Were still too short.

[DP8789]

Whilst it is good news that we have got jordan and bartley back and the squad is starting to take some shape im still a tad worried about squad size. Weve only got 14 for tonight and if a couple of those take a knock its not good for the wknd.

below is the squad and the different positions they can play in, we may aswell forget about france and walton and henderson (for now) so that leaves 19
Gk - Simmo, Askalu

Rb - Kozluk, Lowton, France

Cb- Morgan, Ertl, Barley, Nosworthy

Lb - Taylor, Jordan (Kozluk)

Rw - Ward, Yeates, (Lowton)

Cm - Britton, Monty, Williamson, Walton, Quinn (Ertl)

Lw - (Quinn) (Cresswell)

St- Ched, Henderson, Cresswell, Bogdanovic

we desperately need a left winger and what with the fact that willo and walton are long term injuries i think we could do with another cm. Blackwell himself has said that lowton isnt a right back, so i would like to think we have someone in the pipeline, because kozluk cant be considered as first choice. 2 or 3 more injuries and we'll struggle to field a side. i know he's gone for "quality over quantity" and im not knocking blakwell in this post, i just think we are atleast another 2 or 3 players short still.

Now i know we have the 2 academy lads from the bench aswell, but what we need is good experience (especially at rb and preferably cm) i just hope we can secure a couple more before the window closes.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

There's also a few other 'switches' in your list, Nyron for RB (which I think is where he'll end up playing), Wardy up front, Yeates left. Of course a few injuries and we're struggling but it seems clear that he's tried to create a squad where he has 4 or 5 players who can do a good job in more than one position, which is a far cry from players who can fill in. I can see Ertl for example starting 30 plus games without necessarily being a 1st choice starter (if that makes sense!)

What we need to aim for is a matchday squad where all could be considered good enough to start and that's something he never had last season. Look at the team who started on Sunday;

Simmo
Lowton, Ertl, Morgs, Taylor
Ward, Monty, Britton, Squinny
Ched, Cresswell

Replace Lowton, Ertl and Taylor with Nyron, Kyle III and Jordan who I reckon will make up his preferred back four and the bench could be;

Aksalu, Taylor, Boggy, Yeates, Lowton, Ertl

I still think we need another wide midfielder to add to that and hopefully, Willo and we're looking in decent shape with the likes of Chappel and the experience of Kozzy still to call upon if needs be.

It all depends whether we can keep away from the injuries and if we do, we're not looking too bad IMO.

 

[LouTheBlade]

One more player will come in and that will be it until January. I'm happy enough with that, all things considered. The three injuries we have are unfortunate but you cant expect United to go out and buy another 3 replacements as the club simply doesnt have the money. We are also probably just about on budget now in terms of player salaries as well so dont expect anything more than another right back coming in.

I would be amazed if United signed anyone else after that. You say we need a left winger (I'm not disagreeing with that) but who is out there within our price bracket? Yeates played well on the left in a couple of friendlies and the system we adopted at Cardiff features Cresswell on the left. That formation would suggest that we are unlikely to adopt an out and out left winger away from home so is there any point in signing one?

Ertl won't be used as a centre back very often, you will see him more in midfield so I dont feel we need another centre mid - that would also be surplus. Chappell and James will supplement what we have nicely and if we sign anymore players then those youngsters may as well forget about breaking into the first team! I would rather see them on the fringes than some 30 year old squad filler from elsewhere.

The squad we have + another right back, will be fine until January. If we get injuries, we get injuries. Sadly thats part and parcel of football and if we get a glut of them like last season then it will take its toll yes, but you have to accept it. You cant guard against that by carrying squads of 30 when you have debt and a decreasing budget. You're not alone in what you're saying as a few others on this forum have voiced similar concerns but we have to get real.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Why do we need a left winger? We aren't looking like playing 4-4-2, if we do we have Yeates but we are looking very much like 4-3-3.

-----------------Simmo-------------------------
Nos -------Bartley--Morgs--------Jordan/Taylor

-------- Britton---Monty---Ertl--------------------

-----Ward----------------Cresswell/Yeates
-----------------Evans-----------------------------

Taylor, Quinny, Bogdanovich, Yeates, France, Kozzy, Lawton, James, plus Walton and Willo when fit.


Looks pretty solid to me unless we get ridiculous injuries.

 

[LouTheBlade]

Why do we need a left winger? We aren't looking like playing 4-4-2, if we do we have Yeates but we are looking very much like 4-3-3

Exactly but even if Blackwell does set out to play 4-4-2 he wont use an attacking left winger anyway. The fact that he plays Wardy on the right negates the possibility of him playing someone high up on the left. Like most managers at this level he will have one wide man high up and the other sat deeper to maintain defensive balance across the middle. The only way he would play with two attacking wide men would be if he played Ertl and Monty together in the middle and in a 4-4-2 that is highly unlikely.

 

[DP8789]

Exactly but even if Blackwell does set out to play 4-4-2 he wont use an attacking left winger anyway. The fact that he plays Wardy on the right negates the possibility of him playing someone high up on the left. Like most managers at this level he will have one wide man high up and the other sat deeper to maintain defensive balance across the middle. The only way he would play with two attacking wide men would be if he played Ertl and Monty together in the middle and in a 4-4-2 that is highly unlikely.

if injuries occur, results dont go our way or maybe the way other teams set up against us at home, we cant keep to 433 all season. we need a left winger, we dont have 1 recognised one at the club. what you and bob are basically saying is play 433 and you dont need a left winger! we need variety and the ability to be able to mix it up and change it when necessary.

 

[LouTheBlade]

if injuries occur, results dont go our way or maybe the way other teams set up against us at home, we cant keep to 433 all season. we need a left winger, we dont have 1 recognised one at the club. what you and bob are basically saying is play 433 and you dont need a left winger! we need variety and the ability to be able to mix it up and change it when necessary.

No I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying we dont need to sign and wont sign a left winger because of the following:-

1) Blackwell will use his 4-3-3/4-5-1 system in nearly all our away games

2) In a 4-4-2 Blackwell (like a lot of managers) will not play with two out and out wingers. Whenever he starts Ward on the right in a 4-4-2 he has often played Quinny out on the left to provide an attacking/defensive balance to the midfield. The only time this has not been the case is when he has played two sitting central midfielders.

3) We dont have the money for a left winger that would make a difference to our squad in terms of quality. Please name any that would disprove this.

We certainly do need variety in order to mix things up but we have that in versatile players such as Kozluk, Nosworthy, Ertl, Jordan, Ward and Cresswell. The idea of bringing in players that can play different positions is that it removes the need to have a large squad. It is a way of building an effective team on a limited budget and this is the way we will cover for injuries because its our only option. Signing more players isnt an option - I accepted that a while ago.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

i think we could do with another cm.

I'd go along with that, although I've never had any complaints....

 

[Bergen Blade]

http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Reactions/0,,10418~2119706,00.html

We're a few days into the season, the players have had a month's training and some friendly games where they are no doubt instructed to avoid dangerous tackles - and already we've got problems with our small squad, fielding players with niggles, playing players out of position, being unable to fill the bench, naming coaching staff as players and complaining about injuries and suspensions, while hinting that the youngsters aren't good enough. If this is a problem now isn't it likely to become an even bigger problem in November/December?

 

[bladesman1889]

To be fair bergen, we had a LOT of injuries on Tuesday so I'm not surprised the squad was so stretched. Once we draft in a right back and get the likes of Nos and Jordan to full fitness we'll be fine.

 

[Bergen Blade]

To be fair bergen, we had a LOT of injuries on Tuesday so I'm not surprised the squad was so stretched. Once we draft in a right back and get the likes of Nos and Jordan to full fitness we'll be fine.

I think we're ok in defence, but lack quick and mobile options wide and up front.

 

[Zinedine]

I think we've shaped up nicely and Blackwell is looking to add more, hopefully this means more will be on the way and we already have a strong squad so

 

[Fiery Blade]

We will see how 'strong' the squad is after the first 10 matches My bet is that after ten matches we will be aroung 13-15th in the league which unchecked will set the trend for the rest of the season!