The squad borrowing from Peter to pay Paul stuff runs out of road quite quickly if you aren't careful. The manager is on record saying he likes 2 for every position. In terms of plausible starters as forwards, he has played 3 and only has 4. Arsenal are deeper. They just have less starting quality.
Agree you can’t keep moving players around like tiles in those little games — there’s always an empty space — but think the signing of Isak opens up the option to go two up top from him/Ekitike/Salah in a different system at times to mitigate that, maybe keeping bodies fresher for AFCON filling-in.
Ultimately agree, though, that *ideally* we’d have one more versatile forward option. Rio being as good as he is as young as he is potentially being a spanner in the works there, making (e.g.) Fofana less appealing, while a Rodrygo-level signing on top of everything was logistically tricky.
If Rio is less capable now, we’re not worried about blocking his path, and signing a 20yo to back up Gakpo works. If he’s two years older and physically mature, it’s easier to get comfortable stretching for a top-class and more versatile Gakpo replacement as first choice w/o fear of overplaying Rio.
There’s no doubt that we’d PREFER one more up front, but I think we’ll be fine. Who did we used to have behind Jota and the famed front 3? Arsenal are deeper in bodies but not available minutes. Jesus and Havertz both injured long term and Saka misses time. Madueke helps but it’s not great.
Does he mean 2 bodies for every position? If so,we’re light in midfield and that’s a bigger issue as have Endo and Trey as 5 & 6. He’s also said he likes a small squad. You’ll know better than me but I’d be inclined to double check the context.
Is that right? Surely Grav, Mac, Flo, Dom, Curtis and Endo is the 6 giving 2 for each position? Trey and Stefan would be 7 and 8 which is mad depth imo.
Yep! That’s right. I missed out Flo. TBF tho, Endo covers multiple spots (at low speed) and Trey is Rio-like young. We really have 5 true options with Trey and Endo more limited.
Personally I would have Stefan ahead of both of them anyway, with Endo reserved for very specific situations.