For me the most pressing needs are:
- Another wing back. We only have Amad and Dorgu that are fit for that position. Mazroui and Dalot are full backs. Not wing backs. It’s the most important position in this set up. Switching Amad to RWB changes our team. We need at least one more player specialised to that role, a player with true attacking ability. Quenda is the obvious player. Otherwise we are just playing with 5 defenders. The player needs to be very good technically so they can receive it under pressure and turn and run with it.
- Another CM. Bruno and Ugarte is a good two. Well complimented to each other. Mainoo is the third choice. But after that we have nothing. We need a player who offers energy and legs, and preferably ball carrying ability. I love the look of Ederson from Atalanta.
- A playmaking 10. We need a highly technical 10 that can knit it all together, isn’t afraid of working hard, but is supremely technical. As adept at coming deep as they are making runs to the channels and running at the defence. Wirtz is obviously the dream.
- A striker. A 9 who is adept at running in behind with pace and purpose. Gyokeres and Osimhen seem gettable and well suited. Lautaro Martinez is another.
- A CB who is good with the ball at his feet and has a physical presence. Maguire is better than people give him credit for but he’s getting on. Yoro and De Ligt are the future, but we need a natural left footer who is good at the art of defending but also excellent at progressing the ball. Inacio seems like an obvious candidate.
- A GK. I’m funny in that I need my goalkeeper to be good at the basics. Catching, commanding the area and shot stopping. I get that ball playing it crucial these days but it shouldn’t even matter if they can’t do the fundamentals right. Onana runs too hot and cold and is too prone to stupid, unforgivable mistakes. Happy to sacrifice some ball skills in favour of good old fashioned brilliant goalkeeping.
That’s 6 players right there. Plenty. Ultimately we need even a couple more after that. But you bring those six in, and shift out Casemiro, Eriksen, Sancho, Rashford, Malacia and Antony all permanently and you are much better off. We’d be left with a young XI but a squad that can really push on and do something special.
- Another wing back. We only have Amad and Dorgu that are fit for that position. Mazroui and Dalot are full backs. Not wing backs. It’s the most important position in this set up. Switching Amad to RWB changes our team. We need at least one more player specialised to that role, a player with true attacking ability. Quenda is the obvious player. Otherwise we are just playing with 5 defenders. The player needs to be very good technically so they can receive it under pressure and turn and run with it.
- Another CM. Bruno and Ugarte is a good two. Well complimented to each other. Mainoo is the third choice. But after that we have nothing. We need a player who offers energy and legs, and preferably ball carrying ability. I love the look of Ederson from Atalanta.
- A playmaking 10. We need a highly technical 10 that can knit it all together, isn’t afraid of working hard, but is supremely technical. As adept at coming deep as they are making runs to the channels and running at the defence. Wirtz is obviously the dream.
- A striker. A 9 who is adept at running in behind with pace and purpose. Gyokeres and Osimhen seem gettable and well suited. Lautaro Martinez is another.
- A CB who is good with the ball at his feet and has a physical presence. Maguire is better than people give him credit for but he’s getting on. Yoro and De Ligt are the future, but we need a natural left footer who is good at the art of defending but also excellent at progressing the ball. Inacio seems like an obvious candidate.
- A GK. I’m funny in that I need my goalkeeper to be good at the basics. Catching, commanding the area and shot stopping. I get that ball playing it crucial these days but it shouldn’t even matter if they can’t do the fundamentals right. Onana runs too hot and cold and is too prone to stupid, unforgivable mistakes. Happy to sacrifice some ball skills in favour of good old fashioned brilliant goalkeeping.
That’s 6 players right there. Plenty. Ultimately we need even a couple more after that. But you bring those six in, and shift out Casemiro, Eriksen, Sancho, Rashford, Malacia and Antony all permanently and you are much better off. We’d be left with a young XI but a squad that can really push on and do something special.