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Squad size

Squad size

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Alpine White

Determined to save our club
Joined
Apr 25, 2017
Messages
3,526
Location
French/Swiss border
Hi All,

I was looking at squad sizes on transfermarket.co.uk and was surprised to see PNE now have the joint 2nd biggest squad size (30). Only Cardiff (31) is bigger.

Note: I quote a source, not my personal opinion. I have a big doubt how reliable the data on this website is, as they consider our entire squad to be worth 15.8 Million. If you consider we could have got 5 for Hugill, I cannot see how they get to less than 20 for the squad. Maybe it is based on what we paid, not what we could sell for. Honestly, I couldn't be bothered looking for the small print.

Anyway, my original point...we seem to have a relatively large squad now. That should stand us in good stead. I'm convinced that our injury crisis has not just been bad luck but partially self-inflicted (e.g. Maguire wasn't given a rest after doing more or less a full season in Ireland). Now, we should be less pushing individuals (as already witnessed at Wycombe)
 
It will shrink when we offload the players AN evidently does not want - Vermilj, Boyle, O'Connor, Doyle, Pringle - and those getting to the end of their time with us - Welsh and very likely Gallagher. Quite possibly Spurr will join them. If Hugill goes in the summer then with Moult, Maguire and the new lad Simpson on-board we may not feel the need to bring in anyone else. I think a small squad of 22-24 players is ideal and it is very likely what we will have come the start of next season.
 
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I think for us to be successful we need luck. Not just in results but injuries.

We have been unlucky with most of our injuries being defenders which even a decent squad couldn’t cover.

Ideally you need cover for every position meaning 22 players. Putting out a full team and reserves doesn’t leave much slack.

We have probably half a dozen the manager will let go when the opportunity arises who rarely feature and a couple of young pros who boost the numbers who are low cost and likely to be released after a year or two. Take them all out and we have decent numbers who make up a decent team and bench that compete.

If we can keep the same 18 players for the remaining match days and rotate them we will make the play offs. Of course we won’t as we will pick up injuries and suspensions.
 
Our squad is 30 which is perhaps slightly heavy but that does include Roberts (GK) and Meulensteen who are first year pros and won't be near playing this season, and Pringle and Doyle and there are others like Vermijl and Welsh.

I can see a trimming of the squad in the summer - I'm not sure we'll see Welsh, Vermijl, Horgan, O'Connor, Pringle, Doyle and maybe Boyle here next season to be replaced by 3 or 4 others.

Also some decisions to be made about those who are good players but are also prone to picking up injuries and missing large chunks of matches like Spurr and Woods.

All that's to come though, for now adding a CM is still key and see where that takes us...
 
Tino said:
I can see a trimming of the squad in the summer - I'm not sure we'll see Welsh, Vermijl, Horgan, O'Connor, Pringle, Doyle and maybe Boyle here next season to be replaced by 3 or 4 others.
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Horgan may be unsophisticated but his energy and running can be useful at times. I am in no particular hurry to see him leave.
 
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ernest said:
Horgan may be unsophisticated but his energy and running can be useful at times. I am in no particular hurry to see him leave.
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I think most would agree with you, but I'm not sure the manager agrees. Once Maguire is back and with Robinson, Bodin and Barkhuizen he might struggle to make the matchday squad.
 
Tino said:
I think most would agree with you, but I'm not sure the manager agrees. Once Maguire is back and with Robinson, Bodin and Barkhuizen he might struggle to make the matchday squad.
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From what I have noticed this season, the rare times that Horgan does play, his better performances have been away from home (Hull, Burton, Wycombe and I would argue he was the best of the bunch at Accy!). Maybe he is more suited to our away tactics rather than our home tactics. Just an observation.

I still think he has a role to play within the 18.
 
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