2022 - 2023 Squad

Are they moving Christmas to October this year?

That bloody World Cup!

 

There has been a bucket load on doom and gloom, but I just wanted to compare the squad we had a couple of years ago, which got 91 points, to the one we have now, just to see if that despair is justified.

GK
Then...Foster, Bachmann.....now Okoye, Bachmann
LB
Then... Masina, Lazaar.....now Kamara, Hungbo (probably)
RB
Then...Kiko, Ngakia, Navarro......now Kiko, Ngakia
CB
Then...Cathcart, WTE, Sierralta, Wilmot, Kabasele.....now Cathcart, WTE, Sierralta, Kabasele, Samir, Pollock
MF
Then....Hughes (for half a season), Capoue (for half a season), Cleverley, Gosling, Chalobah, Sanchez, Zinckernagel, Sema....now Louza, Cleverley, Gosling, Sema, Kayembe, TDB, Qunia
FW
Then...Sarr, Pedro, Deeney, Gray, Perica, Success...now Pedro, Bayo, Manaj, Fletcher, Forde

So, IMO, if you compare the two, there are only a couple of players who I think we are the worse for not having. Hughes and Sarr (if he goes) from that 2019/20 team. I can't even include Capoue as his heart wasn't in it.

Left back is much better now. Keeper is an unknown, right back is the same. With Samir we are probably a stronger unit now at centre back. I would say Louza for Hughes is a like for like and the rest are very similar. Up front, we might be even a little better than we were before.....although losing Sarr would have the biggest impact for sure.

The point I'm making is, we're not miles below the squad we had a couple of years ago. In a couple of areas we are actually better. For me, if we bring in a good midfielder and striker, then our squad this time around could be arguably better.

 

Midfield looks the weaker area at the moment for me. I think the other comparison to make is last time in this league we were mid Covid, teams weren't spending money and no one really strengthened their squad in a big way. It's going to be very different this year.

 

It's only a game.

 

Yep....it's a valid point. I think there are some teams who will also be strong next season. Burnley and Boro seem to be making good signings. Norwich and Swansea will be strong too, as will Sheff Utd probably. But I'm also encouraged by seeing what a pile of poo Luton had, but still got to the play offs last season.

If we get the last couple of signings right, and by that I mean good first team players for midfield and up front, then I see no reason why we shouldn't be in the play offs. Top two would be a stretch to be fair.

 

I think you are underestimating how much above this level Hughes and Sarr were. They were such a difference. Additionally Cleverly/Cathcart/Gosling/Kaba are 2 years older and 2 years more obsolete. Combine those factors and it doesn’t look good.

 

I know their value, but like I said, if we sign a couple of players of the right quality, then I see no reason why we can't finish in the top six. We don't need too much really, but it does have to be the right level of quality coming in to make it all happen.

 

A big IF sadly, based on the early evidence of the window.

 

Back to the dark days of mid table Championship finishes

 

All of this could be true, and I've flipped between the positive and negative side of the debate many times. Where I stand, is we need to see the entire transfer window play out. Sure if we only sign Bayo and Manaj and no one else, then yes, we will struggle to make an impact this season. But, I believe, rightly or wrongly, that we will bring in a couple of players who will at least on paper turn us into credible promotion challengers. As we sit here today, it seems quite a way off, but 2 or 3 good signings changes the picture dramatically as far as I'm concerned.

As far as the ownership/club leadership goes, the jury is out right now. It looks like we are heading in the wrong direction as a club, however, for me, Gino has credit in the bank to earn the right for time to see if we change direction and are given some hope the season will be a successful one.

If by 1st Sept, we've done nothing apart from make money from outgoing players, servicing debt presumably, then the season plays out as we fear, then the tide will certainly turn against Gino in large numbers, especially now the EJ carrot is being dangled.

 

I have not seen this mentioned anywhere on here, but apologies if I have missed it.

On the official club site it is saying we have signed a Brazilian youngster who is a defensive midfielder called Gaspar who was on the books at Arsenal.

 

If and it's a big if, we do bring in three quality through the middle CB,MF, CF then I believe we could do something.
But they need to be ready made quality.

 

He's for the U23's

 

He's Edu's son; probably just a bung to theoretically grease the wheels of this new strategic alliance between the two clubs.

 

It was mentioned by hornetboy1 in the Academy And Under-23s thread yesterday. Gaspar is only 18 years old so he will be regarded as one for the future and will probably play for the U-23's (as Knight GT wrote).

 

So with today's news that Sarr and Dennis may well be around and the pending signing of Manaj, it doesn't seem they are really making inroads with the rule of 11.

Also, with today's news that Fletcher will be looking to move on after his loan finishes, it means we'll only a 7 HG players but 14 NHG players on the books. I think you can realistically consider both Sarr and Dennis will be gone by 1st Sept, it still leaves one more who has to go on the NHG rule. Probably Kalu or maybe Sema, although Sema is versatile and can play as a wing back.

 

It's almost as if that was a hilariously stupid line for the club to spin in the first place...

 

He's a ghost mate, probably why you haven't seen it mentioned.

 

At least he's friendly.

 

What if we make no more signings in this window, but keep Dennis and Sarr......or we manage to sell say Sarr and bring in Adam Armstrong on loan and that's it? For me, that scenario is entire plausible, especially after what Giaretta stated.

If that happened, how do people think we'd do?

Personally I think we'd be in with a good shout for winning the league.

We have the best two wingbacks in the division (IMO) with Kiko and Kamara. We'd have a solid central defence, as they have proved they are very effective at Championship level. We'd have a functioning midfield, with the extra bit of quality Louza brings, although I wouldn't argue against another signing for this area. Up front we'd have Dennis, Armstrong or Sarr as the front two with Pedro just behind. For me that would be an extremely strong team for the Championship.

But to balance this out, it's fragile as we don't really have the depth of squad. Wingbacks would be an issue if either of our main players were missing and midfield would probably be too weak without Louza in there with his quick passing and vision.

Overall, I would be very excited to see how we'd do......and it's only really adding Dennis and Sarr or Armstrong to the equation to make it all happen.

 

I think our two biggest issues are / would be lack of goals and quality in midfield.

I just don't see where enough goals are going to come from unless JP happens to hit a purple patch or one of the two new strikers is more prolific than their careers to date suggest.

In midfield we would be banking on Asprilla, Quina and TDB making an impact as the rest are very uninspiring partners for Louza.

 

From what I saw on Sunday's 0-0 draw, players are buying into what Edwards is trying to get them to do. We are working to a system with an identity. This is a very good sign in my book. Systems and commitment are all vital ingredients, but don't mean a lot if you don't have the necessary quality. I've seen the argument that Sarr and Dennis won't be interested, but I've seen no evidence of that. With Sarr I just think he lost confidence and form last season. He probably wasn't happy with the coaching set up either. But now that has all changed, so I think he would be more enthused by it. With Dennis, I've never seen a hint of an issue with him. He could have kicked off after being told he's not going to AFCON, but didn't. Ok, his form did drop, but I don't think it's always related. Watford were a basket case last season and players were just not motivated. Out of all the players we had, he was one of the few who appeared to actually give a damn.

All the signs are pointing to they are happy to play for us while they are here, and I think we have to accept that at face value.

 

Have we got the best wing backs in the league? On paper maybe.
We have one central defender who can pass forward in Samir and he could easily move.
Weak midfield, extremely weak.
But an out and out goalscorer could paper the cracks.

 

I agree that the midfield is very weak. Louza is in everyone's midfield but first he has to get fit from a bad injury, then he has to stay fit, only time will tell. A strong physical, defensive, covering type midfielder (or two) is needed (and was last season).

 

Updated - tried to place in most likely positions of formation used by RE so far.

Non-Home Grown (Rule of Eleven) (currently 20) - Home Grown (currently 13) Total - 33

Maduka Okoye GK
Vincent Angelini GK
Pontus Dahlberg GK
Daniel Bachmann GK

Kiko Femenia RWB
Jeremy Ngakia RWB
Joseph Hungbo RWB

Hassane Kamara LWB
Adam Masina LWB
Ken Sema LWB
James Morris LWB

Cristian Kabasele CB
Francisco Sierralta CB
Samir CB
Craig Cathcart CB
William Troost-Ekong CB
Mattie Pollock CB

Edo Kayembe MF
Imran Louza MF
Yaser Asprilla MF
Tom Dele-Bashiru MF
Dan Gosling MF
Tom Cleverley MF
Domingos Quina MF

Vakoun Bayo FW
Rey Manaj FW
Emmanuel Dennis FW
Dapo Mebude FW
Joao Pedro FW
Samuel Kalu FW
Ismaila Sarr FW
Kwadwo Baah FW
Ashley Fletcher FW

Possible Extras / Unknowns

Pussetto
Penaranda
Manning
Rose
Andrews
Forde
Holding
Mckiernan
Adeyemo
Blake

Not even including Pussetto and Penaranda, we need to trim the non HG by 9 players. Angelini and Mebude could possibly move to the U'23's for the season?

 

This list tell`s actually lot. 20 non-home grown players! Who will be left for the season?
My guess is:

Maduka Okoye GK

Kiko Femenia RWB (He might have something going on at home so possibly leaving?)

Hassane Kamara LWB

Two of these will stay:
Cristian Kabasele CB
Francisco Sierralta CB
Samir CB

Imran Louza MF
Yaser Asprilla MF (Is it possible that he will be loaned out?)

Vakoun Bayo FW
Rey Manaj FW
Joao Pedro FW
Ismaila Sarr FW (Possibly moved on?)

 

How have we ended up with a whole bunch of midfielders that are all variations of each other?

No proper defensive midfielder, no goal scorers, no all action Guedioura type characters who will grab the game by the scruff of the neck - win balls back, surge past players, drag the team forward.

We just have a selection of neat, tidy and ineffective jacks of all trades, masters of none.

 

That's our World renowned recruitment team at it's very best. It's very weak and will lose most battles in the Championship.

 

The club always updates the team pages on the official site very slowly and this year is no exception.

So far the Men's Team page is the only one to have all player profiles updated EXCEPT for the following players; Adam Masina, Ken Sema, Ismaila Sarr, Emmanuel Dennis & Francisco Sierrelta. All possible transfers out?

Two existing players added to the squad are young keeper Vincent Angelini and Joseph Hungbo.
Pontus Dahlberg had a page last year until he was sent out on loan, this year he's not even made the pre-season list so is he on the way out too?

A couple have been promoted into the u23s; Adian Manning & Damani Hunter, while James Morris & Shaq Forde are the only ones with updated pictures.
Tiago Cukur is still there until confirmation of his move to Turkey.
Forgotten man Sonny Blu Lo-Everton is still listed and there has been no confirmation one way or the other of the contract he was offered.
And at last Jaime Alvarado has been deleted after moving to Fortaleza CEIF 6 months ago!

The u18s hasn't been updated at all, probably waiting for either the new intake of scholars to be confirmed or for someone on the media team to press a button.

 

Sierralta leaving? Should be fun…..