Premier League squad of 25

[Wonderwall]

This is what our current first team squad looks like according to the Official Site, there are 26 names which include Navas and Fernandinho. So who is for the chop?

Goalkeepers
Joe Hart (ENG) Costel Pantilimon (ROM) Richard Wright (ENG)

Defenders
Maicon (BRA) Matija Nastasic (SRB) Aleksandar Kolarov (SRB) Vincent Kompany (BEL) Gael Clichy (FRA) Joleon Lescott (ENG) Micah Richards (ENG) Pablo Zabaleta (ARG)

Midfielders
Fernandinho (BRA) Gareth Barry (ENG) Jesus Navas (ESP) James Milner (ENG) Samir Nasri (FRA) Abdul Razak (CIV) Jack Rodwell (ENG) David Silva (ESP) Javi Garcia (ESP) Scott Sinclair (ENG) Yaya Toure (CIV)

Strikers
Edin Dzeko (BIH) Sergio Aguero (ARG) Carlos Tevez (ARG) John Guidetti (SWE)

For me we can sign Isco, Cavani Plus a Central defencer to replace Kolo that would add to this team which meakes a total of 29 so 4 have to be removed from that squad....

For me..

Maicon - never really got why we signed him
Garcia is a possibility too - I just dont like him
Razak - Does he count because of his age? whats the rule?
Sinclair - never going to cut it at City, should make a good contortionist though
Guidetti on loan until jan to get his match fitness and sharpness together and see whats happens

[bobby brows]

Is everyone in that list over the age criteria to count as list b?

In that case Kolarov is the Magnante of the list*

*moneyball reference

[Wonderwall]

Is everyone in that list over the age criteria to count as list b?

In that case Kolarov is the Magnante of the list*

*moneyball reference

I wasnt sure of the b list rules

[BlueinBosnia]

Is everyone in that list over the age criteria to count as list b?

I think the cutoff date is February, so Guidetti would be eligible in that case, as would Isco, who is a few days younger than him. Cannot see anything to confirm what the cutoff date is, though...
Nastasic is definitely underage, as is Razak.
Rodwell is overage now.

[ant london]

I think it's something like that you have to have not turned 21 by November of the season just finished.....or something to that effect

Razak isn't counted [strike]but Guidetti would be I think (as would Isco whose DOB is similar to JG).[/strike]

Maicon goes defo for me, Zaba, Micah and Milner could all cover RB. He wasn't a necessary purchase and is now 100% surplus to requirements.

Sinclair out, taking up a slot and I can't see him ever doing the business for us even if given a fair shot

Question marks as to whether Dzeko and Guidetti will still be here.

I think we have plenty of room for our needs

EDIT: Yeah that's it what BiB just posted. Guidetti and Isco only turned 21 in April this year so both "don't count" towards the 25 until next season

[john@staustell]

I'm suspecting that we may not just sign a new CB.

I'm sure Rekik will come into the first team reckoning (it's holistic). So if if if Javi Garcia stays we may have defenders:

Zaba Richards Garcia Komp Rekik Nasty Clichy Kolarov/new LB. And that's assuming Lescott leaves. I know Rekik is left-sided but Richards and Yaya can both play right CB as well as Garcia.

Be surprised if anyone wants to pay Garcia's wages now. He aint good enough for Mardid and Barca and everyone else is as poor as a church mouse. Unless Hughes wants him at Stoke of course!

[ant london]

for what it's worth, I reckon Javi Garcia will come good here

[sheblue]

always thought the 25 rule was thick.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

always thought the 25 rule was thick.

Why's that?

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Pantillimon is likely to move on and Richard Wright's contract expires soon, can't see us renewing.

That means two keepers would need to come in. Anyone know how good Johansen is? Could he be our #3 keeper?

The 25 man squad for UEFA competition is even more complicated than the Premier League one. Of the 8 association grown players 4 are required to be club grown, eg Richards and ?????

The likes of Nastasic and Isco if he signs wouldn't be eligible on the B list for UEFA squad as they are not with the club over two years so would have to be included in the A squad if they're to participate in CL.

I can see up to 8 players from the 25 WW has listed above being moved on.

[bobby brows]

Where is young Dedryck off on the list? He could be the new no.4 cetnre half next season.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Where is young Dedryck off on the list? He could be the new no.4 cetnre half next season.

Let's hope not.

[Herb]

Pantillimon is likely to move on and Richard Wright's contract expires soon, can't see us renewing.

That means two keepers would need to come in. Anyone know how good Johansen is? Could he be our #3 keeper?

The 25 man squad for UEFA competition is even more complicated than the Premier League one. Of the 8 association grown players 4 are required to be club grown, eg Richards and ?????

The likes of Nastasic and Isco if he signs wouldn't be eligible on the B list for UEFA squad as they are not with the club over two years so would have to be included in the A squad if they're to participate in CL.

I can see up to 8 players from the 25 WW has listed above being moved on.

In my humble opinion; Joe was a world beater when on loan with Brum and similar in our champions season but his plethora of tepid performances, fumbles and clangers last season makes me feel that we simply can't afford to let a goalie as good as Costel go elsewhere. I'm hoping that Pellegrini can convince the big fella to stay even if that means putting him out on loan to one of the newly promoted sides (with a callback option) or even by throwing that old 'don't change a goalie' superstition aside and putting him between the sticks on rotation with Joe.
What we can't have is Joe being like he was last year because his display against the rags at our end cost us 3 points and gave them 3 points which was about half the reason we came second in itself. I love Joe (in a non-gay manly way) but I'm afraid that he needs to understand that good performances mean good game-time at our level and visa versa - to put that message across we need a man as good as costel to step in and take over as needed.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Pantillimon is likely to move on and Richard Wright's contract expires soon, can't see us renewing.

That means two keepers would need to come in. Anyone know how good Johansen is? Could he be our #3 keeper?

The 25 man squad for UEFA competition is even more complicated than the Premier League one. Of the 8 association grown players 4 are required to be club grown, eg Richards and ?????

The likes of Nastasic and Isco if he signs wouldn't be eligible on the B list for UEFA squad as they are not with the club over two years so would have to be included in the A squad if they're to participate in CL.

I can see up to 8 players from the 25 WW has listed above being moved on.

In my humble opinion; Joe was a world beater when on loan with Brum and similar in our champions season but his plethora of tepid performances, fumbles and clangers last season makes me feel that we simply can't afford to let a goalie as good as Costel go elsewhere. I'm hoping that Pellegrini can convince the big fella to stay even if that means putting him out on loan to one of the newly promoted sides (with a callback option) or even by throwing that old 'don't change a goalie' superstition aside and putting him between the sticks on rotation with Joe.
What we can't have is Joe being like he was last year because his display against the rags at our end cost us 3 points and gave them 3 points which was about half the reason we came second in itself. I love Joe (in a non-gay manly way) but I'm afraid that he needs to understand that good performances mean good game-time at our level and visa versa - to put that message across we need a man as good as costel to step in and take over as needed.

I'm not advocating letting Costel go, hopefully Pellegrini can convince him to stick around but I have the feeling that the writing is in the wall.

I agree that Joe needs proper competition to keep him on his toes and agree that the season just gone he wasn't performing consistently at his best but I have to disagree about the derby, that winning goal was squarely on Nasri in my book, he stands still the ball hits him and danger passes.

[Herb]

Pantillimon is likely to move on and Richard Wright's contract expires soon, can't see us renewing.

That means two keepers would need to come in. Anyone know how good Johansen is? Could he be our #3 keeper?

The 25 man squad for UEFA competition is even more complicated than the Premier League one. Of the 8 association grown players 4 are required to be club grown, eg Richards and ?????

The likes of Nastasic and Isco if he signs wouldn't be eligible on the B list for UEFA squad as they are not with the club over two years so would have to be included in the A squad if they're to participate in CL.

I can see up to 8 players from the 25 WW has listed above being moved on.

In my humble opinion; Joe was a world beater when on loan with Brum and similar in our champions season but his plethora of tepid performances, fumbles and clangers last season makes me feel that we simply can't afford to let a goalie as good as Costel go elsewhere. I'm hoping that Pellegrini can convince the big fella to stay even if that means putting him out on loan to one of the newly promoted sides (with a callback option) or even by throwing that old 'don't change a goalie' superstition aside and putting him between the sticks on rotation with Joe.
What we can't have is Joe being like he was last year because his display against the rags at our end cost us 3 points and gave them 3 points which was about half the reason we came second in itself. I love Joe (in a non-gay manly way) but I'm afraid that he needs to understand that good performances mean good game-time at our level and visa versa - to put that message across we need a man as good as costel to step in and take over as needed.

I'm not advocating letting Costel go, hopefully Pellegrini can convince him to stick around but I have the feeling that the writing is in the wall.

I agree that Joe needs proper competition to keep him on his toes and agree that the season just gone he wasn't performing consistently at his best but I have to disagree about the derby, that winning goal was squarely on Nasri in my book, he stands still the ball hits him and danger passes.

But their first goal . . a soft toe-bung from distance . . the sort that should never go in? I don't want to dwell on it but he was not the man he can be last season and that cost us dearly compaired to his marvellous contribution in the previous.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Pantillimon is likely to move on and Richard Wright's contract expires soon, can't see us renewing.

That means two keepers would need to come in. Anyone know how good Johansen is? Could he be our #3 keeper?

The 25 man squad for UEFA competition is even more complicated than the Premier League one. Of the 8 association grown players 4 are required to be club grown, eg Richards and ?????

The likes of Nastasic and Isco if he signs wouldn't be eligible on the B list for UEFA squad as they are not with the club over two years so would have to be included in the A squad if they're to participate in CL.

I can see up to 8 players from the 25 WW has listed above being moved on.

In my humble opinion; Joe was a world beater when on loan with Brum and similar in our champions season but his plethora of tepid performances, fumbles and clangers last season makes me feel that we simply can't afford to let a goalie as good as Costel go elsewhere. I'm hoping that Pellegrini can convince the big fella to stay even if that means putting him out on loan to one of the newly promoted sides (with a callback option) or even by throwing that old 'don't change a goalie' superstition aside and putting him between the sticks on rotation with Joe.
What we can't have is Joe being like he was last year because his display against the rags at our end cost us 3 points and gave them 3 points which was about half the reason we came second in itself. I love Joe (in a non-gay manly way) but I'm afraid that he needs to understand that good performances mean good game-time at our level and visa versa - to put that message across we need a man as good as costel to step in and take over as needed.

I'm not advocating letting Costel go, hopefully Pellegrini can convince him to stick around but I have the feeling that the writing is in the wall.

I agree that Joe needs proper competition to keep him on his toes and agree that the season just gone he wasn't performing consistently at his best but I have to disagree about the derby, that winning goal was squarely on Nasri in my book, he stands still the ball hits him and danger passes.

But their first goal . . a soft toe-bung from distance . . the sort that should never go in? I don't want to dwell on it but he was not the man he can be last season and that cost us dearly compaired to his marvellous contribution in the previous.

First goal was a fluke, scuffed shot that left Joe flat footed, just one of them things. I do agree with your general point though, he didn't win us as many points as he did the previous season.

[bobby brows]

Richard Wright has signed a new one year contract as player coach.

[Ted Hughes]

To continue from where Wonderwall left off, I recon Maicon, Kolarov & Garcia are in danger, depending on whether Pelle rates Barry & Lescott etc for Europe or signs another CB. We are not far off as the Prem squad goes.

One rule which is identical in both Premier League & Champions Lg squad criteria is that you are allowed 17 'free' players who are not club or association trained & are over 21. So for a start, at present, that would be:

Panty

Maicon
Nastasic
Kolarov
Kompany
Zabba

Fernadinho
Navas
Nasri
Silva
Garcia
Yaya

Dzeko
Aguero
Tevez

Which is 15.

( Guidetti Razak are U21 qualified)

(I believe, but am not certain, that Clichy qualifies as an 'association trained' player) ?

Which, if true, means that we can in theory take 2 more 'foreign' players over 21 without losing any of the 17.

However ,the other 8 players have to be 'locally trained', which means either 'association trained' or 'club trained'.

For European competition, 4 of the 8 have to be 'club trained' or they would have to be included in the 17, so that is where we potentially lose squad places in Europe, if we have to include some of our 'locally trained' players in the 17.

Locally trained would be:

Clichy ?

Hart
Wright
Lescott
Richards
Barry
Milner
Rodwell
Sinclair

If we take out Wright & Sinclair that leaves 7 but only Micah is club trained, so, for Europe, we would have only 4 places left to fit 6 players in the 8 'local' places, & therefore have to add some of the 'local' players to the 17.

Clichy & Hart take one place each so that leaves 2 'local' places left for any of Barry, Milner, Rodwell, Lescott. 2 of them would have to go in the '17' which fills it.

Isco would not be counted as U21 for Europe so there's another space needed if, as likely, he signs.


Therefore, the vulnerable positions in the 17 are Kolarov, Maicon, Garcia & Panty.

If Tevez or Dzeko leave, we will sign a striker so there's no space there. If we sign an extra striker, one of Kolarov, Maicon, Garcia or Panty has to go. If we sign a 'foreign' CB, & flog Lescott, then the new player would still have to fit in the 17, so one of those 4 players still has to go.

However you look at it, at least two of Kolarov, Maicon & Garcia are on thin ice, as Panty is a keeper. You wouldn't keep any of them for the Prem if they weren't in the Euro squad

I would choose any of Panty, Milner, Barry, Lescott & Rodwell ahead of any of those for the 17 as it stands. It leaves us without cover at left back but so does Kolarov.

So if we sign a couple, it's either bye bye Lescott, Barry etc or bye bye to Kolarov, Maicon or Garcia imo.

I know what my vote would be.

[Socrates]

Pretty sure Hart counts as club trained; UEFA definition being 3 years between ages of 15 and 21...

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Pretty sure Hart counts as club trained; UEFA definition being 3 years between ages of 15 and 21...

I've checked it out before, he doesn't. He was 19 when we signed him.

@Ted, nice breakdown of where we stand. Clichy does indeed count as 'association grown'. In regards leaving players out of the CL squad, that's likely to cause problems, it's best if we can go with the same squad for both or rather it's more holistic.