Is the squad 'that good' or are we just delusional? Can this squad repeat and/or win the CL?

[Frogfish]

I don't think we're going for another striker after Ekitike. It's Rodrygo and Guehi (no Konate sale) and then we're done for a 10/10 Summer transfer window, the likes of which we'll never see again !

Just to expand on this a bit. We all know by now (and Slot has said it himself) that the manager prefers a smaller squad.

Our forward line last season being : Diaz, Gakpo, Nunez, Diogo & Salah. Tragically we lost Diogo and it looks like we'll sell Diaz (I didn't think we would but then I didn't see anyone but the Saudis paying £70m+) and Nunez (£45-50m).

If Diaz goes then I believe we will already have secured Rodrygo & Ekitike (bar crossing the Ts and dotting the Is) because there is no way we will allow ourselves to be exposed to the danger of having just two left, of last season's forwards, without a cast-iron assurance they are being replaced.

So Gakpo (LW,CF), Ekitike (CF), Rodrygo (LW, CF, RW) and Salah (RW + CF) plus I think we can include Wirtz if we play without a 9 and with 2x10s (Macca, Szobo, Jones). Maybe Danns if he can return from injury. Also perhaps Firmpong could cover Salah at times. Is that enough? Is that our starting lineup for the coming season? Huge question marks.

Midfield is sorted.

LB (Tsimi or Robbo to leave), RB and GK are sorted and I love the options.

CBs are still an issue. I can't see any way in the world Konate leaves this Summer. None. So VvD, Konate, Gomez and hopefully Guehi with Endo as emergency cover.

It's going to be a reduced squad size but now with players Slot trusts to allow more rotation.

 

[bluebell]

As long as we prioritise competitions. play the kids for the FA Cup and League Cup along with the bench warmers, and focus on CL and league.

 

[tombrown]

Interestingly, Wirtz is listed as an attacker & not a midfielder on the official site.

Maybe it's not that interesting and means fuck all

 

[Beamrider]

I don't think it's just about us. Agree with what you've said about our squad above - central defence is the issue right now but I expect we'll make a signing there before the window is closed. The 2 big risks for us are:
1. How well the new guys gel. 2 tricky games in the first three mean there isn't much time to experiment, we need to hit the ground running or we'll be playing catch-up early on.
2. Injuries - whether we just got lucky last season or whether there's scientific improvement there (I'd like to think the latter). But there are options in that we have several players with flexibility (I think both Endo and Gravenberch can do a job in defence, Wirtz / Szobo can play midfield or attack, Frimpong / Bradley could both do a job on the wing).
Looking at the other contenders, I think we only need to look at City and Arsenal.
City have added players, but a lot still hinges on Rodri and I think he's going to be in and out next season, plus not the player he was, at least for a while. For that reason I think they'll struggle against the top teams, but the rest of their team should be enough to beat the dross. I see them being better than last year, but I don't see them winning it.
Arsenal will depend a lot on how Zubimendi settles, and they have cover for Saka, which they lacked last year. Then there's the Gyorkeres factor - I expect him to struggle, so a lot of the attacking eggs are in the basket marked "Saka", as per. If he gets injured again, they're in trouble because Madueke is a step down, even if better than what they had. And of course they still have a buffoon in charge.
Chelsea will be goosed after a disrupted pre-season and Newcastle are Newcastle, just as sure as Spurs are Spurs.
I'm quietly confident, but I hope we'll be stronger in the run-in next year because I think we're going to need to be.

 

[FreshRed]

I worry that Salah will be less productive this season. Another season like the last is doubtful and wonder whether we will replace his goals and assists.

 

[mark1975]

I think if you talk about a small squad and we add the left winger and centre half, then you're bang on. It's the right amount of players that should be enough to compete, quality over quantity.

The only thing going against it is whether Wirtz and Ekitike do as well as we hope and if we do bring in the lad for Madrid, if he's any significant difference compared to what we're losing with Diaz. It's a BIG ask for the three of them to succeed as well as we hope. If they don't? Then we might be kicking ourselves for getting rid of one or two players (notably Elliott and Diaz). Gapko has to kick on this season, as does Szobo, it's a crucial season for both of them.

We have to bring in a centre half, because there's a very real chance we can lose Gomez and Konate for significant time during the season, if it's at the same time it's a huge impact on VVD, who isn't getting any younger.

Then there's the familiarity factor, there's a lot of change. That doesn't always click straight away, City are incorporating a lot of players too, who have real quality. I suspect Arsenal might be chomping at the bit, hoping that the disruption for both us and City means their relatively balanced squad might go one better this season.

 

[Frogfish]

I think if you talk about a small squad and we add the left winger and centre half, then you're bang on. It's the right amount of players that should be enough to compete, quality over quantity.

The only thing going against it is whether Wirtz and Ekitike do as well as we hope and if we do bring in the lad for Madrid, if he's any significant difference compared to what we're losing with Diaz. It's a BIG ask for the three of them to succeed as well as we hope. If they don't? Then we might be kicking ourselves for getting rid of one or two players (notably Elliott and Diaz). Gapko has to kick on this season, as does Szobo, it's a crucial season for both of them.

We have to bring in a centre half, because there's a very real chance we can lose Gomez and Konate for significant time during the season, if it's at the same time it's a huge impact on VVD, who isn't getting any younger.

Then there's the familiarity factor, there's a lot of change. That doesn't always click straight away, City are incorporating a lot of players too, who have real quality. I suspect Arsenal might be chomping at the bit, hoping that the disruption for both us and City means their relatively balanced squad might go one better this season.

Stability and integration key factors this season. We all said we did so well last season because of the lack of turnover, even though some players were clearly not top drawer. Now we have top drawer but a huge amount of turnover. Luckily not so much in the key midfield (could be massive improvement of course) and in the just as key CB+GK area.

Also why I'm wary of Arsenal. Strengthening and stability not revolution.

 

[mom]

I’ve been saying for a while that it’s all about the CBs for me. We weren’t exactly short on goals last year and even without a striker we would have been fine with the addition of Wirtz. Virg is getting on and Gomez and the Ibou are prone to the odd injury. With Quansah gone, we need at least one top drawer CB, and preferably a top prospect too.

 

[mark1975]

I’ve been saying for a while that it’s all about the CBs for me. We weren’t exactly short on goals last year and even without a striker we would have been fine with the addition of Wirtz. Virg is getting on and Gomez and the Ibou are prone to the odd injury. With Quansah gone, we need at least one top drawer CB, and preferably a top prospect too.

Although we weren't short on goals statistically, I felt as the season wore on there were times when we looked bereft of creativity and an edge. It felt like for how often we would blow a side away, we could equally have another 5 games that were a bit on a knife edge. When you factor in Salah's incredible season, I think going into this season it was definitely still a factor.

I still feel like defensive midfield is an issue too, I'm not convinced Gravy and Macca are THAT naturally defensive or physically imposing.

 

[tombrown]

Stability and integration key factors this season. We all said we did so well last season because of the lack of turnover, even though some players were clearly not top drawer. Now we have top drawer but a huge amount of turnover. Luckily not so much in the key midfield (could be massive improvement of course) and in the just as key CB+GK area.

Also why I'm wary of Arsenal. Strengthening and stability not revolution.

"Lack of turnover" for the playing staff is fair, but don't forget almost every aspect of the backroom staff was changed. So we have been through a significant overhaul and did way more than just survive it.
I'm optimistic

 

[Squiggles]

If we bring home either trophy then the season is a massive success. If we're not competing for the title throughout the year then it will be disappointing.

The Champions League is anyone's guess, but we took the team that were the best team by a large margin to penalties, whilst underperforming for at least ninety minutes, and I think most would agree we are strengthening the team. We certainly deserve better luck with the draw this time around. There might be some learning in rotating a bit more in league phase, but it will depend how the table is shaping up. By the time the knockouts comes around then the team will have learned to play with each other.

As ever, I'd gladly play the kids/squaddie in every league and FA Cup game. Not arsed.

 

[mom]

Although we weren't short on goals statistically, I felt as the season wore on there were times when we looked bereft of creativity and an edge. It felt like for how often we would blow a side away, we could equally have another 5 games that were a bit on a knife edge. When you factor in Salah's incredible season, I think going into this season it was definitely still a factor.

I still feel like defensive midfield is an issue too, I'm not convinced Gravy and Macca are THAT naturally defensive or physically imposing.

I think Grav is, but less so Mac, and even if he were, he’s wasted being played defensively.
Another reason to get some top drawer CBs in

 

[LarryHagman]

We won the Prem and then spent £250M+. We are (with Chelsea) the big spenders in the League this year, forget net spend arguments If we don't win the League, some cunts getting it in the neck.
That's the offset of all this spending surely? We have to win.

 

[Dreambeliever]

I would love to see us win either big trophy but there are a huge amount of unknowns.

Hopefully we don’t see a big drop off.