Squad

[DaveT316]

I think Odobert and Moore both favour the left (I agree Odobert looks comfortable on the right too). But that's fine long term, as it's the position sorted post-Son.

Ideally, I’d actually prefer to have a couple of years more between them from a squad succession planning perspective i.e. a top performer playing at their peak for now, Moore to take over in 2-3 years’ time. City do this so well.

Having said that, I’d rather have two talented players than none at all!

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Ideally, I’d actually prefer to have a couple of years more between them from a squad succession planning perspective i.e. a top performer playing at their peak for now, Moore to take over in 2-3 years’ time. City do this so well.

Having said that, I’d rather have two talented players than none at all!

That’s Sonny

 

[DaveT316]

That’s Sonny

Yes, I guess that’s the thinking. For my money, post peak now and his body starting to creak though.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Yes, I guess that’s the thinking. For my money, post peak now and his body starting to creak though.

don’t disagree
But we have him
He ain’t going anywhere
So it makes sense to use him and he will has plenty in the locker

 

[braineclipse]

Son/Odobert

Solanke/Richarlson

Johnson/Moore

So, with Johnsons continued development, Solanke settling in well and the emergence of Moore as a contender for first team minutes already, what was probably considered the weakest part of our squad at the end of last season, is suddenly looking quite exciting

Absolutely.

Midfield too, though still early (like for some of those forwards). Adding Bergvall and Gray. Kul now primarily a central option. Bentancur back from injury. Even though we definitely could have done with some even stronger here and now upgrades/options we seem to be moving towards fixing the problem areas in the squad.

Think the links to Gallagher and similar players make sense in hindsight seeing how we're playing this season. We lack here and now options for Kulusevski and Maddison who are similarly creative.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Absolutely.

Midfield too, though still early (like for some of those forwards). Adding Bergvall and Gray. Kul now primarily a central option. Bentancur back from injury. Even though we definitely could have done with some even stronger here and now upgrades/options we seem to be moving towards fixing the problem areas in the squad.

Think the links to Gallagher and similar players make sense in hindsight seeing how we're playing this season. We lack here and now options for Kulusevski and Maddison who are similarly creative.

It’s why I think we will got for Eze
Although that’s the role Donley plays

 

[braineclipse]

It’s why I think we will got for Eze
Although that’s the role Donley plays

I doubt Donley will be ready for a significant first team impact next season, though who knows.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

I doubt Donley will be ready for a significant first team impact next season, though who knows.

He won’t
But we can’t look only one season ahead

 

[Gutter Boy]

I doubt Donley will be ready for a significant first team impact next season, though who knows.

Maybe ease him in as EL left back next season, like we are doing with Gray at right back this season?

 

[braineclipse]

He won’t
But we can’t look only one season ahead

Assuming it's still Ange's ship to steer next summer and we have money to spend I think the focus should be what can we do to push the team to the next level and short term. Even if that means potentially blocking the path of a young player 12 months down the road.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Assuming it's still Ange's ship to steer next summer and we have money to spend I think the focus should be what can we do to push the team to the next level and short term. Even if that means potentially blocking the path of a young player 12 months down the road.

That’s why young players leave
Donleys loan isn’t working because they have too many loanees
Thought we may have learned that lesson from before

 

[Muttley]

That’s why young players leave
Donleys loan isn’t working because they have too many loanees
Thought we may have learned that lesson from before

Yep, it's ridiculous that EFL clubs can have >5 loans but only have 5 in the match day squad. When Donley went there, he was the 4th in. Then on deadline day they signed Josh Keeley from us and a LB from Oxford. Out of the 6, they have 2 keepers and their only other keeper is 19 from what I can see. So the 4 outfield loanees fight for 3 places.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Yep, it's ridiculous that EFL clubs can have >5 loans but only have 5 in the match day squad. When Donley went there, he was the 4th in. Then on deadline day they signed Josh Keeley from us and a LB from Oxford. Out of the 6, they have 2 keepers and their only other keeper is 19 from what I can see. So the 4 outfield loanees fight for 3 places.

Yep
It’s not great

 

[SteveAWOL]

Fwends

 

[Bullet]

Milo posted an interesting thread on BlueSky about the squad, discussing how we can have
17 randomers
4 club trained
4 home grown
999 U21s who have been with the club for 2 years

Or something like that. Do I really need to post it all in here?!

Why has milo deserted us and put all his hard work on BlueSky, so rude!

It had diagrams and everything.

The upshot was, we have pretty much filled the 4 club trained and the 4 home grown.
Which just leaves the 17 randomers... which is already filled too.

So we need to shift some players like Forster, Richie, to make a tiny bit of space.

The gist of that thread was that this was a problem, we are struggling to find space for new players in January.
But to me this is not a problem, it is a strength.

If we have that many good players, so we don't want to drop any out of the EU squad, that is a good thing, right?

OR you just decide to drop areas of strength e.g. if we feel we have enough 8s, drop one out of the EU and use him in the Prem and vice versa.

Presumably that is the end goal, if we had a squad with 30 absolute superstars, we still have to leave out good players?

 

[Lilbaz]

Milo posted an interesting thread on BlueSky about the squad, discussing how we can have
17 randomers
4 club trained
4 home grown
999 U21s who have been with the club for 2 years

Or something like that. Do I really need to post it all in here?!

Why has milo deserted us and put all his hard work on BlueSky, so rude!

It had diagrams and everything.

The upshot was, we have pretty much filled the 4 club trained and the 4 home grown.
Which just leaves the 17 randomers... which is already filled too.

So we need to shift some players like Forster, Richie, to make a tiny bit of space.

The gist of that thread was that this was a problem, we are struggling to find space for new players in January.
But to me this is not a problem, it is a strength.

If we have that many good players, so we don't want to drop any out of the EU squad, that is a good thing, right?

OR you just decide to drop areas of strength e.g. if we feel we have enough 8s, drop one out of the EU and use him in the Prem and vice versa.

Presumably that is the end goal, if we had a squad with 30 absolute superstars, we still have to leave out good players?

You need 4 club trained players (over 21) to make a 25 man squad. How many do we have?

 

[Gutter Boy]

Isn't our count something like:

CT - Austin, Whiteman
HG - Forester, Spence, Maddison, Johnson, Solanke
U21s - Grey, Bergvall, Odobert, Moore, Lankshear
OS - the other 14 (15 with Regulion)

Which is fine for the league (we could add 2/3 more OS). But in EL we're two over on OS/HG combined (Spence and Regulion), so can only add CTs.

 

[braineclipse]

Isn't our count something like:

CT - Austin, Whiteman
HG - Forester, Spence, Maddison, Johnson, Solanke
U21s - Grey, Bergvall, Odobert, Moore, Lankshear
OS - the other 14 (15 with Regulion)

Which is fine for the league (we could add 2/3 more OS). But in EL we're two over on OS/HG combined (Spence and Regulion), so can only add CTs.

I think Reguilon will be gone in January one way or another.

I guess we could try to add a club trained player like Cirkin or KWP? But I think we will only do so if really rated by Ange as good enough, not as a short term make up the numbers solution.

I'm not sold on adding a new player that will only be available for the domestic competitions. And we really could do with getting Spence into the EL squad. But not sure who could/should be sold.

 

[Gutter Boy]

I think Reguilon will be gone in January one way or another.

I guess we could try to add a club trained player like Cirkin or KWP? But I think we will only do so if really rated by Ange as good enough, not as a short term make up the numbers solution.

I'm not sold on adding a new player that will only be available for the domestic competitions. And we really could do with getting Spence into the EL squad. But not sure who could/should be sold.

I think Cirkin is definitely good enough to rotate/compete with Udgoie. KWP though is the wrong side and still gets physically bullied.

If Odobert is due back soon and/or Yang look any good when he arrives, I'd swap Spence for Werner in the spring EL squad

 

[braineclipse]

I think Cirkin is definitely good enough to rotate/compete with Udgoie. KWP though is the wrong side and still gets physically bullied.

If Odobert is due back soon and/or Yang look any good when he arrives, I'd swap Spence for Werner in the spring EL squad

Yang would himself need a place on the A list to be available for the EL.

Swapping Spence for Werner could be a good decision none the less.