Championship quality in our squad

Despite yesterday's setback, it's fair to say that we're well in the mix. Hang on to Mads and sign a decent striker in the window and I still think we've got a shout of making the top two. If not, then the play-offs are more than realistic.

It's my opinion that Duff has done an incredible job with quite a limited squad. That's not a criticism of the players as I've really enoyed watching us this season. Lots of hard work and plenty of decent football. But I think it's fair to say that we are a good League 1 side, rather than a Championship side in L1, which we clearly were the last two times we went up from this division. I think that if we go up then we'll be dreadfully exposed in the Championship, either due to lack of pace in some areas and lack of quality in others. Obiously signings will be made if we go up, but I'm interested to see what people think about who can actually hack it at the higher level. My take is as follows:

Proper Championship players:

Collins
Mads
Jordan Williams
Walton

Ones who might be able to make the step up

Phillips
Kane
Cadden
Benson
Thomas
Connell
Aitchinson
Jalo
Kitching

Of the "maybe" group, I'd be most hopeful about Connell and Phillips. Jalo obviously has the ability but is still very young. Kane, Benson and Cadden are also excellent footballers, but they're all quite slow. I reckon we'd need at least five very high quality signings to even have a remote chance of being comfortable.

 

What Championship quality as Walton got?

 

We'd be massively exposed down the left with Cadden at wing back. Hes brilliant going forward but shows little desire to get back. That might be tactical from Duff to enable a quick break or to give us an outlet but more often than not that side is where we look very open.

As for championship quality,
Collins
Anderson
After that im struggling.

Potential to become championship quality:
Kitchen
Williams
OConnell
Phillips
Kane

On the fence over benson

Rest i either havent seen enough of them (ie Cundy) or i dont think theyre good enough (Cole)

 

I would say that only mads and Collins, Williams is really championship quality. Williams is our best player imo.
The rest are mid league one

 

I think we're certainly one of the best 6 teams in the division. I just think the top 3 are miles ahead of the rest in terms of consistency. It's taken us time to gel and get playing to Duffs specifications and in that time we've incurred too many shoddy performances and defeats (Wycombe, Exeter, Lincoln mainly) to be able to keep up.



If we went up I don't think we'd fair well with the current squad either, Collins, Mads, Williams and maybe Connell aside

 

Connell will play in the Premier League at some point in my opinion.

 

I would take Walton off the Championship level list. Of the maybes Jalo and possibly Phillips.

If we did get promoted without a full clear out I would expect us to finish bottom.

 

Swap Connell for Walton, that's four, hold on to Styles, get in another 6, if and when it happens, and we keep the 5, then use the others as back up, get rid of Cole, Norwood, and the 4 on loan, makings of a good squad.

 

Agree with your assessment, but would add Cole to the 'step up' category. He's been great at this level & would have a shout at breaking through.

 

If he was 22-23 I'd definitely agree with you. As it is, I think he's peaking now. Full kudos to the lad, he's been a revelation this season after a nightmare last term and a lot of criticism. I just think he's found his level.

 

Collins and Mads are our only two Championship quality players. If we get promoted and Duff keeps faith and loyalty in those that got us up, we would come straight back down.

 

You never know. I’m certainly not saying it will happen with us this season but sometimes teams go up with momentum and carry it over across the seasons.

Maybe not next season but I definitely think that a fair few of our players have the potential to be regulars in the championship within a few years.

 

I’d agree with Mads and Collins. Mads is an absolute must keep this window.

Williams is close for me but needs to fully get over his injury/fitness record. Once he does that, he’ll be a great asset to the club.

I remember hearing about Connell a few years ago but still, it was a great find by the club last summer. I imagine he’ll have teams sniffing around him already.

Phillips is a strange one because sometimes he looks well off it. But if he continues with his scoring record, you can’t argue with that.

I feel like Duff would keep us solidly defensive in most situations now. Attacking wise we look light for this division so 100% light for one up from us.

 

2 things on here that's constantly repeated:

- when we get relegated we're going to stay in the lower leagues for years to come.
- when we get promoted we're be slaughtered with this team.

They're a young team, a few will have quite decent championship careers.

 

Cole's past his best hit an miss, i like him but can't see him stepping up.

 

I’d agree with the gulf between the divisions. I’m probably guilty of being a bit over optimistic after a good previous season but I still think if you can keep the momentum going over pre-season, you could do well.

With the money in the game nowadays, we’re certainly more the lower end of the championship at best. Hopefully Duff can get us punching above our weight and we can progress up with him.

 

TBF some of our fans have been saying the same thing through the generations as long as I can remember, interspersed with, 'we don't want to go up' and 'we can't afford to go up'