Dutch D
Well-Known Member & FPL Champion 19/20
I want us to work towards a 4-3-3 formation, with ball-playing CB’s, actual wingers and a midfield-three as described in the Praet topic (‘creative’ 8, ‘all-action’ 8, ‘anchor’ 6).
These players will definitely not be part of the squad next season:
Cech, Lichtsteiner, Jenkinson, Welbeck, Ramsey (free)
Based on what I’m reading we’ll try to acquire a LB, CB, CM, LW, as well as Claude-Maurice and Martinelli. That leaves us with the following squad (categorized in best position):
LW: Buy, Iwobi, Saka
ST: Aubameyang, Lacazette, Nketiah, Martinelli
RW: Mkhitaryan, Nelson, Amaechi
B2B: Buy, Willock, Guendouzi, Maitland-Niles
CDM: Torreira, Chambers, Elneny, Bielik
Creative CM: Özil, Claude-Maurice, Xhaka, Smith-Rowe
LB: Buy, Kolasinac, Monreal
CB: Buy, Sokratis, Koscielny, Mustafi, Holding, Mavropanos
RB: Bellerin, Osei-Tutu
GK: Leno, Martinez, Ospina
In terms of quantity our squad is really quite large. At the same time, in terms of quality we’re really lacking a B2B, CDM and RB. It appears only one of these (B2B) will be addressed this summer.
GK: Sell Ospina, keep Martinez as back up. We're fine here.
In defense that means we either have to keep Osei-Tutu or abuse Maitland-Niles another season as makeshift RB. There are quite some free agents on the market again this summer (Abate, Alves, Juanfran), only one of whom I’d consider. Our CB’s lack skill on the ball, I only consider Koscielny and Holding adequate in that regard, so that should be one of the qualities of the CB that is brought in. I’d also like this CB to be fast/physical for my desired high defensive line (Upamecano or Konate seem to fit the bill, Hermoso to a lesser extent). Obviously, Mustafi has to go. If we only bring in one CB, I’d keep Mavropanos around, otherwise loan. In LB, Monreal is past it and Kolasinac does not fit the desired formation. The latter represents value, so he should be sold. Can buy a prospect to compete with our new LB next season, when Monreal leaves on a free.
In midfield, we have the numbers, but not the desired profiles or quality. Xhaka does not really fit in any of the categories due to his lack of mobility and defensive skills. His passing is his main attribute so I classified him as a creative CM. I doubt he’ll be sold, although I wish he will be. In CDM we really only have one viable option. I would seriously consider keeping Bielik around purely because of the lack of cover for this position. Or Maitland-Niles could be tried there, but I feel his weaknesses make him ill-suited for that position (concentration, tidiness). Chambers and Elneny should be sold to fund the B2B midfielder to be brought in. This should be an all-action midfielder who can contribute on both sides of the pitch (my hope is on Tielemans or Barella, possibly Partey who would solve our RB conundrum in the short-term until Bellerin is match fit). I think it’s best for all parties if Özil finds a new club. However, I doubt it will happen. He does not really fit in a midfield three, so I would move him to RW and hope Claude-Maurice steps up. Otherwise, I think we’re stuck with Xhaka in there. We could consider keeping Smith-Rowe around to compete with ACM for that position, but I fear he won’t get enough game time and should therefore be loaned. Have high hopes for him in the long-term.
On the wings, we have numbers, but lack quality again. I think LW should be our marque signing, think big (bigger than Carrasco, who I’m not keen on, or Fraser). I would like to see Iwobi sold, as he has not developed as I had hoped despite the numerous chances, but I have not seen any indication he’ll leave. Mkhitaryan is also too inconsistent and I expect we should be able to find a buyer. Nelson must step up as the other winger. One of Saka/Amaechi can be the fourth winger, the other should be loaned to a good side.
For the strikers we have two quality options and a quality 3rd striker. I’m afraid Nketiah won’t get enough game time (again), so I would loan him to a decent side and use Martinelli and academy prospects as back-up.
Conclusion
I think we’d be in a decent position if we get top quality on those 4 positions we’re rumoured to be looking for additions (think Tierney, Upamecano, Tielemans, Soares). I’d still like to see additional outgoings (most notably Xhaka, Özil, Iwobi) and incomings, though. We’re very short in RB and could use an additional quality CM. I would also think adding Ziyech as wide playmaker is a no-brainer for the quality and the tactical flexibility he’d provide (as a playmaker behind two strikers). Adding three more signings (potentially another CB as well) in addition to the 6 that are supposedly planned is rather unrealistic though (wish list stuff, as I have repeatedly done). If possible I really think we should push for another RB though, especially with the Osei-Tutu links.
These players will definitely not be part of the squad next season:
Cech, Lichtsteiner, Jenkinson, Welbeck, Ramsey (free)
Based on what I’m reading we’ll try to acquire a LB, CB, CM, LW, as well as Claude-Maurice and Martinelli. That leaves us with the following squad (categorized in best position):
LW: Buy, Iwobi, Saka
ST: Aubameyang, Lacazette, Nketiah, Martinelli
RW: Mkhitaryan, Nelson, Amaechi
B2B: Buy, Willock, Guendouzi, Maitland-Niles
CDM: Torreira, Chambers, Elneny, Bielik
Creative CM: Özil, Claude-Maurice, Xhaka, Smith-Rowe
LB: Buy, Kolasinac, Monreal
CB: Buy, Sokratis, Koscielny, Mustafi, Holding, Mavropanos
RB: Bellerin, Osei-Tutu
GK: Leno, Martinez, Ospina
In terms of quantity our squad is really quite large. At the same time, in terms of quality we’re really lacking a B2B, CDM and RB. It appears only one of these (B2B) will be addressed this summer.
GK: Sell Ospina, keep Martinez as back up. We're fine here.
In defense that means we either have to keep Osei-Tutu or abuse Maitland-Niles another season as makeshift RB. There are quite some free agents on the market again this summer (Abate, Alves, Juanfran), only one of whom I’d consider. Our CB’s lack skill on the ball, I only consider Koscielny and Holding adequate in that regard, so that should be one of the qualities of the CB that is brought in. I’d also like this CB to be fast/physical for my desired high defensive line (Upamecano or Konate seem to fit the bill, Hermoso to a lesser extent). Obviously, Mustafi has to go. If we only bring in one CB, I’d keep Mavropanos around, otherwise loan. In LB, Monreal is past it and Kolasinac does not fit the desired formation. The latter represents value, so he should be sold. Can buy a prospect to compete with our new LB next season, when Monreal leaves on a free.
In midfield, we have the numbers, but not the desired profiles or quality. Xhaka does not really fit in any of the categories due to his lack of mobility and defensive skills. His passing is his main attribute so I classified him as a creative CM. I doubt he’ll be sold, although I wish he will be. In CDM we really only have one viable option. I would seriously consider keeping Bielik around purely because of the lack of cover for this position. Or Maitland-Niles could be tried there, but I feel his weaknesses make him ill-suited for that position (concentration, tidiness). Chambers and Elneny should be sold to fund the B2B midfielder to be brought in. This should be an all-action midfielder who can contribute on both sides of the pitch (my hope is on Tielemans or Barella, possibly Partey who would solve our RB conundrum in the short-term until Bellerin is match fit). I think it’s best for all parties if Özil finds a new club. However, I doubt it will happen. He does not really fit in a midfield three, so I would move him to RW and hope Claude-Maurice steps up. Otherwise, I think we’re stuck with Xhaka in there. We could consider keeping Smith-Rowe around to compete with ACM for that position, but I fear he won’t get enough game time and should therefore be loaned. Have high hopes for him in the long-term.
On the wings, we have numbers, but lack quality again. I think LW should be our marque signing, think big (bigger than Carrasco, who I’m not keen on, or Fraser). I would like to see Iwobi sold, as he has not developed as I had hoped despite the numerous chances, but I have not seen any indication he’ll leave. Mkhitaryan is also too inconsistent and I expect we should be able to find a buyer. Nelson must step up as the other winger. One of Saka/Amaechi can be the fourth winger, the other should be loaned to a good side.
For the strikers we have two quality options and a quality 3rd striker. I’m afraid Nketiah won’t get enough game time (again), so I would loan him to a decent side and use Martinelli and academy prospects as back-up.
Conclusion
I think we’d be in a decent position if we get top quality on those 4 positions we’re rumoured to be looking for additions (think Tierney, Upamecano, Tielemans, Soares). I’d still like to see additional outgoings (most notably Xhaka, Özil, Iwobi) and incomings, though. We’re very short in RB and could use an additional quality CM. I would also think adding Ziyech as wide playmaker is a no-brainer for the quality and the tactical flexibility he’d provide (as a playmaker behind two strikers). Adding three more signings (potentially another CB as well) in addition to the 6 that are supposedly planned is rather unrealistic though (wish list stuff, as I have repeatedly done). If possible I really think we should push for another RB though, especially with the Osei-Tutu links.