My thoughts are Gravenberch and Mac Allister are Slot’s first choice for the double pivot. Endo and Jones backing up.
We know that Slot doesn’t think Endo can play the way he wants his deep midfield to work, and he looked really shocking in the pre-season games, so I would keep Bajcetic (who looks tailor made for Slot) and sell Endo, knowing you can also drop Szoboszlai deeper if necessary. Or use Trent there, to get Bradley time at RB.
First choice: Grav and Mac
Back up: Baj and Jones
Emergency: Dom and Trent
Or alternatively, keep Endo because why not. You never know when we might need a body.
I wouldn’t be playing Elliott as a deep midfielder. I think it’s him and Szoboszlai for that advanced position.
Whilst not our best midfielder, he is a solid and reliable type that you know you will always get a consistant 7 out of 10 from him, which, as a back up/squad option is perfect. Plus he comes across as the sort of character that won’t rock the boat or make a fuss if he doesn’t play every week.
This is understandable but this is a key position in a side that is notorious for being injury-prone - and to rely on a backup that is not suited for Slot’s kind of football might not be the smartest thing to do. Unfortunately, with Bajčetić’s long-term injury and necessity to play regularly and prove his fitness and credentials elsewhere, likely on loan, I’m afraid that we don’t have other option but to keep Endo for now.
It’s a lot less of a physical league and you play 4 fewer league games, 1 less cup competition etc but looking at the minutes the Feyenoord players played last season, let’s take the midfield for instance…Arne kept Timber (31/34 league starts) and Wieffer (29/34 league starts) in that double pivot more or less all season long & then it was most Stengs playing that advanced midfield role (26 starts in 29/34).
So I reckon a similiar pattern could play out if Grav/Mac both remain healthy.