Squad strength?

[SteKelly]

we battered stoke and sunderland and drew and lost, then play average against soton and win. been unlucky

Stoke defended excellent. They didn't deserve to lose.

I love the way people are only just realising that we don't have great depth when I said it a while back.

 

[SteKelly]

Because we're still only 5 points behind them, and he's exactly the kind of player we need. He's a purchase they made looking toward the future of Chelsea, they've no need to sell him, a loan would be much more logical for them (see Lukaku).

Who you going on about Brennan?

 

[Sona]

I know this sounds odd, but I don't think it was squad depth that cost us today. We did enough to win the match in terms of clear cut chances created, but Stoke defended incredibly.

Also, we didn't really miss Jags or Distin. It's great that we have 4 very capable centre halves that can be relied upon.

 

[davek]

It would have been a very different story if we had that bit of luck getting a rebound into the net from the woodwork, we would have been cheering then and it would be 6 pints from 9. So at the moment I do not buy the argument about the squad, Roberto is managing this very well and the players for the most part are giving it their all.

Yes, he's having to. He said today post-match that we're "stretched"...he used the word twice, in fact. He didn't use that phrase by accident. It's becoming a major issue.

He knows Distin and Jagielka are not going to be playing next game or two and that Gibson and Kone are season long casualties. Another serious injury to a senior member of this team and we will be in bad shape.

 

[Brennan]

Who you going on about Brennan?

De Bruyne

 

[SteKelly]

I know this sounds odd, but I don't think it was squad depth that cost us today. We did enough to win the match in terms of clear cut chances created, but Stoke defended incredibly.

Also, we didn't really miss Jags or Distin. It's great that we have 4 very capable centre halves that can be relied upon.

yeah but look at our bench mate. Its only Osman who can do something. We still have the likes of Jelavic on the bench, he should be nowhere near our squad

De Bruyne

yeah, no chance they would sell him to us.

 

[billycopper]

I was happy with the point today given the circumstances. But let's face it: we earned the right to see Stoke away as a game we could easily see winning given the way we dispatched United and bossed Arsenal. If we'd had the players for those games we'd have won today. Simple.

If we'd had Jagielka and Distin instead of Stones and Alcaraz would we have kept a clean sheet? Maybe. The Potters have drawn a blank four times at home this season. But then again we'd gone five league games without a shut out before today.

If Deulofeu was fit would we have scored more than 1? It's possible but it was looking like being one of those days again in front of goal.

Don't forget that the last time we won at Stoke was 2008/9.

If Moyes had been in charge he might have played Hibbert or Barry at centre back rather than giving Stones his chance. It's looking like pretty much anyone in the squad can step in and do a job for us.

 

[billycopper]

Yes, he's having to. He said today post-match that we're "stretched"...he used the word twice, in fact. He didn't use that phrase by accident. It's becoming a major issue.

He knows Distin and Jagielka are not going to be playing next game or two and that Gibson and Kone are season long casualties. Another serious injury to a senior member of this team and we will be in bad shape.

According to Physioroom Distin was due to have a late fitness test today, so it can only be a minor injury. It looks like Heitinga is pretty much gone, so if there was a problem with Alcaraz or Stones we might have to play Hibbert or Barry there or recall Duffy.

We've not got to the point yet where we're having to put kids on the bench and the window is open if we have any emergency issues, so I'm not overly concerned.

Arsenal have 12 players out, Spurs 7, Liverpool and United 6 and we've got 5.

 

[DanEFC92]

Priority has to be a forward.

 

[D410]

Squad is creaking.

Milkman has a grade 1 and out for 10 days.

ROM only played today after passing a fitness test.

 

[Brennan]

I'd rest Lukaku against QPR.

 

[Ihaters]

We've got plenty of injuries and we are coping fine, last game we lost 1-0 due to being down to 10 men and some rotten luck, we were far, far better than Sunderland, this game we smashed them all over the park after they scored and we went attacking by taking one of the DM's off. Hit the post twice, earn't a pen, missed some sitters and played really well, just wasn't meant to be.

Squads fine. Sunderland we were missing Howard, Baines, Gibson, Barkley, Pienaar and were still the dominant team even with 10 men. It was literally just bad luck that cost us that. We utterly smashed them, but they won because of the pen.

Personally I would rather we didn't play two DM's against an average team that parks the bus. Would much rather we went more attacking and put a second playmaker up there. But that's personal preference, against Stoke, we were the better team with the most chances, and I would say deserved 3 points, we just have to settle for 1 knowing that on another day we don't hit the woodwork twice. That being said, some outstanding defending by their lads.

Blaming it on squad strength is daft, we were fine. It would be hugely knee jerk to sign a load of players to cover a period of intensive games that's just finished anyway.

 

[Ihaters]

I'd rest Lukaku against QPR.

Yeah me too, possibly Coleman too.

 

[bourneblue]

Squad is creaking.

Milkman has a grade 1 and out for 10 days.

ROM only played today after passing a fitness test.

You pathetic little muppet, how is it you only appear when the result is less than a win ?
Always posting negative **** and predicting doom and gloom.
Whatever your agenda is it does nothing for the well being of this great club.(fact)

 

[steken1]

You pathetic little muppet, how is it you only appear when the result is less than a win ?
Always posting negative **** and predicting doom and gloom.
Whatever your agenda is it does nothing for the well being of this great club.(fact)

Speaking of agendas, how things in the boardroom?