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Squad Size: Concerned or not?


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So when everyone is fit, we're looking at something like:

 

Starting XI: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Albentosa, Forsyth, Thorne, Hughes, Hendrick, Russell, Ince, Martin

Bench: Roos, Shotton, Mascarell, Bryson, Ward, Dawkins, Bent

First teamers not even on bench: Warnock, Buxton, Eustace, Lingaard

Youth teamers: Bennett, Calero

Stragglers: Whitbread, Naylor, Barker

 

Obviously you can shuffle the names around a bit, and injuries will affect things, but that's 4 definite first teamers what would expect to be playing every week, that aren't even going to make the bench.  Plus Bennett and the other youth players who are going to be nowhere near getting a look in.  McClaren is going to have a big job on his hands keeping that lot happy.

 

Lingard not even on the bench, I don't think Alex Ferguson will like that ;-)

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Its good that Steve does not automatically pick his new signings over established players. Hell of a change from some managers around. 

That alone gives me confidence that we are on the right track.

 

My only concern is, longer term, would the likes of Hughes and Hendrick have been given so many games to show how good they are?

 

Its a difficult situation in one way as the greater the success, the lesser chance of young players being given a fair chance.

 

Many managers are very loathe to gamble on unproven kids nowadays. Indeed, people like Pulis actively decide not to risk youngsters and prefer to stick with experienced pro's.

 

When we're in the Prem we can loan out our young superstars to top 6 Championship clubs  :cool:

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Obviously you can shuffle the names around a bit, and injuries will affect things, but that's 4 definite first teamers what would expect to be playing every week, that aren't even going to make the bench.  Plus Bennett and the other youth players who are going to be nowhere near getting a look in.  McClaren is going to have a big job on his hands keeping that lot happy.

 

I think it's easier to say our squad is:

 

2x GK (Grant and Roos)

 

2x LB (Fozzie and Warnock)

2x RB (Christie and Shotton)

4x CB (Keogh, Raul, Bucko and Whitbread)

 

6x Midfielders (Thorne, Eustace, Mascarell, Hughes, Bryson, Hendrick)

 

5x Wingers (Russell, Ward, Dawkins, Ince, Lingard)

 

2x Strikers (Martin, Bent)

 

+ Bonus Youfs

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Its easy to say our squad is too big when listing every single player as available. In reality we will probably have at least 3 players unavailable at any one time. making it a simple choice who is in the 16, it just means we will always have an extermely good 16.

 

Eustace, Russell and Barker are already guaranteed not to play in the next month so theres your 3 straight away.

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So when everyone is fit, we're looking at something like:

 

Starting XI: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Albentosa, Forsyth, Thorne, Hughes, Hendrick, Russell, Ince, Martin

Bench: Roos, Shotton, Mascarell, Bryson, Ward, Dawkins, Bent

First teamers not even on bench: Warnock, Buxton, Eustace, Lingaard

Youth teamers: Bennett, Calero

Stragglers: Whitbread, Naylor, Barker

 

Obviously you can shuffle the names around a bit, and injuries will affect things, but that's 4 definite first teamers what would expect to be playing every week, that aren't even going to make the bench.  Plus Bennett and the other youth players who are going to be nowhere near getting a look in.  McClaren is going to have a big job on his hands keeping that lot happy.

 

Me likee likey, but I would make just two changes:

 

Starting XI: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Albentosa, Warnock, Thorne, Hughes, Hendrick, Russell, Ince, Martin

Bench: Roos, Shotton, Mascarell, Bryson, Ward, Forsyth, Bent

First teamers not even on bench: Dawkins, Buxton, Eustace, Lingaard

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When we're in the Prem we can loan out our young superstars to top 6 Championship clubs  :cool:

Sign them to a new contract first, then wait for the transfer sage at the end of their spell there. Could break 1000 posts on their forums even...

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Not concerned. All the top clubs have large squads and use them effectively. Granted, they've got to worry about European campaigns, but this is the size of squad we will need in the prem. Half these players we've bought in on perms, Warnock, Albentosa, will have very much been brought in with one eye on the prem. They may well not play more than a handful of games for the rest of this season, and they'll probably understand that, with the carrot being games in the prem at the end of it. Then we really will need the squad depth.

 

And if we keep up these cup runs, the kids will have plenty of opportunities to shine. We've got two and a bit teams now that are good enough to have a separate league and cup team. We're not quite as desperate for cups as Arsenal, so we could get away with that, and if we get knocked out, so be it.

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We still need a couple more.

38 premiership games and a European campaign means we will need to rotate the players more next year.

We can wait until the summer for these though.....

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The breakdowns above don't include Ssewankambo (out injured at the moment). I'm sure he moved from being a first-team regular in the Eredivisie to fight for a first-team place in the Championship, rather than playing in the stiffs.

 

The squad's big but sustainable in the short term as we push for promotion. Then it's a case of taking stock in the summer.

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