It seems to me next season the only player guaranteed a start in midfield is Hughes
Kouyate, Schlupp, McArthur(36) out of contract
Gallagher, no chance of keeping
Luka, Jairo, Not liked by PV
Eze not sure if PV likes him, if he does what position

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

Good question.

Hope that Kouyate does renew - on form he'd be huge miss and we do need a dominant CDM. Even if he does renew we need cover there.

Pretty sure PV likes Eze well enough and can see him slotting in as CAM next time around.

First team looks solid in principle but with Ward Macca Kouyate on something close to the their last legs then cashing in on Wilf if he wants out and shifting Edouard wider might buy us the necessary reinforcements at full back and midfield. Come to that cover ar CB looks thin.

Butland
Ferguson Guehi Andersen Mitchell
Hughes *Kouyate* Eze
Olise/Ayew Edouard Zaha

Edited by Omph (26 Jan 2022 9.21am)

Think you're - as most of us were - underestimating the effect of the injury and lack of preseason on Eze. Perhaps it's also worth considering he was fairly insipid under Roy for the first half of last season. Personally confident given a full preseason and and no injury concerns he'll be a real asset.

Perhaps worth noting how PV has held Olise back too this season - whilst talking him up. To me what he says about both of them is very similar - young players who need a bit of time. The other side to this coin is how PV has relied on old hands such as Ayew and Macca - arguably our two best performers leaving aside Gallagher. Neither is remotely a long term prospect of course but they have provided continuity from the RH era and in team sports that sort of continuity is a precious intangible.

From a glut of midfielders to...? in the blink of an eye.
I would be surprised if Kouyate and Schlupp are not offered new contracts. Whether or not they accept them is another matter. Coming, as they are, towards the end of their careers, they may be looking for a fat signing on fee elsewhere. Hopefully they will stay with us.

As much as I rate McArthur, I have serious doubts over whether his legs will hold out (or even get him back up and running this season - Is that why we're interested in DvB?).

Hopefully, Luka will be sold in the summer as he is no longer PL standard (IMO), certainly not in a PV style set-up.

Jairo will be here unless someone buys him from us

As for Eze, I believe PV does rate him. It's simply that you don't come back from the kind of injury he has had as if noting had happened. I'm hopeful he'll be fine come next season and if we have two ball winners to support him in midfield he can play as a CAM. His best performances last season came when Hodgson switched to a forward central role after New Year.

If all are fit then I would think our best midfield 3 would be Kouyate, Hughes and Eze. We clearly need reinforcements however.

Edited by doombear (26 Jan 2022 11.32am)

Observations:

1. Schlupp, Koyate, McArthur and Luka should be retained unless genuine upgrades are available and affordable. Given our spending this summer I'd be surprised if we had much left to chase big money signings.

2. Though of course we should try hard to get him, there is a good chance we won't have Gallagher next season. He'll be sat on the bench at Chelsea most probably.

3. We must get a tune out of Eze; He is too valuable an asset and too large an investment not to.

4. Olise must be a first choice pick now. He too is a huge asset and, more to the point, easily in our best 11 players.

So, how to fit these jigsaw pieces together?

Well, I don't think Eze is a winger in a million years. He is a strolling playmaker of the old school style, a true number ten ala Riquelme. I could watch him manipulate the ball and tease his opponent all day, but running forward off the ball ain't his thing. Much the same can be said of Olise. When the two of them play as wingers in a 433 system they offer no threat behind at all, allowing teams to compress us. One of them can play on the wing, drifting inside, but not both at the same time.

Option 1:

Look at a 442 that becomes a 4222, like Southampton use. Olise and Eze play on the right and left sides of midfield respectively, both are allowed to drift inside and come towards the ball. The threat in behind the opponent comes from the second striker. We pick two from Wilf, Edouard, Benteke and whatever else we've got hanging around (Ayew does well up top I think, Mateta less so):

--------------GK

RB---Andersen----Guehi---Mitchell

------Kouyate----Hughes
------(Luka?)---(Jimmy Mac?)

---Olise----------------Eze

-----Wilf---------Benteke
-----(Edouard)-----(Ayew)

Option 2:

Play a 433 with Olise wide right and Eze in midfield, but whoever takes Gallagher's place must be more defensive-minded to offset the inclusion of Eze.

Edited by TheBigToePunt (26 Jan 2022 12.55pm)

Are you upset because I didn't put Mateta in my XI? I know how much you like him.

Unless the effects of the medication have worn off since we discussed the issue?

(I would put a smile emoji here to signify the use of humour, but am insufficiently skilled to do so).