Balancing the squad.

[Woodwardfan]

Squad as it is now:

Keepers(3): Howard. Long. Willis.

Defenders(5): Harris. Maguire. Collins. Butler. Kennedy.

Midfielders(9): Baxter. Basham. Scougall. Flynn(wide) . Doyle. Campbell-Ryce(wide). Murphy(wide). McGinn. Davies.

Strikers(2): McNulty. Porter.

Optional defenders: Basham. Davies.

Optional strikers: Baxter. Murphy.

Clough said he was aiming for 18/19 with Kennedy still a development player additional plus Willis in that category no doubt.

On that basis we should expect just one, probably two more signings, IF there are no departures.

******** ******** ********

To my eyes the squad needs two more strikers as the main priority but we also need another defender as Clough intimated he saw Basham in midfield and nailing down one specialist position. If that is the case we have no specialist right back.

He has also intimated that he doesn't include Baxter in his midfield so he adds to the strikeforce presumably.

Looking at the balance and quality of the current squad, if I were Clough, I'd move on a midfielder, preferably McGinn and hopefully not Baxter; maybe possibly Doyle. Then sign two strikers and a right back. Say two of those could be loan players and hopefully the marquee striker on contract.

If that is not the approach then there is every indication that we will continue to play 4-5-1 as our squad has an abundance of midfielders. Nothing Clough does is by accident, it is reassuring to have a manager whose every move seems to make sense and appears to follow a masterplan.

My guess is Baxter out. Sharp in. Premiership young striker on loan. Brayford on season loan. If that happens but Baxter stays get bags of money on us getting promoted, maybe even as champions!

P.S. Surely Long will go out on loan and then we'd sign a mature deputy for Howard. No good Long sitting on the bench all season.

Also, Taylor, Brandy presumed exits. Cuvelier not part of plan pending regaining of fitness and then might leave anyway.

 

[wizadry]

Squad as it is now:

Keepers(3): Howard. Long. Willis.

Defenders(5): Harris. Maguire. Collins. Butler. Kennedy.

Midfielders(9): Baxter. Basham. Scougall. Flynn(wide) . Doyle. Campbell-Ryce(wide). Murphy(wide). McGinn. Davies.

Strikers(2): McNulty. Porter.

Optional defenders: Basham. Davies.

Optional strikers: Baxter. Murphy.

Clough said he was aiming for 18/19 with Kennedy still a development player additional plus Willis in that category no doubt.

On that basis we should expect just one, probably two more signings, IF there are no departures.

******** ******** ********

To my eyes the squad needs two more strikers as the main priority but we also need another defender as Clough intimated he saw Basham in midfield and nailing down one specialist position. If that is the case we have no specialist right back.

He has also intimated that he doesn't include Baxter in his midfield so he adds to the strikeforce presumably.

Looking at the balance and quality of the current squad, if I were Clough, I'd move on a midfielder, preferably McGinn and hopefully not Baxter; maybe possibly Doyle. Then sign two strikers and a right back. Say two of those could be loan players and hopefully the marquee striker on contract.

If that is not the approach then there is every indication that we will continue to play 4-5-1 as our squad has an abundance of midfielders. Nothing Clough does is by accident, it is reassuring to have a manager whose every move seems to make sense and appears to follow a masterplan.

My guess is Baxter out. Sharp in. Premiership young striker on loan. Brayford on season loan. If that happens but Baxter stays get bags of money on us getting promoted, maybe even as champions!

Don't want baxter leaving,best technical player we have,bit to prove to some blades but last year he wasn't played in the right position.I think this year could be a big one for baxter,i'd play him in a 4-1-4-1 formation,both him and scouggs behind whoever the main man is going to be,wallace sitting in behind baxter and scouggs and i really do think basham will be playing right back,just my view mind.

 

[Esablade]

One striker in and Ched back for Jan, how does that sound?

Not sure how Baxter leaving keeps cropping up, is it just because people can't see him 'fitting into' our midfield???...the lad is a striker/no. 10 player and I'm certain he is one of the four with Porter, McNulty and a.n other!

 

[Wardy1889]

I could see us buying Freeman; yes we need two strikers, perhaps wilbraham (think it's spelt right), been released from palace. Look to offload McGinn, Taylor, Brandy, McFadzean, Cuvelier?,

 

[S5Blade]

Didnt clough want a squad of 18/19 then the rest made up of loans and youths? I can not see clough expecting a complete squad of 19 players to last 46 games + cup games. We are allowed a squad of 25 players I believe, I imagine we will be pretty close to that come the 9th of August.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I think he said the 19 would include loans and the other 6 or so would be the young lads, including Kennedy apparently. That really is a good balance and will enable him to blood the youngsters off the bench quite regularly.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Hasn't he already said somewhere that 'a goalkeeper' will be going out on loan and that Willis will be number two to the one that is left?

Seems fairly obvious from that, Long on loan, Howard in goal with Willis as back-up. Happy with that, young George will eventually be England number 1 (YHIHF- from the same source that saw the Walker debut at Orient in the cup and said future England player!), so give him game time

 

[Foxy]

Hasn't he already said somewhere that 'a goalkeeper' will be going out on loan and that Willis will be number two to the one that is left?

Seems fairly obvious from that, Long on loan, Howard in goal with Willis as back-up. Happy with that, young George will eventually be England number 1 (YHIHF- from the same source that saw the Walker debut at Orient in the cup and said future England player!), so give him game time

No you didn't, I've been banging on about it for years

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

No you didn't, I've been banging on about it for years

Proof needed. All I remember is Maxime this and Maxime that!

 

[bartman]

One striker in and Ched back for Jan, how does that sound?

Not sure how Baxter leaving keeps cropping up, is it just because people can't see him 'fitting into' our midfield???...the lad is a striker/no. 10 player and I'm certain he is one of the four with Porter, McNulty and a.n other!

Forget about Ched. Apart from the debate due to his conviction and whether we should sign him or not,, he will have been away from the professional game for 30 months and will take a few months to get up to speed with the game.

Need a striker and a right back before the season starts If NC decides to play 2 strikers up front, we will need an extra striker in who I will assume we will get on loan and will be brought in by the end of August. However, with the number of midfielders we now have, I'd be surprised if we didn't persist with 1 up front initially

 

[Esablade]

IMO, 'If' and it's a big 'if' Ched does return, depending on how the team are doing, I can see him sat on the bench come Jan 2015.

Re: RB. Clough has said that although we want to get business done early we would 'hold on' for the right player when it's out of our hands...which kind of leads me to believe we're waiting on Freeman or even Brayford...

 

[JOEYDEE]

IMO, 'If' and it's a big 'if' Ched does return, depending on how the team are doing, I can see him sat on the bench come Jan 2015.

Re: RB. Clough has said that although we want to get business done early we would 'hold on' for the right player when it's out of our hands...which kind of leads me to believe we're waiting on Freeman or even Brayford...

No, its Ched ,trust me.. I'm his cell mate !