After revisiting the 'What would be a good season' thread from the summer, it did lead me to wonder what our starting XI for next season is likely to be, and even what our best XI now is (I'm not really sure). 

I'm interested in seeing a) what you would like to see and b) what you think it will be. 

I think it's interesting to look at the current squad as there is quite a lot of uncertainty around a large proportion of it - how many of the players can we say will definitely be here next season?

I reckon something like this:

 

100% part of the squad without a shadow of a doubt

Rüdiger

Abraham

Loftus-Cheek

Zouma

Kova?i?

Mount

Hudson-Odoi

Puliši?

James

Azpilicueta

Tomori

Ziyech

 

Up in the air

Christensen

Jorginho

Kanté

Willian

Kepa

Alonso

Barkley

Batshuayi

Caballero

 

Almost certainly leaving 

Giroud

Pedro

Emerson

 

That is almost half the squad whose futures are unclear, and some key players among them. It also did lead me to think - who should unquestionably be a part of the starting XI next season? What formation do we play? Who are we building the team around?

Batshuayi has to go.

Need to keep hold of Alonso so we call wheel him out against North London clubs. 

My only slightly controversial view is Christensen should be in the first category. Bats the only ‘must go’ in the second category for me.

Not sure about Tomori, he's not really playing any more for what reason I don't know, Frank might be thinking of sending him on loan next season.

Jorginho will be here for sure, Kante is subject to how much money we can get for him and if he wants to go, but Frank loves him so chances are he'll stay too.

Willian is probably 60/40 in favour of staying, he wants to be here but is waiting for the summer so he can negotiate a 2 year deal.

It's kinda tricky so I will word it slightly differently:

 

Players I 100% want us to retain and form nucleus of squad

Abraham

Loftus-Cheek

Kova?i?

Mount

Hudson-Odoi

Puliši?

James

Kanté

Ziyech

Gilmour

Ampadu

 

Likely to be retained but won't be too concerned if they leave

Rüdiger

Christensen

Jorginho

Kepa

Alonso (has shown in recent weeks the benefits of keeping him as an option)

Caballero

Azpilicueta

Tomori

 

Time to say goodbye - MUST leave

Pedro

Willian

Barkley

Giroud

Batshuayi

Emerson

Zouma

I am so disillusioned with all of our centre backs that I'd be happy if we got 4 new ones. Of course that won't happen and the chances are we will retain Rudiger and Tomori, maybe even Christensen but I expect at least one to depart - favourite being Zouma.

Chances are Kepa will stay and have to battle it out with whichever keeper we sign but I would be happier for a new No.1 and an experienced older keeper (but not as old as Willy) as back up.

As for strikers, we all know we need two signings to add to Tammy.  Despite the fact we should have plenty of funds  available, it will be hard to get a marquee name as Munich, Barca and Madrid will be favourites for players like Halland, Martinez and Werner. But if we can't get one of them, I would look closer to home and if we finish top 4 and can give players CL football next season, we could look at both Aubameyang and Calvert-Lewin. That would be a massive improvement on this season, esepcially if we can get Sancho to play out wide too!

 

Edited March 2, 20206 yr by Nibs

IMO, something like this, don't think we will get all the players we want and think we will get some fudges.

                              Pope

James  Rudiger   Zouma   White (ex-Leeds)

          Pulisic        Ndidi        Ziyech                              

     Mount          Giroud             Zaha

 

Gone:

Jorgy, Kante, Arrizablalaga, Willian, Pedro, Emerson, Azpi

Extra Loanees: Tomori, Bats, CHO, Gilmour

Squad : Christensen, Barkley, Gallagher, Broja, Abraham, Alonso, Zappacosta, , Willy C, RLC (subject to recovery) another CB from Dev Squad, other positions from the Dev squad. 

I don't think we will be able to get all the players we want in one window and some like Zaha will be last minute, just as they are available and offer the chance to freshen up the attack when other player approaches fail.

Edited March 2, 20206 yr by Strider6003

9 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

IMO, something like this, don't think we will get all the players we want and think we will get some fudges.

                              Pope

James  Rudiger   Zouma   White (ex-Leeds)

          Pulisic        Ndidi        Ziyech                              

     Mount          Giroud             Zaha

 

Gone:

Jorgy, Kante, Arrizablalaga, Willian, Pedro, Emerson, Azpi

Extra Loanees: Tomori, Bats, CHO, Gilmour

Squad : Christensen, Barkley, Gallagher, Broja, Abraham, Alonso, Zappacosta, , Willy C, RLC (subject to recovery) another CB from Dev Squad, other positions from the Dev squad. 

I don't think we will be able to get all the players we want in one window and some like Zaha will be last minute, just as they are available and offer the chance to freshen up the attack when other player approaches fail.

I really hope that isn't our team next season, if it is, then we are in trouble. I'm hopeful that the squad will look a lot better than this though.

Edited March 3, 20206 yr by Scott Harris

Kepa

James Koulibaly Tomori Telles

Mount Jorginho Kovacic

Pulisic Abraham Ziyech

I’d like us to sign a striker but I can’t think of who. Couldn’t think of anyone else other than Koulibaly too.

                                            Kepa/New Keeper

                   James/Azpi     Upamecano    Koulibaly    Telles

                                     Kante          Kovacic

                     Ziyech                  RLC             Sancho

                                           Werner

In all honestly the backline could be anyone desperately in need of some quality and power there though, left back is clear we have problems and a new striker is a must.

On 02/03/2020 at 15:51, Strider6003 said:

IMO, something like this, don't think we will get all the players we want and think we will get some fudges.

                              Pope

James  Rudiger   Zouma   White (ex-Leeds)

          Pulisic        Ndidi        Ziyech                              

     Mount          Giroud             Zaha

 

Gone:

Jorgy, Kante, Arrizablalaga, Willian, Pedro, Emerson, Azpi

Extra Loanees: Tomori, Bats, CHO, Gilmour

Squad : Christensen, Barkley, Gallagher, Broja, Abraham, Alonso, Zappacosta, , Willy C, RLC (subject to recovery) another CB from Dev Squad, other positions from the Dev squad. 

I don't think we will be able to get all the players we want in one window and some like Zaha will be last minute, just as they are available and offer the chance to freshen up the attack when other player approaches fail.

Not sure this will be the case, that is a rough looking squad. But I think Ndidi would be a great signing and Leicester has been willing to do business with us in the past.

The Players we MUST keep

Abraham

Loftus-Cheek

Kova?i?

Mount

Hudson-Odoi

Puliši?

James

Kanté

Ziyech

Gilmour

Ampadu

Giroud

Gallagher

Tomori

 

On the Fringe

Jorginho

Kepa

Barkley

Rudiger

 

We ALL know the ones that have got to go, provided there are willing buyers.

 

But we need fresh blood and my choices would be;

GK - Oblak or Donurumma

LB - Telles, Alaba or Grimaldo

2 x CB - Koulibaly, Alderweireld

Striker - one or two of Werner, Dembele, Aubameyang, or Edouard

 

 

On 02/03/2020 at 21:51, Strider6003 said:

IMO, something like this, don't think we will get all the players we want and think we will get some fudges.

                              Pope

James  Rudiger   Zouma   White (ex-Leeds)

          Pulisic        Ndidi        Ziyech                              

     Mount          Giroud             Zaha

 

Gone:

Jorgy, Kante, Arrizablalaga, Willian, Pedro, Emerson, Azpi

Extra Loanees: Tomori, Bats, CHO, Gilmour

Squad : Christensen, Barkley, Gallagher, Broja, Abraham, Alonso, Zappacosta, , Willy C, RLC (subject to recovery) another CB from Dev Squad, other positions from the Dev squad. 

I don't think we will be able to get all the players we want in one window and some like Zaha will be last minute, just as they are available and offer the chance to freshen up the attack when other player approaches fail.

Why would we have a CB playing LB, two wingers at CM, a CM on the wing and Giroud still starting for us? 

Kepa

James     Zouma     Tomori     Telles

  Kovacic     RLC

Odoi         Ziyech        Pulisic

 Tammy

 

Bench:  Areola  /  Azpi  /  Rudiger  /  B.White  /  Gilmour  /  Chukwueze  /  Werner

 

The keeper situation depends massively on how Kepa does for the rest of the year. Ideally i'd like to replace Rudiger with a strong leader and then put Zouma on the bench but i can't see any viable options that would improve us instantly and be good value for money. 

5 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Why would we have a CB playing LB, two wingers at CM, a CM on the wing and Giroud still starting for us? 

Ah if White is a CB then I meant Leeds Left back.

The wingers and midfielders are interchangeable to an extent, just as illustration and I should have included Kovacic ?

I think Giroud because we will look at the market and get gazumped and the decision at the last minute will be to use Giroud with Tammy as back up.

 

 

2 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Kepa

James     Zouma     Tomori     Telles

  Kovacic     RLC

Odoi         Ziyech        Pulisic

 Tammy

 

Bench:  Areola  /  Azpi  /  Rudiger  /  B.White  /  Gilmour  /  Chukwueze  /  Werner

 

The keeper situation depends massively on how Kepa does for the rest of the year. Ideally i'd like to replace Rudiger with a strong leader and then put Zouma on the bench but i can't see any viable options that would improve us instantly and be good value for money. 

I agree it is all still to play for though expect in a couple of positions we are already negotiating.

The good value for money statement is probably Marina's motto too and another reason why we won't' strengthen all the positions we want.

Assuming no injuries:

 

Kepa

James-Skriniar-Christensen-Telles

Kovacic-Jorginho-RLC

Ziyech-Tammy-Pulisic

 

Not entirely sure on the formation, but it seems like the best team on paper

 

This seems quite reasonable and likely to happen. by the 2021 season would like to see another good striker and Sancho added.

Edited March 5, 20206 yr by driller97

We definitely should sell players and build a new squad.

We do have experience and quality, we just need more world class players.

We have to bring: A new goalkeeper, CB, LB, ST.

----------- Kepa ------------

Reece James - Koulibaly - Rudiger - Telles

------------ NGolo Kante ---------------

----- Loftus-Cheek -- Kovacic ---------

Ziyech ---- Abraham -------- Pulisic

 

Mount, Azpilicueta, Tomori, Zouma, Jorginho, Alonso, CHO, Ampadu, Gilmour, New striker, new goalkeeper and few more.

Would be good enough in my opinion, maybe also think about a WC winger, someone like Jadon Sancho, but I'd rather stick with our current wingers.

Willian, Pedro, Christensen, Emerson, Caballero, Giroud, Batshuayi, Barkley to be sold.

 

That's my opinion, I think one of the best things we must do is put Kante where he was at his best, he was running the world as a CDM, let Kovacic and other midfielder build possession games.

4 hours ago, IliyaKrostin said:

That's my opinion, I think one of the best things we must do is put Kante where he was at his best, he was running the world as a CDM, let Kovacic and other midfielder build possession games.

When has Kante been a CDM in you opinion, Kante's reputation at Leicester and Chelsea was built as a box to box midfielder. It is a myth that he is a defensive midfielder.

17 minutes ago, kiwi1691 said:

When has Kante been a CDM in you opinion, Kante's reputation at Leicester and Chelsea was built as a box to box midfielder. It is a myth that he is a defensive midfielder.

For me, Kante was at his best for us during Conte's period. Kante wasn't 100% DM, but he was played in a much deeper role than he has been in recent seasons and I would prefer to have him play that way for us again. I don't want Kante mixed in with our attacking players because to be honest, I think he's pretty sh*t at it. He can pop up with the odd goal here and there, but over the 90 minutes, I think he hurts the attack more than he helps it. I also think that because he is given more of a free roam role, he ends up leaving holes in the midfield and gets in the way of other players by taking up positions he shouldn't be in.

I actually like @IliyaKrostin's team, I think that could work. I'm still unsure on Abraham as number 1 striker, I'm not sure he will ever be world class, but that team looks pretty strong.

Edited March 5, 20206 yr by Scott Harris

3 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

For me, Kante was at his best for us during Conte's period. Kante wasn't 100% DM, but he was played in a much deeper role than he has been in recent seasons and I would prefer to have him play that way for us again. I don't want Kante mixed in with our attacking players because to be honest, I think he's pretty sh*t at it. He can pop up with the odd goal here and there, but over the 90 minutes, I think he hurts the attack more than he helps it. I also think that because he is giving more of a free roam role, he ends up leaving holes in the midfield and gets in the way of other players by taking up positions he shouldn't be in.

I actually like @IliyaKrostin's team, I think that could work. I'm still unsure on Abraham as number 1 striker, I'm not sure he will ever be world class, but that team looks pretty strong.

Agree on being unsure on Abraham as our no.1

Also putting in RLC...  I was reading a chap on another forum saying when RLC can have a sequence of 10 games unbroken we can start to believe he will really be a stalwart for a role.  I don't think we can pigeon-hole him into a team until he can play a sequence without interruptions.

On 03/03/2020 at 03:40, dansubrosa said:

Kepa

James Koulibaly Tomori Telles

Mount Jorginho Kovacic

Pulisic Abraham Ziyech

I’d like us to sign a striker but I can’t think of who. Couldn’t think of anyone else other than Koulibaly too.

I would be okay with this line up tbh and it seems like something that would be realistic since I dont expect us to solve all our problems this summer. It would mean we still probably need one more transfer window to challenge for the title, but it will at least shore up our defence which has been our biggest issue this season. If we fix our defence I think we can make top four much more of a certainty next season and probably progress past the Round of 16 in the UCL.

Edited March 5, 20206 yr by Frankie8Lampard

                           Henderson

James     Rudiger         Tomori      Telles

             Kante   Kovacic  Gilmour

Sancho                                           Ziyech

                            Abraham

Squad

Kepa/Replacement, Christensen, Ampadu, Azpilicuetta, Alonso, RLC, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic, Raul Jimenez

Buy:

Henderson, Telles, Sancho and Raul Jimenez

Sell:

Kepa, Zouma, Emerson, Jorgino, Barkley, Batshuyi

Release: 

Pedro, Giroud, Willian

Promote: Guehi, Gallagher, Anjorin and Redan

 

Edited March 5, 20206 yr by Juan Nil

1st                               onana

James         Christiansen Upamecano         Telles

                                     Kante                           Ziyech                 RLC           Kovacic        Sancho  

                                 Abraham 

 

2nd                      Cumming/Tie

Azpilicueta         Zouma    Tomori                Alonso

                                  Soumare

Hudson-odoi       Mount   Gilmour               Pulisic

                                  Dembele

First XI
                                   Rajkovic
             Azpi - Marquinhos - Dunk - Chilwell
                                   Aranguiz
              Ziyech - Kovacic - Grealish - Pulisic
                                   Abraham

Second XI
                                  Button/Baxter
                James - Zouma - Tomori - Alonso
                                     Gilmour
Gerard/Brown - L Cook/Mount - RLC/Mount - Grealish/Mount
                                      Gerard

Incoming: Marquinhos, Aranguiz, Chilwell, Grealish, Gerard, L Cook, Dunk, Brown, Rajkovic, Button
Outgoing: Christensen, Kante, Jorginho, Hudson-Odoi, Rudiger, Barkley, Pedro, Willian, Batshuayi, Giroud, Emerson, Caballero