What do we still need? Aka The never ending story

Zirkzee, Mount, Amad and Garnacho for AM positions.

Bruno, Mainoo, Cas, Collyer, Ugarte for CM.

We need to sell before we buy. ST and RWB will be our priorities. If we can add a goal scoring CAM too then should be back in Europe or better.
 
ManRed said:
Zirkzee, Mount, Amad and Garnacho for AM positions.

Bruno, Mainoo, Cas, Collyer, Ugarte for CM.

We need to sell before we buy. ST and RWB will be our priorities. If we can add a goal scoring CAM too then should be back in Europe or better.
Click to expand...
Yeah, if we're not in Europe next year there's no point adding to that group
 
ManRed said:
Zirkzee, Mount, Amad and Garnacho for AM positions.

Bruno, Mainoo, Cas, Collyer, Ugarte for CM.

We need to sell before we buy. ST and RWB will be our priorities. If we can add a goal scoring CAM too then should be back in Europe or better.
Click to expand...
I’d promote Kone and try to move Casemiro on for the midfield positions and when fit use Mount in the same role Fernandes now plays as his back up whilst bringing in Gibbs-White and Gomes on a free for the attacking midfield roles.

Fully agree with a centre forward and a right wing back being our big money priorities so I think Frimpong with his £34 million release clause is a must buy then any of Osimhen, Gyokeres or Samu as the centre forward puts us in good stead anc a good balance for how Amorim wants to play although I’d also move Onana on and try to bring in a better keeper.

I’d like to see new keeper, Bayindir, Vitek, Harrison, Yoro, Mazraoui, Maguire, De Ligt, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw, Kukonki, new right wing back, Dalot, Dorgu, Amass, Leon, Ugarte, Kone, Collyer, Mainoo, Fernandes, Mount, Gomes, Amad, Garnacho, Zirkzee, new attacking midfield, Hojlund and a new striker with Onana, Heaton, Lindelof, Evans, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen, Sancho, Antony and Rashford sold/released/retired as the squad next season.
 
ManRed said:
Zirkzee, Mount, Amad and Garnacho for AM positions.

Bruno, Mainoo, Cas, Collyer, Ugarte for CM.

We need to sell before we buy. ST and RWB will be our priorities. If we can add a goal scoring CAM too then should be back in Europe or better.
Click to expand...

We can’t go into next season with those midfield options, I think RWB is going to be less of a priority now. I can see us going with Amad and Dalot as the options there and we’ll strengthen the spine of the team with striker as the priority.
 
aeh1991 said:
Would be mistake for both sides. He surely can play classic RB, but it takes away all of his strengths while exposing his weaknesses.
Click to expand...

Yes. He would be perfect for the way we are set up. Just a shame we having a nightmare season and probably won’t even get European football. But the name and badge still holds weight. Lets hope we can get it done.
 
If we don't qualify for Europe I don't think we need or can afford much changes. We'll only have a game a week and if anything we should just try and shed some deadwood.
The team will have a good crack at top 4 and about a million will be saved in wages provided the loanees are shed.

If we do qualify then, given the finances and the inability to ship unwanted players, I would focus on a speedy skillful attacker. Somebody like a Jota or Gakpo. I think Mitoma could be that guy.

The squad below would have enough to get top 4 and progress in Europe.

Gk
Onana
Bayindir
Heaton

Rwb
Amad
Dalot
Mazraoui

Rcb
Yoro
Mazraoui
De Ligt

Cb
De Ligt
Maguire
Yoro

Lcb
Heaven
Shaw
Dorgu

Lwb
Dorgu
Leon
Amass

DCM
Ugarte
Collyer
Casemiro

ACM
Bruno
Mainoo
Casemiro

LWF
Mitoma
Zirkzee
Mainoo

Rwf
Amad
Garnacho
Mount

Striker
Zirkzee
Hojlund
Chido

1st team
Bayindir
Yoro De Ligt Heaven
Amad Ugarte Bruno Dorgu
Garnacho Mitoma
Zirkzee
 
Last edited:
Olecurls99 said:
If we don't qualify for Europe I don't think we need or can afford much changes. We'll only have a game a week and if anything we should just try and shed some deadwood.
The team will have a good crack at top 4 and about a million will be saved in wages provided the loanees are shed.

If we do qualify then, given the finances and the inability to ship unwanted players, I would focus on a speedy skillful attacker. Somebody like a Jota or Gakpo. I think Mitoma could be that guy.

The squad below would have enough to get top 4 and progress in Europe.

Gk
Onana
Bayindir
Heaton

Rwb
Amad
Dalot
Mazraoui

Rcb
Yoro
Mazraoui
De Ligt

Cb
De Ligt
Maguire
Yoro

Lcb
Heaven
Shaw
Dorgu

Lwb
Dorgu
Leon
Amass

DCM
Ugarte
Collyer
Casemiro

ACM
Bruno
Mainoo
Casemiro

LWF
Mitoma
Zirkzee
Mainoo

Rwf
Amad
Garnacho
Mount

Striker
Zirkzee
Hojlund
Chido

1st team
Bayindir
Yoro De Ligt Heaven
Amad Ugarte Bruno Dorgu
Garnacho Mitoma
Zirkzee
Click to expand...
No Martinez in the squad ?
 
A cheap option for the no.10 position would be Enzo Millot (22, Stuttgart). Not really shining with stats (one of the reasons might be that he plays as a CM sometimes), but he's seemingly one of the highest rated attacking midfielders of the Bundesliga. He's got a release clause of 18-20m euros, while his transfermarket value is at 42m.
 
Frimpong 35m
Wharton 65m
Angel Gomes 0m
Cherki 20m
Osimhen 60m
 
With 3 players in we should be able to create a good starting balanace, i.e.

Frimpong 40m
Osimhen 60m
And an experienced attack minded CM

All 3 would and should start in our strongest 11. Every other player you sign after this would be a bonus and to strengthen the debth of the team and would be driven by additional sales made in addition to players released
 
groovyalbert said:
Think Gomes would be way too exposed in this system. Not sure he has the physicality.
Click to expand...
He could play 6/8 or one of the 10’s, knows the club and would be far more protected in a possession based system, I think he would be a no brainer on a free at £100-120k per week.

Even if the transfer doesn’t work, we could easily sell him 25/26 summer for £15-20m, we really have nothing to lose on this one.

He’s small yes but he’s deceptively strong in the tackle and can play as a DLP or a clever 10 plus he ticks homegrown category as well.
 
Woziak said:
He could play 6/8 or one of the 10’s, knows the club and would be far more protected in a possession based system, I think he would be a no brainer on a free at £100-120k per week.

Even if the transfer doesn’t work, we could easily sell him 25/26 summer for £15-20m, we really have nothing to lose on this one.

He’s small yes but he’s deceptively strong in the tackle and can play as a DLP or a clever 10 plus he ticks homegrown category as well.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. With Eriksen leaving, it makes totally sense to get him in. His transfer would be unrelated to a new no.10 to replace Rashford.
 
daba said:
Frimpong 35m
Wharton 65m
Angel Gomes 0m
Cherki 20m
Osimhen 60m
Click to expand...
This would be a seriously fantastic window plus for all of the top 3, tick the Homegrown category.

Daba, really are excellent choices now add A Goalkeeper like Trafford or Suzuki or Lucas Chevalier and Top4/5 would be definitely on.

Remember if Sancho, Rashford, Evans, Heaton and Mainoo or Garnaucho leave, that’s 5 homegrown players gone and then add one of Mount and Sharp and then we start to become very close to the limits allowed.

I’d drop Onana now in the EPL and play Ely Harrison who will be fighting it out with Trafford for England Number 1 in 2 to 3 years.
 
daba said:
Frimpong 35m
Wharton 65m
Angel Gomes 0m
Cherki 20m
Osimhen 60m
Click to expand...
I like but am not sold on Gomes, think he would have similar issues to Mainoo in this system, if he wants to sign and the wages are low enough would be worth a punt at least then we could shift him if he doesn't work out.

I think it might look more like this, I think that INEOS and Ratcliffe still have an English bias:

Ignacio 40m
Dibling 40m
Chuna 60m
David 0m
Mateta 30m
Hackney 20m

I think we will bring Leon into the 1st team until January to evaluate.

Gomes and Tah are both possibilities on free but not convinced either are the right move for Amorim's rebuild

Think Mantato, Moorhouse, Kone and a couple more will see bench time at the least

Think if we ship Rashford, Casemiro, Antony, Malacia and get money from Sancho and Greenwood, we could look at a net spend under £100m and a massive reduction in wages with Lindelof and Eriksen also moving off the bill.
 
In


Hackney (18)
Andrè (35)
Dibling (35)
Mbeuno (45)
Ekitike (45+10)
Oshimen (50)
Trafford (25)

£218m


Out

Rashford (50)
Sancho (25)
Casemiro (13)
Mainoo (55)
Hujland (loan)
Bayinder (5)

148m
 
Uncle Mainoo said:
In


Hackney (18)
Andrè (35)
Dibling (35)
Mbeuno (45)
Ekitike (45+10)
Oshimen (50)
Trafford (25)

£218m


Out

Rashford (50)
Sancho (25)
Casemiro (13)
Mainoo (55)
Hujland (loan)
Bayinder (5)

148m
Click to expand...

Blasphemy! Mods - requesting username change ASAP.

And is this the Andre that's now at Wolves? Curious what you see that makes you think he'd be a good buy, didn't appear to do much in his debut PL season from what I saw.

Also think you are being quite optimistic with some of these prices! I'd say apart from Hayden Hackney all are probably £10-15m too low.
 
Unless Hojlund suddenly comes to life, the greatest need is a striker. Rasmus scored a nice goal v Leicester but he misses on too many half-chances and he seems more suitable as a squad man than a first choice striker.

But every position is on the table, starting with the keeper. That said, for now De Ligt, Ugarte, Bruno and Amad look quality enough to be in a PL title run squad. Everyone else need to prove they’re able to take the next step. However, there’s some real potential class in our newer players such as Yoro, Heaven, Dorgu and Mainoo.
 
Uncle Mainoo said:
In


Hackney (18)
Andrè (35)
Dibling (35)
Mbeuno (45)
Ekitike (45+10)
Oshimen (50)
Trafford (25)

£218m


Out

Rashford (50)
Sancho (25)
Casemiro (13)
Mainoo (55)
Hujland (loan)
Bayinder (5)

148m
Click to expand...
There's no way we'd get 50 for Rashford and I can't imagine we'd get anything for case given the wages he'd be after. Mbeumo would surely be closer to 55/60 you'd imagine
 
groovyalbert said:
Think Gomes would be way too exposed in this system. Not sure he has the physicality.
Click to expand...

Yeah I think signing Gomes doesn’t make any sense, it’s just padding the squad with someone who doesn’t really fit because he’s free. We already potentially have a bit of an issue with Mainoo so Gomes would be pretty pointless.

We really need to be signing players that add what the team is missing and not just adding more players with the same weaknesses. Having said all that I actually like Gomes but I don’t think it’s a good move for us or for him either.
 
Roboc7 said:
Yeah I think signing Gomes doesn’t make any sense, it’s just padding the squad with someone who doesn’t really fit because he’s free. We already potentially have a bit of an issue with Mainoo so Gomes would be pretty pointless.

We really need to be signing players that add what the team is missing and not just adding more players with the same weaknesses. Having said all that I actually like Gomes but I don’t think it’s a good move for us or for him either.
Click to expand...
Gomes and Mainoo are completely different type of players though
 
DannyCAFC said:
Blasphemy! Mods - requesting username change ASAP.

And is this the Andre that's now at Wolves? Curious what you see that makes you think he'd be a good buy, didn't appear to do much in his debut PL season from what I saw.

Also think you are being quite optimistic with some of these prices! I'd say apart from Hayden Hackney all are probably £10-15m too low.
Click to expand...

I know. My nephew’s physicality has disappointed me this season. But he’s still young. However I don’t see Amorims system suiting him.

Andre is very similar to Gomes. Very tenacious and a good ball carrier. Only difference is he’s a better passer and I think we need that in our midfield. Someone who’s good at the short and long game.
 
aeh1991 said:
Gomes and Mainoo are completely different type of players though
Click to expand...

Different players but same issues, lacking physically and not naturally suited to any role in the team. It’s a struggle to fit Mainoo in at times and Gomes would be just the same, he’d be a very highly paid backup and a pretty pointless signing.

We need to sign players who actually solve problems and fit in, not continue to do what we’ve done in the past and just add more players who have the same weaknesses then wonder why we have the same problems.
 
Olecurls99 said:
Why would Cherki be that cheap? Isn't he tearing up the French league?
Click to expand...
It was rumoured that the asking price in January was 22m (EUR) and come the summer he'll only have a year left on his deal. French clubs are skint right now, so I expect it to be no more than 20-25m (GBP).
 
daba said:
It was rumoured that the asking price in January was 22m (EUR) and come the summer he'll only have a year left on his deal. French clubs are skint right now, so I expect it to be no more than 20-25m (GBP).
Click to expand...
smells like a typical PSG transfer. They have been signing the best French talents recently.
 
daba said:
It was rumoured that the asking price in January was 22m (EUR) and come the summer he'll only have a year left on his deal. French clubs are skint right now, so I expect it to be no more than 20-25m (GBP).
Click to expand...
Oh right. I haven't seen much but he looks very useful on YouTube
 
I would love if you lot bought Reijnders. Think he would be quite complimentary with Bruno with his runs into the box and he would add quite a few goals and assists.

He's probably very expensive though and might be the same position as Mainoo sort of.
 
​
Olecurls99 said:
Baena at Villareal looks a serious ball playing midfielder
Click to expand...

I wonder why this guy isn't being mentioned more as a potential signing?

I don't know a lot about him but 23 years old, tearing up La Liga this season and now in the Spain squad. His offensive metrics on FBref are insane, and apparently has a €60m release clause with some suggestion that Villarreal might even let him leave for less.
 
aeh1991 said:
no to Cunha. He costs 60m and is a hotheaded cnt.
Click to expand...
Aside from his volatility, I'm not sure if Cunha is an Amorim type player. Aside from goalkeepers, no player spends a bigger percentage of his time time walking during games in the league. Came across the following interesting analysis from opta a couple of days ago in their article "Which Premier League Players Walk, Run and Sprint the Most, Least, Fastest and Slowest? I'm not sure he's a good enough player to be given a Messi like licence to stroll around during games until he's needed.

Who Walks the Most?​


Goalkeepers are always going to spend most of their time on the pitch doing very little, but it still may nonetheless come as a surprise to find out just how little action they face. Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels has spent a pretty mind-boggling 95.5% of his game time in 2024-25 walking, the highest proportion of all players in the Premier League (200+ mins played).


The top 35 players are all goalkeepers, but when it comes to outfielders, some interesting names pop up. Lionel Messi would always walk around the pitch, allowing everyone else to run around while conserving his energy for the moments that matter, and it seems Wolves’ star player, Matheus Cunha, does something similar. Cunha has spent 77.6% of his game time this season walking – more than any other Premier League player. He comes to life when he needs to, having already scored 13 goals and provided four assists in the top flight this season.
Click to expand...
 
Bojan Djordjic said:
Aside from his volatility, I'm not sure if Cunha is an Amorim type player. Aside from goalkeepers, no player spends a bigger percentage of his time time walking during games in the league. Came across the following interesting analysis from opta a couple of days ago in their article "Which Premier League Players Walk, Run and Sprint the Most, Least, Fastest and Slowest? I'm not sure he's a good enough player to be given a Messi like licence to stroll around during games until he's needed.
Click to expand...
Yet, it feels as if he's on the list of 90% of the caf members...
 
Just seen the Cherki compilation vs England U21 last night. Dear lord what a baller. Reading the comments from Lyon fans about his "attitude problems" and they are saying that's completely BS.
 
I'm surprised at the number of posts saying "if we're not in Europe, we don't need to add to this squad".

We won't have qualified for Europe because of this squad - of course we need to improve it. At the very minimum, a proper right sided wingback and a proper goal scorer are essential.

If we can generate some money from sales and a smaller wage bill, it would be nice to add more options in midfield and attacking midfield, maybe even another young centre back. But the two positions above are non-negotiables.

Look at the difference in the team when we had Amad or Dorgu offering attacking output on just one flank. If we can lineup with that sort of threat on both flanks, along with proper options up front (a top striker with Hojlund and Chido Obi earning minutes as well), we'll be a much, much better team.
 
diarm said:
I'm surprised at the number of posts saying "if we're not in Europe, we don't need to add to this squad".

We won't have qualified for Europe because of this squad - of course we need to improve it. At the very minimum, a proper right sided wingback and a proper goal scorer are essential.

If we can generate some money from sales and a smaller wage bill, it would be nice to add more options in midfield and attacking midfield, maybe even another young centre back. But the two positions above are non-negotiables.

Look at the difference in the team when we had Amad or Dorgu offering attacking output on just one flank. If we can lineup with that sort of threat on both flanks, along with proper options up front (a top striker with Hojlund and Chido Obi earning minutes as well), we'll be a much, much better team.
Click to expand...
We need a CF and a RWB regardless of where we finish. But without Europe the budget is much lower and the squad depth needs are lower, so beyond that is where we can get away with a smaller squad. Depth/competition for Ugarte is a must if we are in Europe, but without it we can get away with just what we have in midfield.
 
If frimpong only as a 34m release clause then we should be all over that. That’s the wingbacks sorted then.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.