A squad within a squad.

[Woodwardfan]

According to the club website we have 24 players left in our squad after moving away quite a few players.

I categorise the list of players as I see them:

First team choices if fit and available ( no doubt forum members will consider a number of those 'not fit to wear the shirt' but this is where we are at, these are the first choices)

Long, Brayford, Basham, Sharp, Collins, Hammond, McEveley, Edgar.

Players in and out of the team, manager not really happy with their form:

Flynn, Coutts, Done, Woolford, Ryce, Reed, Adams, Sammon.

Apparent last resorts/ no hopers/ development players/ barely fit:

Howard, DeGirolamo, Calvert-Lewin, McGahey, K.Wallace, Cuvelier, Scougall. McGahey.

An 'optimum squad size' may be around 22 players plus a few development players, but how on earth are we as exposed as we are above.

Adkins can hardly field a first team without compromises. Promotion is a pipe-dream when you think about suspensions and injuries which will inevitably happen in the remaining games.

How on earth have we got ourselves into this situation? My view is that Harris and Freeman should still be at the club; both utility players, particularly should we want to play 3-5-2.

Career messages have to be delivered to players and being sent out on loan in these circumstances speaks volumes. Sorry to say I think we've given up on this season.

No we haven't? A couple of loan signings are essential and have to be first team automatic choices.

In amongst the second and third categories above not one of the 16 players can feel aggrieved that he's not playing regularly in the first team IMO.

 

[raul]

I was just mulling this over too funnily enough, but came to the conclusion that, finally, NA has taken a firmish grasp of the situtaion. The bansihed are banished, the marginalised are marginalised and he's working with 18 or so players he feels he can work with for the rest of the season. Loans would be nice, but unlikely for me and anywy we've only 14 games to go.

He'd/we'd no doubt want a better quality of core players, but that's to be addressed in the future. For now, it's time for those he's chosen to do battle to up their efforts a notch or two - which should be easier if the "troublemakers" have been banished. Crack on.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

If he can add a quality(ish) winger or attacking midfielder on loan then he doubtlessly will otherwise I agree with Raul, it looks like he has his squad for the rest of the season.

Interesting that Freeman has only managed 1 appearance for Pompey, I'll get an update from my cod mates on Whispering who started last night.

 

[Jan Age]

From your list I would keep:

GK - Long - sub
RB - Brayford - unless we really do not have any money and we get a decent offer with any funds meaning the squad can be strengthened.
CM - Basham
ST - Sharp
CD - Edgar - if the terms of the trf and wages fit.
CM - Coutts
RM/LM/ST - Done
CM - Reed
RM/LM/ST - Adams
ST - Calvert-Lewin - sub
CB - McGahey - sub
LB - K.Wallace - sub
CM - Cuvelier - sub

So based on your original and my thoughts that would mean we need:
GK - starter
LB - starter
CB - starter
CB - sub
RB - sub
CF - Starter
RM - sub
LM - Sub

And that is being quite ruthless with outs but conservative with what we need in and keeping the squad really light.

With the amount of signings we need we will know by halfway through the summer what sort of season we will be in for.

We should also be able to take a good guess how much money there is for trf by how many Adkins retains.

 

[Woodwardfan]

From your list I would keep:

GK - Long - sub
RB - Brayford - unless we really do not have any money and we get a decent offer with any funds meaning the squad can be strengthened.
CM - Basham
ST - Sharp
CD - Edgar - if the terms of the trf and wages fit.
CM - Coutts
RM/LM/ST - Done
CM - Reed
RM/LM/ST - Adams
ST - Calvert-Lewin - sub
CB - McGahey - sub
LB - K.Wallace - sub
CM - Cuvelier - sub

So based on your original and my thoughts that would mean we need:
GK - starter
LB - starter
CB - starter
CB - sub
RB - sub
CF - Starter
RM - sub
LM - Sub

And that is being quite ruthless with outs but conservative with what we need in and keeping the squad really light.

With the amount of signings we need we will know by halfway through the summer what sort of season we will be in for.

We should also be able to take a good guess how much money there is for trf by how many Adkins retains.

I'm not sure Adkins fancies McGahey or even Done. Lewin should be counted as a development player/ sub and Wallace too. Cuvelier's fitness and worth have to be judged, I think his contract is up this summer. Not sure Adkins thinks Coutts is a season long contributor.

Collins, McEveley might get another year as squad players.

Whatever, the outgoings and ingoings will be at an unprecedented level even for a forthcoming League 1 season. Just imagine the state we'd be in should we squeeze up through the play-offs. I see maybe 5 players capable of playing up in the Championship week in week out, a few young hopefuls and a number simply not up to it at the higher level.

 

[Smirth]

I'd argue that no body out of contract this season should be given a new deal. No body has earned one, and it's time for a fresh sweep.

From the list above I'd like the following to be first choice players next season:

Long

Brayford
Basham



Sharp
Adams

Coutts, Done, Reed, K Wallace would be good enough for the bench and with Calvert-Lewin being sent out for the season on loan.

Reed has a chance between now and the end of the season to nail down a starting spot next season.

If Cuvelier manages to play some games between now and the end of the season and returns to fitness then he may be worth a new 1 year contract, but I doubt it sadly.

Edgar isn't worth a new contract, IMO. He's been steady, but he's not a commanding centre half. I think Basham is best at centre half and he isn't commanding enough either so we would need a real leader brought in to play along side him.

 

[bornablade]

I'd argue that no body out of contract this season should be given a new deal. No body has earned one, and it's time for a fresh sweep.

From the list above I'd like the following to be first choice players next season:

Long

Brayford
Basham



Sharp
Adams

Coutts, Done, Reed, K Wallace would be good enough for the bench and with Calvert-Lewin being sent out for the season on loan.

Reed has a chance between now and the end of the season to nail down a starting spot next season.

If Cuvelier manages to play some games between now and the end of the season and returns to fitness then he may be worth a new 1 year contract, but I doubt it sadly.

Edgar isn't worth a new contract, IMO. He's been steady, but he's not a commanding centre half. I think Basham is best at centre half and he isn't commanding enough either so we would need a real leader brought in to play along side him.

I think you've got it spot on there Smirth. I fear however that Hammond will somehow feature. There was a piece in the Star about McNulty possibly returning. It seems Cuvelier has impressed many by his attitude during his time out with injury. If he can keep fit and put in a few good performances then that attitude is exactly what we are looking for in the dressing room next season.

 

[Esablade]

I'm not sure Adkins fancies McGahey or even Done. Lewin should be counted as a development player/ sub and Wallace too. Cuvelier's fitness and worth have to be judged, I think his contract is up this summer. Not sure Adkins thinks Coutts is a season long contributor.

Collins, McEveley might get another year as squad players.

Whatever, the outgoings and ingoings will be at an unprecedented level even for a forthcoming League 1 season. Just imagine the state we'd be in should we squeeze up through the play-offs. I see maybe 5 players capable of playing up in the Championship week in week out, a few young hopefuls and a number simply not up to it at the higher level.

I'm half expecting Done to be sold in the summer...maybe some lower Champ team?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

I'm not sure Adkins fancies McGahey or even Done. Lewin should be counted as a development player/ sub and Wallace too. Cuvelier's fitness and worth have to be judged, I think his contract is up this summer. Not sure Adkins thinks Coutts is a season long contributor.

Collins, McEveley might get another year as squad players.

Whatever, the outgoings and ingoings will be at an unprecedented level even for a forthcoming League 1 season. Just imagine the state we'd be in should we squeeze up through the play-offs. I see maybe 5 players capable of playing up in the Championship week in week out, a few young hopefuls and a number simply not up to it at the higher level.

There's players at the lane such as Collins who are carrying a negative aura , as he and many others have not seen or contributed to any success. In fact failure sums a lot of the squad up , and we have to break the habit.

All the players you mention have to go , so we can start with a clean sheet and carry no unnecessary baggage.

Done is a squad player . Rochdale , Barnsley , Rochdale , SUFC tells us this , and he is not consistent enough to be a regular on the team sheet.

Culling and starting again with a complete new squad is the key . Adkins job and reputation depends on getting it right first time, with buys , loans and them who have had there time .

We can look at this chapter as a complete cock up or a new era . I am going for the latter . Any success this season would be a bonus , so let's not get carried away , after we win a scrappy game. If we hit the play offs , great , if not , we know why . A league table does not lie and how many players can we rely on or trust . Not many.

UTB

 

[Revolution]

If we re-sign Cuvelier it will be evidence that we still don't know what we are doing in terms of squad building.

Agree with the OP and raul about what Adkins has done. What a shame he can't field a team composed entirely of decent or good league one players - and what an indictment that is on Clough and those who sanction transfers.

 

[sheffielder]

I'm half expecting Done to be sold in the summer...maybe some lower Champ team?

I just don't see it. This is his level and in the current formation 352 I wouldn't play him up top. 442 then Adams left and Done up top.

 

[Bladesince59]

Keep Long, Adams (to sell later) Basham, McEverley, Reed and Sharp. Sell Done and Brayford. Bin the rest.
Concentrate on 5 a side.

 

[sheffielder]

If we re-sign Cuvelier it will be evidence that we still don't know what we are doing in terms of squad building.

Agree with the OP and raul about what Adkins has done. What a shame he can't field a team composed entirely of decent or good league one players - and what an indictment that is on Clough and those who sanction transfers.

He has had some serious injuries and Adkins was very critical of the rehabilitation of injured players when he cames to the club. If we are in this division and Cuvellier stays fit from now till the end of the season, I wouldn't mind giving him a year with an option. Still very young, but talented. Also would be cheap in this division considering the injuries

 

[SwissBlade]

25 is perhaps an optimum number, basing that on two per position, plus an additional striker, Centre Half and Centre Mid.

Clough himself said around the end of his first season that they like to work on a squad of around 20, so i don't really know what went wrong.

The big problem nowadays though is that there is no defined line between 1st team, reserves and Youth team. Now we have U18's and the first team where its clearer, then everyone else is just in the U21's (development set up). So a different slant on this, based only on experience and perception, we can argue some of these between first and reserves (especially with 5-7 subs), but the likes of K. Wallace, Adams, McNulty and MaGahey were all bought in as 'development' players.

So heres my take on it:

First Team (if fit)
GK: None
Def: Brayford, Basham, McEveley, Edgar,
Mid: Hammond, Woolford, Coutts,
Strikers: Sammon, Sharp

Reserves
GK: Howard,
Def: Freeman, Harris, Collins
Mid: Flynn, Campbell-Ryce, Cuvelier, Scougall, James Wallace
Strikers: Done

Youth Team
GK: Long, Willis
Def: MaGahey,
Mid: Reed, Kieran Wallace (i think thats what he was bought as)
Striker: Diego, McNulty, Calvert Lewin, Adams

I'm guessing the rest of the 46 are either gone or between U18's and U21's but on professional terms (like Willis, on loan at Matlock)

 

[blades78]

Its going to be to a very interesting summer. If we go up, we potentially have access to a completely different pool of players. With most of our current squad being out of contract, we should have a decent budget to put a reasonable team together. However, as some people have mentioned, there may be current contracted and loan players who have clauses for a further 1 or 2 should we achieve promotion.

If we stay in league 1, we should be able to release many of the current lot, but the problem will be, who do we get that's any better? We are likely to have reduced budget, our highest earners are still under contract and we'll have less income due to a reduction in season tickets.

 

[Revolution]

He has had some serious injuries and Adkins was very critical of the rehabilitation of injured players when he cames to the club. If we are in this division and Cuvellier stays fit from now till the end of the season, I wouldn't mind giving him a year with an option. Still very young, but talented. Also would be cheap in this division considering the injuries

I think that we should not re-sign any of the players who have been injured for any length of time or are constantly injured with different things - this includes J Wallace, Scougall, Flynn, Cuvelier and Harris (Coutts we are stuck with as he's under contract).

There is no reason to sign players with poor injury records. There will be hundreds of other free agents to choose from, many of them with good records injury wise.

Cuvelier is fungible. He's not going to turn into Michael Brown circa 2003. Let's spend the money on someone who might stand a better chance of being fit.

 

[maxtheblade]

If there are to be loans then next week will be key - can't bring anyone in on longer than 93 days. By my reckoning that means anyone signed after Sunday could play in any potential playoff final which if we are to believe that's the goal would explain why no-one in yet.

Another thought - if Pompey fail to get in play-offs then would McNulty be available for our play-off games?

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

In a strange way it's an exciting opportunity for Adkins this summer (assuming he survives the cull himself). Not very often you get to totally reshape a squad, from scratch almost, to your own heart's desire.

But that then depends enormously on the level of resources he's given. And too on whether Lee Turnbull actually exists (& on whether he's any good if he does).

In the meantime, all I can see is limping on till the end of the season, no ins, maybe one or two more outs. All down now to whether the 3-5-2 transforms us or not.

 

[pommpey]

Culling and starting again with a complete new squad is the key .

Given we have been told that running Sheffield United is costing more than what Sheffield United makes (in effect) and McCabe's underlying meaning in his statements the other day, I betcha we end up losing just two or three of the current lot without replacement in the close season and end up waiting with baited breath to see who we (don't) eventually sign come the end of August.

Yeah ... yeah ... yeah. Sounds negative, doesn't it? But doesn't it also sound like we have been doing business anyway since I don't know when?

When was the last time you had a 'Fucking hell! What a signing!' moment?

pommpey

 

[Grecian2000]

Crack on.

No, Baxter isn't on the list.

What are the chances of Leicester getting brought to book for some of the stuff Manderic must have done and getting relegated to the bottom tier so they take Hamster back?

 

[Bartleby]

There was a piece in the Star about McNulty possibly returning.

After a decentish start at Pompey he's been on the bench for a few games, then got recalled in the Barnet game and subbed near the end. I fear they will not be wanting to sign him in the summer.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Its going to be to a very interesting summer. If we go up, we potentially have access to a completely different pool of players. With most of our current squad being out of contract, we should have a decent budget to put a reasonable team together. However, as some people have mentioned, there may be current contracted and loan players who have clauses for a further 1 or 2 should we achieve promotion.

If we stay in league 1, we should be able to release many of the current lot, but the problem will be, who do we get that's any better? We are likely to have reduced budget, our highest earners are still under contract and we'll have less income due to a reduction in season tickets.

To be objective in ordinary circumstances, the optimium number of new summer signings to have to gel into a squad might be three/four?!

Adkins will be absorbing three times that many at least and frankly the odds will be against him shaping a squad to challenge for promotion next season, regardless of budget.

As regards that budget, my own instinct tells me he will even have to get money in for a couple from Brayford, Coutts, Adams, Long, Reed and Done to make all the sums add up. That's just a hunch though, coupled with the likely scenario of Clough wanting two or three of them for the Championship.

Turnbull made all the usual right noises about his sophisticated methods, records, data and scouring in Europe and beyond. To date we have only signed Hammond since Turnbull arrived. I'll be interested in the type and quality of any loans we may sign next week, but I'm not holding my breath. I presume he's putting all the skittles in place for early signings next summer for an assault on League 1 promotion. I hope his basic credentials for new players insist on skill, pace and mobility with enough height and muscle to complement it. As Alfreton said above, it's a real opportunity for the scout and the manager; it's also a real threat/challenge.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

I think that we should not re-sign any of the players who have been injured for any length of time or are constantly injured with different things - this includes J Wallace, Scougall, Flynn, Cuvelier and Harris (Coutts we are stuck with as he's under contract).

There is no reason to sign players with poor injury records. There will be hundreds of other free agents to choose from, many of them with good records injury wise.

Cuvelier is fungible. He's not going to turn into Michael Brown circa 2003. Let's spend the money on someone who might stand a better chance of being fit.

thanks, you've increased my vocabulary today - I thought you'd made up "fungible"

 

[sheffielder]

It's probably a more simple equation with Adkins. If you're in the 18 come the last game of the season you're more than likely to be here next year. If you're not injured/suspended and not in the 18 put your house on the market.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Given we have been told that running Sheffield United is costing more than what Sheffield United makes (in effect) and McCabe's underlying meaning in his statements the other day, I betcha we end up losing just two or three of the current lot without replacement in the close season and end up waiting with baited breath to see who we (don't) eventually sign come the end of August.

Yeah ... yeah ... yeah. Sounds negative, doesn't it? But doesn't it also sound like we have been doing business anyway since I don't know when?

When was the last time you had a 'Fucking hell! What a signing!' moment?

pommpey

I'm looking forward to and dreading at the same time, seeing the retained list at the end of the season. I hope we're ruthless putting Howard, Kennedy, McEveley, Harris, Flynn, JCR, Cuvelier, McFadzean, Wallace, Scougall (is he out of contract?), Collins, Baxter (if not already sacked) and anyone I might have forgotten out to pasture and that we can use the wage space to bring in about 8 players of first team quality.

But I suspect we end up keeping at least 2 or 3 from that list and maybe having a Chris Porter moment where we later go back and sign McEveley and Collins up on short deals after they've failed to find a new club and we've failed to land our targets.

 

[Kenilworth]

I think that we should not re-sign any of the players who have been injured for any length of time or are constantly injured with different things - this includes J Wallace, Scougall, Flynn, Cuvelier and Harris (Coutts we are stuck with as he's under contract).

There is no reason to sign players with poor injury records. There will be hundreds of other free agents to choose from, many of them with good records injury wise.

Cuvelier is fungible. He's not going to turn into Michael Brown circa 2003. Let's spend the money on someone who might stand a better chance of being fit.

"Fungible"
Had to look it up but I like it

 

[Kenilworth]

My love for the Blades is un-fungible
Despite all the shit they put me through

 

[finlaytheblade]

There's players at the lane such as Collins who are carrying a negative aura , as he and many others have not seen or contributed to any success. In fact failure sums a lot of the squad up , and we have to break the habit.

All the players you mention have to go , so we can start with a clean sheet and carry no unnecessary baggage.

Done is a squad player . Rochdale , Barnsley , Rochdale , SUFC tells us this , and he is not consistent enough to be a regular on the team sheet.

Culling and starting again with a complete new squad is the key . Adkins job and reputation depends on getting it right first time, with buys , loans and them who have had there time .

We can look at this chapter as a complete cock up or a new era . I am going for the latter . Any success this season would be a bonus , so let's not get carried away , after we win a scrappy game. If we hit the play offs , great , if not , we know why . A league table does not lie and how many players can we rely on or trust . Not many.

UTB

Think we might get a surprise with some of our players if we do some how get up this year, all of them are not useless and many a time
a player can lift or improve his game in an higher division .Ime not calling out any one player but ime confident one or two will bridge the gap
Especially the young ones.
Bournemouth went from league 2 to championship with the nucleus of the team which got out of league 2 ,gradually improving as they went but quite a few were there from the off and if those players hadn't the ability to improve they wouldn't have stayed in How's squad.
That's the unknown factor at present ,have they got g that ability?.
Something I've noticed about the squad since Adkins took over! maybe it's due to his time spent as a physio,but he never rushes players back from injury.All players who've been out don't get an instant recall (seems to beleave in proper rehabilitation)he seems to demand they
get to a certain level of fitness ( less chance of a niggle I suppose) I could name quite a few who were out longer than was expected.That should pay off towards the end of season when most players are carrying an injury or niggle which does impair their performance.