The longer this window goes without us making any real signings, the more I've started to wonder if maybe Poch might be looking for replacements for the outgoing Dembele, Alderweireld, Sissoko, Janssen, GKN, and Llorente from within. And maybe, some of the frustration that a lot of people are having with a lack of big-name signings, actually is good news about how some of our young players are looking and how well stocked our squad ALREADY is.
It looks like Grealish is the only player who is really imminent and that he is seen mostly as an 8. If that's the case, I wonder if we could go in with the 25-man squad looking like...
SOLD: Sissoko, Dembele, Alderweireld, Janssen, GKN, LLorente
BOUGHT: Grealish
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23 Senior Players
"()" players are doubles and youth players are in italics
GK: Lloris, Vorm, Gazza
RB: Trippier, Aurier, KWP
LB: Davies, Rose, (KWP)
CB1: Sanchez, Foyth
CB2: JVT, (Dier), CCV
DM: Dier, Wanyama, TOB
CM: Winks, Grealish, Onomah
AM: Eriksen, Lamela
Wide Forward: Son, Lucas
Second ST: Dele, (Lamela), Edwards
ST: Kane, (Son), Sterling
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If Winks is fit, I think he's more than ready to replace Dembele as our first choice CM. And if Grealish is being signed for 20 mil, we have to think he's ready to be a solid back-up in that role. The idea of a big-money replacement like N'Dombele or Kovavic is exciting, but it also looks super unlikely at this stage. I also think Onomah is ready to take the utility Sissoko minutes. And if he isn't, then I struggle to see how he has a future at the club at 21. Sissoko played nearly 1,800 minutes last year at a pretty average level. That's easily enough for Onomah to stake his claim and impress Poch.
Up front, you basically have six senior pros (Eriksen, Lamela, Son, Kane, Dele, Moura) for four spots. Four of those players (aka not Eriksen or Kane) can play in multiple positions, and all would be expecting to play a ton. Plus, moving GKN would open up the door for Cup/rotation/Son-on-International-duty minutes for one of our young players (pleassse sort it out Marcus), so I think we're probably fine there.
The place I think we're most light at is CB. And the truth is, nobody knows how good Foyth or CCV are at this point. I theoretically love the idea of both getting extended minutes this season, but only Poch and the staff can say for sure. It looks like Poch is giving them the chance to prove themselves in pre-season, but I still think we could probably add one more like Pavard or Maguire or De Ligt or whoever. Also, another CB would obv allow us to play 3AB more easily as well.
I don't know, but I'm starting to feel like our lack of business might actually be a GOOD sign for the way the squad is shaping up. But then again, I could be dead wrong.