Squad & tactics (2025/26)

[Deuce]

We’re crying out for a holding midfielder.

[Sandrotastico]

We're crying out for about 4-5 players.

[Guillaume]

Can't help but think this season is showing how many players short of a top team we are, perhaps a top striker would have papered over the cracks (again).

 

Pope & Ramsdale - not sure either is good enough, feels like we need a upgrade in goal

 

Trippier - great servant but legs getting older

Tino - fantastic but rarely fit

 

Schar, Botman, Thiaw, Burn - individually hard to knock them tbf, but we are conceding far more goals than you feel we should. 

Burn and Schar are also on the old side.

 

Hall fantastic, no backup option though

 

Midfielders have been full of underwhelming performances, I thought Tonali would be the best MF in the league this season. 

 

Gordon, Barnes, Elanga, Murphy - Barnes the most dangerous, Murphy looks the best on the right and we all expected him to be the backup. Elanga looking a waste of money, Gordon underwhelms more than me impresses.

 

Walt, Wissa - are either going to be what we need?

 

Think most people hoped 4 or 5 top signings in the summer would push us on, they didn't happen in hindsight and now we go from superb performances to the worst we've seen in 5 years.

 

Looks again like we need 5 or 6 top signings to keep progressing.

 

 

Edited February 1 by Guillaume

[Kanj]

We’re not spending money becuase we don’t have it. 

[Ronson333]

Brentford dominating possession at our ground isnt good enough. 

[Smal]

I think this summer we have to let a load of them go.

 

Of the guys out of contract I’d only keep Schar, so that’s Pope, Trippier, Krafth, Ruddy and Gillespie all out. Ramsdale loan expires.

 

I’d rather keep Tonali and Livramento, but I think both will be sold for decent fees. ~£150m for both.

 

Then there is a bunch of guys who probably want to go where I’d be fine with it too - Gordon, Willock, and Osula. ~£80m for these, maybe more if Gordon has a good world cup and Osula still has suitors.

 

It’s also time for Murphy to leave. Hopefully can get £10m for him.

 

So about £230m-£250m brought in and whatever leeway we have from PSR, which must be substantial by now surely. Fair bit off the wages too with Targett going.

 

The remaining squad being:

 

GK: 

RB: 

RCB: Thiaw, Schar

LCB: Botman, Burn

LB: Hall

 

DM: Miley

RCM: Bruno

LCM: Joelinton, Ramsey

 

RW: Elanga

LW: Barnes

 

ST: Woltemade, Wissa

 

We need two players for each position, so we’d need 9 signings I think.

[Funtime Frankie]

13 minutes ago, Smal said:

I think this summer we have to let a load of them go.

 

Of the guys out of contract I’d only keep Schar, so that’s Pope, Trippier, Krafth, Ruddy and Gillespie all out. Ramsdale loan expires.

 

I’d rather keep Tonali and Livramento, but I think both will be sold for decent fees. ~£150m for both.

 

Then there is a bunch of guys who probably want to go where I’d be fine with it too - Gordon, Willock, and Osula. ~£80m for these, maybe more if Gordon has a good world cup and Osula still has suitors.

 

It’s also time for Murphy to leave. Hopefully can get £10m for him.

 

So about £230m-£250m brought in and whatever leeway we have from PSR, which must be substantial by now surely. Fair bit off the wages too with Targett going.

 

The remaining squad being:

 

GK: 

RB: 

RCB: Thiaw, Schar

LCB: Botman, Burn

LB: Hall

 

DM: Miley

RCM: Bruno

LCM: Joelinton, Ramsey

 

RW: Elanga

LW: Barnes

 

ST: Woltemade, Wissa

 

We need two players for each position, so we’d need 9 signings I think.

Popes contract isn't expiring this year but he needs to be second choice if he accepts the role

[stozo]

I think the intersection of tactics and psychology with this team is really interesting at the moment. I feel like we are still hoping we have a CL chance and that’s creating some really poor tactical choices. Trippier is obviously huge at fault for the third goal but equally we are 5x5 in our own half, which is a recipe for disaster. A point would not have been a disaster but I feel like psychologically we are chasing games like today when really we shouldn’t be. You obviously want to win at home but sometimes you just need to accept we’re in a really difficult place and going completely gung-ho is not the right move. 

 

 

Edited February 7 by stozo

[Lush Vlad]

Wouldn’t even know where to look or how to properly interpret the data. But I really can’t believe how shit we are moving the ball. We must be nearer the bottom than the top in loads of metrics? 
 

Do we ever manage to get the ball through the middle of the pitch up towards their box? Do we even look to

have players there? It’s always just the 50 yard horseshoe, slowly along the backline, try and work it wide. Then hump in a cross from a shit angle to

nobody. 
 

Most of our possession feels meaningless. We’re not really getting up the pitch or manipulating the other team’s players and moving them out of position. It’s passing for passing’s sake in safe areas a lot of the while. 
 

I really don’t buy that it is because we have loads of athletes who are crap on the ball, either. Plenty of teams in the league have smaller budgets, lesser names and worse squads on paper. Yet we can’t even sustain decent attacking possession in the other team’s half. 
 

Said it a few times tonight. But we are regularly miles away from each other. There is rarely quick ball or patterns that move the ball concisely. It’s too many touches and carrying the ball before releasing it. Due to how far apart they all are. 
 

The likes of Murphy and Tonali are obviously going to get exposed when we setup like that. They’re often put in a position that doesn’t really suit their style. In fact, all of our attacking players suffer because of it. The front 3 look toothless. 
 

Maybe if we weren’t so shit on the ball and only looked threatening when it’s a basketball game. We wouldn’t have such issues with fatigue, injuries and game management. 

We’ve not improved at all in that regard. 

[Smal]

16 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

Wouldn’t even know where to look or how to properly interpret the data. But I really can’t believe how shit we are moving the ball. We must be nearer the bottom than the top in loads of metrics? 

 

this is the closest I can get you with some data noncing:

 

 

 

not having a viable striker is the biggest issue we have by a million miles

 

 

Edited February 7 by Smal

[Colos Short and Curlies]

37 minutes ago, Smal said:

I think this summer we have to let a load of them go.

 

Of the guys out of contract I’d only keep Schar, so that’s Pope, Trippier, Krafth, Ruddy and Gillespie all out. Ramsdale loan expires.

 

I’d rather keep Tonali and Livramento, but I think both will be sold for decent fees. ~£150m for both.

 

Then there is a bunch of guys who probably want to go where I’d be fine with it too - Gordon, Willock, and Osula. ~£80m for these, maybe more if Gordon has a good world cup and Osula still has suitors.

 

It’s also time for Murphy to leave. Hopefully can get £10m for him.

 

So about £230m-£250m brought in and whatever leeway we have from PSR, which must be substantial by now surely. Fair bit off the wages too with Targett going.

 

The remaining squad being:

 

GK: 

RB: 

RCB: Thiaw, Schar

LCB: Botman, Burn

LB: Hall

 

DM: Miley

RCM: Bruno

LCM: Joelinton, Ramsey

 

RW: Elanga

LW: Barnes

 

ST: Woltemade, Wissa

 

We need two players for each position, so we’d need 9 signings I think.

 

We've failed in the summer if Woltemade and Wissa remain our options up front.

 

I think we're in double digits for signings, there's going to need to be some free transfers or riskier punts to make the money work, and in a world cup year.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I'd say if anything we need to go more defensive and just look for a few clean sheets at the moment. 

 

Feels sometimes like we almost feel under so much pressure to win a game that we create end-to-end matches that plays into the hands of teams that want to break on us. 

 

It's fair that opponents seem to be taking their chances at a rate that we can't believe as well. 

[Smal]

more data suggesting we are one of the better teams in general play in the league still:

 

 

still one of the best pressing units too:

 

 

 

PL football in general is different this season. It’s pretty much all awful to watch. I cannot name a team I’ve consistently enjoyed watching.

[bobbydazzla]

Concentrate on clean sheets and hope we score goals by lobbing it in the mixer from set pieces.

 

It’s working for Arsenal. It might work for us.  

 

 

Edited February 7 by bobbydazzla

[Lush Vlad]

1 minute ago, Smal said:

 

this is the closest I can get you with some data noncing:

 

 

Genuinely find that baffling if I am reading it correctly. Of course context is needed and probably a deep dive into somewhere like FBref (lost all their stats I think?). But makes out like we’re sort of 5th’ish and then better than middle of the road on the second graph. 
 

As I regularly watch other teams pass through us at ease or sustain possession in our half when we play them. Yet it feels like we rarely do it to them and it is often so laboured and slow when we do. 
 

Maybe the issue is actually more with how we are now off the ball and it’s magnified that way, instead. 
 

Fuck knows. I just know we’re not a good watch like the previous Howe seasons and I don’t think we look well coached this season, either. Well drilled, yes. But that’s a different thing entirely. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Definitely feels like opponent's chances are flying in. 

[bobbydazzla]

Just now, Smal said:

more data suggesting we are one of the better teams in general play in the league still:

 

 

still one of the best pressing units too:

 

 

 

PL football in general is different this season. It’s pretty much all awful to watch. I cannot name a team I’ve consistently enjoyed watching.

[Smal]

1 minute ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

Definitely feels like opponent's chances are flying in. 

they are, even the half chances are all going in. We’ve partaken in some very bad goalkeeping this season.

[Lush Vlad]

2 minutes ago, Smal said:

more data suggesting we are one of the better teams in general play in the league still:

 

 

still one of the best pressing units too:

 

 

 

PL football in general is different this season. It’s pretty much all awful to watch. I cannot name a team I’ve consistently enjoyed watching.

That second one could easily be because teams are happy to sit deep against us, no? The eye test tells us teams do that more and know we won’t break them down.
 

A whole half against the mackems, a whole game against Wolves, most of West Ham, a long time away at Brentford off the top of my head. 

[bobbydazzla]

I watch a lot of top flight football and I can confidently say that we are not one of the better teams in the league in terms of general play. We’re shit and have been for ages. 

 

If ever there was evidence needed that predictive stats are absolute fucking mumbo jumbo bollocks for nerds to cling onto in times of desperation, then that evidence is slightly above this post. 

 

 

Edited February 7 by bobbydazzla

[Geordie Ahmed]

Feels like we have quite a bit of work to do to the team/squad

 

We absolutely need a new keeper

 

We need a RB (perhaps 2 if Tino goes)

 

LB because we can't keep running Hall into the ground

 

DM (I know Howe has never liked the idea but I'm hoping this season has made him realise the importance of having one)

 

AM (As above, ideally we get one that is also comfortable playing in a 3 man midfield so it gives us some options)

 

RW, happy for Elanga to stay but Murphy is an absolute liability in general play, his output would overshadow his flaws but that output isn't there like it was previous 2 seasons

 

Striker situation is a funny one, as we have 3 but not one is standout. Osula probably moves on, I still rate Woltemade and he has age on his side. Not sure what happens with Wissa as he's been largely poor, won't be easy to move him on as we'd be lucky to even get half of what we paid for him

[Kilcline]

3 minutes ago, bobbydazzla said:

I watch a lot of top flight football and I can confidently say that we are not one of the better teams in the league in terms of general play. We’re shit and have been for ages. 

 

If ever there was evidence needed that predictive stats are absolute fucking mumbo jumbo bollocks for nerds to cling onto in times of desperation, then that evidence is slightly above this post. 

 

 

 

We're 5th in the xPTS table though mate, chin up eh 🤣🤪

[bobbydazzla]

3 minutes ago, Geordie Ahmed said:

Feels like we have quite a bit of work to do to the team/squad

 

We absolutely need a new keeper

 

We need a RB (perhaps 2 if Tino goes)

 

LB because we can't keep running Hall into the ground

 

DM (I know Howe has never liked the idea but I'm hoping this season has made him realise the importance of having one)

 

AM (As above, ideally we get one that is also comfortable playing in a 3 man midfield so it gives us some options)

 

RW, happy for Elanga to stay but Murphy is an absolute liability in general play, his output would overshadow his flaws but that output isn't there like it was previous 2 seasons

 

Striker situation is a funny one, as we have 3 but not one is standout. Osula probably moves on, I still rate Woltemade and he has age on his side. Not sure what happens with Wissa as he's been largely poor, won't be easy to move him on as we'd be lucky to even get half of what we paid for him

New manager ?

[Smal]

7 minutes ago, Lush Vlad said:

That second one could easily be because teams are happy to sit deep against us, no? The eye test tells us teams do that more and know we won’t break them down.
 

A whole half against the mackems, a whole game against Wolves, most of West Ham, a long time away at Brentford off the top of my head. 

 

it says on average that we lose the ball and win it back in the same area of the pitch as the best teams in the league and not much else really.

 

We are not scoring in line with the chances we create and we are letting in more than the chances created against us suggest we should.

 

We have bad keepers and bad strikers. That’s what the eye test says and the data backs it up.

 

I see general play as a league wide issue. Arsenal are absolutely revolting to watch, Liverpool are not good to watch, Aston Villa are not good to watch, Man U are 4th or something. Mackems are every bit as bad as Burnley to watch but are top half. Tactically the game is in an awful place.

[bobbydazzla]

6 minutes ago, Kilcline said:

We're 5th in the xPTS table though mate, chin up eh 🤣🤪

Aye, I’m going to put on my jarmies soon and get into my scratcher alone again tonight having never experienced the sweet scent of a female in my boudoir, but I can take solace in the amount of lasses I’ve xScuttled 

 

 

Edited February 7 by bobbydazzla