Squad Composition?

[Alfreton14Blade]

With the big overhaul of the squad soon to start, what should we be expecting in terms of age & experience?

A squad full of young, hungry whippersnappers? Or one full of experience & of players at their prime?

A bit of both I'd suggest (as should be the case really).

Having a look at Chris Wilder's carefully assembled squad at Northampton last season, here's the age range of players who were an integral part of the squad:

19 (1)
23 (3)
24 (1)
25 (1)
27 (3)
28 (2)
29 (3)
30 (1)
31 (1)
33 (1)

An average squad age of 26.75.

So, a pretty even spread between younger players and more experienced ones. A bit light on under 23s (which doesn't seem to suggest major breakthroughs are likely from the youth system - in fact the 19 year old in question above is a loanee from a higher level, in the form of our very own DCL). But with a greater number being aged below the footballer's prime age of 28 years old than below.

All in all, it seems to suggest we can expect a thoughtfully constructed squad not overloaded with heavy-legged older players and not overreliant on youthful inexperience.



(Footnote: far from a scientific survey - just based on players who made 20 appearances or more including appearances off the bench.)

 

[Blade56]

How many words does the composition have to be and when do we have to hand it in?

Good statistics A14B. The end.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Summer afternoons on here with Alf14 are going to fly by.

 

[Lord Eddard Muir]

Lack of U23s might be more a sign that Northampton doesn't have much of a youth set-up than of Wilder's personal preference - probably more scope to bring kids through from our academy.

 

[boo radley]

How many words does the composition have to be and when do we have to hand it in?

Good statistics A14B. The end.

Teacher is not expecting your homework in anyway because you've never bothered before

 

[Blade56]

Teacher is not expecting your homework in anyway because you've never bothered before

Hammond ate it Sir

 

[1danewhitehouse]

If we don’t include any of those on the transfer list, what’s the best side we can currently field?





--------------------Long


Brayford-Basham—Semple---Kelly

------------------Whiteman

-------------Reed--------Scougall

Done-------------------------------Adams

---------------------Sharp




Subs would be made up pretty much entirely of the U21/ U18 squads. By my reckoning we’ll need at least (DLC, Gilmour, Gordon, Brooks, Ramsdale etc.)


CB X 2

LB

CM

Winger


To have any chance.


Let’s say we sign Cresswell, Buchanan, O Toole and Holmes from Northampton. Then we go out and sign another centre half, say Curtis Nelson/ Aaron Pierre. Surely our wage bill would be way down on last season whilst giving us a competitive squad.

I think the squad will certainly include more youth than his Northampton one simply because of what is left here. The first team on the other hand might see experience coming in as we already have Che and possibly one of Whiteman/Reed likely to be in there.