Is the squad really that thin?

[Westran]

Keep reading that the squad is too thin, we've let loads go and haven't signed enough cover, but is that really true? Or is it just another trope trotted out by those who love to have something to moan about?

For each area of the pitch we have the following (along with the number of positions) senior players in our current squad:

Keepers 4 (1)
Defenders 9 (4)
Midfielders 8 (5)
Strikers 4 (1)

I do think we need a couple more to make us really strong, but Wilder has said previously that we're working on players and there are still rumours flying around.

If we don't get them in we still have a reasonable decent squad, with cover for almost every position and some versatile players that would allow us to play 2 different formations of needed.

We were carrying a lot of deadwood last season, and coming down from the prem, a reduction in numbers was inevitable imo. I don't think we're that thin on the ground.

 

[dexter101]

Keep reading that the squad is too thin, we've let loads go and haven't signed enough cover, but is that really true? Or is it just another trope trotted out by those who love to have something to moan about?

For each area of the pitch we have the following (along with the number of positions) senior players in our current squad:

Keepers 4 (1)
Defenders 9 (4)
Midfielders 8 (5)
Strikers 4 (1)

I do think we need a couple more to make us really strong, but Wilder has said previously that we're working on players and there are still rumours flying around.

If we don't get them in we still have a reasonable decent squad, with cover for almost every position and some versatile players that would allow us to play 2 different formations of needed.

We were carrying a lot of deadwood last season, and coming down from the prem, a reduction in numbers was inevitable imo. I don't think we're that thin on the ground.

I am not as it stands worried by the squad, but I do think some specific positions we are very light.
Namely RB, CDM and up front.

our forwards we do have in numbers but not in any confirmed quality. Other than Big Keifer and probably Campbell we don't actually have a forward I would look at the team sheet and be confident in. Not to say that won't change with players developing.

RB I don't actually think we have a first choice RB. Gilchrist was outstanding last week but previous 2 matches before that he looked like he was being played out of position. Shackleton seems to be a utility player covering RB when needed, Seriki is growing into the role.

I don't actually think we have cover for Souza.

Sheffield steel wasn't forged in a day (not even sure if that is true or not but sounds good) and believe that this squad will continue to develop over the next few transfer windows and we will see youth grow and develop or be identified as not good enough and moved on raising funds.

 

[BladeInIreland]

Keep reading that the squad is too thin, we've let loads go and haven't signed enough cover, but is that really true? Or is it just another trope trotted out by those who love to have something to moan about?

For each area of the pitch we have the following (along with the number of positions) senior players in our current squad:

Keepers 4 (1)
Defenders 9 (4)
Midfielders 8 (5)
Strikers 4 (1)

I do think we need a couple more to make us really strong, but Wilder has said previously that we're working on players and there are still rumours flying around.

If we don't get them in we still have a reasonable decent squad, with cover for almost every position and some versatile players that would allow us to play 2 different formations of needed.

We were carrying a lot of deadwood last season, and coming down from the prem, a reduction in numbers was inevitable imo. I don't think we're that thin on the ground.

It's more so an in balance and quality than necessarily numbers. We have two wingers who naturally play on the right but none for the left meaning Hamer is not in his best position. We have one striker proven enough and good enough at this level in Moore. Brewster is bad and Marsh is inexperienced and probably doesn't suit that lone role. I'm going to guess you have counted Campbell as no.4 there but he's got fit and by all accounts isn't good as a striker and needs to be out wide. In defence for cover we are needing to depend on RND back after a long time and either Robinson (not the best) or Anel (not the best character).

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

My main worry is that Wilder will continue to pick Anel over Souttar because of his obsession with the whole right foot/left foot thing, which personally I don't see as a huge issue at centre back. Can they head it clear? Can they track and tackle a player? Can they pass a football short to Arblaster or Souza? So does it really matter? In central midfield, up top or out wide? Yes. I can remember Chris Morgan playing both sides at centre back and he wore Toblerones for football boots.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

Keep reading that the squad is too thin, we've let loads go and haven't signed enough cover, but is that really true? Or is it just another trope trotted out by those who love to have something to moan about?

For each area of the pitch we have the following (along with the number of positions) senior players in our current squad:

Keepers 4 (1)
Defenders 9 (4)
Midfielders 8 (5)
Strikers 4 (1)

I do think we need a couple more to make us really strong, but Wilder has said previously that we're working on players and there are still rumours flying around.

If we don't get them in we still have a reasonable decent squad, with cover for almost every position and some versatile players that would allow us to play 2 different formations of needed.

We were carrying a lot of deadwood last season, and coming down from the prem, a reduction in numbers was inevitable imo. I don't think we're that thin on the ground.

We have no alternative to Moore up front and the other options don't shout promotion. In fact, they could easily be a frontline in a relegation team.

 

[SouthportBlade]

Gk - Cooper Davies Grbic Faxon
Rb - Gilchrist Shackleton Seriki
Lb - Burrows McCallum RND Robinson
Cb - Souttar Anel Robinson Gilchrist
Cm - Souza Blaster Hamer Peck Davies Shackleton
Wingers - Brooks JRS Campbell O Hare Hamer
Am - O Hare Hamer
Forwards - Moore Brewster Campbell

When you lay it out, it doesn’t feel too bad on paper, but with our historic injury record things could turn very dicey very quickly.

Can’t rely on Brewster to play 10 games, let alone 10 goals.

 

[woody_7]

Its Waffer thin lad , give thi head a wobble

 

[Berkshire Blade]

In the most important part of the pitch it's so thin it's see through

 

[Wizard]

It's definitely thin but we can put out a solid matchday squad.

It's fair though with our recent injury record to question whether we have enough and we'll almost certainly be relying on some youngsters.

We have to make it through the next few months and see where we are then maybe we can strengthen and kick on in Jan with new ownership but I'm not gonna get my hopes up.

Find the left/right centre back thing a bit weird when the 2 best ones of the past 15 years have been right footers on the left in Ramos & Van Dijk

 

[AWetFlannel]

My main worry is that Wilder will continue to pick Anel over Souttar because of his obsession with the whole right foot/left foot thing, which personally I don't see as a huge issue at centre back. Can they head it clear? Can they track and tackle a player? Can they pass a football short to Arblaster or Souza? So does it really matter? In central midfield, up top or out wide? Yes. I can remember Chris Morgan playing both sides at centre back and he wore Toblerones for football boots.

In a back three the balance is more important, in a back four not so much. I imagine Souttar will start over Anel who will battle Robinson and RND for the LCB spot.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

Gk - Cooper Davies Grbic Faxon
Rb - Gilchrist Shackleton Seriki
Lb - Burrows McCallum RND Robinson
Cb - Souttar Anel Robinson Gilchrist
Cm - Souza Blaster Hamer Peck Davies Shackleton
Wingers - Brooks JRS Campbell O Hare Hamer
Am - O Hare Hamer
Forwards - Moore Brewster Campbell

When you lay it out, it doesn’t feel too bad on paper, but with our historic injury record things could turn very dicey very quickly.

Can’t rely on Brewster to play 10 games, let alone 10 goals.

None of the strikers will hit ten goals in this new system. It's not the intended role for them, they're more part of the link up and build up. When we switch to 2 up top mid match then you can expect more from them. It's why I'm okay with Moore only getting one goal so far. I'm more concerned with lack of goals from Brooks and O'Hare given how much possession they've both had so far.

 

[Wizard]

Gk - Cooper Davies Grbic Faxon
Rb - Gilchrist Shackleton Seriki
Lb - Burrows McCallum RND Robinson
Cb - Souttar Anel Robinson Gilchrist
Cm - Souza Blaster Hamer Peck Davies Shackleton
Wingers - Brooks JRS Campbell O Hare Hamer
Am - O Hare Hamer
Forwards - Moore Brewster Campbell

When you lay it out, it doesn’t feel too bad on paper, but with our historic injury record things could turn very dicey very quickly.

Can’t rely on Brewster to play 10 games, let alone 10 goals.

Yeah numbers wise we're sort of ok but you'd want better/fitter than Brewster and Tom Davies. Also gonna be shuffling things around for injuries/rotation with the likes of Hamer/Gilchrist/Shackleton covering multiple spots

 

[Lincoln_Blades1889]

Keep reading that the squad is too thin, we've let loads go and haven't signed enough cover, but is that really true? Or is it just another trope trotted out by those who love to have something to moan about?

For each area of the pitch we have the following (along with the number of positions) senior players in our current squad:

Keepers 4 (1)
Defenders 9 (4)
Midfielders 8 (5)
Strikers 4 (1)

I do think we need a couple more to make us really strong, but Wilder has said previously that we're working on players and there are still rumours flying around.

If we don't get them in we still have a reasonable decent squad, with cover for almost every position and some versatile players that would allow us to play 2 different formations of needed.

We were carrying a lot of deadwood last season, and coming down from the prem, a reduction in numbers was inevitable imo. I don't think we're that thin on the ground.

With our injury revord yes. Time will tell.

 

[loyalblade95]

Don't think the squad depth is as thin as people are making it out to be. Like the original poster said we've got cover for each position.

Yes, I would have liked more cover in certain positions but if we don't get that then we'll just have to go with what we've got.

We weren't going to rebuild the squad in one window, we might still be doing the rebuild next summer.

Looking across the squad as a whole, there is more depth in this squad than there was in Hecky's promotion squad, especially when the injuries started piling up.

 

[Shadota]

Keepers 4 (1)
Defenders 9 (4)
Midfielders 8 (5)
Strikers 4 (1)

It's a little inaccurate to list these figures I think. Yes, you can say we have x number of midfielders for y number of spots for example, but in reality we have a surplus of cover in some positions, and insufficient cover in others.

GK:
Cooper (1st choice)
Davies (1st Backup - I would prefer someone of higher quality, however he is an adequate keeper at this level)
Grbic (Won't play unless there is no other choice - we'd be better off selling him if the opportunity arises)
Faxon (Youth player - a loan is probably the best option for him at the moment)

RB:
Gilchrist - Currently 1st choice by default. Not a natural RB
Shackleton - Utility player who is capable of filling RB role. Currently injured.
Seriki - Natural RB but inexperienced. Is currently/has been injured this season already.
Sachdev - One to look at loaning out

CB:
Souttar - 1st choice RCB for me
JLT - 1st choice LCB (Best of a bad bunch on the left hand side)
Anel - 1st choice backup (Could play either side as is okay with both feet)
RND - Backup LCB. Played vs Barnsley in that position but was poor
Trusty - On his way out per Wilder today
Gilchrist - Currently required at RB due to lack of fit options

LB:
Burrows (1st choice)
McCallum (Backup. Just back from injury. Started vs Barnsley but did not impress in my opinion)
RND (Backup - may be needed for LCB cover as well)

DM:
Souza (1st choice. Enforcer-style role, which we have no one else suited to.)
Arblaster (Also 1st choice with Souza current 4231 tactic)
Hamer (Contends with the above for starting place, but currently required elsewhere on the pitch
Backups:
Peck - Could potentially go out on loan
Tom Davies - Question marks over fitness. Has featured on subs bench recently
Coulibaly - Extremely poor displays in League Cup mean he is very unlikely to feature more

CAM:
O'Hare (1st Choice)
Hamer (Able to play here - currently needed elsewhere)
Marsh (Backup. May go out on loan
Campbell (Backup. Not currently fully fit)

RW:
Rak-Sakyi (Competing with Brooks for starting place)
Brooks (Competing with JRS for starting place)
Campbell (Backup. Not currently fully fit)

LW:
Hamer (1st choice)
O'Hare (Capable in this position, but currently starting as CAM)
Slimane (Seemingly on his way out)
Campbell (Backup. Not currently fully fit. More likely to play centrally or from the right based on player selection so far)

ST:
Moore (1st choice)
Brewster (Backup. Unlikely to produce based on goal return to date. Also question marks over his fitness)
Campbell (Backup. Not currently fully fit)
One (Backup/youth prospect. Would probably benefit more from going out on loan)

From this, you can see more clearly where we are lacking the most. At RB, we do not have an experienced player who is a natural in that position. We can potentially manage with those we have, but with the injury issues so far, that is one position where we realistically only have one player at present (Gilchrist).

At DM, we really have 3 senior players to cover 2 positions. Peck has potential for sure, but he might go out on loan. If Tom Davies can prove his fitness, he might be a reasonable option, but when we haven't seen him do that yet after a year, I have my doubts.

We do not have a natural LW for this tactic. At all. Hamer is doing okay there at the minute, but we really need support there. Of the 4 players I have listed for that spot, 1 is 1st choice for it whilst being played out of position, 1 is 1st choice in another position, 1 looks like being sold (Slimane), and Campbell is better off on the other flank. Not signing someone for that position is the biggest failure of our recruitment this summer in my opinion.

Up front, we have Brewster as a backup. Now I think he's a good lad, and my desire for him to succeed with us is on par with how desperate I was to see Didzy score in the Premier League. But it would be foolhardy to think that, at present, he is a serviceable option behind Moore. And behind Brewster, we effectively have nobody. Per common opinion of Stoke fans, Campbell is wasted as a striker, and is better playing from the right, and One cannot reasonably be expected to lead the line in the Championship at his age.

There were always going to be holes in the squad at the end of this window. We were never going to be able to cover all our shortcomings in one go. But to try and say that there aren't any, and that we have sufficient cover, is just sticking one's head in the sand.

 

[Newbury Blade]

Keep reading that the squad is too thin, we've let loads go and haven't signed enough cover, but is that really true? Or is it just another trope trotted out by those who love to have something to moan about?

For each area of the pitch we have the following (along with the number of positions) senior players in our current squad:

Keepers 4 (1)
Defenders 9 (4)
Midfielders 8 (5)
Strikers 4 (1)

I do think we need a couple more to make us really strong, but Wilder has said previously that we're working on players and there are still rumours flying around.

If we don't get them in we still have a reasonable decent squad, with cover for almost every position and some versatile players that would allow us to play 2 different formations of needed.

We were carrying a lot of deadwood last season, and coming down from the prem, a reduction in numbers was inevitable imo. I don't think we're that thin on the ground.

It’s another trope trotted out by those who love to have something to moan about.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Gk - Cooper Davies Grbic Faxon
Rb - Gilchrist Shackleton Seriki
Lb - Burrows McCallum RND Robinson
Cb - Souttar Anel Robinson Gilchrist
Cm - Souza Blaster Hamer Peck Davies Shackleton
Wingers - Brooks JRS Campbell O Hare Hamer
Am - O Hare Hamer
Forwards - Moore Brewster Campbell

When you lay it out, it doesn’t feel too bad on paper, but with our historic injury record things could turn very dicey very quickly.

Can’t rely on Brewster to play 10 games, let alone 10 goals.

Exactly. Great point. This should be pinned to the homepage...

20+ teams in the championship would kill for the that squad!

 

[SwissBlade]

Keep reading that the squad is too thin, we've let loads go and haven't signed enough cover, but is that really true? Or is it just another trope trotted out by those who love to have something to moan about?

For each area of the pitch we have the following (along with the number of positions) senior players in our current squad:

Keepers 4 (1)
Defenders 9 (4)
Midfielders 8 (5)
Strikers 4 (1)

I do think we need a couple more to make us really strong, but Wilder has said previously that we're working on players and there are still rumours flying around.

If we don't get them in we still have a reasonable decent squad, with cover for almost every position and some versatile players that would allow us to play 2 different formations of needed.

We were carrying a lot of deadwood last season, and coming down from the prem, a reduction in numbers was inevitable imo. I don't think we're that thin on the ground.

The high intensity and the way we use subs late in games, yes, we’re very thin on the ground

 

[loyalblade95]

Exactly. Great point. This should be pinned to the homepage...

20+ teams in the championship would kill for the that squad!

Exactly, take Hamer for example, when Ipswich were rumoured to be circling (especially with the release clause) opposition fans were begging Hamer to leave us because they know how good he is in the championship.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Exactly, take Hamer for example, when Ipswich were rumoured to be circling (especially with the release clause) opposition fans were begging Hamer to leave us because they know how good he is in the championship.

The more you stop following the pervasive narrative and think it through, we've got one of the best starting XIs in the league and our first reserves would get into most teams first XIs...

However, that doesn't drive views, Likes or podcast listens ....

 

[Yogi]

We’re very deep in centre midfield, left back, right wing and in net.

We can probably make do and mend at CB

We’re very very thin at left wing and upfront.

We’ve got a squad with plenty of talented players but it’s not finished and lacks balance.

 

[Rupicola]

Time will tell, just pray for no injuries and we are still light at that. Don't understand why Wilder said he expected a few more in, then the sudden change.

 

[loyalblade95]

You could argue that we've got more depth this season than we did in the promotion season under Hecky.

 

[DifferentClass]

Given our recent injury record we're thinner than Bannan's hairline.

 

[Harry's Game]

Yes it’s paper thin.


Next question..

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Is the squad really that thin?

Yeah.

Fat lad Billy and Mousset left ages ago.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Yeah.

Fat lad Billy and Mousset left ages ago.

But Hamer is staying.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

But Hamer is staying.

Still a few hours to go yet.

 

[Davalon]

In key areas we're extremely light for a team just relegated from the PL.

Our striking options are wafer thin even if Brewster has his fittest season for years.

 

[Frank the tank]

Scoring goals is overrated anyway
Fingers crossed we don't get any injuries