How the squad is shaping up

[Patrick Suffaux]

It's interesting seeing how the squad is taking shape. I'm looking at it thinking who is in line to start and where do we still need strengthening. My thoughts as follows:-

Moore
*Vacancy1* Wright O'Connell
Freeman Coutts Fleck Stevens
*Vacancy2*
Sharp Evans

Subs: *Vacancy3*, Basham, Baldock, Duffy, Thomas, Lavery, Clarke
​

Possible signings:-
Vacancy1: Ebanks-Landell? Anyone else?
Vacancy2: Holmes, Mackay-Steven
Vacancy3: What goalies we linked with?

I imagine we will add a couple of additional signings later in the window to bolster quality but the above is largely what I expect us to start the season with. Interested to know other people's thoughts.....

​

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Has Curruthers gone?

 

[BushBlade]

It's interesting seeing how the squad is taking shape. I'm looking at it thinking who is in line to start and where do we still need strengthening. My thoughts as follows:-

Moore
*Vacancy1* Wright O'Connell
Freeman Coutts Fleck Stevens
*Vacancy2*
Sharp Evans

Subs: *Vacancy3*, Basham, Baldock, Duffy, Thomas, Lavery, Clarke
​

Possible signings:-
Vacancy1: Ebanks-Landell? Anyone else?
Vacancy2: Holmes, Mackay-Steven
Vacancy3: What goalies we linked with?

I imagine we will add a couple of additional signings later in the window to bolster quality but the above is largely what I expect us to start the season with. Interested to know other people's thoughts.....

​

Carruthers?

 

[Upton_Blade]

.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Also my apologies.....kind of in the wrong part of the forum. Needs moving, not sure how I managed that.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Has Curruthers gone?

Not sure how I forgot him. He would be in the 18 for sure. If Wilder signs another attacking midfielder/winger I imagine that would push Duffy out of the 18.

 

[Ricky]

The defensive vacancy is likely to be Wright's position. It would be an offence to drop Basham after the form he's shown in 2017.

We undeniably want Leonard and Holmes, and have a good chance of getting them. So if you include those two, and possibly Mackay-Steven, you get quite a complete view of how our squad is going to look. Apart from the defence. But it does seem likely that EEL will be coming back.

This could be our starting point after the bulk of our recruitment is done. Good cover in every position.

GK: Moore, Long, Eastwood
CB: O'Connell, Basham, Wright, EEL
RB/RWB: Freeman, Baldock, Basham
LB/LWB: Stevens, Lafferty, O'Connell
CM/ACM: Coutts, Fleck, Leonard, Basham, Carruthers, Holmes, Duffy
RM/LM: Mackay-Steven, Holmes, Thomas, Carruthers, Duffy, Baldock, Stevens
CF: Sharp, Evans, Lavery, Clarke, Hanson, Thomas

Maybe we'd just need to add another GK, CB and CF. That would be 11 new signings, which is a lot, but not unreasonable all things considered.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

The defensive vacancy is likely to be Wright's position. It would be an offence to drop Basham after the form he's shown in 2017.

We undeniably want Leonard and Holmes, and have a good chance of getting them. So if you include those two, and possibly Mackay-Steven, you get quite a complete view of how our squad is going to look. Apart from the defence. But it does seem likely that EEL will be coming back.

This could be our starting point after the bulk of our recruitment is done. Good cover in every position.

GK: Moore, Long, Eastwood
CB: O'Connell, Basham, Wright, EEL
RB/RWB: Freeman, Baldock, Basham
LB/LWB: Stevens, Lafferty, O'Connell
CM/ACM: Coutts, Fleck, Leonard, Basham, Carruthers, Holmes, Duffy
RM/LM: Mackay-Steven, Holmes, Thomas, Carruthers, Duffy, Baldock, Stevens
CF: Sharp, Evans, Lavery, Clarke, Hanson, Thomas

Maybe we'd just need to add another GK, CB and CF. That would be 11 new signings, which is a lot, but not unreasonable all things considered.

I disagree on Wright. He was comfortably consistent all last season. I don't see how he could be dropped.

Basham makes a strong case as well for sure but Wright was a revelation.

 

[BelperBlade]

You know I've got a feeling wilder is going to go for a back four rather than three

 

[Ricky]

I disagree on Wright. He was comfortably consistent all last season. I don't see how he could be dropped.

Basham makes a strong case as well for sure but Wright was a revelation.

He was, his unbeaten record speaks for itself and is no coincidence.

The position suits him down to the ground, but it is a key position, and going up a level we can't take any chances there. He was our only suitable option there last season, we need another one for sure. So we need to sign someone else who can play there, and if we're doing that we should be looking at someone who'll be an improvement on Wright.

We'll have to defend more next season and the standard of opposition attackers will be much higher and he could possibly struggle against them. That said, it wouldn't surprise me if he made the step up fairly comfortably. We've seen Morgan do it in the PL.

 

[sufcboy95]

EEL is a no for me, after signing a new contract, wolves would want a fair bit and he ain't that good.
Would rather have Holmes than gms aswell

 

[Come from away]

To date, I do not see any of the new recruits breaking into the starting eleven, with the possible exception of a fit Ched.

 

[TJB.]

You know I've got a feeling wilder is going to go for a back four rather than three

The pursuit of Nathan Thomas and Mackay-Steven would indicate wingers. You'd imagine it'll be 4 at the back.

 

[Ricky]

The pursuit of Nathan Thomas and Mackay-Steven would indicate wingers. You'd imagine it'll be 4 at the back.

But Thomas is inexpensive and couldn't expect to go straight into the first team, and we don't seem to want to commit financially to Mackay-Steven (trying for loan), and I think we see him as an option for the number 10 position as well as wide.

So if anything the pursuit of those two to me says we're going to remain committed to 3-5-2.

 

[SteveBlade]

4 quality signings that add depth.

We clearly want a few 29 year old Champy McChampFaces who've played in the league for years and consistently been squad players for teams that finish between 10th-20th, but that's not Wilders style.

Bring on more of these types of signings. If there is a Champy McChampFace or two out there who Wilder wants to add a bit of experience then fine, but they shouldn't make up the bulk of our signings.

 

[robbiez666]

I'm not convinced Wright will start at this level. The again, I wasn't convinced he;d play at the start of the season.

 

[Pinchy]

It's interesting seeing how the squad is taking shape. I'm looking at it thinking who is in line to start and where do we still need strengthening. My thoughts as follows:-

Moore
*Vacancy1* Wright O'Connell
Freeman Coutts Fleck Stevens
*Vacancy2*
Sharp Evans

Subs: *Vacancy3*, Basham, Baldock, Duffy, Thomas, Lavery, Clarke
​

Possible signings:-
Vacancy1: Ebanks-Landell? Anyone else?
Vacancy2: Holmes, Mackay-Steven
Vacancy3: What goalies we linked with?

I imagine we will add a couple of additional signings later in the window to bolster quality but the above is largely what I expect us to start the season with. Interested to know other people's thoughts.....

​

Wright won't start unless no new CBs have been signed, which is highly unlikely.

Why should Leon, far and away our best striker in the crucial end of season games, not be in the starting XI?

 

[Grizzly blade]

I don't see any changes to the side as being Wilder committing to any set up. I expect us to be flexible and fluid in transition between 4 or 5 at the back.
That's the good thing about him, he's building a squad of mixed talents and abilities to make us competitive in every game, regardless what the opponent does.

 

[Bladezz]

Backup keeper is needed.

If we sign a centre half and bring back EEL that's the defence sorted.

Leonard

Holmes

That would be okay for me, ideally another striker. But see how tight money is.

 

[Snowman]

Wright won't start unless no new CBs have been signed, which is highly unlikely.

Why should Leon, far and away our best striker in the crucial end of season games, not be in the starting XI?

Wright is an unknown quantity this year. The doubt appears to be based upon his previous experience or lack of it at this level. I will reserve judgment until I see him play a few competitive games. Seen it all before when the crapster reserve turns out to be the real deal and the great white/black hope turns out to be an expensive waste of time.

 

[SteveBlade]

Wright won't start unless no new CBs have been signed, which is highly unlikely.

Why should Leon, far and away our best striker in the crucial end of season games, not be in the starting XI?

Leon's been great, but every good game he's had has been when the pressure was off.

Chesterfield whilst cruising.

Last few games when we were already confirmed as up. Only crucial in confirming the champions spot, which was all but achieved when he started banging them in.

I agree that he was quality regardless, and deserves to be starting. Hope he can keep it up.

 

[breeny]

What number will Evans have?

 

[Sithblade]

What number will Evans have?

69

 

[YES Blade]

The biggest issue for me with Wright is that he played in a team last season that dominated possession and were on the front foot for most matches.

Next season is going to be the opposite for many matches, with teams attacking us and seeing us as a winnable match (especially away) so it'll be a big test for him if/when he plays.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Too many people are writing off Jake Wright. Massively underrated in my opinion and well worth testing at Championship level.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Wright won't start unless no new CBs have been signed, which is highly unlikely.

Why should Leon, far and away our best striker in the crucial end of season games, not be in the starting XI?

Normally I would agree on the last point but he's had too many punts at the Championship and ended up back in League One. Would love it if he proved me wrong.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

The pursuit of Nathan Thomas and Mackay-Steven would indicate wingers. You'd imagine it'll be 4 at the back.

The modern winger is a strange role though. It's not a touchline hugging position anymore.

Think Ronaldo and Bale. I appreciate they are high quality examples but both wingers and both can be found in central positions half the time. Duffy is a more relatable example. Definitely considered a winger for most of his career. Did you see him out wide much last season? All I can remember is seeing in pockets over the centre forwards left/right shoulder.

The modern way of playing is to give those types of players freedom and to put more emphasis on the full backs/wings backs to provide width.

 

[Iceybabey]

Leon's been great, but every good game he's had has been when the pressure was off.

Chesterfield whilst cruising.

Last few games when we were already confirmed as up. Only crucial in confirming the champions spot, which was all but achieved when he started banging them in.

I agree that he was quality regardless, and deserves to be starting. Hope he can keep it up.

Yeah "no pressure Leon but just go and bang a few goals in to, firstly secure us promotion, then the title."

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Ideally we loan long out and bring an experienced gk to challenge Moore. Then we need a centre half with Jake Wright's qualities but ideally bigger and quicker. Another cb, possibly a young one who might not be an immediate starter but with potential to become one. Then I would like one more player to provide the icing on the cake. It could be a forward, winger or attacking midfielder. Someone who can create something from nothing. A championship standard match winner. We hope that someone from within can be that player such as chef or slavery but time will tell.

 

[mancunianblade]

To date, I do not see any of the new recruits breaking into the starting eleven, with the possible exception of a fit Ched.

I think that's what Wilder wants. Good young players on reasonable wages who are told from the off that they are not set in stone starters and therefore push hard for a starting place. Look at the likes of Freeman, Coutts and Wright last year. And an example of the opposite is Husseu he didn't show he desire to get back on so dissapesred off the face of the earth