Our Ageing Squad

[lets all have a disco]

I think the shipping of a couple of players and a new manager that is here for the long term will bring more out of this squad. At the moment, something's not ok in the squad and sadly, there's no pause button. The squad is ageing and I tried to point this out a couple of years ago (which is when we should have started doing something about it, not this summer) but what cna you do? We could have avoided the abrupt change of guard that will probably come about in the next two years but we didn't. It is what it is. We're still in a good position though IMO, with several key players in their prime and not past it. Let's say Kompany gets his injuries fixed and Agüero as well, and with Hart in goal coming into his prime.

I'm usually one who will push alarm buttons at the slightest hint of trouble, but I don't think we're doing too shabby. I don't think we can win the league this year but I don't think there's any risk of us ending up outside the top 4. Worst case scenario, our season starts a bit earlier next year with CL qualifiers. Don't get me wrong, I'm disappointed about yesterday as well and am NOT looking forward to Tottenham next Sunday, but... yeah... it's not too bad either. Sorry if that is a non-descript opinion.

100% agree. Add to that bringing through a couple of the kids and integrating them in the first team. I don't think we'll need mass changes, just here and there.

I disagree i think 9 need to go and sharpish.

Unfortunately for you our Serbian drag back specialist is on that list to do one.

[I Just Blue Myself]

We have these discussions every season. We will not bin 9 senior players. Get real. After every shit phase (i.e. not topping the league at some point), people cry out for a squad overhaul, but so far we have never shipped more than a handful of regular first teamers in one summer.

Pep has also never done an unusually extensive restruction upon arrival, he will take as much time as any other manager would to restructure the squad. At Bayern, the only high profile players he sold after arriving were Mario Gomez and Luis Gustavo (Can, Petersen & some youth players were the others). At Barca Oleguer, Edmilson, Zambrotta, Deco and Ronaldinho were sold, along with some youth and Thuram's retirement.

It is also farcical to fault an ageing squad, but not put any trust and patience in our young (ish) players such as Mangala, Sterling or Delph. I also don't see the point in putting players on the hit list, who have shown no sign of declining so far, such as the likes of Sagna, Fernandinho, Silva or Navas.

I expect Demichelis to not renew his contract. It is likely that Yaya, Bony and Nasri will leave, but I doubt that we will replace all of our defenders for example, so I fail to see where 9 players would even come from.

I think we have a very good core in Hart, Kompany (injuries apart), Fernandinho, Silva, KDB and Agüero (injuries apart). Zaba and Sagna are very capable right backs. Left backs are iffy, so we might want to finally replace (one of) them. At least one of Mangala and Otamendi will surely stick around, for financial reasons alone. Delph is showing that he is a fine midfielder, Fernando is a slightly pointless player imo, but who knows, maybe Pep will use him in a back 3 or something. I imagine Pep will take a close look at Denayer and decide whether to include him in the squad. Iheanacho is here to stay.

The major issue will not be how to replace squaddy X or Y, but find a way to set up the team without Yaya. Currently, we are either vulnerable at the back with him or toothless and disjointed upfront without him. In his current form, we are both, so pretty much fucked!

Get some quality in each third on the field (one or two defenders, one or two mids, one forward), mould them into a fuckin' team and they will be able to challenge Leicester fuckin' City to the title next season. Rocket fuckin' science.

[Cocacolajojo1]

We have these discussions every season. We will not bin 9 senior players. Get real. After every shit phase (i.e. not topping the league at some point), people cry out for a squad overhaul, but so far we have never shipped more than a handful of regular first teamers in one summer.

Pep has also never done an unusually extensive restruction upon arrival, he will take as much time as any other manager would to restructure the squad. At Bayern, the only high profile players he sold after arriving were Mario Gomez and Luis Gustavo (Can, Petersen & some youth players were the others). At Barca Oleguer, Edmilson, Zambrotta, Deco and Ronaldinho were sold, along with some youth and Thuram's retirement.

It is also farcical to fault an ageing squad, but not put any trust and patience in our young (ish) players such as Mangala, Sterling or Delph. I also don't see the point in putting players on the hit list, who have shown no sign of declining so far, such as the likes of Sagna, Fernandinho, Silva or Navas.

I expect Demichelis to not renew his contract. It is likely that Yaya, Bony and Nasri will leave, but I doubt that we will replace all of our defenders for example, so I fail to see where 9 players would even come from.

I think we have a very good core in Hart, Kompany (injuries apart), Fernandinho, Silva, KDB and Agüero (injuries apart). Zaba and Sagna are very capable right backs. Left backs are iffy, so we might want to finally replace (one of) them. At least one of Mangala and Otamendi will surely stick around, for financial reasons alone. Delph is showing that he is a fine midfielder, Fernando is a slightly pointless player imo, but who knows, maybe Pep will use him in a back 3 or something. I imagine Pep will take a close look at Denayer and decide whether to include him in the squad. Iheanacho is here to stay.

The major issue will not be how to replace squaddy X or Y, but find a way to set up the team without Yaya. Currently, we are either vulnerable at the back with him or toothless and disjointed upfront without him. In his current form, we are both, so pretty much fucked!

Get some quality in each third on the field (one or two defenders, one or two mids, one forward), mould them into a fuckin' team and they will be able to challenge Leicester fuckin' City to the title next season. Rocket fuckin' science.

That's pretty much how I see it. It will most likely only be Yaya from the core that leaves.

As for the highlighted part: Spot on. I do think we played well without him against at home against Crystal Palace (although he came on in the second half) but that's hardly the golden standard for wether you have a solid midfield set up or not.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

We have these discussions every season. We will not bin 9 senior players. Get real. After every shit phase (i.e. not topping the league at some point), people cry out for a squad overhaul, but so far we have never shipped more than a handful of regular first teamers in one summer.

Pep has also never done an unusually extensive restruction upon arrival, he will take as much time as any other manager would to restructure the squad. At Bayern, the only high profile players he sold after arriving were Mario Gomez and Luis Gustavo (Can, Petersen & some youth players were the others). At Barca Oleguer, Edmilson, Zambrotta, Deco and Ronaldinho were sold, along with some youth and Thuram's retirement.

It is also farcical to fault an ageing squad, but not put any trust and patience in our young (ish) players such as Mangala, Sterling or Delph. I also don't see the point in putting players on the hit list, who have shown no sign of declining so far, such as the likes of Sagna, Fernandinho, Silva or Navas.

I expect Demichelis to not renew his contract. It is likely that Yaya, Bony and Nasri will leave, but I doubt that we will replace all of our defenders for example, so I fail to see where 9 players would even come from.

I think we have a very good core in Hart, Kompany (injuries apart), Fernandinho, Silva, KDB and Agüero (injuries apart). Zaba and Sagna are very capable right backs. Left backs are iffy, so we might want to finally replace (one of) them. At least one of Mangala and Otamendi will surely stick around, for financial reasons alone. Delph is showing that he is a fine midfielder, Fernando is a slightly pointless player imo, but who knows, maybe Pep will use him in a back 3 or something. I imagine Pep will take a close look at Denayer and decide whether to include him in the squad. Iheanacho is here to stay.

The major issue will not be how to replace squaddy X or Y, but find a way to set up the team without Yaya. Currently, we are either vulnerable at the back with him or toothless and disjointed upfront without him. In his current form, we are both, so pretty much fucked!

Get some quality in each third on the field (one or two defenders, one or two mids, one forward), mould them into a fuckin' team and they will be able to challenge Leicester fuckin' City to the title next season. Rocket fuckin' science.

That's pretty much how I see it. It will most likely only be Yaya from the core that leaves.

As for the highlighted part: Spot on. I do think we played well without him against at home against Crystal Palace (although he came on in the second half) but that's hardly the golden standard for wether you have a solid midfield set up or not.

Disagree, we had no control over that game until the lazy sod came on. We luckily found ourselves two goals to the good at ht thanks to a goalkeeping error and a massive deflection from our only two shots on target ( both from distance ) When the lazy one came on we started to pick them apart and create opportunities.

If not for Hart pulling off that stop from Delaney early doors and the luck I referred to above that game could easily have been another Leicester.

[Cocacolajojo1]

Disagree, we had no control over that game until the lazy sod came on. We luckily found ourselves two goals to the good at ht thanks to a goalkeeping error and a massive deflection from our only two shots on target ( both from distance ) When the lazy one came on we started to pick them apart and create opportunities.

If not for Hart pulling off that stop from Delaney early doors and the luck I referred to above that game could easily have been another Leicester.

We must've seen different games then :). No but in all seriousness I didn't see it as that AND of course there's teething problems with trying a new type of set up. And we scored two more flukey goals then we usually do with Yaya, because we never freaking shoot when he dictates the play. Honestly, the way we played in the first half reminded me the most of Pellegrini's first season in charge than any other game.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Disagree, we had no control over that game until the lazy sod came on. We luckily found ourselves two goals to the good at ht thanks to a goalkeeping error and a massive deflection from our only two shots on target ( both from distance ) When the lazy one came on we started to pick them apart and create opportunities.

If not for Hart pulling off that stop from Delaney early doors and the luck I referred to above that game could easily have been another Leicester.

We must've seen different games then :). No but in all seriousness I didn't see it as that AND of course there's teething problems with trying a new type of set up. And we scored two more flukey goals then we usually do with Yaya, because we never freaking shoot when he dictates the play. Honestly, the way we played in the first half reminded me the most of Pellegrini's first season in charge than any other game.

Wow! We definitely did see completely different games then.

[blues2win]

I suspect Mangala and MdM will go and a new centre back come in ? Stones. Denayer may come back in fourth position. I also think we'll get a new left back with some pace and Kolarov may well go. Yaya must be replaced and Fernando too. We need a top class defensive mid and a top class play maker with energy and pace. Then we may want a top class striker to play with Sergio with Bony going.

[Mase]

It wouldn't surprise me if both Kolarov and Clichy went. Kolarov is well thought of in Italy so it wouldn't surprise me to see him back over there and I'd imagine we'd get a decent price for him. Clichy is way past it now and I could see him at a Swansea next season. I think we'll bring in a decent left-back and bring one of the kids through.

[ColinBell8]

Caballero (will follow Pellegrini)
Wright (replace him with an EDS keeper)
Kolarov
Clichy (possibly)
Demichelis (heading back to Argentina)
Fernando
Nasri (possibly)
Toure
Bony

Not sure how much we'll get for them, about £100m if we sell them to China.
As for who replaces them, God knows at this stage.

[I Just Blue Myself]

I can see an argument for each of those, but can't see all of them leaving at once. Whether Wright is named in the squad or just as a coach, is really of no importance. The upside with the current arrangement is, we can play him in case of emergency. It only becomes an issue if we come close to using up our squad quota for senior home-grown players.

We can play an EDS keeper without naming him in the squad right now, so not sure why Wright with his 0 minutes needs 'replacing' at all.

[DoomMerchant]

Caballero (will follow Pellegrini)
Wright (replace him with an EDS keeper)
Kolarov
Clichy (possibly)
Demichelis (heading back to Argentina)
Fernando
Nasri (possibly)
Toure
Bony

Not sure how much we'll get for them, about £100m if we sell them to China.
As for who replaces them, God knows at this stage.

that's a pretty solid list, tho i would suggest that Nasri will stay...as will Clichy.

Everyone else on that list should probably fuck off anyway, though Fernando isn't really shit. I just don't think he's a particularly Pep kinda player tho....

We'll get 40M if we're lucky for that group minus the two i mentioned i think will stay, and 55M if they both leave as well. We're going to need a fuckload of players this summer. Should be insane really.

cheers

[blues2win]

I think Mangala may go as well.