Team for 26/27

[Sus]

One of my best FPL players this season - he must be good

[Catrin]

Vlahović is also supposed to be available on a free this summer and given Hugo’s injury we will need a striker.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Vlahović is also supposed to be available on a free this summer and given Hugo’s injury we will need a striker.

Vlahovic became very injury prone over the past four years, plus gone a bit so so in front of goal.

He must be out injured anything between three and five times a season.

[labourRed]

Vlahović is also supposed to be available on a free this summer and given Hugo’s injury we will need a striker.

A Uruguayan might be available also.

[Slinky Skills]

Who can we realistically get in as a forward that is willing to play second fiddle to Isak now Ekitike is essentially going to be ruled out of next season. Who would be willing to come to us that's young yet proven and has the desire?

[Doc_Piptorious]

Who can we realistically get in as a forward that is willing to play second fiddle to Isak now Ekitike is essentially going to be ruled out of next season. Who would be willing to come to us that's young yet proven and has the desire?

Well go young or get an older player that is still good but happy with a 1 or 2 year deal.

The likes of Raul Jimenez is available on a free come June. Whether he is good enough to be a back up striker is a matter of opinion. Had thought that Danny Welbeck was available but seems BHA extended his contract until June 2027. Both much older players but if we were only talking for one season then a 30+ striker that is still showing good form in front of goal and also in terms of physical status might be an option.

Bringing in an attacker that can play out wide and up front would be an option too. Maybe someone like Adeyemi so we get cover in multiple position with one player. Only 24 as well.

A few players like those named would not cost a lot (well in the world of footy money anyway) and would then allow for other funds to go towards the first team starters we want to go after.

[BobTheCharmer]

I think we need at least 7 players in and I would say every player is sellable.

The squad is a mess. A complete shambles and that falls on the committee that are responsible for shaping it. Why in God's name did we go berserk and walk all the money away?

We need a goalkeeper. Always the hardest position to get right. We need to be trying to find the next world number 1.

We need a right back. A solid right back.

A commanding first choice centre back.

Another left back. Neco Williams on a free is a no brainer.

A dominate number 6. I'd sell Grav and Mac if required.

Two wide players and another forward to replace Hugo.

It still leaves us light but it's a start.

A manager that trusts the young players and uses our biggest weapon. The crowd. Play full tempo at home.

Huge season. Get it wrong and we might languish like utd have.

[Exiled_red]

I think generally the squad is in decent shape albeit a bit on the small side and lacking in a couple of positions. I think most of the issues we are having are largely down to the manager’s approach and tactics. I am back and forward about what I think will happen with the manager, my feeling at the moment is that he will probably stay especially if we qualify for the CL, but neither are given, so the manager situation may impact on squad decisions somewhat, but I don’t think things need a massive overhaul

Goalkeepers
Alisson – Still first choice and a top keeper would expect him to be first choice going into the new season, his kicking isn’t great and he is a bit injury prone so you do wonder how much longer he has left, given these factors and his contract situation I wouldn’t be surprised if 26-27 is his last season here.

Mamardashvili – you would have to assume that he is lined up as the replacement for Alisson so I would expect him to get an increased number of games next season certainly expect him to play in all the FA/Carabao cup games as well as in the PL/CL when Alisson is unavailable. If we really are expecting Alisson to leave at the end of the season we might need to look to phase this guy in with more regular games as the season progresses.

Woodman (HG) – Standard 3rd choice keeper, not seen much of him and to be honest hope that continues. I don’t expect him to progress up the ranks to 2nd choice I suspect he will be overtaken by some of the younger guys

Jaros (HG)– Signed a new contract before going out on loan and was supposedly highly rated, but no idea if we consider him a potential backup keeper in a year’s time in which case we might loan him out, otherwise given his age we might sell him

Summary – I would be surprised if there is much action in the market which affects the top end of the pecking order may be restructuring of who is 3rd choice keeper.

Defenders
Bradley (HG) – Seemed to be first choice at the start of this season, but injury prone, good player but not sure how much we can rely on him, if the club think his injuries are something he will grow out of I think they will stick with him, but I wonder for how long, I think we go into next season with him or Frimpong as first choice RB which may depend on the manager and his style of play.

Frimpong (HG) – The other option as a first choice RB, if we have a manager who wants really attacking fullbacks or wants wingbacks I suspect he will be first choice ahead of Bradley, as his pace is a real asset and he is rather unique as a RB. I suspect him and Bradley will alternate at RB and he will used as an option further forward if both are fit

Kerkez – Has grown into the side this season in difficult circumstances, will go into next season as first choice.

Robertson – Out of contract and announced that he is leaving which is a shame, personally I would like him to stay for another year at least, I think he is a leader on the pitch and in the dressing room and likely one of the people who sets the standards. While Kerkez has done well I feel we have often needed that in the side this season. I would like to have found a way to keep him around but obviously he wants game time.

VVD – His level has started to drop but you would expect him to go into the season as first choice, but we really need to be succession planning, we have brought in a couple of new younger guys, we really need this season to be ensure that at least one of them is ready to step up by the end of the season. I expect we will have to manage his minutes and maybe start seeing him come off in games to allow others to develop/progress

Konate – Contract situation makes him the big unknown in defence although there seem to be positive rumours. We need someone of his age profile who can act as the senior defender when VVD isn’t on the pitch. I have found him to be frustrating at times as he can be top class, but also has a really stupid mistake in him. I think the best thinG would be if he signs a new contract, but have no idea how likely that is to happen.

Gomez (HG) – Again a player who I really like and can cover multiple positions, but injuries have played a big part in his career, really should be at the peak of his career (age 28 now) so really should be established as a first choice CB but not being able to rely on him is a massive problem. Has one year left on his contract, I wouldn’t be surprised if we let him go if someone came in for him who could be that utility defender, but wouldn’t be surprised if we kept him for the last year of his contract.

Leoni (U21-PL) – Highly rated but something of an unknown, impressive debut but we don’t know is he is capable of those types of performances consistently or not particularly in the PL, also players can often take a while to get back to where they were after the type of injury he has had

Jacquet (U21-PL) – Similar to Leoni promising player but still something of an unknown, I suspect he will be brought into the side slowly starting with cup games and minutes from the bench in games we are ahead in.

Tsimikas – has proven himself as a capable backup LB, with Robbo leaving I would be happy to have him as a backup to Kerkez if he is happy to play that role, but who knows what he will want to do.

Ramsay – I just don’t see him being here next season.

Summary – Big uncertainty is over the future of Konate, with VVD getting on and his level not where it was the other CB here is key, Gomez is good but can’t be relied on fitness wise and Leoni and Jacquet for all the positive coverage we have heard are largely unproven (1-2 years first team experience non in the PL). I have been a critic of Konate at various points but I think having him sign a new contract could be important at least in the short term. We could bring in another more experienced CB if he leaves but again that is another unknown. The other big question is about fullbacks RB has been a problem position for us having to play Szoboszlai or Jones there because all 3 of the defenders who can player there have been injured it feels like we need another option probably as a utility player perhaps, as I don’t see us having 3 specialist RBs (if we class Frimpong like that). I would look to keep Tsimikas to reduce the turnover.

Midfielders
Gravenberch – Just signed a new contract would expect him to be a regular in the side, would like him to more go back to the role he played last season than this though

Szoboszlai – Probably our best player this season, but has been shifted to RB a lot, really isn’t a RB, need to get him signed up on a new contract and stop playing him at RB.

MacAllister – Not been great this season and in fact has been way off at times, something isn’t right, really good player but I am not sure if he will be here next season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him want a move.

Jones (HG) – Another player who is out of contract in a year. I know he gets stick but I like him and would like to see him get a new contract and more game time, I’m not sure he would always be first choice but as things are now he is a good squad option and you aren’t too unhappy if he starts games. I guess the decision here is on what he wants to do, if he has reached a point of wanting to go elsewhere for regular games, I get a sense that he as much as anyone would benefit from a change of manager

Wirtz – preferred role seems to be as a number 10 with 3 players ahead of him, he could be effective in that system, but there are concerns about us being defensively vulnerable with Wirtz plus 2 of our current midfielders in there. Clearly he has been bought as a long term creative focal point of the side so will be involved somewhere, a new manager/system might see changes to his exact position.

Endo – He was regularly involved under Klopp, but in Slot’s time here he has barely got a game, obviously the injury has ruled him out for the season. Given his age I would be surprised if he wanted to stick around for another season on the off chance of getting games, if he weren’t injured I would expect him to leave, the injury might make that more complicated

Elliott – we shouldn’t forget that he is still our player, not really sure what to make of his situation, we all thought he had effectively gone to Villa at the start of this season, but the loan move went to **** and he’s barely played. I know a number of here people don’t rate him and have concerns about his pace, but I think he could be a useful squad player with a manager who is prepared to give him game time and while I’m not sure he has a long term future here a season as a squad player might get him attention again. That said I suspect there will be some lowball offers for him this summer so I guess it depends on what we are prepared to deal at. Who knows what will happen.

Nyoni (U21) – I felt the declaration at the start of the season that he was viewed as a first-team player was somewhat premature, he hasn’t really had much game time although is clearly highly rated, he is still really young (18) I have wondered if we have considered him too young to go out on loan at this point or whether we genuinely believe he’s top class and wanted to keep him around and believe he doesn’t need a loan, I guess it is probably another that depends on the new manager’s approach

McConnell (HG) – Again highly rated, a loan move that didn’t work out and an injury, I have no idea whether the plan would be to try again with a loan move or keep him around the squad picking up minutes in cup ties or from the bench.

Bajcetic (HG) – Was a top prospect a few years ago but injuries mean he has barely played a game since, sad as it is you have to wonder if he is done. Wouldn’t be surprised if he is sold or loaned out, sadly I don’t see him playing for us again the way things have gone.

Summary – I think what happens here largely depends on the manager and system, for me it seems Wirtz has been brought in to play the #10 role, we have just offered Gravenberch a new long term contract it seems the midfield needs to be built around getting the next out of Wirtz. Personally I would be looking to sign a #6 and play them and Gravenberch behind Wirtz to give us some solidity, it may seem harsh on Szoboszlai given how he has played this season but we spent silly money on Wirtz we need to be setup to get the best out of him, Szoboszlai is one of those players who can play a number of roles so will still get a lot of minutes even if he nominally isn’t in the first 11. I have a suspicion that at least one of MacAllister or Jones will leave or won’t get a new contract. So we are looking at balancing things with the numbers there as I feel we are a bit short, if we only go one in one out we need at least one of McConnell/Nyoni/Bajcetic to be ready to setup up and play more regularly.

Forwards
Salah – Announced that he is leaving, obviously has been a huge player for us and leaves a legend. His form has dipped significantly this season which is a shame, He was a unique player contributing goals and assists in previous season I think we have tried to replace that with two players in Isak and Wirtz, we need to bring in wide players this summer for the place on the right but they aren’t going to be a like for like replacement of the old Mo.

Isak – Has had injuries and fitness problems all season so we haven’t seen what he can do. The club went big on him so like Wirtz we need to set the side up to get the best out of him, which probably means bringing in wide players.

Ekitike – Was looking good, devastated that he will be out probably until 2027, given the injury and the need to get back to fitness it is unlikely we will see him do much next season, but is a real talent.

Gakpo – Has had a poor season, but has signed a new contract so isn’t likely to go anywhere, I feel he is a player who plays well and contributes in a side that plays well, but isn’t really the player who makes a side play well. I think he has a role to play but would hope it is as a squad player next season

Ngumoha (U21) – Looks better every time him plays and is a real talent. Still very young so will need his minutes managed next season too, I expect us to be careful with him so he won’t be first choice but will get a lot of minutes.

Chiesa – I can’t see a situation where he is here next season.

Summary – I would like to see us sign 2 wingers, I suspect we might only sign one though and use Gakpo/Ngumoha on the other side. I didn’t see us playing with both Isak and Ekitike together I think that with the number of games we would have been looking to play sharing the minutes made sense given how they looked injury and fitness wise, so I suspect that was the play, obviously Ekitike’s injury throws a huge spanner in the works there, I wonder if that means we try and sign some kind of utility forward instead of a second winger

[kingfunk]

Some of you are going to be very disappointed. We will see 3 incomings max imo.

[Buzzo]

Yeah - agreed there will be signings but can’t see there being massive turnover. Clearly that level of turnover affected this season.

I also think Tsmikas will return to replace Robbo.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Some of you are going to be very disappointed. We will see 3 incomings max imo.

Unless you mean no more than three first team signings, I think we will see more than three signings when squad depth signings get taken into account.


My guess is two or three first team level signings ( assuming we do not lose more first teamers than expected) and maybe two or three utility or young players.

[BobTheCharmer]

Allison might leave. Gomez and Robbo look sure to go.

Macallister is shot. Jones looks to be off.

Surely Chiesa will be joining Salah.

That's 7 potentially before improving squad depth.

[kingfunk]

Yeah - agreed there will be signings but can’t see there being massive turnover. Clearly that level of turnover affected this season.

I also think Tsmikas will return to replace Robbo.

Slot more or less confirmed that this morning.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Allison might leave. Gomez and Robbo look sure to go.

Macallister is shot. Jones looks to be off.

Surely Chiesa will be joining Salah.

That's 7 potentially before improving squad depth.

The majority of those are squad depth as is, so we do not need seven first team starter level players to place all of them.


Chiesa is a squad depth player that rarely gets played. Jones is a back up player that gets injured a lot. Robertson is a squad cover player who we can replace for a year with Tsimikas.

Gomez does not look likely to leave at all. Zero rumours as to that happening, plus with only a year left on his contract he will most likely see it out.


Salah we will replace with a starter I assume, same with MacAllister is he goes.


Doubt if Ali goes before the summer of 2027, but if he does I reckon Mamar becomes the starter and we bring in another back up keeper.

[Deano]

Allison might leave. Gomez and Robbo look sure to go.

Macallister is shot. Jones looks to be off.

Surely Chiesa will be joining Salah.

That's 7 potentially before improving squad depth.

Deffo Timmy comes back - But I do think we will see a few plus JJ