So how many players do we want, lads?

All well and good signing these players when we've already got more than adequate cover in those positions.

We've now got 9 defenders on the books & that doesn't include O'Brien/RNL/Patterson.

What's happened to the small/lean squad? Looking forward to seeing Danny Rose develop as our 6th choice striker.

 

Need to send some players out on loan

any player that is fit but just needing match sharpness should be considered for loan. Rose and Digby would both benefit from learning their trade in League 1 or 2 imho, get used to playing with misters at full pelt.

 

Re: Need to send some players out on loan

Agree, but it's not going to be just the likes of Rose & Digby. McNulty/Hassell/Cwyka/Rose/Cofie/Patterson should all be out on loan somewhere, that's not even including an unfit McCourt & a Jennings that we'll probably never see.

Massive squad - concerned about the £££

 

Have to say, I am concerned about the size of the squad. We've a squad of 28 (not including Dibble, Knight or Patterson) now. That's 8 more than what Flitcroft stated he wanted at the start of the season.

I'm guessing Ramage is to be a regular starter, and I reckon he'll play as a centre half with Wiseman reverting to RWB or RB depending on formation. We've a huge amount of options for formations and personnel, but we can only pick 18 in the squad every game meaning 10 players won't even be on the bench.

Don't get me wrong, I think Ramage is a very good addition and should bring the thing we're lacking most, an organiser. But if Ramage plays centre back we've Cranie (surely a regular starter?) Nyatanga, M'Voto, McNulty, Kennedy and Hassell who should slot into that back line competing for the other two slots. That just seems far too many to keep competition healthy but balanced.

 

Re: Need to send some players out on loan

The difference now perhaps is the new found ability of the owner to underwrite any projected losses. Not saying that that is the right thing to do like....

 

Re: Need to send some players out on loan

Exactly.

Mansford is getting a lot of praise at the minute. Not quite sure it's justified.

 

What is the optimum number for a squad size?

How many youngsters have to be part of that squad? Why is there an assumption that the young players will be the ones to miss out? Isn't it possible that the young talent could find themselves further up the pecking order than some of their more experienced colleagues as the season progresses? Perhaps the manager doesn't feel that some of the lads are quite ready at this moment to be considered to be regularly selected for the first team squad?
I don't know the answers, just putting other options out there.

 

But why sign so many on in the Summer? He's signed/re-signed seven defenders so far & that doesn't include Wiseman.

I just get the impression we're like kids in a sweet shop signing anyone we want/can. Concerned where the £££ that has been so carefully invested & returned these past few years is going.

 

Hassell is not in contention so forget him from the playing squad

 

So why sign him then? Waste of a wage, unfortunately.

Same with McNulty.

 

Remember end of last season where we were chucking young 'uns in wherever we could because of injuries? He's probably just trying to avoid that scenario again.

 

Re: What is the optimum number for a squad size?

I'm not sure Kev, but 24 experienced professionals on your books is too many for me. That doesn't take into account RNL/Digby/Rose/Cofie etc.

They may well end up playing but it's a fair assumption that it makes it much more difficult for them to get a look in.

 

Isn't that when you sign a loan player though? At the minute we're carrying a squad of about 30 pros - I'm not sure that's the right way to be spending our money.

 

Re: Need to send some players out on loan

Different brief from The Don though now I think. His brief was to hold the ship steady whilst trying to maintain our Championship status. Which, despite everything, he managed to do.

 

Reckon we'll see a fair few out on loan after the break...I'd guess at McNulty, Hassell and fair few youngsters as deffos. I'd personally like to see Jennings on loan to gain fitness, somewhere he's loved, Tranmere?

 

Agreed. Although I might guess that his wages are not in the playing budget perhaps...

 

I think

Over the coming months, there'll be a number of the more experienced players being pulled to one side and getting told there's no long term future for them at the club. In a perfect world, squad sizes would be neither top heavy nor thread bare when injuries & suspensions kick in. I think it can be a difficult balancing act at times. However, if there is to be a problem with numbers, I'd prefer us to err on the side of caution & have too many than too few, for a short period of time.

 

Aye but our fans (me included) moan like owt when we get loans in, they're never match fit and half the time look completely disinterested. Much rather have a lad who is our player coming in for a couple of games than a young lad from Stoke.

 

Re: I think

And looking at those in the last year of their contract, we have...

Hassell, Wiseman, O'Brien, Perkins, McNulty, Mellis, Dawson, Dagnall, Cywka, Scotland, Rose, Cofie & McCourt.

I'd suspect a good number of those are probably surplus to requirements

 

Re: I think

Well, we have several players at the club who are just not good enough if we want to progress up the league, some of whom have already been playing this season. Give it a few more weeks and time for the new players and injured players to get fit and Flicker will then know his best starting eleven and his first choice back up players. At that point we can start letting players go out. But I agree with JLWBL in that it won't necessarily be the kids going out.