GOAL 2-0 to Saints! Plus live update!

[moon monkey]

Anyone know who the new goalkeeper coach was? Bald guy with a moustache, had the initials SM on his shirt?

[Windmill Arm 2]

We will walk this league !!!!

[Wes Tender]

Must have been watching a different game LOL.

Most of our plays went up the right wing first half, but Harding and Mills linked up well down the left several times, making some good chances IMO.

 

Captainchris says that Mills was poor, yet I read a report of the match in the Edingburgh Evening News saying, "Pardew withdrew his side's most influential player, Mills, shortly after the hour"

 

It's all about opinions, but I thought that Mills gave a decent account of himself, but perhaps chris is right and us others are mistaken.

[NickG]

All the more reason to build a decent squad, d*ck the lot of them and go straight back up IMO.

 

At the moment I see a slightly worrying resemblance with 05/06. Selling a couple of decent striker (DMG and Saga / Phillips and Crouch) hanging on to a top 'keeper (Davis / Niemi) and a few old favourites (Rasiak, John, Gillett / Prutton, Oakley, Pahars). Then add a few bargains (Harding, Murty / Hajto, Belmadi) and hope to go up on the basis that this league is crap and we will walk it.

 

We're still 4 wide midfielders, 2 central midfielders, 2 centre halves a right back and a striker short of a complete squad IMO.

 

Lol - did you go to the Man City school of squad building? We neither need, nor will, sign all of those.

[RinNY]

"Originally Posted by Arizona

All the more reason to build a decent squad, d*ck the lot of them and go straight back up IMO.

 

At the moment I see a slightly worrying resemblance with 05/06. Selling a couple of decent striker (DMG and Saga / Phillips and Crouch) hanging on to a top 'keeper (Davis / Niemi) and a few old favourites (Rasiak, John, Gillett / Prutton, Oakley, Pahars). Then add a few bargains (Harding, Murty / Hajto, Belmadi) and hope to go up on the basis that this league is crap and we will walk it.

 

We're still 4 wide midfielders, 2 central midfielders, 2 centre halves a right back and a striker short of a complete squad IMO."

 

 

Quite the pessimist ... or perhaps optimist if you think we're going to sign all that! If we sign Murty, we're in fine shape at RB with Murty as starter and James (who did a decent job in the CCC last season) as cover. With Harding and Mills (who played well in this league with Scunny on loan) as well as Molyneux we are strong at LB. We need another CB as cover for Thomas & Perry: Lancashire alone and then young or emergency CBs won't do it, as I'm sure Pardew knows. People seem to forget that Schneiderlin (assuming he stays) is a damn good player: just because he hasn't figured this preseason because of a niggling injury doesn't mean he no longer counts! With him, Wotton, Gillett, James and Lallana we are not bad at all in the CM dept. though one would still like to see one more brought in there, preferably one with a bit of flair and/or size. Again, just because Lee Holmes has had a few injuries doesn't mean he isn't a very good LW! He is, and with him and Mills we are not bad on that side. Unless Thomson shows much better form though, we seem weak on the right, having to play people there who aren't really wingers, like James or Lallana; so I do think Pardew will (or should) be looking for a right winger. Up front, Paterson and White are promising, and Lallana can do a job playing off a big striker like John. If both John and Rasiak stay, we should be ok for goals. More likely Rasiak will go as will Saga, and we will then need to sign another good striker.

 

So, I reckon with a strong CB, a decent CM, a RW, and maybe a striker depending on what Rasiak/Saga do, we will be looking very good. Three to four quality signings that is (in addition to signing up Murty & John of course), not the ten you suggest. You seem to be following the old model of quantity over quality that got us relegated from the Prem in the first place!!

[Arizona]

Lol - did you go to the Man City school of squad building? We neither need, nor will, sign all of those.

 

So you're happy with Lancashire playing a large role this season, or are you planning on a 37 year old Perry never getting injured?

 

Quite the pessimist ... or perhaps optimist if you think we're going to sign all that! If we sign Murty, we're in fine shape at RB with Murty as starter and James (who did a decent job in the CCC last season) as cover. With Harding and Mills (who played well in this league with Scunny on loan) as well as Molyneux we are strong at LB. We need another CB as cover for Thomas & Perry: Lancashire alone and then young or emergency CBs won't do it, as I'm sure Pardew knows. People seem to forget that Schneiderlin (assuming he stays) is a damn good player: just because he hasn't figured this preseason because of a niggling injury doesn't mean he no longer counts! With him, Wotton, Gillett, James and Lallana we are not bad at all in the CM dept. though one would still like to see one more brought in there, preferably one with a bit of flair and/or size. Again, just because Lee Holmes has had a few injuries doesn't mean he isn't a very good LW! He is, and with him and Mills we are not bad on that side. Unless Thomson shows much better form though, we seem weak on the right, having to play people there who aren't really wingers, like James or Lallana; so I do think Pardew will (or should) be looking for a right winger. Up front, Paterson and White are promising, and Lallana can do a job playing off a big striker like John. If both John and Rasiak stay, we should be ok for goals. More likely Rasiak will go as will Saga, and we will then need to sign another good striker.

 

So, I reckon with a strong CB, a decent CM, a RW, and maybe a striker depending on what Rasiak/Saga do, we will be looking very good. Three to four quality signings that is (in addition to signing up Murty & John of course), not the ten you suggest. You seem to be following the old model of quantity over quality that got us relegated from the Prem in the first place!!

 

Nope, I'm going for the 2 decent players in each possition, plus a hand full of youngsters on the fringes, which should give you a squad of about 30. As fate would have it, we have a squad of 30 at the moment, or at least 30 with squad numbers. That's a good number but...

 

a) There are 5 'keepers in there, we only need 3.

b) Pulis, Wotton, Lancashire and Molyneux are nowhere near good enough IMO.

c) That includes Rasiak and Saga who are most likely off.

d) There are too many inexperienced player. People are refering to unproven players like Paterson, Gobern, Lancashire, McLaggon etc. as if they are first team regulars, when infact they barely got on to the bench of a terrible squad last season.

e) Holmes and Schneiderlin have poor injury records. I don't care how good or bad you think they are, whilst they can't play they are useless.

 

As I posted earlier;

 

If our first 11 is something like:

 

Davis

Murty Thomas Perry Harding

Lallana James Gillett Mills

Rasiak Paterson

 

Then our second would be something like:

 

Bart

Thomson Lancashire Wotton Molyneux

Gobern Schneiderlin Pulis Holmes

John White

 

That second line-up is terrible, even in L1 one. If you disagree with my '10 new players' theory and think I'm a negative budgie, then each to their own. However you will have to look me in the eye and say that second team is good.

 

 

*You cannot look me in the eye on the internet, so please look at this radish instead.

[RinNY]

So you're happy with Lancashire playing a large role this season, or are you planning on a 37 year old Perry never getting injured?

 

 

 

Nope, I'm going for the 2 decent players in each possition, plus a hand full of youngsters on the fringes, which should give you a squad of about 30. As fate would have it, we have a squad of 30 at the moment, or at least 30 with squad numbers. That's a good number but...

 

a) There are 5 'keepers in there, we only need 3.

b) Pulis, Wotton, Lancashire and Molyneux are nowhere near good enough IMO.

c) That includes Rasiak and Saga who are most likely off.

d) There are too many inexperienced player. People are refering to unproven players like Paterson, Gobern, Lancashire, McLaggon etc. as if they are first team regulars, when infact they barely got on to the bench of a terrible squad last season.

e) Holmes and Schneiderlin have poor injury records. I don't care how good or bad you think they are, whilst they can't play they are useless.

 

As I posted earlier;

 

If our first 11 is something like:

 

Davis

Murty Thomas Perry Harding

Lallana James Gillett Mills

Rasiak Paterson

 

Then our second would be something like:

 

Bart

Thomson Lancashire Wotton Molyneux

Gobern Schneiderlin Pulis Holmes

John White

 

That second line-up is terrible, even in L1 one. If you disagree with my '10 new players' theory and think I'm a negative budgie, then each to their own. However you will have to look me in the eye and say that second team is good.

 

 

*You cannot look me in the eye on the internet, so please look at this radish instead.

 

 

 

 

Our first choice left winger is pretty certainly Lee Holmes, not Mills; our second choice LB is pretty certainly Mills, not Molyneux; our second choice RB is pretty certainly James, not Thomson; our first choice CM is pretty certainly Schneiderlin, not James; John would walk into almost any first team squad in L1 as a starting player; and so on.

 

We will never play that second team you list, unless we suffer a ManU/Munich type disaster to our squad. It isn't about having a "second team", it's about having good cover for each position. James, for example, provides excellent cover for two positions (RB and CM), as does Mills (LB and LW). I'm not sure you fully understand the concept of "squad" and "squad players". Quite simply, your "second team" is entirely irrelevant. It contains four or five good players who will do a job for us as startters or back ups; you leave out one or two players who will do a job for us this season; if Pardew adds another 4 players or so who can either start or be good back ups, we will be in great shape. That is only an opinion, of course; but I suspect that it will prove to be a better one than your 10 man theory. Not sure what your eyes or the radish have to do with it, other than providing bit of a chuckle. It's all in good humour, eh? We are but internet warriors here, after all ...

[Arizona]

Our first choice left winger is pretty certainly Lee Holmes, not Mills; our second choice LB is pretty certainly Mills, not Molyneux; our second choice RB is pretty certainly James, not Thomson; our first choice CM is pretty certainly Schneiderlin, not James; John would walk into almost any first team squad in L1 as a starting player; and so on.

 

We will never play that second team you list, unless we suffer a ManU/Munich type disaster to our squad. It isn't about having a "second team", it's about having good cover for each position. James, for example, provides excellent cover for two positions (RB and CM), as does Mills (LB and LW). I'm not sure you fully understand the concept of "squad" and "squad players". Quite simply, your "second team" is entirely irrelevant. It contains four or five good players who will do a job for us as startters or back ups; you leave out one or two players who will do a job for us this season; if Pardew adds another 4 players or so who can either start or be good back ups, we will be in great shape. That is only an opinion, of course; but I suspect that it will prove to be a better one than your 10 man theory. Not sure what your eyes or the radish have to do with it, other than providing bit of a chuckle. It's all in good humour, eh? We are but internet warriors here, after all ...

 

I guess everyone has their own system. AP I'm sure has his and I'm 100% behind it. However, that's just how I'd do it. Also I really don't like having one player (like say James or Wotton) to cover multiple possitions. He may well be able to do that, but when they get injured we are then left badly lacking in cover in several possitions.

 

The first half of the Prem relegation season showed that injury lists of 10-12 first team players aren't impossible. Such a pandemic would cripple our current squad and we could end up losing every game on the bounce for a couple of months.

 

I'd just have a squad consisting of 2 players for each possition (that's 22) with 3 goalies (that's 23) and then half a dosen young players like Pato, Gobern and McLaggon who have shown promise and could be featuring on the bench in the not too distant future (That's about 30)

 

P.S. The radish doesn't have any particular bearing on this discussion, I just thought this thread lacked a little garnish.

[Hopkins]

So You'd have 11 players not playing plus youngsters who could do a job not playing also?

 

We're rich but we're not Man City. We're in League 1 FFS. Name me a squad in the Championship below that has 2 sets of 11 plus youngsters.

 

Infact, i'd also go as far as saying 1/4 of the squads in the Prem will not be that well off.

 

Thats the beauty of having players who can play in multiple positions. They are invaluble becasuse they mean you don't have to sign 2 players for every position.

[SamKimish]

So You'd have 11 players not playing plus youngsters who could do a job not playing also?

 

We're rich but we're not Man City. We're in League 1 FFS. Name me a squad in the Championship below that has 2 sets of 11 plus youngsters.

 

Infact, i'd also go as far as saying 1/4 of the squads in the Prem will not be that well off.

 

Thats the beauty of having players who can play in multiple positions. They are invaluble becasuse they mean you don't have to sign 2 players for every position.

 

Didn't Bolton end up having to name an un-full subs bench at one point last season?

 

Against Arsenal I think? :confused:

 

Personally, I still think we could do with some more signings, but only 3 or 4 ... not the 10 that some people are suggesting.

[Arizona]

So You'd have 11 players not playing plus youngsters who could do a job not playing also?

 

We're rich but we're not Man City. We're in League 1 FFS. Name me a squad in the Championship below that has 2 sets of 11 plus youngsters.

 

Infact, i'd also go as far as saying 1/4 of the squads in the Prem will not be that well off.

 

Thats the beauty of having players who can play in multiple positions. They are invaluble becasuse they mean you don't have to sign 2 players for every position.

 

Well, last season we had 43 players who were allocated squad numbers and I can't remember any of our players wanting out because they weren't getting a game. So far we've lost 9 first team players from last season's squad and gained 1. ARe you suggesting having as much depth and quality as last season would be overdoing it?

 

Bolton's current squad, according to wiki is 28 players. Anyone who wants to check and see how many are experienced players and how many have been promoted from the accademy is more patient than me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolton_Wanderers_F.C.

 

I'd like a squad like the one that brought our best season in living memory.

 

Up front: Beattie, Ormerod, Tin Man, Pahars and Davies. Yes the last 3 didn't deliver and we did rely on goals, but all 5 DAJFU at one time or another.

 

Midfield: Mazza, Oakley, Anders, Delap, FF, Prutton, Tessem, Kanchelskis A good mix of creativity and determination. Yes AK didn't deliver but we need to have the depth to cover these things.

 

In defence: Bridge, Killer, Claus, Dodd, Monk, Williams, Benali, Tahar, Telfer, Higgy, Hall. The first choice was brilliant. We had plenty of cover and experience in Williams and Franny.

 

'keepers: Niemi, Jones, Moss. Nothing wrong there.

 

 

 

That was a ferkin good squad and didn't cost the Earth. On top of that we had 2 different players for each possition and yet nobody was complaining they couldn't get a game (except super Kev, who generally looked disinterested and a bit porky IMO)

[SaintJackoInHurworth]

Not a bad summing up though I would like to say that Mills looked poor. Either he was ordered to play in the centre circle for most of the match or he was way out of position. What this did - particularly first half was compress the play into the right hand side as there was no out let to the left! This had the effect of crowding out Lallana giving us no width. This 'tactic' continued until Gobern came on and he stretched their midfield by playing much wider. Result was Lallana and Murty had much more room and we started to construct attacking movements.................

 

How can you say Mills looked poor?!! IMO he was one of our best players!! He made a number of teasing runs and linked up play excellently. He was streets better than when he played for us at the start of last season. He has matured loads as a player.

 

In terms of Gobern, though, I agree he looked good too when he came on.

[saint_stevo]

Ollie Lancashire is, to be perfectly honest.....Crap. Not good enough, far too slow and not up to it. If he is the backup at the back then we will be in trouble.....Jaidi would be good cover.

 

We need a RM and depending on how the sale of the poles go a striker as well

[trousers]

Too many long posts on this thread.

 

And that is my contribution this weekend.

 

Thank you.

[captainchris]

Must have been watching a different game LOL.

Most of our plays went up the right wing first half, but Harding and Mills linked up well down the left several times, making some good chances IMO.

 

Yes most of the play did go up the right first half - that's because there was no one to distribute the ball wide left as Mills was too central. I'm not saying he's crap but his positional play was not helping our balance.....

[RinNY]

I guess everyone has their own system. AP I'm sure has his and I'm 100% behind it. However, that's just how I'd do it. Also I really don't like having one player (like say James or Wotton) to cover multiple possitions. He may well be able to do that, but when they get injured we are then left badly lacking in cover in several possitions.

 

The first half of the Prem relegation season showed that injury lists of 10-12 first team players aren't impossible. Such a pandemic would cripple our current squad and we could end up losing every game on the bounce for a couple of months.

 

I'd just have a squad consisting of 2 players for each possition (that's 22) with 3 goalies (that's 23) and then half a dosen young players like Pato, Gobern and McLaggon who have shown promise and could be featuring on the bench in the not too distant future (That's about 30)

 

P.S. The radish doesn't have any particular bearing on this discussion, I just thought this thread lacked a little garnish.

 

 

Well, granting your idea of a squad with 2 players for each position & a third goalie, then:

 

in goal we have Davis with 2 of Bialkowski, Forecast, Poke as back ups ...

 

RB: Murty, James

 

LB: Harding, Mills, Molyneux

 

CB: Thomas, Perry, Lancashire (or Harding, Wotton), youngsters -- need A.N. Other

 

RW: Thomson, Gobern (or James, Lallana) -- need A.N. Other

 

LW: Holmes, Gobern (or Mills)

 

CM: Schneiderlin, Gillett, Wotton, Lallana, youngsters (or James) -- need A.N. Other

 

S: John, Rasiak, Saga, Paterson, White (or Lallana) -- if Rasiak/Saga leave need A.N. Other

 

 

Based on that I'd say we have a good first team squad of about 18 or 19 players, not including the very young and untried (e.g. Argent, Saville, McLaggon) who may actually contribute, and not counting Pulis or really needing Molyneux ( who is only 3rd choice at LB), but assuming that Murty & John sign up. If we get in 4 decent signings, we will have your ideal squad. QED.

[Arizona]

Well, granting your idea of a squad with 2 players for each position & a third goalie, then:

 

in goal we have Davis with 2 of Bialkowski, Forecast, Poke as back ups ...

 

RB: Murty, James

 

LB: Harding, Mills, Molyneux

 

CB: Thomas, Perry, Lancashire (or Harding, Wotton), youngsters -- need A.N. Other

 

RW: Thomson, Gobern (or James, Lallana) -- need A.N. Other

 

LW: Holmes, Gobern (or Mills)

 

CM: Schneiderlin, Gillett, Wotton, Lallana, youngsters (or James) -- need A.N. Other

 

S: John, Rasiak, Saga, Paterson, White (or Lallana) -- if Rasiak/Saga leave need A.N. Other

 

 

Based on that I'd say we have a good first team squad of about 18 or 19 players, not including the very young and untried (e.g. Argent, Saville, McLaggon) who may actually contribute, and not counting Pulis or really needing Molyneux ( who is only 3rd choice at LB), but assuming that Murty & John sign up. If we get in 4 decent signings, we will have your ideal squad. QED.

 

Sorry, not convinced by that lot and a squad made up of a mixture of first team and bit part players has just been beaten by Farnborough. I know, it's a preseason, a lot of youngsters, Pardew didn't pick the team etc. but more worryingly this wasn't a freak result or performance thus far.

 

Looking at the squad there, it's riddled with players who aren't up to the job.

 

CB: WT and CP fair enough, but OL and PW just aren't up to it.

 

Both wings: Gobern and Thomson made a few fleeting appearances last season, but aside from Goberns 45 mins in Preston neither of them looked anywhere near up for it. Holmes is almost constantly injured.

 

CM: MS has shown good touches but hasn't delivered anything yet and has injury problems. PW not good enough and AL is a supporting striker or nothing IMO.

 

Assuming MS and LH both maintain their dubious injury records, what team would you put out if say James, Thomas and Gillett picked up a knock?

[RinNY]

Sorry, not convinced by that lot and a squad made up of a mixture of first team and bit part players has just been beaten by Farnborough. I know, it's a preseason, a lot of youngsters, Pardew didn't pick the team etc. but more worryingly this wasn't a freak result or performance thus far.

 

Looking at the squad there, it's riddled with players who aren't up to the job.

 

CB: WT and CP fair enough, but OL and PW just aren't up to it.

 

Both wings: Gobern and Thomson made a few fleeting appearances last season, but aside from Goberns 45 mins in Preston neither of them looked anywhere near up for it. Holmes is almost constantly injured.

 

CM: MS has shown good touches but hasn't delivered anything yet and has injury problems. PW not good enough and AL is a supporting striker or nothing IMO.

 

Assuming MS and LH both maintain their dubious injury records, what team would you put out if say James, Thomas and Gillett picked up a knock?

 

 

Well, assuming our present players only, with those three out I assume the team would be something like:

 

Davis

 

Murty ... Perry ... Harding ... Mills

 

Lallana ... Schneiderlin ... Wotton ... Holmes

 

Paterson ... John/Rasiak

 

 

And I think that's a very competitive team for L1, though short on height at the back. However, in reality, I would expect that there would be several players in there whom we have not yet signed, such as a new CB and perhaps a new RW or CM. Because, just to remind, I'm not suggesting our squad is the finished article, but that we need about 4 good signings in addition to Murty. And that those signings should ideally include a CB, a CM, and a RW in addition to a striker. Worth noting though that Harding can play CB and is a shade over 6 feet (I believe, based on a profile I saw).

 

It's not about whether we have a satisfactory squad as is: I don't think anyone thinks we do. It's about how many decent players we have and how many more we need. I see about 15 or 16 solid outfield players, plus youngsters and some dross, and therefore suggest 4 new signings, give or take. You apparently only see 10 decent outfield players and call for 10 signings. That's the difference; though in talking about actual players you seem to rate almost all the ones I'm rating ...

[AlfredKo]

Well, assuming our present players only, with those three out I assume the team would be something like:

 

Davis

 

Murty ... Perry ... Harding ... Mills

 

Lallana ... Schneiderlin ... Wotton ... Holmes

 

Paterson ... John/Rasiak

 

 

And I think that's a very competitive team for L1, though short on height at the back. However, in reality, I would expect that there would be several players in there whom we have not yet signed, such as a new CB and perhaps a new RW or CM. Because, just to remind, I'm not suggesting our squad is the finished article, but that we need about 4 good

signings in addition to Murty. And that those signings should ideally include a CB, a CM, and a RW in addition to a striker. Worth noting though that Harding can play CB and is a shade over 6 feet (I believe, based on a profile I saw).

 

It's not about whether we have a satisfactory squad as is: I don't think anyone thinks we do. It's about how many decent players we have and how many more we need. I see about 15 or 16 solid outfield players, plus youngsters and some dross, and therefore suggest 4 new signings, give or take. You apparently only see 10 decent outfield players and call for 10 signings. That's the difference; though in talking about actual players you seem to rate almost all the ones I'm rating ...

 

I am sure you are not very familiar with our current team. Harding ia a left back, not a centre back. No people on this planet will prefer Wotton than Gillet and L James.

[RinNY]

I am sure you are not very familiar with our current team. Harding ia a left back, not a centre back. No people on this planet will prefer Wotton than Gillet and L James.

 

Please follow the conversation before you criticise: I was asked what team we could put out if Thomas, Gillett, and James were out with injuries! So naturally I offered a team line up not including those three, and putting Harding at CB where I think you will find he has played before now. You may not recall it, but Jason Dodd, a RB, occasionally played at CB when injuries required it; ManU have played Gary Neville -- smaller than either Dodd or Harding I fancy -- as an emergency CB on at least one occasion I know of. The conversation between myself and Arizona is about what cover we have in our squad in case of injuries, and how many new signings are therefore needed; it isn't about what our first team is and who should ideally play in what position.

[AlfredKo]

Please follow the conversation before you criticise: I was asked what team we could put out if Thomas, Gillett, and James were out with injuries! So naturally I offered a team line up not including those three, and putting Harding at CB where I think you will find he has played before now. You may not recall it, but Jason Dodd, a RB, occasionally played at CB when injuries required it; ManU have played Gary Neville -- smaller than either Dodd or Harding I fancy -- as an emergency CB on at least one occasion I know of. The conversation between myself and Arizona is about what cover we have in our squad in case of injuries, and how many new signings are therefore needed; it isn't about what our first team is and who should ideally play in what position.

 

OK, I agree I didn't see the sentence if Tomas, Gillett and L James are out with injuries. If they are so unfortunate to get injuried in the wrong time, then I still prefer Wotton as an emergency centre back. He played there last season and was much better rather than playing as a CM.

[Arizona]

Well, assuming our present players only, with those three out I assume the team would be something like:

 

Davis

 

Murty ... Perry ... Harding ... Mills

 

Lallana ... Schneiderlin ... Wotton ... Holmes

 

Paterson ... John/Rasiak

 

 

And I think that's a very competitive team for L1, though short on height at the back. However, in reality, I would expect that there would be several players in there whom we have not yet signed, such as a new CB and perhaps a new RW or CM. Because, just to remind, I'm not suggesting our squad is the finished article, but that we need about 4 good signings in addition to Murty. And that those signings should ideally include a CB, a CM, and a RW in addition to a striker. Worth noting though that Harding can play CB and is a shade over 6 feet (I believe, based on a profile I saw).

 

It's not about whether we have a satisfactory squad as is: I don't think anyone thinks we do. It's about how many decent players we have and how many more we need. I see about 15 or 16 solid outfield players, plus youngsters and some dross, and therefore suggest 4 new signings, give or take. You apparently only see 10 decent outfield players and call for 10 signings. That's the difference; though in talking about actual players you seem to rate almost all the ones I'm rating ...

 

What I meant by that question was what if those three got injured on top of Holmes and Schneiderlin's reccuring injuries. Then you really would be struggling to put out a decent team, even in League 1. That's not me being a pessimist, there are going to be periods next season when we have upwards of 9 or 10 players injured.

 

Just looking at last season's (already thin on quality) squad, we've lost 9 first team regulars and thus far only signed Harding.

[angelman]

 

I'd like a squad like the one that brought our best season in living memory.

 

Up front: Beattie, Ormerod, Tin Man, Pahars and Davies. Yes the last 3 didn't deliver and we did rely on goals, but all 5 DAJFU at one time or another.

 

Midfield: Mazza, Oakley, Anders, Delap, FF, Prutton, Tessem, Kanchelskis A good mix of creativity and determination. Yes AK didn't deliver but we need to have the depth to cover these things.

 

In defence: Bridge, Killer, Claus, Dodd, Monk, Williams, Benali, Tahar, Telfer, Higgy, Hall. The first choice was brilliant. We had plenty of cover and experience in Williams and Franny.

 

'keepers: Niemi, Jones, Moss. Nothing wrong there.

 

 

 

That was a ferkin good squad and didn't cost the Earth. On top of that we had 2 different players for each possition and yet nobody was complaining they couldn't get a game (except super Kev, who generally looked disinterested and a bit porky IMO)

 

I feel sorry for those of you who think that that was the best season in living memory. Some of us are a little older and lived through the 80s, especially the 83/84 season. I would far rather that squad.

[NickG]

arhhh...1984 -seems lifetime away now!

[RinNY]

What I meant by that question was what if those three got injured on top of Holmes and Schneiderlin's reccuring injuries. Then you really would be struggling to put out a decent team, even in League 1. That's not me being a pessimist, there are going to be periods next season when we have upwards of 9 or 10 players injured.

 

Just looking at last season's (already thin on quality) squad, we've lost 9 first team regulars and thus far only signed Harding.

 

Oh, if all five of those were out at once, then yes with our current squad we'd be struggling, no doubt. But again, that's exactly why I think we need about 4 or 5 new signings (not 10). And if you look at the 9 who are gone, I think you'll find that only 4 or 5 of them (Surman, McG, BWP, Saeijs) were first teamers who will be missed. And who we could definitely stand to replace, therefore. We aren't going to miss the likes of Imudia and Hatch & so on.

[Arizona]

I feel sorry for those of you who think that that was the best season in living memory. Some of us are a little older and lived through the 80s, especially the 83/84 season. I would far rather that squad.

 

For those of us who weren't conceived until 5 years after that season however, it was the best in living memory.

 

Oh, if all five of those were out at once, then yes with our current squad we'd be struggling, no doubt. But again, that's exactly why I think we need about 4 or 5 new signings (not 10). And if you look at the 9 who are gone, I think you'll find that only 4 or 5 of them (Surman, McG, BWP, Saeijs) were first teamers who will be missed. And who we could definitely stand to replace, therefore. We aren't going to miss the likes of Imudia and Hatch & so on.

 

Those four plus Euell and Skacel. Also Liptack, Smith, Gasmi and Killer played a handful of games each, although they were the kinds of fringe player who SHOULD be replaced by accademy players.

 

The six regulars who have departed need to be replaced by six equally capable replacements, plus further strenght in the areas we were weak last season.

 

At the end of the day we're never going to see eye to eye on this one. I see your point and wouldn't be unhappy if we only got 5 or 6 players. I just like to have as much redundancy as is ecconomically possible built into things.

[Iowsaintsfan]

Anyone see that Plymouth drew 0-0 with Hearts last night?