28 Mar 2026 16:12:21
Just looking for opinions on the following question.
When Tuchel names his 23-man squad for the WC.
Do you think he could win the EPL with that squad next season?
28 Mar 2026 19:51:06
Not a chance.
28 Mar 2026 20:55:01
Poor squad. Only one truly great player who is coming to the end, Kane. A few half decent players, with the rest average at best.
28 Mar 2026 21:58:49
In fairness, Blackpool Red, if only Harry Kane is a 'truly great player', which is probably not unfair, albeit a high standard, then how many 'truly great players' do Arsenal currently have? Also, I'm pretty sure it will be 26 man squads for the World Cup this summer.
I would argue that, compared to the Arsenal squad that is probably going to win the league this year, England are stronger across the forwards and the midfield, especially with regard to strength in depth, reasonably even at left back and right back, and only slightly weaker at centre back.
Gabriel and Saliba and the rest are clearly a level above Guehi, Konsa, Stones, and perhaps Tomori, but there isn't that much in it. Raya beats Pickford, but again not by much.
I think this England squad would give the Premier League a damn good crack, especially given how many big clubs have performed in the league this season.
28 Mar 2026 22:14:27
On paper it should be a solid squad. Pickford is amongst the top 4 or 5 keepers in the league, with Henderson and Trafford as back up.
The fullback positions should be very strong, with the likes of James, Livramento, Hall, and O'Reilly. That's without even considering Trent Alexander-Arnold, Shaw, Spence, and Lewis-Skelly.
Centre back is probably the weakest area of the team. Guehi is solid, but beyond him, with Stones being constantly injured, the rest are not at league winners level.
Konsa, Burn, Maguire, Tarkowski, etc.
Midfield is looking pretty strong with Rice, Anderson, Wharton, Mainoo, Garner, Scott, and Henderson.
In attack you've got some really great players: Kane, Saka, Palmer, Rodgers, Bellingham, Rashford, Bowen, Foden, Gordon, and Barnes. Maybe the cover at CF behind Kane is a little weak.
On paper it's a good squad who should be able to be challenging for the title. It's the CB's and the cover at CF that are the areas of weakness.
29 Mar 2026 04:32:06
Could probably challenge but not win EPL... Defence pretty poor.
Shappy, how many players you have in a 23 man squad then??
29 Mar 2026 08:19:00
This is more pointless a discussion than prospective transfers. Just saying. ?
29 Mar 2026 09:00:53
Yes, but looking for opinions, not trying to pick a squad. I've zero influence and knowledge of them, and I will not claim a consensus despite dumb options like offering Livramento as a lb option. Nor will it go on for a week with no conclusion. ??
29 Mar 2026 11:30:45
Je Suis, I was merely naming options in each position as we don't know what the final squad will be, but we do know who Tuchel will have to choose from and who he might be considering from the squads he has named.
Personally I think with how this season has gone that you could pick a 24-26 man squad of English players to play in the EPL for one team that could challenge for the title at least.
If we are looking at past seasons where you've needed 95+ points to challenge for the title then I think it they would fall short of being able to truly challenge.
All that said this is entirely hypothetical and subjective. For example when you consider the quality of that England squad and their ability to challenge, have you considered that in making it you weaken your rivals. Saka and Rice for example cannot play for this England side in the EPL and Arsenal at the same time. So if they are part of the England side then it weakens the potential title winners of this season. Would Arsenal be able to challenge as they have done without Rice and Saka? If they joined this hypothetical England team to compete in the EPL then you'd expect Arsenal to buy replacements, how well those replacements settle will determine if Arsenal improve, stay at the same level or decline.
On paper you can create an entirely English squad of players who should be able to seriously challenge for the title based on their ability and performances for their current club sides. But then would they be able to play to that same standard without some of the skills and abilities of the foreign players they currently play with?
The foreign players also bring more than just technical skills to their club sides, they also bring different experiences, personalities, and soft skills that are intangible to football fans.
It's and interesting discussion, especially as there are many England international players that as Manchester United fans we would be happy to see our club sign this summer.
Players like Kane, Anderson, Wharton, Hall, Livramento, Spence, Rodgers, Gordon, Lewis-Skelley, Palmer, Garner, and even Scott have all been linked to us either this summer or in the past, and all play in positions of need for us this summer.
It's hard to argue that any of them wouldn't improve us. If our aim is to challenge for the title and we would be happy to sign a large majority of the potential England squad then by extension then we must feel these players are good enough to play for a title challenging side.
29 Mar 2026 11:52:36
The reason I asked was no English manager had ever won the league, and only 30% of medals won since the Premier League inception have been won by English players; 70% won by non-English players.
I don't think English players would be capable on their own without the help of the talent, insights, and tactical ability of players from abroad.