Who will be in the starting XI next season? If Eze and Guehi stay

Johnstone VS Henderson (Henderson did play due to Johnstone getting injured but will Glasner keep him as no 1 or will he play Johnstone again) 50-50 could go either way

Back 5 will be (Mitchell, Munoz, Guehi, Andersen) and 3rd CB is up for grabs you got Richards, Clyne and new signing Riad) I hope Riad is the 3rd Centre Back but hard to tell at the moment)

2 DM/CM will be interesting: Wharton will definitely start. And then you can the 2nd spot between Hughes, Doucoure and Lerma. It will probably go to Lerma seeing as Doucoure was injured for a long time Lerma will probably start

Front 3 (Eze and Mateta will start and the 3rd spot will probably go to Kamada seeing as he has worked under Glasner before and he can play further forward as well)

Johnstone, Mitchell, Riad, Andersen, Guehi, Munoz, Lerma, Wharton, Eze, Mateta, Kamada.

Could this side get top 10 this year? Not to mention you also have options from the bench also (Richards, Doucoure, Hughes, Schlupp, Ayew, Franca) and Ismaila Sarr if he signs

It wouldn’t surprise me if Hughes starts the season.
He’s done nothing to warrant being left out and continues to perform with bite and guile.
He formed an excellent partnership with Wharton last season which Glasner may feel that he has no reason to disrupt.
Doucoure is a very good player but has just come back from a nasty injury and the tactics employed have changed.
He used to play with a back four with Doucoure sitting deep in midfield acting as a shield.
This role is less important with a back 3 with the centre backs occasionally stepping into the space that Doucoure normally occupies.
The two midfielders in Glasner’s system play higher up the field with more emphasis on pressing.
I’m sure Doucoure could do this job as well but it may take time to get up to speed.

It also wouldn’t surprise me in Johnstone starts ahead of Henderson, at least in the initial part of the season.
He would have had a full preseason and was the keeper when Glasner came in until his injury.

Once Doucoure is fully fit he'll be one of the first names on the team sheet. He was made for an intense, pressing game. I know it was Creepy Crawley but he showed in that first half just how good he is at breaking up play and getting things moving forwards. I thought Lerma had a strong season but when everyone is fit my money is on Wharton starting alongside Doucoure. Hughes is a terrier but he's not at the same level as Wharton and Doucoure and lacks the athleticism of Lerma.

GK Henderson/Johnstone
RWB Munoz
CB Guéhi/Riad
CB Richards/Clyne/Ward
CB Andersen/Holding
LWB Mitchell/Umeh
CM Doucoure/Lerma
CM Wharton/Hughes/Ahamada
CAM Eze/Franca/Schlupp
CAM Kamada/Sarr/Ayew/JRS
ST Mateta/Eduoard

I would defo think about offers for Ayew n Schlupp
[Link]

I think JRS staying at home means hes looking for a move, If we sell Eduoard we must makesure we have a replacement lined up.

I think he's staying and I don't expect us to sign another striker..

Edited by Badger11 (31 Jul 2024 4.56pm)

One more point

I've been coming round to Henderson, I'd of said 'no contest' previously.

Johnstone represents a solid keeper all round for me.

Henderson's distribution and shot stopping have begun to look superior to Johnstone's however he is certainly less of a physical presence.

I'd therefore be inclined to play Johnstone against a Sean Dyche side but Henderson against a Guardiola one, if that makes sense, without a definitive 'no.1'.

Happy for that to be Glasner's problem and trust his decision!

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!