19 Mar 2025 04:20:36
It’s the international break so let’s have a little look at next season.
Liverpool: if we keep hold of the 3 that are out of contracts and make 3-4 solid additions, we will challenge again. If not, we are looking at turning around close to half the squad, and it would be back to square one and a transitional season
Arsenal: they have the most complete squad so far, and need 2-3 signings to push them over the line. Expecting them to be a strong contender
Man city: they had added 3-4 players in the winter window, and will have to sign another 4-5 players in the summer to refresh the squad. With the money they have to sign ready made players, they could be a threat, but do not see them immediately in the mix as it will take some time for the team to gel
Chelsea: for all the money the spent, their bench is surprising weak. Let see if the owner can continue throwing billions into the club, but they will need a fair few signings again. Do not see them immediately contenting
Forest: will they lose a few key players? Will they make the next step and win it all? With possible CL football next season, consolidating their position for another year, challenging for European places will be a successful year for them.
Newcastle: they have a strong starting line up, but do not have the strength in depth, considering they will be in Europe next year too. Can they keep hold of Isak?
Brighton: have a big squad but do not see them having the consistency and X factor to make another jump
Man utd: need to turnover the entire squad
The competition will be stronger next season, but we will still have a good chance to consolidate our success this season and make it 2 in a row if we can keep hold of the key players. Otherwise, it will be a missed opportunity to cement our legacy.
It will also be a busy summer for most clubs. A few surprise signings perhaps?
19 Mar 2025 07:11:31
Another year of transition for Liverpool? Three on the bounce?
Oli will be doing cartwheels ?.
19 Mar 2025 07:29:35
What about Aston Villa?
{Ed025's Note - never mind Villa...what about Everton?.. :)
19 Mar 2025 08:17:51
Irish he'll be that excited he might even watch us play.
Stranger things have happened.
19 Mar 2025 09:00:17
Arsenal have a so called complete squad but take saka out the team and they are almost completely ineffective, also a risk-averse coach and no presence in the box (which we also currently lack) . Still they have two very good young players in nwaneri and lewis-skelly, think they need to move on from arteta if they are to win a title TBF.
In mac allister, szoboszlai and gravenberch we have three players who are on the ascent, and gakpo I think is about to properly explode given a bigger role in the attack and if he can stay fit. Add some real pace on the flanks, somebody to rotate with gravenberch and a physical 9 who can hold the ball up, cause problems in the box, win duels in the air and drop deeper to help with the build up, keep two of the three out of contract players and we'll be flying next year.
19 Mar 2025 09:29:41
Don’t know about anyone else but I’m starting to feel none of the 3 are signing
For me it’s just not being announced as the backlash will be massive, this is just my feelings as I felt it in my waters and saw it in the tea leaves.
19 Mar 2025 12:15:53
Agree that we should be in the mix next season as long as we can keep Mo and Virg. Without them, and Trent, we'll be fighting it out with Chelsea, Newcastle and Villa for a top 4 spot for at least a season no matter how much business we do this summer.
Would like Trent to stay too. We missed him after he went off vs PSG and then again at the weekend.
19 Mar 2025 12:36:20
It’s laughable the amount of money Arteta has spent and think he is 2/ 3 players still short. I’m surprised he isn’t in line for the chop if I’m honest.
{Ed077's Note - they need at least 3, but more likely 4 players in their playing XI in my view.
19 Mar 2025 13:31:53
We definitely need an effective target man that can also link the play. Jota can finish but that's about it, Nunez causes issues but isn't fancied and too inconsistent, could stay as number 2 striker? Considering Slot is supposed to be proponent of an attractive attacking possession style (and in fairness we were 1st half of the season) we have spent a lot of the last few weeks playing a mixture of Sam Allardyce 'lump it long' and Brendan Rogers 'possession with no end product' football. Both require a technical target man to aim for to be effective and we simply don't have it. Don't get me wrong we are top and that's great but the standard of football played in general over the last few weeks has not been good, even when we have been winning. Can see big changes coming.
19 Mar 2025 09:57:05
Irish if the 3 that are out of contract leaves, we are looking at replacing 6 starters. Not playing football manager but below is the reality facing us. They might all stay of course but it’s a big question mark how our summer pans out.
Allison
Trent replacement (Bradley possibly but you can’t deny that Trent is first choice here)
Konate replacement? (Will be into his last year of contract. Do the club let him run it down if he do not agree to an extension, or cash in? )
VVD replacement
Robbo replacement (I’m sure most will agree it’s time for an upgrade here)
Gravenberch
Mac Allister
Szoboszlai
Salah replacement
Nunez / Jota CF replacement
Gakpo
Patrik, I agree on Saka, but the thing is they will have a mainly settle squad. We might go into an overhaul with only Allison + the 4 outfield players u stated staying. Of course if we can keep the 3, then I believe we will be right up there.
SEA, Aston Villa I would put it similar to Newcastle. Strong 11, but lack of depth, and do not see them having the consistency week in week out to challenge. However, they could be out of Europe so could be an interesting watch.
Ed25, how dare I forget about the mighty Everton with Sir David Moyes leading the team out at the new stadium. The championship seems the most likely domestic trophy you will win but unfortunately do not see yourself getting relegated to compete in that :)
{Ed025's Note - never underestimate the mighty Blues Kaisuke, new manager, new ground, new owners and a plethora of new players, so...be afraid, be very afraid my friend.. :)
19 Mar 2025 10:58:11
Ed25, I thought Everton is in transition since the day the great Shankly took over at Liverpool. Been going on until today is it?
{Ed025's Note - we are back mfahmee, prepare to be second best again my friend..
19 Mar 2025 16:50:36
The same Chuckle bros. laughing at the lamest jokes ever, is just a sight to behold.
When one cracks a cringe one, the other cackles in approval in Pavlovian fashion and vice versa w/ o even checking if it is actually funny. What a life, eh?
19 Mar 2025 17:28:44
Well you did say we were in transition this year under our new manager and the previous season with our new midfield ?♂️. It’s not my fault you line up material Oli.
19 Mar 2025 17:30:47
I remember you telling us to be afraid when Moshiri first took over Everton, Ed025. I wonder how that turned out ;)
{Ed025's Note - it was us who should have been afraid when he took over Drac..
19 Mar 2025 19:29:09
Well you have admitted you don’t watch games live or even at all OliEd.
05 Feb 2024 11:11:12
Thanks, ED033. I don't watch games live anyway and only watch it recorded in the evening so Im all good, personally.
And you openly admitted you didn’t bother watching Sundays final and other games this season.
Perhaps that’s your cross to bear.
19 Mar 2025 20:20:06
Well played Ed 25. The Blues are on the way back and hopefully deliver the amazing football the new stadium deserves.
I cannot wait. Hopefully you can recruit a Southall/ Ratcliffe/ Heath/ Bracewell/ Sheedy/ Stevens/ Steven/ Reid v2 with a Dixie Dean clone up front
Maybe even a VdH for a bit of mettle.
{Ed025's Note - we are a long way off being able to recruit players of that calibre StEA, some great names there mate who in todays market would cost a fortune, we will have a very different looking team next season i expect with a lot of players at the end of their contracts and some loanees sent back to their parent teams, im hoping TFG (our new owners) throw us a bone in the shape of some quality signings because we really need that sort of injection for the fans, im looking forward to next season i must say my friend..
20 Mar 2025 02:09:02
People really underestimate Trent. Even if we kept the other two we will not challenge without him imo. Sets the tone for how we play and how our opponents play. Without him we have such little creativity in the team. He masks our lack of ability to create in the middle of the park because he can unlock a game with one pass. He will be a huge miss for us even if he does cost us the odd goal.