an actual take-on/dribble attempt) and more about trapping the opponent into an area - usually out wide in our case - so that they're forced to go long or into a player who is being marked with nowhere to go. Probably one of the reasons we have the highest amount of throw-ins per 90 in the league, for example. 

Cheers, yeah that's what I'm interested in really, the "what happens next?" bit and if that leads to a goal etc...will go down the rabbit hole when I have time 👍🏻

[Rich]

Ramsdale

 

Thiaw

Schär
Botman

 

Livramento

Guimarães

Tonali

Hall

 

Wissa

Gordon

 

Woltemade

 

I’m getting horny for something like this, and I thought this was the best place to confess.

 

3-4-2-1, as we played under Rafa for his best spell, but with much stronger players in pretty much every position.
 

Wissa should fit one of the positions behind Woltemade like a glove, as Perez did with Rondon, but I think Murphy and Elanga would struggle with those roles. You could look at Murphy as the backup RWB, as he’s been decent there in the past.

 

Gets two quick players much more central/closer to Woltemade, rather than seeing Joelinton effectively playing as a lone 10 in a 4-2-3-1, which hasn’t really worked at all.

 

Very harsh on Burn, but I just want to see our best footballers on the pitch as much as possible, and Botman/Schar both comfortably trump him there. There is an argument that Burn is a more natural LCB in a three than Botman, though.

 

Also, I can’t stand seeing Schär out of the team any longer. He adds so much to our play.

 

[Yorkie]

It's a good shout cos I loved that Rafa set-up but you can't imagine Howe ever reducing the emphasis on out-and-out wingers. The question marks in that set-up are Wissa and Gordon; the former looks like someone we need to be getting on the end of chances as much as poss; the latter's strengths are in being direct and needing space. Gordon gets found out in tight spaces. Woltemade does the Rondon thing in his sleep though, and that formation at least gets other attackers close to him!

 

Funnily enough I'd have happily seen us take a punt on re-signing the Pezzler. 22 goals last season.

[HawK]

I think Ramsey was meant to be our attacking midfielder fwiw

[kenlau88210]

I would much rather we play 4231 if we were to change formation

 

Pope/Ramsdale

 

Livramento

Thiaw

Burn/Schar

Hall

 

Bruno

Tonali

 

Murphy

Wissa

Gordon/Barnes

 

Woltemade

 

 

We have wingers with high defensive work rate and dynamic fullbacks who are good at inverting to compensate for 1 less CM in midfield, and both Bruno and Tonali are workhorses. We also have options from the bench who can cover multiple positions (e.g. Joelinton CM/AML, Ramsey AML/AMC)

[500bhp]

A radical 352 with none of our underperforming wingers.

 

Pick the three most inform CBs from the four. Hall and Tino as very attacking wingbacks. Centre midfield Bruno, Tonali and AN Other. Wiss and Nick up top. 

[Sibierski]

There’s a lot of shoehorning Wissa in. He’s playing as number 9 or bench, would need both Gordon / Barnes injured for him to play LW. 
 

It’s just a case of does Howe go 4-4-2 shape, or stick with 4-3-3 and rotate between Wissa / Wolte as strikers. Which doesn’t feel viable, as both completely different types so how are attackers suppose to hook something up game by game. 
 

Wolte for me 100% has to force Howes hand and see us go 4-4-1-1. And when one is rested, go to a 4-3-3.  

[Myleftboot]

Eddie always used to play a 4-4-2 at Bournemouth before he left with Wilson and King up front. Wonder if he might try it when Wissa is fit.

[SAK]

                       Ramsdale

 

Livramento   Thiaw    Botman        Hall

 

            Tonali    Guimaraes Miley

 

               Woltemade Ramsey    
 

                         Wissa

 

Gone for the seasonal Christmas tree formation. Tino and Hall providing width, Tonali and Miley dropping back when they do to cover.

[duo]

                       Ramsdale

 

   Livramento   Thiaw    Botman    Hall

 

               Tonali    Guimaraes

 

         Elanga  Woltemade   Gordon    
 

                         Wissa