Holy Crap

[Goat]

So after our big clearout, it doesnt make pretty reading of whats left squad wise. We have 38 Premeirship games, The Europa League, Carling Cup, FA Cup. So if we are to be a success we will play somewhere in the region of 60+ games.

This is what we are left with :

GK - Howard, Nash, Turner, Ruddy.

Def - Coleman, Jagielka, Hibbert, Baines, Yobo, Lescott, Shkodran, Neville.

Mid - Arteta, Cahill, Pienaar, Osman, Fellaini, Rodwell, Gosling.

For - Yakubu, Vaughan, Anichebe, Jutkiewicz, Baxter, Saha.

So thats a squad of 25, which includes 4 GKs, 4 currently injured players, 2 players who are prone to injury, 4 unproven youngsters.

It makes grim reading for me. Looking at that, you can see why we are being linked with some midfielders. Plus we have nearly as many Goalkeepers as we do Forwards.


chooo chooo

 

[ToxtethBlue]

It's very early, I wouldn't be too worried yet.

 

[brado_efc]

It's very early, I wouldn't be too worried yet.

True it is to early, but by looking at that we do really need to buy some quality players

 

[Goat]

It's very early, I wouldn't be too worried yet.

Im not too worried yet..... Well maybe a little, but im sure Moyes is aware of the situation and im fairly sure he will deal with it. Was just basically pointing out the grimness of it all really.

I did also wish to ask how many players people think we need to add, but I missed that bit out........

I think we need 2-3 quality players, then about 3-4 fillers. Same as last year really. But we appear to have lost more players this year than we did last? I know we had a lot of loaners that went back, it just seems we are lower on numbers this year or is that just me?

 

[Azzbot]

But people are reluctant to sell one player to invest in 3 or 4.....

 

[Goat]

But people are reluctant to sell one player to invest in 3 or 4.....

People are reluctant to sell their best players in order to bulk up the squad with crap.

 

[Azzbot]

People are reluctant to sell their best players in order to bulk up the squad with crap.

Why would we bulk up with crap?

 

[Screech]

Because you can't get 3-4 quality players for £20m

 

[teppic]

after the big clear out of who exactly?

castillo? VDM? Valente?

using that squad list i'd play for the opening game

howard

neville yobo lescott baines

osman arteta fellaini pienaar

cahill

yakubu

subs. nash, hibbert, rodwell, gosling, anichebe, vaughan, saha.

jagielka, baxter and the other academy players ready to come in too.


that looks like top six to me as it is.

what is the fascination with rotating the squad every week? moyes has proved year in, year out he gets results with playing a core of players.

add to that list possible players like m'bia there is no reason to panic.

we are in very good shape this pre season.

 

[brado_efc]

after the big clear out of who exactly?

castillo? VDM? Valente?

using that squad list i'd play for the opening game

howard

neville yobo lescott baines

osman arteta fellaini pienaar

cahill

yakubu

subs. nash, hibbert, rodwell, gosling, anichebe, vaughan, saha.

jagielka, baxter and the other academy players ready to come in too.


that looks like top six to me as it is.

what is the fascination with rotating the squad every week? moyes has proved year in, year out he gets results with playing a core of players.

add to that list possible players like m'bia there is no reason to panic.

we are in very good shape this pre season.

Yes, but I think I speak for everyone when I say, we want to break the top four this year

 

[teppic]

indeed, as do i old boy.

but as it is that looks likely for top six. so no need to worry about the big clear out that just took place. we have lost 3rd choice players at best.


now lets hope we can turn this top 6 squad in to a top 4 squad with some davey moyes magic over the next 3 months^^

 

[Azzbot]

Because you can't get 3-4 quality players for £20m

Either way, we aren't going to get quality all around the park.

Let's compare us to the League winners.

Man United - They had their stars; Ronaldo, Rooney etc

They also had Fletcher, Brown, Neville, Scholes, Giggs. None of which are quality, but all played their part. Id rather have 3 or 4 good squad players (which we can definitely buy for £20m) than 1 almost quality player, and a piss bare squad. They won the League becuase of their squad, not becuase of their starting 11. (and im not saying we are going for the League or nothing...)

The key for us next season will be a big squad. Id rather have a decent starting 11, with good back up for most of them, than 11 good players starting, and feck all back up.

Just my opinion. Screech - you don't even have to reply. With out a doubt, you've got the disagreement speech on standby.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Mikel Arteta, Victor Anichebe, Aiyegbeni Yakubu and Phil Jagielka all injured.

I wouldn't say where in great shape, we don't know when any of these players will be back. Victor will probably but Arteta, Yakubu and Jagielka have serious injuries and will all be doubtful.

It's early though, hopefully we can get some players in and boost the squad. With the Europa cup especially it'll be needed.

 

[Goat]

indeed, as do i old boy.

but as it is that looks likely for top six. so no need to worry about the big clear out that just took place. we have lost 3rd choice players at best.


now lets hope we can turn this top 6 squad in to a top 4 squad with some davey moyes magic over the next 3 months^^

Someone “hiding their head in the sand, like an ostrich” is said to be foolishly ignoring their problem, while hoping it will magically vanish.

 

[Screech]

They'd all get in our side though, Fletchers improved a load this year, Browns a hell of alot better than Hibbert, Scholes is a supersub imo, Neville played about two games so yeah good backup, Giggs was player of the year so to say he's not quality....