Do we need 2 senior players for every position?

[MCFC1993]

Is it a myth or its it good for the squad?
Personally of the opinion that we don't need 2 senior players in each position, especially after seeing some of the performances this season. Our so called '2nd string' have regressed so much through not playing or not being good enough in the first place. I don't think they offer anything to the side being sat on the bench and then being brought on against the so called 'lesser' sides. It also affects our starting 11, look at Clichy, rotated every week for 3 or 4 years and never found consistency, no surprise that he looks like a world beater after playing nearly every game for 3 or 4 months.

Its funny because I think squad rotation was first brought into the Premier League in the early 2000's, when Ranieri was at Chelsea and now here he his at Leicester, playing nearly the same 11 every game.

I know injuries are always a concern but we can't have players on bench that only ever play when theres an injury, i.e. Bony or whoever comes in for Kompany. Injuries are just part and parcel of the game. I know we play in 4 competitions which equates to a lot of games but if the squad is managed correctly then we shouldn't get as many injuries, and we may even be able to develop younger players to step in when we pick up injuries.

The League Cup is a perfect example for me, we don't need to go full strength in that competition in the early months thus giving a rest, and saving legs in the starting XI for the crucial weeks, later in the season. Same with the league games early in the season when theres less pressure. Just look at the FA Cup this year, our younger lads could have been ready for that game at Chelsea if they had been given game time in the League Cup or Premier League earlier in the season.

I think its time we massively cut down the senior players in the squad, with some of the leaving players' roles taken up by some of our youth players. Just look who we have out on loan; Jason Denayer had a great year at Celtic and we sent him away on loan, this year Jack Byrne is tearing up the Eredivisie and Patrick Roberts arguably looking better than some of our wingers in the squad.

How many players do you think our squad honestly needs?
for me...
- The Starting XI.
- 1 backup keeper.
- 2 backup defenders.
- 3 backup midfielders.
- 1 backup striker.
- The rest being youth players.

I make that 18 senior players and the rest filled with 6 or 7 youth players making the step up.

I've heard that Guardiola also likes a much smaller squad than we currently have. If we lose 7 or 8 senior players this summer I don't think we then have to go and buy 7 or 8 or we'll be in the same situation where benched senior players who know they're 2nd choice just wont perform.

So what do we think? Is it time to cut down the amount of senior players? or is this not an issue?

 

[JGL07]

A squad of 18 players to cover around 60 matches and deal with injuries and suspensions not to mention the African Cup of Nations?

You have to be joking!

The reason Ranieri plays the same eleven every week is that he has few back ups. And Leicester are only going to play 42 matches this season compared to 59 or 60 for City.

Leicester were eliminated early in both domestic cups, didn't play in Europe and had next to no injuries or (until recently) suspensions.

I would have Denayer in the squad and probably Roberts too from what I saw of them up here playing for Celtic.

 

[MCFC1993]

A squad of 18 players to cover around 60 matches and deal with injuries and suspensions not to mention the African Cup of Nations?

You have to be joking!

You didn't read correctly, that would be a squad of 18 senior players and 6 or 7 youth/younger players who could get significant minutes under their belt.

 

[Keepingthefaithsince1976]

I don't care if they are senior or junior. I want them to be good enough. 22 players who will sweat blood for City.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

Yes and going by yesterday, they all need to play at the same time.

 

[2sheikhs]

I don't.
4 cb's is the only area I think needs it.
Elsewhere, I'd have a first choice with a veteran and a youth player as cover.

 

[mike1923]

No

And Pep doesn't believe in it either, so I wouldn't think we will be seeing It for the next three years.

 

[daztrueblue91]

Have two top class players in every position just breeds complacency IMO.

The manager will be forced to rotate more often than he'd like to and it would end up with an unsettled squad.

I'd say the ideal blend would be:

1 top class GK and 1 solid veteran. (Hart and Willy)
3 top CBs and a youngster (Vinny, Otamendi, Mangala and Stones)
3 top full backs and 1 youngster (Clichy, Denayer, ???, Angelinho)
4 top CMs and 2 youngster (Gundogan, Fernandinho, ???, ???, Byrne, Manu Garcia)
4 top AMs and 2 youngsters (Silva, De Brunye, Sterling, Nasri, Brahim, ???)
2 top strikers and 1 youngster (Kun, ???, Iheanacho)

 

[Cityfan]

Partly depends on the versatility of players and on ACON commitments etc.
Some of our squad aren't that versatile though I guess Bony might be useful if a goal post got injured.

Rags certainly suffered a bit this season for lack of back up in defense and Chelsea for lack of alternatives to strikers. At one point we were pretty much down to bare bones and although now we just about have a full squad at times Sagna and our central midfield were getting overplayed for lack of an alternative IMHO.

It also depends on how good your youth players are

 

[JGL07]

You didn't read correctly, that would be a squad of 18 senior players and 6 or 7 youth/younger players who could get significant minutes under their belt.

And what happens Aguero, Kompany, De Brune, all pick up long term injuries as happened this season not to mention Nasri? Then what has if the back up player picks up an injury or suspension as happened with Mangala, Stirling, Delph, Boni, etc.

You sound like one of those idiotic commentators slagging off Pellegrini for changing the team too much unlike Ranieri. If Leicester had serious injuries and that certainly would have happened had they played more matches, they would had to make changes.

 

[Scaring Europe to Death]

At the risk of stating the obvious, a lot of this season's problems have stemmed from our senior players never staying fit, and more specifically, recurring injuries, which should have been handled a lot better. (rewind to last August, and the long term concerns over Kompany and Aguero)
Consequently, we've needed a squad, as regardless of Kolarov's inability to defend, our other left back was missing for the first third of the season.

 

[MCFC1993]

And what happens Aguero, Kompany, De Brune, all pick up long term injuries as happened this season not to mention Nasri? Then what has if the back up player picks up an injury or suspension as happened with Mangala, Stirling, Delph, Boni, etc.

You sound like one of those idiotic commentators slagging off Pellegrini for changing the team too much unlike Ranieri. If Leicester had serious injuries and that certainly would have happened had they played more matches, they would had to make changes.

As stated we'd have a couple of backup players for defence, 3 for midfield and a back up attacker, who would naturally get game time without feeling the need to rotate through having too many players.
However, we'd also have Iheanacho or Manu Garcia or Brahim Diaz or Patrick Roberts or Jason Denayer, young players but they'd all had much more game time than they have now, so they would be more prepared. Look at Iheanacho...i'm not even sure if the lad has 1000 minutes under his belt but i'm already more than confident than he could step up if Aguero got injured.

 

[MCFC1993]

At the risk of stating the obvious, a lot of this season's problems have stemmed from our senior players never staying fit, and more specifically, recurring injuries, which should have been handled a lot better. (rewind to last August, and the long term concerns over Kompany and Aguero)
Consequently, we've needed a squad, as regardless of Kolarov's inability to defend, our other left back was missing for the first third of the season.

To an extent i'd agree but its also been down to the inconsistency of the backup players or lack of preparation for the younger players and in my opinion that stems from having too many bit part players.

 

[2sheikhs]

If the back up player believes he's as good or better than the first choice or was led to believe that they'd figure much more, then resentment sets in. That's followed by a lack of confidence and loss of form.

 

[Omnia Vincit Riot]

I think, providing we have enough absolutely amazing top class players then we could afford to have slightly lower standard back ups. By having enough, I mean barring a virulent bout of the shits emanating from the club canteen sweeping the whole squad, we would always have at least two or three match winners available for any game.

Currently the only players we have falling into that category are Kun and KDB. We need to add at least three more of that level, so if 2 or 3 are missing we should usually still have enough to win a game despite carrying a youngster or out of form players or anyone who's not really good enough (if Delph, Bony, Kolarov, Mangala, Navas are still around next season).

Adding Gundogan, Pogba, Laporte and an amazing, fast, productive, consistent goal-scoring winger should be enough.

 

[jamesha]

I kind of like the idea of a smaller squad but to have it you need first choice players who are in their prime and not injury prone so that would mean no Yaya, Kompany or possibly Aguero from the current lot. We also suffer that most of our players are internationals and often get sent back broke. We were flying this season until the first international break.