So I have gone for long term sustainability, picking players that have a lot of time left in their careers and room to develop still, rather than always picking the absolute current best player in each position. I have also take the tack that you can have three world class players for two positions, because with all the games there will be enough minutes for each player to be plenty satisfied with their rotation, what I don't think is viable is two world class players per position. That's just twoo much time on the bench for a top class player. So I've tended to favour three top players for two positions and one younger player still making a name for themselves, or a player well established currently as a rotational player. It's a tricky balance. I've also had to make certain allowances for the Home Grown rule.
GK - Alisson (32) - Still young enough in GK terms and just absolutely top notch.
GK - James Trafford (22) (HG) - Young, talented and takes up one of the Home Grown slots nicely.
GK - Sam Tickle (20) (HG) - Very young, rated very highly and takes up a Home Grown slot (or will in a few months time).
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CB - William Saliba (24) (HG) - Best in the business, top class player already and likely to get even better. Brilliantly counts as HG.
CB - Ben White (27) (HG) - Racking up the home grown talent. Picked White because he fits the profile of being athletic and agile, while also physically dominant. Very good on the ball and is potentially ideally suited to playing as the right hand side of a back three. The presence of a CB with the mobility of a full-back.
CB - Josko Gvardiol (23) - Young but already very good. Like White he has the buyild and presence of a CB but the ball playing ability and mobility of a full back. Left footed, would play on the left of the back three.
CB - Leny Yoro (19) - Potentially generational CB talent, has all the tools be a world class ball playing, marauding CB.
CB - Jarrad Branthwaite (22) (HG) - Another HG talent who is premier league proven, something I have put a decent amount of emphasis on. Branthwaite is a great all around defender who is equally strong off either foot, so can play anywhere along the back three.
CB - Cristhian Mosquera (20) - There are a lot of other better young CBs that I would ideally have in this final slot, Cubarsi, Scalvini, Diomande, Lukeba etc., but I went for a player who would feasibly be content, at least initially, with being a purely rotational player in this amazing squad. Yoro and Branthwaite would get lods of minutes, but minutes for Mosquera would be initially quite limited. Nonetheless, a big talent.
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RWB - Federico Valverde (26) - I am going for two very different players for this position, to give variability and options. Fundamentally in this slot I want a player that has work rate and defensive responsibility but is exceptional going forwards and has great technique. Valverde would be the king of this in my opinion. A sensational work rate and engine, experience playing wide right and full back, and sensational technique and drive to get forwards.
RWB - Raphinha (28) - Older than almost anyone else I am picking for this squad, but fits the profile of a left footed right hand player who is predominantly a winger over a wingback, that is needed for the role. The beautiful thing about his inclusion in the squad is that he can be used elsewhere too. Has everything needed, the work-rate, technique, and goal threat.
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LWB - Alphonso Davies (24) - One of the easiest picks for this squad. On the left side Amorim tends to go slightly more defensive than the right, generally looking for an allrounder, and there is no better wing-back slash winger on the left than Alphonso Davies. Pace, dribbling, defensive ability. Easy pick.
LWB - Patrick Dorgu (20) - This one might be more controversial but he's being picked because of his ability to play either side, his profile of a physical, atheltic player that is solid at both aspects of the game, and because he would be 4th in line for 2 positions, meaning he is a purely rotational squad player. He's young and has a ton of development to do, and I think is exactly the right profile for the role.
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CM - Vitinha (25) - Best all around midfielder in the world if you ask me. Combines everything you want in a CM. Unbelievable marrying of technique and work rate. One of the easiest selections on this list.
CM - Joao Neves (20) - Another easy pick. At just 20 is absolutely sensational. Was destined for stardom from day one and combines technique and indsutry much in the same way Vitinha does. A huge future ahead of him and a central part of this squad.
CM - Declan Rice (26) (HG) - Got to keep adding my Home Grown PL proven players in there where I can in the smartest way possible, and so Rice makes the cut. A top quality all around midfielder who also brings a certain amount of steel that never goes amiss. Very comfortable playing as one of two double pivots, and also highly capable going forwards. Technically very good.
CM - Eduardo Camavinga (22) - Bags of energy, incredibly versatile, could even play LWB if asked to. Has the technique and industry to be everything needed in this role. Still young so loads of room for development. Is the ultimate utility player, but can also be a brilliant specialist CM.
CM - Kobbie Mainoo (20) (HG) - Remains one of the brightest young CM talents in world football and is also homegrown. His best position is yet to be determined, but absolutely the best young CM I would want to have as the 5th choice midfielder. Takes one of the "extra" spots.
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AM - Jamal Musiala (22) - Fits the profile of a player who plays like a midfielder but runs like a winger, that Amorim finds so attractive for the role. Top class player already, if not world class, and will only get better. Runs, a lot.
AM - Lamine Yamal (17) - How can you leave him out? Already there or thereabouts the best player in the world. Can do things no-one else has even thought of. Has to be part of the team. Left footed, would fit perfectly as the right sided 10. The beauty with this squad is that you can manage his minutes effectively.
AM - Jude Bellingham (21) (HG) - Jude is a phenomenon, the guy is a beast. Just as good as a midfielder, but has the perfect profile of a modern 10. Works very hard, uses the ball well, a physical beast, has speed, and goal threat, great in the air. Brings something very different to the other 10s in this squad, and would be hard to leave him out of the starting line up. Can even play him as a false 9 or a CM. Added on top of it all, is Home Grown. Proven at the very highest level possible.
AM - Amad Diallo (22) - I'm looking for another left footed, right sided 10. I also need one that is going to accept playing second fiddle to the other three players in this category. Pretty hard to find someone who fits that role, yet look no further than our own sensation Amad. A little player with a very big future. Amazing work-rate and we are just seeing the beginning of what he can achieve. Can pitch in at RWB if necessary, and versatility is always a good thing.
AM - Rodrygo Mora (18) - The second of my two "extra" players. No expectations of significant minutes in this squad, and a player who is bags of potential. Can play all across the attacking midfield line.
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CF - Alexander Isak (25) - Whaaaat? No Haaland? No, no Haaland. He's a great goalscorer without a doubt, but I am not sure he does enough without the ball to be part of my squad. The same goes for Kylian Mbappe. Two fantastic individual players, but I am looking for players who work hard off the ball, make the runs, play for the team, but are also killers. Isak is my main man up front. His numbers this year in the PL are fantastic, and with the service he'd be getting, unstoppable.
CF - Julian Alvarez (25) - Another clinical but incredibly hard working and technically gifted striker. Can really do almost everything and works so hard for the team. Was a toss up between him and Gyokeres, but Alvarez is two years younger and has done it at a higher level.
I am very happy with this squad. Think it is perfectly balanced in every way. And meets the home grown quota. Oldest outfield player is 28 (x1), then 26 (x2), then 25 (x2), everyone else is younger. This squad would dominate everything, for years.
