Is the squad really that thin?

[Nick Jansky]

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.

It’s hardly as if we were relegated with anything close to a PL squad. We were hardly a Leicester or Southampton.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

It’s hardly as if we were relegated with anything close to a PL squad. We were hardly a Leicester or Southampton.

Leicester, Ipswich, Leeds and Southampton were arguably better than us last season.

 

[andy m]

Leicester, Ipswich, Leeds and Southampton were arguably better than us last season.

No arguably about it. All were definitely better.

 

[Davalon]

It’s hardly as if we were relegated with anything close to a PL squad. We were hardly a Leicester or Southampton.

Dress it up how you want. Our strike force consists of a 32/33 year old who plays a specific role, a lad who I like but has had an horrendous injury record over the last 3 or 4 years, and......

A young lad with potential but realistically isn't ready to make a meaningful contribution at this level.

Campbell isn't a striker despite nonsensical comparisons with his Dad.

If Brewster struggles like usual and Moore is unavailable, our striking options are barely L1 level at best.

A few hours to (unlikely) change that.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

This squad will see Wilder sacked by November

It isn't balanced, it doesn't suit any formation, depth is majorly lacking up front, there's a lack of experience and leadership, and it simply doesn't look like a squad Wilder would put together

 

[davidblade]

Were exactly like Bannon very thin on top . If Moore gets injured we don’t have players who can hold the ball upfront and allow our midfield to support. On’e is the only hope but he’s very young and inexperienced.
Let’s hope we’re still in touch at Christmas and they ( who ever that is ) loosens the purse strings

 

[Snowflake]

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

Keeper ? It looks ok to me.

 

[Snowflake]

Were exactly like Bannon very thin on top . If Moore gets injured we don’t have players who can hold the ball upfront and allow our midfield to support. On’e is the only hope but he’s very young and inexperienced.
Let’s hope we’re still in touch at Christmas and they ( who ever that is ) loosens the purse strings

With apologies for my ignorance but can we sign loan players after today or is that only for leagues 1 and 2 ?

 

[Snowflake]

Dress it up how you want. Our strike force consists of a 32/33 year old who plays a specific role, a lad who I like but has had an horrendous injury record over the last 3 or 4 years, and......

A young lad with potential but realistically isn't ready to make a meaningful contribution at this level.

Campbell isn't a striker despite nonsensical comparisons with his Dad.

If Brewster struggles like usual and Moore is unavailable, our striking options are barely L1 level at best.

A few hours to (unlikely) change that.

We have scored 9 goals this season and not too many by strikers. Are you sure it’s a potential problem ?

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

We have scored 9 goals this season and not too many by strikers. Are you sure it’s a potential problem ?

Goals against Wrexham aren't valid, we aren't going to be playing League One teams every week.

Only Arblaster, Hamer and Moore have scored so far.

No chance Arblaster keeps up his current scoring ratio of 2 in 3 so we're putting an awful lot of pressure on Moore and Hamer.

There's nobody else in our team who has a history of consistently scoring goals at this level apart from maybe Campbell.

 

[Blade83]

We have scored 9 goals this season and not too many by strikers. Are you sure it’s a potential problem ?

Equates to 83 over 46 games, assuming we continue to play League 1 teams every other game. I’m not sure that's a very compelling argument.

I’m personally comfortable with not being promoted again for a while after last season but I don’t think we should kid ourselves about where we’ve ended up.

 

[bakeblade]

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 squad is fine if we're looking at a season of consolidation and a mid table finish. It gives us a chance to blood some youngsters and further plan for season 25/26.
However if we are going for promotion, it's nowhere near strong enough

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

This squad will see Wilder sacked by November

It isn't balanced, it doesn't suit any formation, depth is majorly lacking up front, there's a lack of experience and leadership, and it simply doesn't look like a squad Wilder would put together

Deary me... This has to be one of the worst takes I've read on here for a good while....

On the other hand, this narrative helps Wilder build the narrative and team spirit that was sadly lacking this year...

I duly hope come November you're back on here eating humble pie as we're top 4 sitting nicely for a Spring time push....

 

[JJ Sefton]

No, it’s ‘heroin chic’.

 

[ancientblade]

were 2 strikers short imo unless wilder sees the goals coming from our wide men

 

[Davalon]

We have scored 9 goals this season and not too many by strikers. Are you sure it’s a potential problem ?

Yeah.

 

[loyalblade95]

With apologies for my ignorance but can we sign loan players after today or is that only for leagues 1 and 2 ?

Emergency loans only (usually Keepers), free agents who were out of contract before window shut can also be signed as well.

 

[Snowflake]

Goals against Wrexham aren't valid, we aren't going to be playing League One teams every week.

Only Arblaster, Hamer and Moore have scored so far.

No chance Arblaster keeps up his current scoring ratio of 2 in 3 so we're putting an awful lot of pressure on Moore and Hamer.

There's nobody else in our team who has a history of consistently scoring goals at this level apart from maybe Campbell.

Interesting repositioning of goalposts !!

 

[Snowflake]

Emergency loans only (usually Keepers), free agents who were out of contract before window shut can also be signed as well.

Thanks.

 

[BrisBlade]

I'm fine with what we've got, but would have been happier with one more quality striker and possibly a left winger. Not losing Blaster, Souza, Hamer, and Anel (and rekindling the latters joy for being here) is more important as far as I'm concerned.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Interesting repositioning of goalposts !!

It really isn't.

The scorers against Wrexham were Trusty, Marsh and Slimane.

Tell me how many league goals you think those three are going to contribute this season.

 

[Snowflake]

It really isn't.

The scorers against Wrexham were Trusty, Marsh and Slimane.

Tell me how many league goals you think those three are going to contribute this season.

The point being discussed is whether a lack of strikers is a major problem. So far, in whatever match, it hasn’t been.
I don’t think it will be going forward, unless some on here are dreaming of atop two finish.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

She is thin and we will be found out to be the same.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

The point being discussed is whether a lack of strikers is a major problem. So far, in whatever match, it hasn’t been.
I don’t think it will be going forward, unless some on here are dreaming of atop two finish.

We've had one striker score one goal.

That's a problem.

 

[Snowflake]

We've had one striker score one goal.

That's a problem.

Not if the other outfield players score regularly.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Not if the other outfield players score regularly.

Yeah, that's the problem.

 

[Houston_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.

We have 2 credible keepers, a bomb scare and a young lad.

We have 1 senior striker, an unfit freebie, a kid and Rhian Fucking Brewster.

If Souza/Arblaster are injured we’re screwed and we’re currently shoehorning Hamer into a position to fit.

The right hand side of central defence is fine but the only actual right backs at the club are Seriki and Sachdev.

Apart from that we’ve got loads of depth.

 

[Westran]

We have 2 credible keepers, a bomb scare and a young lad.

We have 1 senior striker, an unfit freebie, a kid and Rhian Fucking Brewster.

If Souza/Arblaster are injured we’re screwed and we’re currently shoehorning Hamer into a position to fit.

The right hand side of central defence is fine but the only actual right backs at the club are Seriki and Sachdev.

Apart from that we’ve got loads of depth.

When have we ever had more than 2 credible keepers?

Fair do's on the striker situation

We can play one holding midfielder, Peck can play there too. Basically 2 strong players and one youth prospect for 1.5 places.

RB Gilchrist first choice, Shackleton cover, Anel cover, Seriki and Sachdev

The only position I think we're light on is up front, but then we're playing with one up front and so have more cover there than any other position.

 

[loyalblade95]

We've had one striker score one goal.

That's a problem.

True, but our LW has scored 2 and assisted 1, and we've got 2 goals from midfield.

This time last season we'd scored 2 goals, one from a midfielder (Hamer Vs Forest) and 1 from a wingback (Bogle Vs City).

The first time a striker scored for us last season was Archer Vs Everton in our first September game.

 

[Houston_Blade]

When have we ever had more than 2 credible keepers?

Fair do's on the striker situation

We can play one holding midfielder, Peck can play there too. Basically 2 strong players and one youth prospect for 1.5 places.

RB Gilchrist first choice, Shackleton cover, Anel cover, Seriki and Sachdev

The only position I think we're light on is up front, but then we're playing with one up front and so have more cover there than any other position.

Having watched Gilchrist the first few games he has some improvement to make if he’s going to be at a top end Championship RB level. He looks like a centre back being played out of position to me. Anel certainly can’t play RB unless absolutely necessary.

I would like to see us adopt the 1 holding midfielder approach but that still leaves us imbalanced across the whole of the midfield. Ideally Hamer sits, but we rely on him for goals so he’ll keep playing on the left.

Keepers I agree that 2 is enough and we got promoted with Wes and Davies the other season, but the other 2 aren’t really options unless in dire circumstances so shouldn’t count in the number for me.