Balance of the squad/squad size

[michael]

I reckon a first team squad of about 18 is about right;albeit i suspect that it will probably be 17.

 

I'd rather have quality than quantity anyway- (did we see last season with the likes of craig davies,taylor and others that its not much use to anyone to have anyone in the squad who is'nt realistically up to standard).

 

If i've been paying attention -am i correct that at the moment there are now 12 players under contract :

 

holloway,corneille,beales,pooley,robinson,bodkin,avery,rhodes,murphy, long,rook,whitnell

 

 

In true X-factor style-does that leave about 5 places up for grabs-with final auditions on tuesday night for :

 

group 1- ball,alaile,femi,starkey

 

group 2- Tc-law,stubbs

 

group 3- dolby,alabi.

 

Is it a case of : 3 from group 1 ?

1 from group 2 ?

1 from group 3 ? .

 

In 'i'm a celebrity-get me outta here' style-you sometimes get a late entrant-and i reckon in the final analysis-there will be 4 from the above names with someone else not currently on our radar appearing from 'left field ' just before the start of the season.

 

Could there be a shock elimination-ball/stubbs ?

 

could someone re-enter the competition-innocent/ mingle ?

[BlueGate Alan]

On what I have seen in the friendlies so far, Ball, Starkey, Stubbs & Corneille are must signs.

 

Although Dolby has some skills, do we need another wide player as Rhodes, Long, Bodkin and even Murphy can play there.

 

Femmi good with his head but seems slow to cover plus hopefully if Ball signs we have adequate cover in Pooley, Robinson and even Avery can play central.

 

Same with Alaile plus he hasnt featured in the last 3 games or so due to injury.

 

Alabi, fast but final ball leaves a bit to be desired.

 

 

 

 

[BlueGate Alan]

Oh forget TCL, really not to sure of him, skilful but doesnt get into opponents faces like Marc, Richard & Dan do.

[michael]

I may be wrong but i thought Corneille signed a two year contract .

 

Agree-really hoping the CK gets stubbs,ball. starkey and FEMI secured on contracts a bit sharp now.

I'd also take a chance on TCL-a fast learner ?

 

I still reckon there will be a late 'new entry'

 

Up the 'Gate

[BlueGate Alan]

Im not sure on FEMi, not in the same mould as the other centre backs IE not mobile enough.

 

You could be right re a late entry if ther BSB South sides start shedding players and if the right one for CK becomes available.

[michael]

Squad size -in reality is it big enough ?

 

Appreciating that there are a few of the reserves registered as players-we have a first team squad of 17.

 

I am the first to advocate quality over quantity any day-but knowing that over the course of a season-you normally have 3/4 players out on average for injury/suspension/other unavailabilty ,in a few weeks-we may become a bit pushed for numbers.

 

Not a crisis as you can only play 11-but a good bet that CK will only have 13 to chose from-is that a bit resticting ?

 

Obviously governed by financing-makes those cup games and the prize money so essential to win-but notwithstanding that -is there a very strong case for requiring at least one more player to make a true first team squad size of minimally 18,which would on average give 14 players to actually chose from ?

[wade]

I know you have your crusade for that extra central midfield player but I feel we need some forward cover. On saturday when rook and whitnell departed we seemed to end up with robinson and dolby up front and very little attacking threat.

[michael]

probably agree with you on that one as second priority-but probably need to get to 1st round proper of FA cup before we can start thinking that the funding is there for more than one more player !