How Good Is Our Squad?

[freshie]

Our squad is only as good as they play on the day ... it wasn't very different set of players who fucked up against Wigan in FA Cup final (yes, it still hurts) ... and yes we have had additions since then, but what about Cardiff or even a win against Hull? Our squad will seem the best when we score 3/4/5 goals ... and when we scrap for 1-0 wins away from home or hell go goalless or 1-1 draws, they'll look like a bunch of twats ... well, that's how they seem reading this forum ;)

Clichy was the only player from last night who started against Wigan in the FA Cup final so I'd say it was a very different set of players

[dick dastardley]

our squad is great but the real test will come on away days, our away form needs to be better in the prem, i am not getting carried away with the champs league because i dont think we are established enough to compete with the big clubs of europe just yet.
Although i would love us to progress as far as we can, for me the prem is the priority, sort out our away form and we will win it.

[sheblue]

Our squad is good but we have a few problems, most obvious one is when vinny is out, huge hole there that none of the rest of them can even half fill. Left back position, could be better in that department.

I think we have a great chance of beating bayern. We should have a right good go at them.
But first get villa sorted.

[Goaters 103]

hugely reliant on the form of 2 or 3 key players

Spot on.

Totally dependent on Kompany being there for the bigger games. No Kompany, and we are about half the team.

[PeterParker]

Imho, some things have changed and i am beyond glad that we look so good without Dave, when in the past, if we wouldn”t play, we had huge problems scoring and creating chances. Now, everything looks so good.

But yeah, Vinnie is esential. Vinnie and Yaya can”t be replaced, there is no way on earth we could do that.

[brite blu sky]

hugely reliant on the form of 2 or 3 key players

I have slammed him, in other threads, for making assumptions, but Pellegrini will change this over time. There will
always be stand out players, but the reliant bit he will remove.

[sheikh it all about]

hugely reliant on the form of 2 or 3 key players

To some degree, yes. But with the transfer window incomers, plus people returning from injury, the intense competition for places is something new. Because the squad is stronger than ever, the first team on any given day can only benefit big time. That is why I am excited about our prospects and not just getting carried away by this week's little flurry.

[sheblue]

hugely reliant on the form of 2 or 3 key players

Same as any top team then.

Exactly, same applies to all top teams

[Ted Hughes]

hugely reliant on the form of 2 or 3 key players

Same as any top team then.

Exactly, same applies to all top teams

Also it's bound to be like that in the initial period if a lot of changes are being made; the 'big' players are the ones the squad look to.

We still need to find a defensive superman though. Find one more who can have the same impact as a 100% on-form Vinny, & we are Champs Lg potential winners.

[Ajardine]

I think our squad is looking stronger with the new way we play. Under Mancini we were over reliant on Silva because everything went through the middle, we had no width & he was our "go to guy".

Now, under Pellegrini we play through the wings, as well as through the attacking mid & through strikers dropping deep to pick the ball up. We dont just rely on that attacking mid to control our play.

[Tim777]

I think our squad is looking stronger with the new way we play. Under Mancini we were over reliant on Silva because everything went through the middle, we had no width & he was our "go to guy".

Now, under Pellegrini we play through the wings, as well as through the attacking mid & through strikers dropping deep to pick the ball up. We dont just rely on that attacking mid to control our play.

This makes a whole lot of sense from a technical perspective w.r.t. the squad we have now. Not taking anything away from what Mancini achieved with what he had then though. As good as our squad was then, we look way stronger with the four summer signings who have played thus far.
This is without getting into what has made several pre-summer squad members up their games recently, eg. Nasri, Hart and Aguero, it has been debated about on other threads;)

[twosips]

Yup ^

Agree all around really. It's the variety of goals that we score now that pleases me. We score from corners, free kicks, from old fashioned wing play - be it a powerful header from Negredo or a typical low cut back option - right through to the more typical clever one touch passing football goals or even direct longer ball stuff. Counter attacking goals too....when it clicks there's just a huge variety to our game and it makes us very, very hard to defend against. Nowhere near as predictable.

[blues2win]

Personally I think we could do with a strong aerially dominant centre back who has a bit of pace. I also think we need a new left back to replace Kolarov. Garcia isn't going to hack it here but maybe Rodwell could be trained up to deputise for Fernandinho. Apart from that I reckon we have the strongest squad in the Premiership.

[Beefymcfc]

But where do we stand in the PL?

Looking at all aspects, I think we have the best and most balanced squad. We have:

3 keepers
9 defenders
8 midfielders
4 attackers

If you look at those numbers and the personnel we've got, we've got the magic number of 2 players for each position or at least can play in each position. Contrast that to a team like Chelsea who have a huges 12 players for the midfield position and only 3 attackers. That cannot be healthy whichever way you look at it because even with rotation you are going to get a lot of unhappy campers, especially in the midfield department.

You could say that we are weak in defence but actually, I just think we've been unlucky at the start of the season. You could blame it on the training schedule but it's not happening with the rest of the team. Having both our RCBs out with injury, our 1st choice LCB and the likes of Clichy being out at the same time, we were always going to suffer. Looking now, it looks a whole lot rosier, made better that Dedryk has come through a game unscathed.

We can all see that the Rags haven't the best squad and although teams like Arsenal, Dippers and Spurs have made inroads with their signings, I just don't think their squads are a touch on ours considering the experience element as well.

So, have we the best squad in the league or do we fall short in certain areas?

[mr_nool]

We most definitely have the best squad. Spurs may have better goalkeepers overall and Chelsea might match or even better us in midfield. But we have the most balanced and strongest squad if you look at it as a whole.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

Pellets said it was the best squad in the Pl.

I think that still leaves us a bit short of a good CL squad though as Premier League has been weaker than usual, especially defensively, last few years.

[zabbadabbado]

I have been rubbing my eyes a lot the last few games.

From being painfully slow,we are now frighteningly fast.

Most the players from last season look like they have their mojo back.

Cant wait for Bayern Munich,should be a cracking game.

Even our crowd noise have gone up many decibels.

We look good.