I think looking at the squad we are still a few players short of what i think we need to start the season. Im thinking a left back, striker and a wide left winger / midfielder. Its interesting though to see the squad now and starting line up in our first few games last season vs our team now based on last couple of games. We do look stronger now and have more experience of games played for the kids V Fulham Radlinger - Gone, Walton emerged as a contender with Collins Sibbick - Ludewig has developed and looked more assured as the season went on Diaby - Solbauer, much more experience, assured and helped Andersen develop Andersen - Seems to have held his place despite his weaknesses and poor performance pre Covid. Does look a much better player now Cavare - Williams. This is the weak link for me. Cavare had some weaknesses but either of the Williams haven't solved it in my mind McGeehan - Ritzmaier. I dont think this position has really been solved, but we have seen Styles emerge and Palmer show some glimpses. Now having signed Frieser this looks like a position where we have options. Mowatt - started well, ended well. Was mr consistency and hopefully more of the same Thomas - Was in and out through the season. But with Styles and some signs Palmer could be competing we seem stronger here too. Thomas will be better off from games played than on his debut even though he scored the winner Bahre - Styles - Seems a position we still have both players for. Competition right now looks strong in central midfield Wilks - Brown - Wilks had a great game first off and never demonstrated the same after the first game. Looked unfit and didn't seem to fit the style. Brown however does and had a good deal of assists. Will only get better and benefitted from a long run in the team. Seemed like we found a better balance right than Wilks left. Woodrow / Chaplin - Still here and will be better for the games and demonstrated both can score goals. We have seen Simoes now give us an option who seems to fit our style better than Thiam. Halme still here and seems to be more of a defensive (Occasional attacking ) utility player. Also Schmidt scored some important assists and goals despite the lack of game time but perhaps is a better option than Miller who was on the bench early games. So all in all if we keep the squad together, fix the LB position, add a couple more for strength in depth and we should be better prepared than last year. Will it be enough?
Good points made. I would definitely rather have Paddy Schmidt than Miller, who is unproven and hasn't pulled up trees out on loan at a lower level. Also the LB/LWB position isnt broken for me: Clarke Oduor. What we need in my view is a striker.
Yeah i missed Clark when comparing. I think he def is the better of all our options and i wish he had been given more game time last season. I think our wider LB/LWB is our weakest position though.
If we started with this squad - under Strubers stewardship we would avoid relegation. There are 4 positions to be improved. One has been done. Get the other 3 done and we are knocking on the door of top 6. However - with the players that are being mentioned for recruitment - I think I can understand the strategy - and it seems it relates to player burn out and the pressing game and the number of substitutes that are allowed now. Let’s see.
Good post & to add to it I would include Matty Wolfe in the midfield section , if he can stay injury free I expect him to kick on & force his way into the match day squad . I think he has a very bright future , hope I"m right !
yep I think our pool of youngsters knocking on the door is as good as I can remember for this league and stage of a season. By youngsters I mean from the junior set up, most first team players are youngsters.
