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WPM 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

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Posted July 23, 2025 10:33 · last edited July 23, 2025 10:35

Friar Tuck
martinb
I’m a little worried about Nagasawa at CM…I guess maybe I’d like 433, probably with Ishige deeper and Nagasawa further forward, and an import mid who is playing box to box. 

I don’t mind good but less experienced defenders if they’re properly screened. Rufer is good enough at that. I worry that for whatever reason Roa Conchie, Nagasawa and Retre are not in that screening role. Probably the later two can’t do the running and the former has been out of favour or isn’t quite Rufer level and starting material there yet. 

I’m not saying there isn’t a role in the squad, but in either the CB or DM position I think we need another defensive leader with a good pedigree. Laws has been talked about. I don’t know how good he is these days. 

Still been quite happy with the signings so far, so this season is already better than last one. Happy to wait and see what they’re thinking about. 
The dream is Matt Garbett in a midfield 3 with Rufer and Nagasawa

Geez mate. Steady on. Piney (or non-traitor replacement) I need to lie down…

Good to hear Nagasawa did well last week. I don’t want an assumption of the season to be we want him or need him to be covering as much ground as Pennington…open to being convinced about his DM suitability, but thought his best moments were going forward last year. 

What’s Garbett like on defense? We rarely see it against the islands and he’s even played striker or winger at times so we haven’t seen it when he’s in that position. 

I’d like 3-4 minimum very good defenders on the team who are capable of running 10-12k a game, with recovery sprints if required. I think Rufer can do that. Nagasawa? Conchie? Hughes? Payne? 

Though, was Wootton that quick or just a very good reader of the game and anticipated where he needed to be well?

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Unknown editor edited July 23, 2025 10:35
Friar Tuck
martinb
I’m a little worried about Nagasawa at CM…I guess maybe I’d like 433, probably with Ishige deeper and Nagasawa further forward, and an import mid who is playing box to box. 

I don’t mind good but less experienced defenders if they’re properly screened. Rufer is good enough at that. I worry that for whatever reason Roa Conchie, Nagasawa and Retre are not in that screening role. Probably the later two can’t do the running and the former has been out of favour or isn’t quite Rufer level and starting material there yet. 

I’m not saying there isn’t a role in the squad, but in either the CB or DM position I think we need another defensive leader with a good pedigree. Laws has been talked about. I don’t know how good he is these days. 

Still been quite happy with the signings so far, so this season is already better than last one. Happy to wait and see what they’re thinking about. 
The dream is Matt Garbett in a midfield 3 with Rufer and Nagasawa

Geez mate. Steady on. Piney (or non-traitor replacement) I need to lie down…

Good to hear Nagasawa did well last week. I don’t want an assumption of the season to be we want him or need him to be covering as much ground as Pennington…open to being convinced about his DM suitability, but thought his best moments were going forward last year. 

What’s Garbett like on defense? We rarely see it against the islands and he’s even played striker or winger at times so we haven’t seen it when he’s in that position. 

I’d like 3-4 minimum very good defenders on the team who are capable of running 10-12k a game, with recovery sprints if required. I think Rufer can do that. Nagasawa? Conchie? Hughes? Payne?