I’m fine if we go with 5 seniors instead of last season’s 6.
I’m of the opinion that of course, 6 is ideal. 5 is very doable. But 4 is certainly not enough.
I was very happy with our forward depth last season, regardless of the fact that I was never a fan of Nunez and I was suspicious how good of a transfer Chiesa was (it was presented as a deal we “had to” take, while sometimes you have to think twice and there are good reasons why something looks cheap - in fact, with his wages until his age of 31 - it wasn’t that cheap).
But such 6 forwards is not easy to keep happy, even if you go deep into competitions.
5 seniors also depend first and foremost on their quality, so we first have to see how the likes of Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak do. Plus, if we bring another one. I believe Chiesa and Nunez are gone almost surely, while a little question mark remains over Elliott.
The coaching staff know much better than we do how ready Ngumoha is. I wouldn’t put the “you’re Gakpo’s direct backup and competitor, be ready son” type of pressure, but if he’s showing progress and merit, sometimes, well… you can’t ignore it. Even if it means playing 10-15 games, in whatever capacity in terms of minutes. It wouldn’t be the first time in football that a very young player shows he’s already at a level meriting of a place in the first team squad. And no, that doesn’t mean it’s only Lamine Yamal who’s done it.
I just don’t want that in our 22 players, we “need” to have Nyoni, Ngumoha, Danns and whoever else. That would be too much inexperience in a squad/team that want to defend the PL title, attack the CL, attack all games and all competitions.
So with the remaining question marks, we’ll see if Elliott stays or goes, whether we even add someone like Fofana and what are our 22 players on paper by the end of the window.
