26 Mar 2026 13:23:51
Stepping away from Salah and Slot.
It looks like Robbo will be leaving on a free also this summer, probably obvious mind haha.
Wharton is the preferred CM option but I'm also told we are looking at Archie Gray as well.
All this talk about a Salah replacement but we may not play with wingers next season. All the Olise, Barcola and Diamonde talks are ols rumours. Nothing new.
26 Mar 2026 14:28:30
That's not allowed, Thefields. This website is reserved for Slot bashing.
26 Mar 2026 14:38:32
Gray would be a shrewd signing if Spurs go down.
26 Mar 2026 14:56:40
Gray's a good little player.
26 Mar 2026 14:58:59
I like Gray, but he won't solve our midfield issues.
He's just a kid. If Spurs go down, we could get him cheap enough to make it worthwhile, though.
I also don't think Wharton is worth even half of what Palace would want.
Good player, nothing more, nothing less.
What's the point having Isak, Elitike and Wirtz costing close to £300 million then an average midfield behind?
Elliot Anderson is undoubtedly the one to sign.
26 Mar 2026 15:02:08
I mentioned on a previous reply that I believe that with Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike we should possibly move to a more narrow formation. Having 3 central forwards and 3/4 wingers in Frimpong, Gakpo, Ngumoha and Chiesa + Salah was a bit much.
I wouldn't mind Doue/Barcola as they can play as a backup 10/striker as well as going on wings along with Ngumoha, leaving us to change formations mid-game for more width if necessary.
I am not sold on Wharton nor Gray, but would pick Gray ahead of Wharton.
26 Mar 2026 15:12:58
Problem with Wharton is he's not very mobile, has had fitness issues, and he's probably worse defensively than Macca. He is a very creative and inventive player, and offers the progression that we very much need in the midfield right now, but not the combative, physical, and mobile aspect.
Anderson, on the other hand, has the engine but not the range of passing and creativity that we need in that position. He's also not the kind of player to sit in a deep position.
26 Mar 2026 15:20:08
Thx Fields ...
Do you think that the wingback will provide the width, so Frimpong and Kerkez will be more bombing forward ..
If that's the case, will we not need a 2nd choice LB ... or the Greek scouser/promote from youth getting a go?
26 Mar 2026 16:04:17
Thanks Fields,
The squad is primed for wing backs and a back 3.
Everything points to it.
The new CBs we have brought in, with the ones still here, with one more to arrive.
Kerkez and Frimpong both wing backs.
Hugo, Alexander and Flo all together in the team.
Szobo being Szobo.
For me, we need one giant strong midfielder who loves a tackle and we are complete.
Personally one of Anderson, Gomes (wolves) or Fernandes (WH) would be great.
Ali
Leoni
Jacquet
VVD
Frimpong
Kerkez
Szobo
Anderson
Wirtz
Isak
Ekitike
That, on paper, is a scary team (in the right hands).
26 Mar 2026 16:37:49
We dropping Gravy, BeKind?
26 Mar 2026 16:47:30
Phil, Gravenberch should not be immune from being dropped. He has underperformed this season, just like Konate, Macca and Salah. Having to fight for his place might wake him up. Even so, with rotation and injuries, he should still get plenty of games.
26 Mar 2026 16:48:14
There is plenty of other options out there and I wouldn't be surprised to see at least 2 midfielders come in.
Personally, I think we were starting to move away from it this season tbh with the signings we made. Hindsight is a beautiful thing tho.
Alonso coming in, I can see the formation being changed to wingbacks.
Virgil in between Jacquet and Leoni/New CB, Kerkez and Frimpong as wing backs would be nuts. I would play both Isak and Ekitike up front with Wirtz in behind. Then have Szobo and Grav/Jones/New CM alongside him. I would bring Rio inside as rotation option, with Elliot perhaps for Wirtz. I think both would flourish in that kind of role.
26 Mar 2026 17:20:23
Not a fan of the two striker idea. I really think Isak and Hugo will get plenty of time rotating.
26 Mar 2026 18:05:11
Wharton and Anderson would be ideal signings and both very young and homegrown.
26 Mar 2026 18:40:52
Does Alonso play with a 6? Or 2 8s if he plays with a 3?
26 Mar 2026 19:15:54
He plays a 6, doesn't he? He had Xhaka in his side.
26 Mar 2026 19:56:55
Reserving judgement on Anderson and Wharton until VV tells me what I should think.
27 Mar 2026 00:46:24
Like it be kind. My only change would be a box midfield with two 6's and two CAM's behind a striker that can drift wide and inside. Definitely need to reinforce defence and DM, but I don't think we need wholesale change to personnel. Going on the assumption Chiesa, Macca, Konate and Robertson leave plus a couple of ideal signings:
Gk-Ali/Mama
LWB - Kerkez/Tsimikas (Beck?)
LCB - Jaquet/Nallo
CB - VVD/Schlotterback
RCB - Gomez/Leoni
RWB - Frimpong/Bradley
DM - Baleba/Endo (MCCos)
DM - Gravenbirch/Nyoni
CAM - Wirtz/Jones (Rio?)
CAM - Szob/Elliot (Gakpo?)
ST - Ekitike/Isak (Danns?)
Hils f.
27 Mar 2026 05:28:12
Agree with that totally, WW. That will bring out virtually everyone's strengths.
27 Mar 2026 06:23:34
Fell asleep during typing! Supposed to be McConnell in there. What I like most about something like that is it gives a lot of flexibility in the forward positions. Ekitike could play a bit deeper then switch it up into a two up top.
The CAM can drop back into midfield to provide more protection and drift wide. The most important thing, though, more than any formation, is to get back to hard work and aggressive pressing.
27 Mar 2026 08:40:23
Why do people think Spurs would sell anyone on the cheap if they go down?
Financially, they probably have the biggest headroom to absorb a shock of all the clubs.
Gray would cost a fortune to get out of there.
{Ed001's Note - they are in huge debt due to the stadium, they do not have the biggest headroom at all.}
27 Mar 2026 08:48:58
@FlyPelicanFly, because the players will want to leave as they're too good for the Championship.
Ultimately, though, we don't know. We're speculating.
27 Mar 2026 09:29:44
The stadium debt is a different debt class. I doubt that would suddenly prompt a firesale of their best players. They will want the market rate.
27 Mar 2026 09:31:23
Personally, not keen on Wharton. Has no mobility, no pace. For a big lad, he doesn't have much of a physical presence, defensively all over the place. Other than his passport, I'm not sure what he has to offer. Anderson will be off to City, so we won't be in that conversation.
Given the reports of a very limited budget, I'd not expect much quality through the doors. Forget the likes of Olise or Barcola, it'll be dross like Summerville or Adeyemi. Can see us going for that sicknote Lavia as Chelsea want rid of him, and he'd be cheap.
27 Mar 2026 09:43:43
Navy, players wanting to leave is one thing, but cut price deals is not a given. Perhaps, there's cheap deals for the misfits but I doubt Archie Gray fits the misfit category.
27 Mar 2026 09:52:34
Not sure many teams are going to shake in their boots at the sight of an aging VVD next to two kids debuting in the PL.
{Ed025's Note - captain Mainwaring next to 2 young Pikes Faith.. :)
27 Mar 2026 14:05:45
Apparently David Ornstein has said that we are sticking with Arne Slot in the summer. Is there any news on that?
27 Mar 2026 15:50:49
Sadiki and dm for me, following his season being mentored by Xhaka.
27 Mar 2026 21:00:48
@Liverpool2008, Some people think Ornstein is right and some people think he is wrong. He is given information by the club, apparently, so you have to ask yourself if you think the club is feeding him misinformation or not. Most, if not all of us, hope it is misinformation.
28 Mar 2026 00:38:08
Agree with Navy, Gray and Wharton are not the answer.
I like Gray a lot. He's versatile, works hard, and I think has good vision/understanding of the game, but we're in desperate need for physicality in the midfield.
I'd personally throw everything at trying to get Anderson from NF signed.
I'd 100% take Gray on a cheeky swap deal for Jones though, but swap deals rarely ever happen.
Wharton is a nice player, but a bit overrated for me and just not who we need.
28 Mar 2026 15:46:30
I thought Wharton looked quite good last night. I could see him being a good addition to the squad.