I think that there was also an expectation that Clough would be able to shift some of the senior players who aren't near the first team off the wage bill. That's not happened and that has exacerbated the problems we've had in central defence, where the player we identified as the best option to strengthen the side (Butler) has not worked out at all. We've also got far too many senior central midfielders at the club.
The squad currently is too big and is a prime example of quantity over quality. Ratings in brackets are how good I think they are by League One standards on an A-E scale.
Goalkeepers: Howard (B), Turner (C-), Long (C, on loan at Oxford), Willis (on loan at Bradford PA)
Defence: Alcock (B+), Collins (B-), McGahey (B), McEveley (B+), Butler (C, on loan at Walsall), Harris (B), Kennedy (C, injured)
Midfield: Doyle (B-), Wallace (B+, when fit), Basham (C-), McGinn (C), Cuvelier (B-, injured), Reed (B-), Dimaio (C), Scougall (B+)
Wingers: Murphy (A-, off form), Flynn (B+), Campbell-Ryce (B), Davies (B+), McFadzean (D, on loan at Burton)
Forwards: Higdon (C, unfit), Porter (C), Baxter (A-), McNulty (B), Di Girolamo (C)
The overall rating is probably a B or a B-. That is 5th-10th material but more worryingly, I've not seen anything from any of the summer signings (with the exception of Campbell-Ryce's performance against Rochdale) to suggest that they will have improved the side that much from last season - especially when you consider that most of the team from last season is still at the Lane.
Since last season, we've lost Maguire (A), Brandy (C), Taylor (D), McGinty (D), Hill (C), Miller (C) and Whitehouse (D). Not exactly game changing.
Oh and BTL - while I do generally enjoy pigbaiting it's probably not the best time to do it when they're sitting in 6th place having lost once all season.
