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28 Mar 2026 16:12:21
Just looking for opinions on the following question.
When Tuchel names his 23-man squad for the WC.
Do you think he could win the EPL with that squad next season?
28 Mar 2026 19:51:06
Not a chance.
28 Mar 2026 20:55:01
Poor squad. Only one truly great player who is coming to the end, Kane. A few half decent players, with the rest average at best.
28 Mar 2026 21:58:49
In fairness, Blackpool Red, if only Harry Kane is a 'truly great player', which is probably not unfair, albeit a high standard, then how many 'truly great players' do Arsenal currently have? Also, I'm pretty sure it will be 26 man squads for the World Cup this summer.
I would argue that, compared to the Arsenal squad that is probably going to win the league this year, England are stronger across the forwards and the midfield, especially with regard to strength in depth, reasonably even at left back and right back, and only slightly weaker at centre back.
Gabriel and Saliba and the rest are clearly a level above Guehi, Konsa, Stones, and perhaps Tomori, but there isn't that much in it. Raya beats Pickford, but again not by much.
I think this England squad would give the Premier League a damn good crack, especially given how many big clubs have performed in the league this season.
28 Mar 2026 22:14:27
On paper it should be a solid squad. Pickford is amongst the top 4 or 5 keepers in the league, with Henderson and Trafford as back up.
The fullback positions should be very strong, with the likes of James, Livramento, Hall, and O'Reilly. That's without even considering Trent Alexander-Arnold, Shaw, Spence, and Lewis-Skelly.
Centre back is probably the weakest area of the team. Guehi is solid, but beyond him, with Stones being constantly injured, the rest are not at league winners level.
Konsa, Burn, Maguire, Tarkowski, etc.
Midfield is looking pretty strong with Rice, Anderson, Wharton, Mainoo, Garner, Scott, and Henderson.
In attack you've got some really great players: Kane, Saka, Palmer, Rodgers, Bellingham, Rashford, Bowen, Foden, Gordon, and Barnes. Maybe the cover at CF behind Kane is a little weak.
On paper it's a good squad who should be able to be challenging for the title. It's the CB's and the cover at CF that are the areas of weakness.
29 Mar 2026 04:32:06
Could probably challenge but not win EPL... Defence pretty poor.
Shappy, how many players you have in a 23 man squad then??
29 Mar 2026 08:19:00
This is more pointless a discussion than prospective transfers. Just saying. 😁
29 Mar 2026 09:00:53
Yes, but looking for opinions, not trying to pick a squad. I've zero influence and knowledge of them, and I will not claim a consensus despite dumb options like offering Livramento as a lb option. Nor will it go on for a week with no conclusion. 😅😅
27 Mar 2026 12:55:33
Lots of mainstream media reporting interest in Lewis-Skelley. What does everyone think? I know he came through as a midfielder and obviously transitioned into left back more recently so perhaps he would bring some utility.
27 Mar 2026 13:40:59
Can't imagine he will be cheap, and there are enough midfielders available this summer that we don't need to risk converting a left back into a midfield player.
27 Mar 2026 16:30:14
Yes, I would take him 100% for the left-back position. I'm not so sure about him in midfield; we need much better in there.
27 Mar 2026 16:41:21
Not seen much of him at lb, but if he can't get in ahead of who Arsenal have at lb, then it's not a great sign.
Another, imo, played intl football too early.
I would suggest there are better lb's and midfielders available.
However, if they think he is the right player, I don't know enough to argue otherwise.
If he comes, we can judge how he does, as it's impossible to say otherwise now.
27 Mar 2026 22:30:48
I think he'd be a good signing as a LB who could cover in midfield if we needed him to.
However, personally, if we are going to sign a LB, then we probably should sign one with a little more experience, as we have Dorgu and Amass who are fairly inexperienced options who could play there.
28 Mar 2026 09:55:58
We need to make decisions on Amass, Dorgu, Diego Leon, Malacia, Shaw. Personally, Hall at Newcastle looks good in that position for me, but there is no point spending a load on a player who isn't first choice at Arsenal.
28 Mar 2026 12:03:52
I think Dorgu will be deployed as a LW. He has been influential on the LW and has been missed.
28 Mar 2026 13:11:42
Califiori is a pretty good player imo, so no disgrace for Lewis-Skelley not to be struggling to get in ahead of him. However, last season he looked great, so I'd have expected much more game time from him.
28 Mar 2026 14:21:53
Hatter, I think where Dorgu plays very much depends on who our manager will be.
Personally, I think he should split time between lb and lw depending on the game/opposition.
I think we need to sign both a lb and a lw though, so that we have quality in depth and the ability to rest/rotate the squad.
If we want to play in 4 competitions next season, that's 50-60 games, and realistically very few players should be starting more than 40-45 games.
Shaw won't be fit next season.
28 Mar 2026 16:23:41
Lewis Skelly against Real Madrid last year looked fantastic for an 18-year-old kid, so 100% he has the ability and confidence at that level, and to be fair, it is no shame for a now 19-year-old to be struggling to get game time at Arsenal at left back. Their 3rd choice full back played for England last night!
If we only buy potential nowadays, as some suggest that 27/28 is too old, we might as well sign a 19-year-old who has shown he has the ability at the highest level.
If we can even get him, that is!
Arsenal did not rate Heaven; he could get nowhere near their team, yet many rave about him on here.
26 Mar 2026 23:20:12
Incredibly proud of the Norn Iron lads tonight. Young team with lots more to come I hope. The World Cup dream is over this time, maybe in 4 years time. 🤞🙏
26 Mar 2026 21:48:59
Watching the ireland game, and what a blast from the past it was to see Robbie Brady coming on. Wasnt even aware he was still playing!
27 Mar 2026 16:43:06
Blast from the past is right. It was like watching a team from the 80s and 90s, lumping the ball as high as you can as often as you can.
Sadly, it's a very poor selection to be choosing from. Not good enough despite all the effort.
26 Mar 2026 15:47:30
With Ramus Hojlund's comments today, I was just having a look at Hojlund and Sesko's shots and goal numbers. It's a shame he's so adamant on leaving as we're going to need at least 2 strikers next season and he would be a great and also cheap option.
Sesko - 147.2 mins per goal in the league and 202.6 across all comps
Hojlund - 218.5 mins per goal in the league, 160 across all comps
As an example, Igor Thiago has 141.3 mins per goal in the league and 122.2 across all comps.
I think the fee for Hojlund is somewhere around the £35m which isn't going to go very far in the current market.
26 Mar 2026 17:59:21
Goodbye and good riddance, imo.
I don't dislike the guy, he tried hard, but it's time to move on, imo. A non-loss-making fee has been agreed, in fact marginally profitable if they take up their option, which they will, by all reports.
In fact, Rewz, if they take up their option, the club have no choice.
26 Mar 2026 18:23:57
Rasmus is just not good enough for the EPL. I'm not sold on Sesko either, if I am honest. I think we desperately need an experienced striker with pace, but more importantly I would say Carrick is not exactly sold on Sesko either...
Not even sure the players are sold on Sesko. They don't seem to look for him, that's for sure.
Ok, he has potential, but you need someone for that potential to learn from.
26 Mar 2026 18:48:59
Sesko is doing OK. When he gets a team playing to his strengths, he will do even better. Yes, it would be good to have another more experienced player alongside /to interchange with him.
26 Mar 2026 19:43:26
I think Sesko is far better than Rasmus. Tough 1st season for him, he is improving, and we do need another striker. Playing Mbeumo out of position is not working for him or the team.
26 Mar 2026 20:28:12
I think Premier League football doesn't suit Rasmus. I would say he isn't top class in Italy, too. A decent player and a decent guy, but not what we need. Sesko, I think, is better, although he needs improving if he is to make it here.
26 Mar 2026 21:10:55
I have Sesko to be Golden Boot next year if we fix our midfield!
26 Mar 2026 22:07:31
I must be watching a different Sesko to some. Under Carrick, he's been brilliant when called upon. 5 goals in 280 minutes, almost 2 goals per game.
27 Mar 2026 00:18:20
Striker position needs players to play to their strengths. Very difficult to play J. A team that is struggling a bit. Fergy told his players to find the striker or they wouldn't play. Sesko is doing alright. He is scoring goals and growing into this new high-pressure role.
I like how he is progressing, and, slowly, J producing him has worked better than Rasmus being played as the only option, with Noone behind him.
Sure, Sesko will be better again next year. Fast, good control, good in the air, scores with both feet. What is not to like?
27 Mar 2026 04:12:22
I have to admire your optimism, Jimbo, but one thinks that might be about as safe a bet as your United to win the Premier this season.
Might be better just giving the money to a charity, because the chances of you cashing in are very, very slim. Did you get about 10,000 -1?
27 Mar 2026 05:45:14
I haven't put it on yet, but I will, and will drop United to win the league in there also for a third leg.
27 Mar 2026 12:05:08
Why is Sesko better than Rasmus?
Rasmus scored 16 goals in his first season, and flopped in his second season. It's far too early to say that.
Sesko hasn't exactly set the Premier League on fire. He's had a run of games where he has come off the bench and scored.
27 Mar 2026 11:44:52
Well you were sure Liverpool would win the league at the outset.
Nobody knows anything for sure despite pointing out everyone everybody is wrong why don't you go through your many predictions.
Delusional you called people for thinking we would get a cl spot now you think its likely welcome to delusion yourself
27 Mar 2026 14:58:31
My eyes told me Rasmus was not good enough. They tell me Sesko has far more potential; he just needs to realise that potential.
27 Mar 2026 16:07:40
We need 2 strikers, and, going forward, stop playing people out of position.
Simone, like Watkins, wouldn't be a bad shout.
28 Mar 2026 13:20:49
I don't see us going in for a 'better' player than Sesko. An alternative, older but not elite, player maybe, or a younger player like Kroupi or King, for example.
26 Mar 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - BlueNose1878 has posted a new article entitled, Everton Still Need a New Starting Centre-Back
25 Mar 2026 16:14:06
A lot of hype around Jim Twaites and his dead ball abilities. If anyone has any knowledge about the lad can you tell me is he far off the 1st team?
Thanks.
25 Mar 2026 17:12:30
Yes, he is a long way from the 1st team.
25 Mar 2026 17:42:07
He's a good player but very slight. Plays a bit like Scholes and Beckham, Ward Prose. Good player, and a good striker of the ball.
He might get minutes in 27/28, but an excellent prospect either way.
25 Mar 2026 18:58:24
He is Bruno's replacement understudy.
25 Mar 2026 19:24:35
He's a very good player, tidy on the ball, but has only recently turned 18. He stands out in pretty much every match he plays as being ready for a step up. I'd expect him to go on tour in the summer, train with the first team next year with the idea to get minutes in 27/28.
Investing in the academy is hopefully going to work wonders.
If we can get 2 or 3 first team players coming out of the academy and then some very good players that we can make money on, we will be in a great position to be able to spend on the top class experienced players we need. Looking at the kids coming through, they feel like some of the best we have had in a long time; it's exciting.
25 Mar 2026 19:35:05
Rdf, he is technically gifted and has excellent dead ball skills, he has scored a few terrific goals.
Having watched him play a good few few times I think the following scouting report I came across sums things up pretty well!
''Jim Thwaites is patiently waiting for his chance in Manchester United's academy, so is it a matter of time before he breaks through?
Manchester United producing talented midfielders is something most of us have known for decades.
Paul Scholes, David Beckham and Nicky Butt are just three names who spring to mind, but there is a new kid on the block who is beginning to catch the attention of those attending some of United's academy games this season.
Arise, Jim Thwaites, a diminutive number six who can operate in tight spaces and has the dead ball specialities much like Becks did across his career. Want to know more about him? Read on as FourFourTwo delves deeper in our latest scout report.
Having progressed through the ranks at Carrington, Ruben Amorim acted with haste to call up young Thwaites to first-team training within weeks of being in the building back in November 2024, proving that it isn't only fans who are taking note of a wonderfully gifted footballer, with Erik ten Hag also a big fan of the youngster. Having been troubled with injury so far this season, it would be a crying shame if the Red Devils' academy side does not go on to claim FA Youth Cup glory, with the 18-year-old expected to play a huge part in those aims.
Yet to make his senior bow, Thwaites is having to wait patiently for his chance, but continues to impress onlookers who are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of his footballing credentials. A wonderful number six, the teenager is press-resistant and has dead ball capabilities beyond his years, having whizzed a catalogue of free-kicks into the top corners for Manchester United youth teams over the last few seasons.
Press resistance: Given his small frame, Thwaites is more than happy to receive the ball under pressure and jink one way and dart into a space of green. Almost eerily similar to how Pedri does so, the 18-year-old has already mastered the art of beginning the move and transitioning the ball through the offensive lines.
Line-breaking verticality: Academy football often can be scrappy, but Thwaites is always looking to belt a long pass into a wide man to help get the game moving forward for the Red Devils. Having the likes of Goodwill Kukonki, Noah Ajayi and often Shea Lacey to aim for is handy, but Jim does so with ease and it is a staple of his midfield game he has already seemingly mastered.
Dead-ball specialist: Against Manchester City in the U18 Premier League recently, Thwaites had been on the pitch for only a matter of minutes before he found the top corner with precision from a free-kick. Almost like Beckham was in his youth, Thwaites is able to generate a ridiculous amount of power and precision from tight angles, and Darren Fletcher's side has benefited no end from his special abilities this term.
Tenacity and turn of pace: Again, we expect Thwaites to still have another growth spurt, and this will be crucial if he is to make it at the very top level. What cannot be understated already is his tenacity in midfield when nipping in to win the ball back as soon as half an opportunity arises. A serial 'pocket-picker' if you will, the teenager then also possesses the right amount of acceleration to get away from his man in tight spaces and get the game moving in his favour.
Thwaites's areas of development
Senior experience: Manchester United produce players consistently, and as Kobbie Mainoo did, when you get your chance, you have to take it. Tyler Fletcher, Jack Fletcher, Jack Moorhouse and are all names currently ahead of him, and Thwaites will have to do well in order to make an impression if he is to be given an opportunity.
Bulking up in size: Thwaites needs to bulk up in terms of stature, and I would say this is his biggest task in order to make it at the very top of the professional game.
Aerial ability: Standing at only 5ft 7, Thwaites could be hindered if he is to come up against a big, powerhouse central midfielder who can bully his way past him in the middle of the pitch. Time will tell whether he does have another growth spurt, but again, you feel it may need to come sooner rather than later.
Thwaites has to make an impression over the summer, you feel, and not get stuck into poor loan moves like Ethan Wheatley, Ethan Williams and even Joe Hugill have done over recent periods. He has all the qualities to make it, but the competition is so high at Manchester United that he will have to excel when he gets his chance to even be considered in the conversation moving forward.''
Hope you find useful Rdf, he will definitely have to bulk up physically to move forward but he has only just turned 18 so, for his sake, fingers crossed.
25 Mar 2026 21:51:06
I think he'd need either a change in the current meta or a sudden growth spurt to ultimately make it with us, unfortunately.
He's hugely talented and an intelligent footballer, but he's tiny for a midfielder in the modern game. He doesn't have the size, pace, or power that pretty much every side in the league has in their team.
Unless we see a shift away from teams looking to dominate physically to a more technical style that becomes the predominant style within the league, smaller players like Thwaites, and like Angel Gomes before him, will struggle to really make it in the EPL at a club looking to be challenging at the top of the table.
26 Mar 2026 12:43:09
All the attributes, but needs to work on the physical side of the game.
A good prospect.
25 Mar 2026 13:17:03
To commemorate Mo Salah's departure from Liverpool at season's end, the club will be retiring the penalty spot at Anfield. 😂🤣.
25 Mar 2026 14:06:04
We'll have to retire both penalty spots when Bruno retires, so.
25 Mar 2026 19:25:00
No jokes allowed, Fizz. Fun police is here.
25 Mar 2026 21:53:04
Announcing it mid-season, and potentially de-railing Liverpool's title defence, really lacks class. If Liverpool don't retain the title this year, I suspect a lot of fans will place a lot of the blame on Salah announcing his exit mid-season.
{Ed025's Note - i think Liverpool,s title defence was derailed about 4 months ago Shappy, they are hopeless at the moment mate..
25 Mar 2026 23:01:05
Only the small-minded ones will.
I think it's a good move by the club. 2 horrible cup ties coming up, the league is over, it's derailing nothing, and it might have a real positive effect.
I doubt any proper Liverpool fan would blame anything negative on this announcement.
26 Mar 2026 07:44:52
I saw that GDS2 lol.
26 Mar 2026 12:43:41
Fizz, that was funny for you. 😂
24 Mar 2026 19:07:04
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Brighton & Hove Albion v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective
24 Mar 2026 10:06:30
At the start of the season, I was excited about at least seeing a couple of kids kicking on, either with us or on loans. There seemed to be a few names that seemed promising - Kone, Amass, Leon, the forward from Arsenal, Lacey, the Fletcher twins.
Doesn't look like anyone has really broken out though. What are people's thoughts on youngsters that we may see making a place for themselves next season?
PS - not counting Yoro and Heaven as they had already had the season before to break in. I continue to be optimistic re both of them btw.
24 Mar 2026 11:45:09.
Lacey should definitely get some more game time next season, especially if Amad and Mbeumo don't up their game next season.
Assume Chido Obi will get a chance next season if we let Zirkzee go without a replacement.
24 Mar 2026 14:28:42
That bunch will do well if they get 100 1st team games between them.
Not sure about Leon. I wouldn't think the Fletcher boys will make it at United from what I've seen. Amass, I don't think so. Kone, possibly; he needs time to fill out a bit. His loan, at a low standard, has not gone great.
Lacey, I'm not sure about. Talented, but often injured, and his red card was stupid, but he is young, so that can be overlooked to a degree. I'm not convinced by him, based on what I've seen of him over the last couple of years.
24 Mar 2026 14:44:12
Lacey and Gabriel look like the two that may break through and get a few appearances next season, in my opinion.
24 Mar 2026 17:58:41
Lacey and Amass were probably the two that people were talking about the most a couple years ago. I don't think they are physically or mentally ready yet for regular first team football, though a full season on loan in the Championship next season could be hugely beneficial, and they might manage to become decent squad players in the future. I think Kone is a fantastic talent, but again I can't see him making an impact for United until the 27/28 season at the earliest.
Jack and Tyler Fletcher are both good footballers, but I don't think they will be playing Premier League football on a regular basis any time soon. They would probably be best served spending at least a couple seasons in the Championship before having a crack in the Premier League.
They are probably a similar level to James Garner, perhaps a level below, and Garner only really became a fixture in the Everton side at 22/23 years old.
I've not really watched Leon enough, but it is his first season in England, and he's still very young. He would also probably benefit from a season on loan in the Championship, otherwise it will be very difficult for him to adapt to the physicality in the Premier League.
There are a few others that are very much worth watching in the youth sides. Gabriel is the obvious name, but I suspect he is 2/3 years away from being ready given his stature and age. Noah Ajayi, Jim Thwaites, and Godwill Kukonki are probably more likely to get a few games next season.
24 Mar 2026 19:58:51
Youth development is not linear. Sometimes a player needs to take a step back before they can take the next step forward. Sometimes the most promising youth players fizzle out, or just never make the step up.
In the modern game being a talented footballer is not enough, you need to be an elite level athlete as well. Sometimes players just never develop the physicality to compete in the modern game. There was definitely that worry with Harry Amass, intelligent, technically gifted, but had a small frame and could easily be bullied. He had a great loan spell with Sheffield Wednesday, and definitely developed his ability to fight it out with grown men down in the Championship. He was one of their best players and if you speak to their fans they all love him. The club made the decision though to recall him and send him back out to Norwich so that he would get another experience but for a team that plays a more aggressive, front foot, attacking style of play and who were looking to try and finish in the play-off places. In essence something more similar to what he would be expected to do at United (albeit at a lower level in the Championship). Unfortunately not long after joining them he's picked up and injury that has kept him out for a while, with the club opting for him to complete his rehab with Norwich (with the club closely monitoring) as they feel he'd still gain value experience overcoming this new adversity away from the club.
He's filled out and grown a couple more inches while he's been away, and I wouldn't be totally surprised if he had a bit of a breakthrough next season, especially if we don't sign a LB. He is still one to keep an eye on.
Diego Leon has struggled a bit with the move to England, he will need more time to settle and adapt.
Shea Lacey is the other one along side Amass who probably has the best chance of the players in that age group of breaking into the senior team. Although he has had a couple of injury issues as well as a personal family issue recently that has maybe slowed his progress.
The Fletcher twins I think will need a couple of good loans before they are really ready to see if they can step up to the senior team.
We also have Vitek and Harrison as two highly rated young keepers, but to be honest I don't think we are likely to see a goalkeeper break through from the academy into the first team. The position is too important and the club are never likely to fully trust a youth team keeper to play enough games to continue their development. The best chance we had was with Dean Henderson, but even then the club wasn't prepared to give him the chances he needed to continue to develop. Personally I'd keep loaning them out or maybe even sell them but include a buy back clause.
There are some younger lads in the under 18's who might develop, but it's a long route and there is plenty that could derail them.
The important thing is that the club ensures there is a pathway into the first team squad for our academy players. Unfortunately this season due to the record low number of games we will play without European football, and getting knocked out of the cups early there unfortunately hasn't been enough game time to give the youth the chances we would like. Our squad still needs a little trimming of players who aren't at the required level, along with bringing in quality first team players.
Ideally we should have 18 outfield players all of which are good enough to start without the level of quality dropping. That then leaves 3-4 spaces for the best academy players to train with the first team and to get onto the bench for some games, start to get 10 to 15 minutes now and then to prove themselves. Occasionally you might get a situation where there are a few injuries in one position and an academy player gets an opportunity to get a run of game and take chances to prove themselves. But we should never be in the situation where we are planning to rely on a untested youth player to HAVE to play 10-15 games a season.
25 Mar 2026 02:39:49
Be nice to see a manager put some of these players on for 10 mins to give them a go. Getting 10 seconds at the end of the game gives them nothing other than a brief taste. Lol, how Lacey did when he came in.
Bristling with energy and attacking intent, he lit up the game.
First barrier for these players is for a manager to trust them and throw them into the deep end.
25 Mar 2026 08:51:25
Yes, Lacey got sent off when he came on for acting like a teenager. He let himself down badly. I hope he learns from it, it showed him in a bad light, imo.
25 Mar 2026 17:52:56
I like Abromvic a Dagestani Manc.
We need some squad players from you: the Butt, O'Shea, Brown, Fletcher. Excellent players, but even better rotation options.
25 Mar 2026 19:00:06
We have some quality time there, it needs to be managed, and see what we can churn through. A scattering will do as third choice for a number of positions for the next season.
25 Mar 2026 19:28:41
Ken,
I'm sure Lacey knows, himself, he let the situation get the better of him with the silly 2nd yellow. He's not the first or last to do it, many much more experienced, but he will hopefully learn from it. His performances when he played were actually very promising, he's direct with an end product. Hopefully he continues his development and stays clear of further injury.
25 Mar 2026 20:36:33
Lots of injuries as a younger lad. I hope so, GDS2.
His sending off was dumb, and I hope he will learn from it.
He is only 18, and is a good player. I think he needs a season on loan, and see where he is at after that.
Still a kid, and needs to improve a lot. Let's hope he does.
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