Just looked at the contract thread. In my opinion we currently have 15 players who are what we would see as starting 11 standard. A few extras who could fill in occasionally or from the bench. How many 'starting 11' standard players do you feel would be ideal? I'd say 20 would be manageable. So 5 decent signings needed
Good squads require two things. A good starting 11 Patient and Hungry squad players ready to give it there all when given the oppurtunity Do we have 15 prem standard players? No, not in my opinion. We need a left back, centre back and another central midfielder or two I reckon. Then hopefully we'll have a competitive squad. 20 players good enough for the starting 11 will become difficult to manage eventually. The way I see it most squads have a core of 8/9 players who are generally good enough to be starting every week bar a dip in form or injury. Then another 8/9 more rotating players who will offer cover and different options when needed and then you last 7 or so back ups who will only really be called upon through injuries and will cover the cup games mostly.
I actually do feel we have 15 prem standard players. I've been as guilty as most in the past in assuming if I haven't really heard of them then they aren't. But actually I think the majority of prem players aren't all that. Look at the starting 11 in any team from about 9th place down, full of unknowns, journeymen, and basic level players who basically 'do a job'. We've got 15 of that standard or higher in my opinion. We probably need 5 more good players, will be easy to keep them all happy and give us a chance of finishing anywhere from 10th to 17th.
Right now, using players that as it stands are contracted to us on Aug 8, we'd be looking at a team of something like: Gomes Cathcart Angella Hoban Paredes Abdi Tozser Watson Anya Deeney Ighalo Subs: Bond Pudil Layun Murray Forestieri Byers? Doherty? We need to therefore probably sign 8 or 9 players of first team squad ability (obviously including loanees so Vydra, Guedioura etc). We technically have McGugan, Dyer, Battocchio, Fabbrini etc contracted then too but think it's probably worth discounting them, however much I'd love DF to stay.
Gomes Cathcart Angella Hoban Paredes Abdi Tozser Watson Anya Deeney Ighalo After 3 years I'm a bit bored with some of our players, we need some new ones, different hair colour and things... maybe we can wrap some in vinyl?
Several of our squad can play other positions if needed so I see no sense in going overboard. A squad of 18 or 19 plus a couple of youngsters would be enough at least until the loan window where we can add a one or two more ... However with the requirement of eight home grown I think we'll need to up this (unless empty slots can count as HG).
We need to sign some top-quality UK players to meet our quota. I'm a bit concerned that we've only been linked with foreigners lately, but I guess the Pozzos will announce their signings on 1 July, when existing contracts have expired.
