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Squad Size

Squad Size

Bodney Rewes said:
I have to admit I've said it before that 5 centrebacks isn't enough if we're playing 3 at the back but you're right that it's about having 6 players who can play centreback; not necessarily having 6 players whose only position is centreback. If we're getting to our last choices, it's normally fine if it's not their best position just as long as they're capable of doing a job for a game or two. In recent years Alan Browne, Brad Potts, Liam Millar, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, and Sepp Van den Berg have shown it's perfectly possible for us to sign players who are capable of playing out of position at a decent enough standard.
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Browne got caught out of position on numerous occasions when playing the role you mention.
Millar, well its one of the reasons why he's not here anymore.
He made no secret of that
 
On a side note. Does anyone know when the players report back for pre season?.
If it's been posted I've missed it. Sorry
 
Naughton's moustache said:
Browne got caught out of position on numerous occasions when playing the role you mention.
Millar, well its one of the reasons why he's not here anymore.
He made no secret of that
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Yeah there's definitely limitations to it! We can't do what we did with Millar and always play a player out of position. And with Browne, he was playing RWB more than he should've been because of our failure to recruit anyone for the position.

It's more I mean that we're capable of bringing players in for one position and get them to do a job in another position for a few games (I was thinking about Thracia's point about versatility) but we also shouldn't have them play out of their preferred position for a significant number of games. We still need to make sure we have players playing in their preferred positions on the most part. I was just agreeing with pneal's point that if we're looking at our 6th choice centreback for example, it's okay for it to be someone who might prefer playing a different position on the most part just as long as they're good enough in that different position. If someone like Whiteman was capable of playing centreback at a push that'd be great because we wouldn't need to worry about recruiting someone happy with being 6th choice.
 
Bodney Rewes said:
Yeah there's definitely limitations to it! We can't do what we did with Millar and always play a player out of position. And with Browne, he was playing RWB more than he should've been because of our failure to recruit anyone for the position.

It's more I mean that we're capable of bringing players in for one position and get them to do a job in another position for a few games (I was thinking about Thracia's point about versatility) but we also shouldn't have them play out of their preferred position for a significant number of games. We still need to make sure we have players playing in their preferred positions on the most part. I was just agreeing with pneal's point that if we're looking at our 6th choice centreback for example, it's okay for it to be someone who might prefer playing a different position on the most part just as long as they're good enough in that different position. If someone like Whiteman was capable of playing centreback at a push that'd be great because we wouldn't need to worry about recruiting someone happy with being 6th choice.
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Or course having these utility players can always be handy.
I just think its a bit different with our scenario, as we really lack quality in the back 3 positions barring Gibson
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On the key positions:

SF- Last season it was Keane, Riis, Osmajic as the three seniors and then Ched as very cheap back up. Currently it is Jebbison, Keane and Osmajic. Keane will surely leave by end of window and Osmajic probably 50/50 or more on him leaving so would expect two other CFs to come in.

LWB- Small and Brady. Don't expect anything else there. Hughes in a complete emergency could fill in at LWB as he did for the odd game last season.

RWB- Valentin...Potts apparently going to be used more in midfield so would expect another signing there near August.

Got endless amounts of CBs and CMs of various levels of quality so not too worried about that.

I think the big problem now is AM. Just Mads and maybe Potts. Need far more there otherwise it will just be same as last few years, just hopeful punts past the halfway line asking the CFs to run after and create something themselves. That's why getting in a McBurnie type is so crucial as at least he can hold it up and you build up attacks that way.

AM is certainly a quality over quantity position and feel it will be the main problem next year.
 
If the strategy had been for us to gamble towards having a smaller squad size with more risk of injury but better first XI strength on the wage bill, I could sort of understand it. If resources are capped then where you put them becomes a philosophical question of risk vs reward.

However, while that strategy was discussed at one point under Lowe, he ended up carrying absolute fluff like Ben Woodburn. So we somehow contrived to end up with a squad of also-rans at best.

And therein is the crux - no real strategy stuck to at any point.

I am hoping PH's recruitment quality is a little better and the risk is carried in the right places. On evidence so far we've seen some OK signings.
 
SoccerHQ said:
On the key positions:

LWB- Small and Brady. Don't expect anything else there. Hughes in a complete emergency could fill in at LWB as he did for the odd game last season.
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I think Thompson has filled in at LB before for Stoke so he could also be an option for LWB at a push.
SoccerHQ said:
Got endless amounts of CBs and CMs of various levels of quality so not too worried about that.
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I still think we need a CB with a bit of pace. Preferably someone who is right footed. It looks like we're trying to sell Whatmough so I wouldn't be surprised to see us sign another.
SoccerHQ said:
I think the big problem now is AM. Just Mads and maybe Potts. Need far more there otherwise it will just be same as last few years, just hopeful punts past the halfway line asking the CFs to run after and create something themselves. That's why getting in a McBurnie type is so crucial as at least he can hold it up and you build up attacks that way.

AM is certainly a quality over quantity position and feel it will be the main problem next year.
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We desperately lack creativity in midfield so an AM is a must for me too
 
Looks like we still need another 2 or 3 out and another 3 or 4 in to get to where we want to be.

Realistically though, 2 out on loan (at best), and 1 in on loan and 1 permanent.
 
Makes sense to bump this again. First game of the season done, already at 6 injuries to first teamers, 5 of which are serious enough to keep them out for multiple games and one not yet assessed. Plus contracted youngsters either not fit or deemed not good enough to even take the bench up to 9. Does anyone want to change their answers?

Pretty obvious now that the owners need to fill the full squad allocation, potentially with some players like Cornell and Thompson not registered, or U21s signed permanently, if they want us to be able to reach January without a squad full of unwanted kids. Just unfortunate that all the noise is about not having sufficient wage bill space
 
OB1 said:
Makes sense to bump this again. First game of the season done, already at 6 injuries to first teamers, 5 of which are serious enough to keep them out for multiple games and one not yet assessed. Plus contracted youngsters either not fit or deemed not good enough to even take the bench up to 9. Does anyone want to change their answers?

Pretty obvious now that the owners need to fill the full squad allocation, potentially with some players like Cornell and Thompson not registered, or U21s signed permanently, if they want us to be able to reach January without a squad full of unwanted kids. Just unfortunate that all the noise is about not having sufficient wage bill space
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Does anyone actually understand this pissed up load of drivel?
 
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