Our Squad Going Into 2023 - 2024

[when_you're_smiling]

I really don’t understand how we’re the bookies favourites. Presuming Barnes and Maddison go our only attacking midfielder is 33-year-old Albrighton. 

[Jimmy]

20 hours ago, Ryy said:

He’s not reported back to OHL for pre season so I’m hopeful 

doesn't mean anything yet, we may be waiting to let the new manager take a look before sending him back out on loan

[Jimmy]

17 hours ago, Bluearmyfox28 said:

Has the rule officially changed now?

as of yesterday

[Iran]

On 14/06/2023 at 11:58, NAKC20 said:

How the hell is Ward GK?

To be fair to him though, Ward got promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield Town.

[Mike1983]

4 hours ago, Iran said:

To be fair to him though, Ward got promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield Town.

They were also the first team to gain promotion with a negative goal score. 

[BillyFOX12]

I still believe that if we're aiming for promotion, we need a Premier League-class goalkeeper. With Iversen in goal, I don't foresee us progressing much beyond upper mid-table.

[SouthStandUpperTier]

3 minutes ago, BillyFOX12 said:

I still believe that if we're aiming for promotion, we need a Premier League-class goalkeeper. With Iversen in goal, I don't foresee us progressing much beyond upper mid-table.

Maresca will probably see a new keeper as a priority. Can't see him fancying Iversen or Ward at all (if he's going to follow the Pep blueprint).

[majaco]

I think we need to ne careful about bringing in young loanees.  Alves and Braybrooke should be developed;  having too many young players may not be great as we try and make sure we have the right balance of experience in the team/squad.

[FoxTimmy2]

1 hour ago, SouthStandUpperTier said:

Maresca will probably see a new keeper as a priority. Can't see him fancying Iversen or Ward at all (if he's going to follow the Pep blueprint).

If he has done his homework then Ward should never be getting near the pitch.
 

A new keeper should still be a priority imo, someone who can command a defence and kick the ball would be nice.

[StriderHiryu]

Now we know the manager we can speculate a bit more about our squad. Maresca likes attacking football and exploiting half spaces. He’s played 343, 4231 and 433. We also know that all the City group teams tend to play a highly technical style. What does this mean?

 

- Iversen. Could be a casualty, despite being good for us last season. Being good with your feet is essential for a modern keeper. Think he’ll be given a chance but wouldn’t be surprised if we brought someone else in. 
 

- Ndidi. Probably should leave anyway but given his technical limitations he’s another possible casualty. 
 

- Ricardo. Could see him being an integral part of the team if he stays. Rodgers started using him as an inverted full back like Stones with Man City and could see that happening again. 
 

- Justin. Could also see him being used like Ricardo. Rodgers was using him as a 3rd CB with licence to roam prior to his first big injury and it worked. Can see Maresca trying something innovative with him. 

- Souttar. Wonder what will happen here as he’s a bit slow. But he’s a good progressive passer which I think will be appreciated because we will be facing a lot of low blocks this season. 
 

I’m general I think our less technically gifted players could be in trouble… that could even include KDH. 
 

One thing is for sure, the usually dull and boring preseason games just became very interesting. 

[Gamble92]

On 14/06/2023 at 09:38, KingsX said:

It is confusing trying to keep track of the senior players we still have (and for how long).  This chart puts it all into one simple place, showing the years left on each player's LCFC contract.

 

Tanner having put it in the Athletic today, I think it is worth its own topic.  Feel free to update with comings and goings.

 

This is the kind of amateur research of our predicament that i expect from @RedSoxUK at 4am when he's had too much of his home brew.

[burleighfox]

On 14/06/2023 at 17:43, CaliFOXnia said:

Ahhh the old RW.. Well stocked as usual.. 

Five years later, still solid as a rock. 

[Lillehamring]

On 14/06/2023 at 18:50, HybridFox said:

What happened to Suengchitthawon? Is he still here?

 

If it wasn't for that injury a couple of seasons ago, I thought he was gonna get his chance with the first team

Released today.

[moore_94]

29 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

Now we know the manager we can speculate a bit more about our squad. Maresca likes attacking football and exploiting half spaces. He’s played 343, 4231 and 433. We also know that all the City group teams tend to play a highly technical style. What does this mean?

 

- Iversen. Could be a casualty, despite being good for us last season. Being good with your feet is essential for a modern keeper. Think he’ll be given a chance but wouldn’t be surprised if we brought someone else in. 
 

- Ndidi. Probably should leave anyway but given his technical limitations he’s another possible casualty. 
 

- Ricardo. Could see him being an integral part of the team if he stays. Rodgers started using him as an inverted full back like Stones with Man City and could see that happening again. 
 

- Justin. Could also see him being used like Ricardo. Rodgers was using him as a 3rd CB with licence to roam prior to his first big injury and it worked. Can see Maresca trying something innovative with him. 

- Souttar. Wonder what will happen here as he’s a bit slow. But he’s a good progressive passer which I think will be appreciated because we will be facing a lot of low blocks this season. 
 

I’m general I think our less technically gifted players could be in trouble… that could even include KDH. 
 

One thing is for sure, the usually dull and boring preseason games just became very interesting. 

If he goes for a new keeper I wouldn't be surprised if gets us to try for James Trafford at Man City

 

He used him when he was in charge of the under 21s

 

Has just come off a really good loan in League One with Bolton and fits into being a ball playing keeper

[StriderHiryu]

2 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

If he goes for a new keeper I wouldn't be surprised if gets us to try for James Trafford at Man City

 

He used him when he was in charge of the under 21s

 

Has just come off a really good loan in League One with Bolton and fits into being a ball playing keeper

@moore_94 confirmed to be joining Maresca's back room team. Time to ditch that Flair guy that let us all down so badly last season. 

[sheffield_fox]

This infographic perfectly explains how and why we got relegated. 

 

Can't see us fixing the multitude of problems here in 6 weeks. Grim. 

[Mike1983]

I feel their pain.

 

 

 

[StriderHiryu]

17 minutes ago, sheffield_fox said:

This infographic perfectly explains how and why we got relegated. 

 

Can't see us fixing the multitude of problems here in 6 weeks. Grim. 

I hope our fans realise this. It's an impossible job. When day 1 of preseason starts, Maresca won't even have a full XI to pick from. He is going to try and teach system football to a bunch of strangers and it's going to be rough.

 

I feel like it's only when the window ends that he can even truly begin work.

[Gamble92]

On 15/06/2023 at 12:36, when_you're_smiling said:

I really don’t understand how we’re the bookies favourites. Presuming Barnes and Maddison go our only attacking midfielder is 33-year-old Albrighton. 

Yeah, if only the transfer window was open 

[fuchsntf]

16 hours ago, BillyFOX12 said:

I still believe that if we're aiming for promotion, we need a Premier League-class goalkeeper. With Iversen in goal, I don't foresee us progressing much beyond upper mid-table.

Crap…
Top GK..

So let’s start sowing your type of negative seeds,before we start into the new season..!!

[fuchsntf]

Supporters still whining on & on about Danny Ward…he’s gone,he will not find a shirt

in the new season…He needs for himself to move on..

[Nick]

I still think we need to keep Barnes, I mean where are the 'guaranteed'  goals going to come from else? If we sell we have no attacking midfielders whatsoever. when really we should have two players for each position. It's gonna be a bit tough going straight back up with having to buy and gel a left winger, a CAM and a right winger from scratch...

[when_you're_smiling]

7 hours ago, Gamble92 said:

Yeah, if only the transfer window was open 

You’re expecting us to spend well?

[Guest Col city fan]

On 15/06/2023 at 11:58, Daggers said:

Our squad going into 23/24 atm

 

 

😂 that is so bizarre!

[SafewayFox]

13 hours ago, StriderHiryu said:

I hope our fans realise this. It's an impossible job. When day 1 of preseason starts, Maresca won't even have a full XI to pick from. He is going to try and teach system football to a bunch of strangers and it's going to be rough.

 

I feel like it's only when the window ends that he can even truly begin work.

Whilst I agree, surely the fact that the whole mentality is going to be a million times more positive and whether it’s players that we keep or bring in, I’m confident (maybe more out of hope) that individual quality should shine whilst we’re clicking into a sense of familiarity and Enzo’s style?

 

I know it may have been less extreme but Burnley looked pretty unfamiliar last season from Dyche’s starting PL 11…so evidence it can be done.