In fairness, in my mind we are not challenging for the title next year. City and Arsenal are going to reaching 90-ish points and their respective managers and squads aren't going anywhere this summer. I like our squad on the whole, but I still think it's lacking balance in a number of ways - five forwards without a good enough winger, plenty of midfielders but all attack-minded, two LBs who have both seen their best years - and I don't think we can fix that in one window with a new manager.
Big questions over Salah then, because while you raise some good points, I'd still much rather he was a CF than a winger.
I think we can challenge next year, we sort of did in a shadow way this season with a terrible patch of injuries and by blooding Quansah and Bradley - which went miraculously well for those young players.
We do need 3 for the first team though, and they probably need to be nailed-on, Michael Edwards bangers.
-Defensive midfielder: must be a covering machine, sniffing out danger, Fabinho or Mascherano models.
-Centre back: possibly left-sided, around 22-25, powerful, great availability record.
-Right-sided winger: rapid, direct, probably has a high-ceiling, with high-goal involvements.
Personally unconvinced about Trent as a midfielder, which could be a big issue. But sort the midfield out and he can get back to being a world class right back again, with games for Bradley if we rotate for some CL group games and cups.
Number 9 is an issue, unless Slot can unlock greater calmness in Darwin.
If we put all our resources into those 3 players, Slot has enough elsewhere to play with for an impactful first season, provided Salah stays.
If there is a Mo transfer this summer, we'd have to shake up that forward line even more.
