Squad Depth

[Mase]

I thought it was worth it’s own thread now we’ve had another player leave.

Last season we had one of the smallest squads in the league and it seems we’re happy to let players leave without replacing.

Unless we’re going to get in another 3 players before the window closes it’s worrying. Everyone was on their last legs at the end of the season, I thought we’d look at that and add rather than take away or stay the same.

[PeterParker]

We are doing a lot of odd things, no doubt. I always said that kids don't get that much game time because the senior players need to get their playing time bonuses.

It's a strategy to keep them close, no doubt. I think we are going to sign just one more player and that will be it, we are going with the same fellas.
To be honest, I did not expect the offer we made for Gvardiol. That came out of nowhere.

[Nick]

Very strange sending mcatee to Sheff United

So tiny squad and at the moment only kids to get a chance to be palmer and LB

[stupot]

2 keepers.
4 centre backs
2 full backs plus JWE
2 CDM
Bernie, KDB, Gundo, Mahrez, Foden, Grealish, Haaland, Alvarez, Palmer

We.ve improved everywhere from last season with incomings and outgoings apart from the replacement for Zinch. Get that boxed off and we've got a great squad.
The cringing when Sterling or Jesus played- can't see that happening with Haaland and Alvarez. Phillips is a great option for Rodri as opposed to using a 37 year old. Just get the left back in and we've got a perfect squad.

[Nick]

We are doing a lot of odd things, no doubt. I always said that kids don't get that much game time because the senior players need to get their playing time bonuses.

It's a strategy to keep them close, no doubt. I think we are going to sign just one more player and that will be it, we are going with the same fellas.
To be honest, I did not expect the offer we made for Gvardiol. That came out of nowhere.

Who says we bid? I can't see it

[PeterParker]

We are doing a lot of odd things, no doubt. I always said that kids don't get that much game time because the senior players need to get their playing time bonuses.

It's a strategy to keep them close, no doubt. I think we are going to sign just one more player and that will be it, we are going with the same fellas.
To be honest, I did not expect the offer we made for Gvardiol. That came out of nowhere.

Who says we bid? I can't see it

We didn't? Just read parts of the story, to be honest. Can't say for sure.
Might have seen it at Romano also?

[Mase]

2 keepers.
4 centre backs
2 full backs plus JWE
2 CDM
Bernie, KDB, Gundo, Mahrez, Foden, Grealish, Haaland, Alvarez, Palmer

We.ve improved everywhere from last season with incomings and outgoings apart from the replacement for Zinch. Get that boxed off and we've got a great squad.
The cringing when Sterling or Jesus played- can't see that happening with Haaland and Alvarez. Phillips is a great option for Rodri as opposed to using a 37 year old. Just get the left back in and we've got a perfect squad.

I’m not talking about improving quality.

That doesn’t alter the fact we were flat out at the end of last season and played injured or not fully fit players for the last few games and got away with it.

You’re happy to do that again? Or should we be looking at avoiding that situation?

[carl_feedthegoat]

2 keepers.
4 centre backs
2 full backs plus JWE
2 CDM
Bernie, KDB, Gundo, Mahrez, Foden, Grealish, Haaland, Alvarez, Palmer

We.ve improved everywhere from last season with incomings and outgoings apart from the replacement for Zinch. Get that boxed off and we've got a great squad.
The cringing when Sterling or Jesus played- can't see that happening with Haaland and Alvarez. Phillips is a great option for Rodri as opposed to using a 37 year old. Just get the left back in and we've got a perfect squad.

We had the smallest squad in the league last season with 17 outfield players (the rest were kids) and even if we sign one more , we will still have the smallest squad in the Prem.

[Mase]

2 keepers.
4 centre backs
2 full backs plus JWE
2 CDM
Bernie, KDB, Gundo, Mahrez, Foden, Grealish, Haaland, Alvarez, Palmer

We.ve improved everywhere from last season with incomings and outgoings apart from the replacement for Zinch. Get that boxed off and we've got a great squad.
The cringing when Sterling or Jesus played- can't see that happening with Haaland and Alvarez. Phillips is a great option for Rodri as opposed to using a 37 year old. Just get the left back in and we've got a perfect squad.

We had the smallest squad in the league last season with 17 outfield players (the rest were kids) and even if we sign one more , we will still have the smallest squad in the Prem.

Plus players like Walker, Gundo etc a year older.

[Dubciteh]

Mase is spot on we are short very short.

We all thought we needed a left back and that was before zinchenko left. Id argue we need two(altho esbrand wilson might take one of those slots now).

We look one body light in midfield in the attacking areas too.

Worth remembering we are considering Palmer a core member of our squad to win every trophy possible when he has barely played ten games in his career and spent a chunk of last year injured.

Alvarez and haaland are new too, most players need a year to adjust to pep.

I fear this could be a transitional year when we could have got away without one and banked another prem.

[sheblue]

Before zinch went I thought we would be fine, If we were lucky with injuries. But selling zinch so easily was madness, I am quite sure it wouldn't have been that hard to convince him to stay! If we even tried that is. He, while being no world beater, was reliable and could do a job at left back and midfield when called on.
Then Mc Atee gone, ok a young lad but many thought he would contribute this season, that option is gone now.

We have a good squad but not a big one.

[Mase]

Before zinch went I thought we would be fine, If we were lucky with injuries. But selling zinch so easily was madness, I am quite sure it wouldn't have been that hard to convince him to stay! If we even tried that is. He, while being no world beater, was reliable and could do a job at left back and midfield when called on.
Then Mc Atee gone, ok a young lad but many thought he would contribute this season, that option is gone now.

We have a good squad but not a big one.

That’s spot on. Fantastic squad in terms of talent, but it’s so small. Laporte is out until Sept at the earliest. Stones can’t be relied on. Dias is coming back from injury at the end of last season. Walker could play CB but then who plays left back if Cancelo moves over?

I get the feeling we’ll see Phillips in a number of positions this season.

[stupot]

Before zinch went I thought we would be fine, If we were lucky with injuries. But selling zinch so easily was madness, I am quite sure it wouldn't have been that hard to convince him to stay! If we even tried that is. He, while being no world beater, was reliable and could do a job at left back and midfield when called on.
Then Mc Atee gone, ok a young lad but many thought he would contribute this season, that option is gone now.

We have a good squad but not a big one.

That’s spot on. Fantastic squad in terms of talent, but it’s so small. Laporte is out until Sept at the earliest. Stones can’t be relied on. Dias is coming back from injury at the end of last season. Walker could play CB but then who plays left back if Cancelo moves over?

I get the feeling we’ll see Phillips in a number of positions this season.

You can bet that Stones will be fit for the 1st part of the season with them going off to the WC in November.
Totally agree on Phillips, I think he'll be an important player this season.

[nottsblue]

Squad depth?

Needs to be bigger IMO

We’ve lost more than we’ve replaced and though I believe the quality of what we’ve brought in is better than we’ve let go, we are potentially stretching ourselves very thinly later on in the season

[PeterParker]

The real issues is that knowing Pep, he will go again for the quadruple.
And with the current numbers it will be mental.

[Nick]

The real issues is that knowing Pep, he will go again for the quadruple.
And with the current numbers it will be mental.

He regularly throws the fa cup semi due to our lack of depth ?

[Mase]

Before zinch went I thought we would be fine, If we were lucky with injuries. But selling zinch so easily was madness, I am quite sure it wouldn't have been that hard to convince him to stay! If we even tried that is. He, while being no world beater, was reliable and could do a job at left back and midfield when called on.
Then Mc Atee gone, ok a young lad but many thought he would contribute this season, that option is gone now.

We have a good squad but not a big one.

That’s spot on. Fantastic squad in terms of talent, but it’s so small. Laporte is out until Sept at the earliest. Stones can’t be relied on. Dias is coming back from injury at the end of last season. Walker could play CB but then who plays left back if Cancelo moves over?

I get the feeling we’ll see Phillips in a number of positions this season.

You can bet that Stones will be fit for the 1st part of the season with them going off to the WC in November.
Totally agree on Phillips, I think he'll be an important player this season.

Forgot about the WC. He’ll come back from that half dead no doubt.

I’m excited to see what we do Phillips.

[PeterParker]

The real issues is that knowing Pep, he will go again for the quadruple.
And with the current numbers it will be mental.

He regularly throws the fa cup semi due to our lack of depth ?

Yeah, but we still reach that point instead throwing the first or second game.

[Nick]

Shouldn't throw any game. Buy square pegs for square holes and we compete on all fronts.

[blues2win]

We were very unlucky last season to lose so many defenders at the same time. This season we’ve let go Zinchenko and Mandy’s not coming back. It would be criminally irresponsible not to bring in a left back since Txiki and Pep clearly don’t thing Wilson Esbrand is ready, promising though he is. If that is sorted I’m reasonably happy. Pep doesn’t want a bigger unhappy squad.