Is Our Squad Too Small?

[Cheltblue]

I dont think Hughes will sell Dunne without getting in another centre back, whether that be Lescott or someone else.

If we sign another centre back Dunne will have as much part to play as someone like Benjani has. It will be Toure, new centre back, Ned, Kompany and then Dunne in the pecking order, 5th choice centre backs generally do not get many games at the top level especailly in a team without European commitments and I dont see losing the 5th choice centre back as weakening the squad!

I think Hughes see's Dunne as number 2 at the moment, and if Lescott comes, No3.
No 3 would be a significant loss.

Only time will sort this one.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

I dont think Hughes will sell Dunne without getting in another centre back, whether that be Lescott or someone else.

If we sign another centre back Dunne will have as much part to play as someone like Benjani has. It will be Toure, new centre back, Ned, Kompany and then Dunne in the pecking order, 5th choice centre backs generally do not get many games at the top level especailly in a team without European commitments and I dont see losing the 5th choice centre back as weakening the squad!

By all accounts Everton were prepared to sell us Lescott as long as they had a replacement.
Dunne is a solid centre half and has been linked with a number of Prem clubs including Villa and Spuds who's managers generally know what they're doing.
I'm surprised (but may be mistaken) that Dunne hasn't been linked with Everton in a player plus cash deal. Or does this mean Hughes aint going to sell?

Villa are really struggling at the moment so I think its unsurprising they are linked with Dunne, for me it would be something of a panic buy on Oneills part and despite what many think I dont actually consider Villa to be any good, I think they will be mid table this season which for me is just about Dunnes level. As for Spurs supposed interest they went and signed a young, largely unproven centre back from a relegated club for more money so that tells you what Redknapp really thought of Dunne!

I think if we sign another centre back Dunne is history!

 

[Rammyblues]

I think numbers just right as previous posters have said no European comitments this year, I suspect if we do get Europe next year (hopefully CL) then I suspect our squad will grow to reflect the number of extra games that will create.

 

[sboroMCFC]

You're forgetting that we have players like Kompany and Zabba who can play in a few different positions!

 

[johnny crossan]

No I'm not, but nevertheless an excellent question OP.

When Benjani goes out on loan (or perhaps even if he doesn't) we will have the smallest squad in the Premier League.

Despite an excellent transfer window we will end up with no experienced cover for or pressure on SWP, Ireland and Barry.

We have 23 first teamers until January including a reserve goalkeeper and three not currently available through long term injury - RSC, Kompany & Johnson. It's unlikely that Garrido & Sylvino will get many starts - so effectively that's just 17 players - 11 to play and 6 for the bench.

If we have reasonably good Cup runs we will actually play roughly the same number of games as if we were in the Europa League and didn't.

Our squad may be high quality but it is too small.

 

[awesome]

I'm more concerned if Barry gets injured as we'll lack any size in the middle. Our squad needs another Barry type player IMO

Kompany?

 

[bluemoondays]

From the OS, a squad size of 23 is misleading as I would think Hughes will only play either Garrido or Benjani as an act of desperation so realistically we are looking at 21 players.

Goalkeepers
Shay Given (IRL)
Stuart Taylor (ENG)

Joe Hart (ENG) - Loan

Defenders
Joleon Lescott (-)
Sylvinho (BRA)
Wayne Bridge (ENG)
Nedum Onuoha (ENG)
Micah Richards (ENG)
Kolo Toure (CIV)
Pablo Zabaleta (ARG)

Richard Dunne (IRL) - Gone
Javier Garrido (ESP) - Not good enough
Shaleum Logan (ENG) - Loan

Midfielders
Gareth Barry (ENG)
Nigel de Jong (NED)
Stephen Ireland (IRL)
Vincent Kompany (BEL) - edit, injured also
Martin Petrov (BUL)
Shaun Wright-Phillips (ENG)

Vladimir Weiss (SVK) - Bench sub only
Kelvin Etuhu (NGR) - Loan
Michael Johnson (ENG) - Injured

Strikers
Emmanuel Adebayor (TGO)
Craig Bellamy (WAL)
Robinho (BRA)
Carlos Tevez (ARG)

Roque Santa Cruz (PRY) - Injured
Valeri Bojinov (BUL) - Loan
Felipe Caicedo (ECU) - Loan
Jô (BRA) - Loan
Benjani Mwaruwari (ZIM) - Crap

A bit worried about squad size at the moment - taking out injured, loans and those who are just not good enough (or in Weiss's case still not a starter) we are at 19 players currently as 1st squad picks. On the plus side our bench is very strong with some great full international players waiting to come on.

We have 2 goalkeepers, 7 defenders (+maybe Kompany), 6 midfielders (excluding Johnson & Weiss) and 4 strikers (excluding RSC). A bad run of injuries and RSC/Johnno having a setback could leave us fielding reserves/youngsters quite easily.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

The squad is perfect as it has two top quality players for every position, backed up with kids coming through. It's not long since it looked like we had a huge squad. Not now. What we don't have, particularly, is dead wood.

Good management.

 

[mcfc83]

The squad is perfect as it has two top quality players for every position, backed up with kids coming through. It's not long since it looked like we had a huge squad. Not now. What we don't have, particularly, is dead wood.

Good management.

Good point, too often in the past we have had loads of deadwood reserve players clogging up the squad. Hughes has gone for quality not quantity, plus if we do get a few injuries I'm sure he can top things up in January, and as a previous poster said, if we get back into Europe next year the squad will grow accordingly.

 

[bluemoon32]

We could struggle big time in midfield if we get a few injuries to the likes of Barry & Ireland, i know we have De Jong & Kompany but they are very different players .