Woodwardfan
Woodwardfan
- Banned
- #1
How unlucky for the new manager that our two most expensive signings are out with long term injuries ( Brayford ( Dec?) and Done ( Oct?))
.
We also have injuries to the following senior players: Kennedy, Coutts, Harris, Alcock, Flynn, Campbell-Ryce.
We have ambition to win this league but in that context what would a Risk Assessment tell us?
1. Big squad with nearly enough players to field 2 competitive League 1 sides.
2. Loads of strikers and midfielders but really short of defenders particularly central defenders.
3. Confidence high and some momentum built in pre-season.
I have a big unease about this level of injuries to key players at such an early stage of the season. Despite the size of the squad, can we afford any more and who are the key players we especially need to keep fit?
In defence:
Howard.
Even if we give Long his big chance we need the option of Howard in case it goes wrong.
Basham.
Some will say for midfield and I'd say as cover as well for Collins and McEveley who are of an age that suffers injuries and we literally have no other obvious cover for them than Basham.
In attack:
Murphy.
For obvious reasons.
Sharp.
Without him our front line leadership looks thin, not disastrous but thin.
Looking at things differently, if J. Wallace could get fully match fit then he would become a key player. Adams, McNulty, Baxter, Reed and maybe Sammon all have the potential to make themselves key players over the next couple of months and maybe Freeman, but I don't think any of them are there just yet.
I know Blades fans are pessimists but these things happen to us. Take two of those key 4 out and we are exposed, despite our big squad. Maybe I'm looking for re-assurance from Forum.
.
We also have injuries to the following senior players: Kennedy, Coutts, Harris, Alcock, Flynn, Campbell-Ryce.
We have ambition to win this league but in that context what would a Risk Assessment tell us?
1. Big squad with nearly enough players to field 2 competitive League 1 sides.
2. Loads of strikers and midfielders but really short of defenders particularly central defenders.
3. Confidence high and some momentum built in pre-season.
I have a big unease about this level of injuries to key players at such an early stage of the season. Despite the size of the squad, can we afford any more and who are the key players we especially need to keep fit?
In defence:
Howard.
Even if we give Long his big chance we need the option of Howard in case it goes wrong.
Basham.
Some will say for midfield and I'd say as cover as well for Collins and McEveley who are of an age that suffers injuries and we literally have no other obvious cover for them than Basham.
In attack:
Murphy.
For obvious reasons.
Sharp.
Without him our front line leadership looks thin, not disastrous but thin.
Looking at things differently, if J. Wallace could get fully match fit then he would become a key player. Adams, McNulty, Baxter, Reed and maybe Sammon all have the potential to make themselves key players over the next couple of months and maybe Freeman, but I don't think any of them are there just yet.
I know Blades fans are pessimists but these things happen to us. Take two of those key 4 out and we are exposed, despite our big squad. Maybe I'm looking for re-assurance from Forum.