Is Our Squad Big Enough?

[King Kev]

It may sound like a strange question considering the money that has been spent in the last few years but have we got enough depth in the squad for the long season ahead?

It looks pretty impressive when you see it set out as the 2 teams below but are we only a few injuries/suspensions from looking a bit thread-bare in some areas?

[Blue Toy]

The striker situation still worries me if Balo and Dzeko don't find their feet and quick.

[roblues]

If we can keep Zab from losing his head (meant in a more literal sense than it was when he first arrived) we should be fine defensively, and I bet he would put a shift in up front if asked - it's not like we need a massive guy to head in the constant supply of crosses.

Midfield is exciting, now that Milner has had a full preseason with the lads, SWP is busting a gut to get himself into consideration and the likes of Barry and Johnson will have to perform if they want to play regularly.

Up front, I think a lot may yet depend on whether Tevez stays in the short term. If he can lead the line like he has in the past, there won't be as much pressure on the other guys - this sounds ridiculous considering the money spent on them. If Tevez goes, Mancini really needs to think about another plan for feeding the frontman, because most of our play is bypassing Dzeko, Balotelli is still too naive to have that kind of responsibility on his shoulders and Aguero will need some time to adjust.

The GK situation is confusing to me. Mancini is clearly never going to give Taylor a game unless there is a full on crisis so I'm not sure how he can be considered backup, and having played hardly any football for us I would be surprised if anyone on here could express real confidence that he could step in for 10 games and do well.

So, to answer the question, I think the squad is big enough but Mancini needs to figure out what he is doing with his three most expensive signings up front.

[trueblue64]

Bobby wants 2 more players, 1in midfield and Winger on SSN

[irblinx]

I think we need another creative midfielder to cover Silva.

With 4 competitions to compete in we will definitely need to rotate more which will hopefully mean we see game time for some of the fringe players in the League cup, I wouldn't go completely to the Arsenal style but a 50/50 mix of experienced fringe players and our more promising youth players should see us through the early rounds if the draw is kind. It would be nice to defend the FA Cup but it will be third priority but I'd still expect a slightly more experienced mix than in the League cup.

[mr_nool]

I think we need another creative midfielder to cover Silva.

With 4 competitions to compete in we will definitely need to rotate more which will hopefully mean we see game time for some of the fringe players in the League cup, I wouldn't go completely to the Arsenal style but a 50/50 mix of experienced fringe players and our more promising youth players should see us through the early rounds if the draw is kind. It would be nice to defend the FA Cup but it will be third priority but I'd still expect a slightly more experienced mix than in the League cup.

I agree. If Ned stays, I'm pretty happy with our defence. We do need another back-up and/or compliment to Silva.I'm still hoping for the Nasri deal to come through.

Up front, we are alright as long as Tevez stays until xmas, or as long as one of the current strikers (Balo, Dzeko) step up to give Agüero some time to settle. A really nice bonus would be if Guidetti would prove to be of PL quality. I doubt it, though.

[irblinx]

A really nice bonus would be if Guidetti would prove to be of PL quality. I doubt it, though.

Can't be any worse than having Jo or Santa Cruz on the bench though!

[mr_nool]

A really nice bonus would be if Guidetti would prove to be of PL quality. I doubt it, though.

Can't be any worse than having Jo or Santa Cruz on the bench though!

RSC definitely is of PL standard when fit. It's too bad he never is.
Jo could probably do an OK job for a lower end premier league club (in my humble opinion).
Guidetti, on the other hand, is completely untested on this level.

[irblinx]

A really nice bonus would be if Guidetti would prove to be of PL quality. I doubt it, though.

Can't be any worse than having Jo or Santa Cruz on the bench though!

RSC definitely is of PL standard when fit. It's too bad he never is.
Jo could probably do an OK job for a lower end premier league club (in my humble opinion).
Guidetti, on the other hand, is completely untested on this level.

Unfortunately they were both like being a man down whenever they came on for us, they would no doubt look a lot better in a team that gets head height crosses in but useless for us. At least Guidetti likes to get stuck in, only time will tell if he's up to this level though as you say

[JonnyAsh]

I've still not got my head around the Tevez for Sneijder + cash deal not happening, which would complete our midfield, is it us or Inter that don't fancy it?
I would prefer a CB cover for Vinny & Lescott. Kolo should be back, and I suppose others can fill in.

[1950]

If Ned stays, I'm pretty happy with our defence.

Defence is fine without him.

RB: Richards, Zabaleta
LB: Clichy, Kolarov
CB: Kompany, Lescott, Kolo, Savic, Boyata

[Blue Blood]

Eeezz important to get another winger and a midfielder.

Eeezzz normal.

[Slim]

Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, de Jong, Milner, Yaya, Aguero, Balotelli, Silva.

Hildebrand, Zabaleta, Savic, Boyata, Kolarov, Barry, xxxx, xxxx, SWP, Dzeko, Johnson.

I think it's clear where we lack depth.

[john@staustell]

Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, de Jong, Milner, Yaya, Aguero, Balotelli, Silva.

Hildebrand, Zabaleta, Savic, Boyata, Kolarov, Barry, xxxx, xxxx, SWP, Dzeko, Johnson.

I think it's clear where we lack depth.

Well we've lost Vieira, and i even thought we were a little exposed before that. So Bobby's need for a winger and a midfielder is clear. But that winger may be to replace AJ, or even SWP, both under-achievers recently.

I'm still intruged by this Denis Suarez fella though. Could he be in?

Who keeps mentioning Ned? He's still on the naughty boys list with Ade, RSC and Bridge. No chance will he be here. Bellamy seems to want to come off the naughty list though!!

http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/ ... ester-City?

[dazby]

I hope there's a few gaps for the kids to get a game here and there.

[cityPinoy_fc]

I hope there's a few gaps for the kids to get a game here and there.

i hope so too but i don't think the current batch of youngsters are good enough except for a few (boyata).

[13021J]

We have zero cover for NDJ, that us clear and we lost all our games without him. If he gets injured we're screwed basically.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

We have zero cover for NDJ, that us clear and we lost all our games without him. If he gets injured we're screwed basically.

Barry, Zabaleta and even Kompany can all play in that role in adequate level.

Personally I feel we need positive player in central midfield. Someone like Nasri or more preferably Sneijder. That would leave Barry as solid back up for both holding midfield position and Milner as backup for the two central midfield positions. I don't think we need 4-3-3 winger as we have fair few players very much capable of playing there. Aguero and Silva should be starters with SWP and AJ providing backup and Balotelli occasionally there and I think this is where Guidetti will eventually play as well. Centerforward should be either Dzeko or Balotelli with Aguero occasionally playing there. I wouldn't be against another centerforward though I can't think of anyone who'd suit us.

In defense we are sorted apart from back up keeper which is needed.

[phips]

Hopefully someone can help me out with this, but isnt Fifa and/or UEFA going to require 6 homegrown players be in every prem team's starting XI by next season? or something like that?

If this is indeed true I think we need some HG talent. Currently our starting XI has only Lescott, Hart, and Richards...maybe AJ and Barry.

However if Im wrong about this homegrown player requirement in the starting XI then nevermind....but our team is pretty heavy with foreigners.

[Whassat]

Eeezz important to get another winger and a midfielder.

Eeezzz normal.

That made me laf waking up both my kids...