Next season

[RP]

Got into an interesting conversation on Sunday about next season, specifically which of the top teams will likely improve ... or otherwise. It's quite easy to see how several teams might well be worse than this season, with plenty of negative factors looming:

 

Chelsea

Costa will likely leave - if he doesn't, surely it's unlikely he'll have such a good fitness record (I think it was said on Sky the other night that he played 93% of the possible minutes he could have played for Chelsea this season)

They have been very fortunate with injuries this season (the drugs clearly do work)

Extra fixtures due to CL - they've undoubtedly benefitted from no European footy this season

The players are a bunch of cnts and will turn on Conte

They'll have no obvious leaders left in the squad

 

Spurs

The Wembley Effect

How do they improve in each individual position? I can't see them being able (or wanting to) replace over half their team - for example, Lloris, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Wanyama, Eriksen, Kane, Alli, Dier

Wild card - hopefully someone entices Pocchetino away in the summer

They don't pay - will start to cause unrest amongst their 'stars'

 

City

Probably the most likely to improve. They have clearly underperformed this season, given the resources they have at their disposal. Pep has a years experience under his belt now.

 

The Tricky Reds

Champions League

Will be very difficult to replicate our record vs 'top' clubs in the League (there is an obvious counter to this, of course!)

Our injury record has been poor this year - is that systemic?

Lots of good players need to be signed (quality and quantity required)

 

Arsenal

The continued disruption of the Wenger Effect - and if he goes, the risk/settling in of a new Manager. Following Wenger is likely to be as tricky as following Ferguson was for Moyes, van Gaal etc.

Their best player (by a country mile) is very likely to leave in the summer

 

United

Ibra staying - will be a negative

Ibra going - will be a negative

They're cnts

Mourinho is a c***

Hard to see where leadership will come from on the pitch

Champions League

They're cnts

 

 

 

So I can really see Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal getting fewer points than they have this season.

 

Risk is United turn a few draws into wins, I suppose. But you can't get away from the fact that they're cnts.

 

Us - well anything really is possible. We really do need to strengthen - if we go into next season with as thin squad as this, and we suffer a few injuries (not even as manay as this season) we'll be totally screwed.

 

Manchester City to win the league 2017/18 then.

[Molby]

City have one hand on the trophy

[RP]

Just looked at the odds (Bet 365)

 

City 9/4

Chelsea 11/4

United 100/30

Spurs 8/1

Us 10/1

Arsenal 12/1

 

150/1 bar

[Gethin]

if we go into next season with as thin squad as this

 

There's absolutely no chance of that happening though is there 

[RP]

There's absolutely no chance of that happening though is there 

 

Are you genuinely 100% sure of that? Not a single shred of doubt in your mind?

[Gethin]

Are you genuinely 100% sure of that? Not a single shred of doubt in your mind?

 

I'm not quite at "hat eating" confident but if we're going into a season in Europe with a squad this thin, I think Klopp would walk. It certainly wouldn't be his doing

[sutty]

Are you genuinely 100% sure of that? Not a single shred of doubt in your mind?

In terms of numbers no. Quality is probably questionable though. 

[RP]

All about the quality though, isn't it?

We've got enough numbers in our first team squad, but there are too many youngsters, or they're sh*t  ... Stewart, Moreno, Randall, Klavan, Ojo, Ejaria, Woodburn (you can decide which players fall into which category ).

 

Numbers need to be increased if we're going to have the same number of key injuries, I guess ... Ings, Sturridge, Mane, Henderson, Lallana, Lovren, Matip etc.

[Gethin]

I think Klopp did an excellent job of shipping s***e out for good money last year.

 

We've now got a very good first 13 or 14 players and I trust him to upgrade the remaining dross in the squad with better players. The doubt is whether the club can pull off the players he's undoubtedly targeted for hat 

[Maldini]

City have a hell of a lot of work to do as well. They probably need a whole new back 5, there are a lot of old heads that need replacing and there's a lot of talk of Aguero going.You'd imagine Guardiola understands English football a lot better now though. I can see us competing with them for the league if we get our signings right. 

[Benzo-13]

City have a hell of a lot of work to do as well. They probably need a whole new back 5, there are a lot of old heads that need replacing and there's a lot of talk of Aguero going.You'd imagine Guardiola understands English football a lot better now though. I can see us competing with them for the league if we get our signings right.

Don't think that's much work for them. Their money will hoover up their flaws.

They need a holding mid who prompts most.

[Stevie H]

City have a hell of a lot of work to do as well. They probably need a whole new back 5, there are a lot of old heads that need replacing and there's a lot of talk of Aguero going.You'd imagine Guardiola understands English football a lot better now though. I can see us competing with them for the league if we get our signings right. 

 

spurs fan mate of mine says toby alderweireld is on about £60k a week. city should be all over him really. plus their goalkeeper situation is still a mess. 

 

united are just going to spend oodles aren't they? and they'll still play s***e backs to the wall football.

[sutty]

Don't think that's much work for them. Their money will hoover up their flaws.

They need a holding mid who prompts most.

 

There's loads of work for them. 

 

They have the money to do it, but there's going to be alot of change. 

[Benzo-13]

There's loads of work for them.

 

They have the money to do it, but there's going to be alot of change.

They'll nearly always score though. Relieves some pressure

[sutty]

I think we need a LB, a CB, a CM, attackers * 3 (depending on outgoings)

[Dan]

I think we need a LB, a CB, a CM, attackers * 3 (depending on outgoings)

 

Agree with this. Reported targets would suggest the same although there haven't been any links to a striker i don't think.

 

Sessegnon

VVD

Keita

Salah

Oxlade-Chamberlain

Striker

[sutty]

They'll nearly always score though. Relieves some pressure

 

They've got great attacking talent. But I guess the point of this thread is arrange challenging for the league. 

 

I can see material change in the back 7 for city. They need a GK, CBs * 2, FBs * lots, CM * 2. Depending on Aguero they'll need to reinforce there. 

[Benzo-13]

Agree with this. Reported targets would suggest the same although there haven't been any links to a striker i don't think.

 

Sessegnon

VVD

Keita

Salah

Oxlade-Chamberlain

Striker

Timo Werner?

They've got great attacking talent. But I guess the point of this thread is arrange challenging for the league.

 

I can see material change in the back 7 for city. They need a GK, CBs * 2, FBs * lots, CM * 2. Depending on Aguero they'll need to reinforce there.

Keeper is a biggy for them (and whether they stubbornly persist) but they have Gundogan to return and he was looking the part.

If they get Abumayeng, Walker and Bernat plus a CB like Bonucci they'd be near set.

 

Jaysus the names..

[D.Boon]

Think Spurs are set as long the manager stays. Can't see Chelsea or City being any weaker. To summarise, it's going to be very competitive.

[Dan]

Spurs could well suffer at Wembley. It's never worked for any team has it?

[sutty]

Think Spurs are set as long the manager stays. Can't see Chelsea or City being any weaker. To summarise, it's going to be very competitive.

I think Spurs are really interesting. 

 

I don't know where you point at and say if they add something at position x. 

 

Harry Kane creates the same problem for them that Torres used to create for us. It's the obvious area of weakness for them (i.e. how do you back him up) when he can only play as a one. Step down when he's not playing is enormous. 

[RP]

We've now got a very good first 13 or 14 players and I trust him to upgrade the remaining dross in the squad with better players. The doubt is whether the club can pull off the players he's undoubtedly targeted for hat 

 

Just thinking about the difference between us and Spurs - relates back to a discussion I had with Sutty at Watford. I imagine that Spurs fans would expect, and be happy with, 7 or 8 of their current players remaining in the first-choice starting eleven next season.

 

How many do we think we have that would be really difficult to improve upon? 4 perhaps? I'm thinking Matip, Mane, Coutinho, Lallana. Maybe Firmino. Henderson perhaps?

[Kvarme Ate My Food]

I think Spurs are really interesting.

 

I don't know where you point at and say if they add something at position x.

 

Harry Kane creates the same problem for them that Torres used to create for us. It's the obvious area of weakness for them (i.e. how do you back him up) when he can only play as a one. Step down when he's not playing is enormous.

You sign another boss striker, who mostly sits on the bench for a year, and then you replace him next summer and so on until Kane leaves. Unless your new boss striker turns out to be better than Kane in which case you flip them. Edited May 17, 2017 by Kvarme Ate My Food

[RP]

You sign another boss striker, who mostly sits on the bench for a year

 

 

Not easy that. Probably impossible in reality.

And very expensive.

[Gethin]

Just thinking about the difference between us and Spurs - relates back to a discussion I had with Sutty at Watford. I imagine that Spurs fans would expect, and be happy with, 7 or 8 of their current players remaining in the first-choice starting eleven next season.

 

How many do we think we have that would be really difficult to improve upon? 4 perhaps? I'm thinking Matip, Mane, Coutinho, Lallana. Maybe Firmino. Henderson perhaps?

 

Difference between this year and last is that there's not (as) many we'd want to ship out. Most players in the first 13-14 that could be improved upon are still really good options to have in a squad.