2022-23 squad
This is a work in progress still, but I've tried to organise the current squad into depth by role (we have a LOT of wingers/10s): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1eNMsa-TRYiITaHd5EMmLwD1yAFz_wCab/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113902744410227950096&rtpof=true&sd=true
Will do a separate one to show who counts towards the squad size limit, who might go out on loan etc.
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I believe Parsons has / can play LB / LWB too.
Good to visualise it, thanks for putting together.
Only things I’d question would be having JJ as strictly LB, I think he’s proven himself at LCB if needed.
Also, from the little I’ve seen of him, I think Leathers is more of a CM or CAM than strictly a DM.
I’m not convinced we need a striker (unless we’re going with a formation that allows both Vokes and Hanlan to start), but the other needs you’ve identified are a must.
Ah yeah, should have said I was going to add roles for other formations later - that's just based on our standard 4-2-3-1!
@Jonny I was going to find the games Leathers had played to get a feel for him, but that's handy to know!
Yeah, can probably put him and Freeman down for both WB positions
Good piece of work. It would be good to understand the implications on squad size allowed and how that may impact our transfer policy. Squad looks good, probably as best as I can remember for many years but clearly we need goal keeper, centre half and centre forward.
We have a squad of 21 senior pro's at present, plus goalkeepers. The maximum is 22.
Quite simply we now only have one single senior space left in the squad, plus a goalkeeper.
Therefore we are only likely to see two more signings plus any U21's. Jasper Pattenden will be classed as U21 for this and next season.
To be honest until Stockdale and Stewart left we wouldn't have been in a bad place overall to start the season.
It does make the job even harder having to work off those constraints though. Ridiciulous really.
The 22 is already full, but we can free up space by loaning players out - I'd expect Parsons and De Barr
Ridiculously restrictive, especially for a 46-game league
The cap on squad numbers does necessitate a careful shuffling of the pack. A lot of the discussion on this thread has been predicated on the assumption that, with Bayo’s departure, the search is on for another target man. I’m not at all sure that it is. As I’ve said before, Mehmeti and Wing (for example) have the potential to chip in with a fair few goals and both Tafazolli and Forino have shown that they are capable of scoring their fair share from set pieces.
Nah, a target man is the focal point of our attack - we need proper cover for Vokes
Kyle Hudlin would be ideal
Gaz has said we will modify our playing style post Bayo ‘you play to what you have’, there will be more through the middle on the deck Wing as playmaker. It’s why Tools going as the poorest distributor from the back (Gaz analysis not mine) is less of an issue than it might have been apparently. So we may not need a ‘target man’, expect more balls to feet for Mustard .
As for squad size it’s the same for all clubs isn’t it? Level playing field. Get some of the fringe players out on loan as others have said and a couple of loanees in from a higher level to up the squad ability.
Exactly that @perfidious_albion but I think we probably have to assume that last season’s policy of no inward loans will prevail.
A different style to be sure but I reckon Hanlan could work up top if an ever-present Vokes...is not present. Only four weeks or so to go.
(Should Gareth try anything new are we ready for 'What's happened to our direct style??? If it's not broken...' 🙂)
Towering but not a particularly good footballer (although you never know with Gaz magic)
I wouldn't be comfortable heading into the new season with Vokes and Hanlan as our only senior strikers and I'm sure Gaz isn't either.
Where did Gaz say that about Stewart's ball-playing? He's not wrong.
And squad size is the same for all clubs, but limiting them to 22 senior players is harmful from a footballing quality and player welfare POV.
I think we still have 21, so one to go
Grimmer
Taff
Wheeler
Thompson
Vokes
McCleary
Young
Kaikai
Horgan
Hanlan
Wakely
Freeman
Obita
McCarthy
Scowen
De Barr
Forino
Parsons
JJ
Gape
Wing
All the other players are goalkeepers or U21's
Dickinson
Mehmeti
Pattenden
Ali Al-Hamadi
Leathers
That's the 26 we currently have signed for next season.
My bad, I counted Mehmeti
Apparently he might be signing for Huddersfield, which I find surprising since he wasnt a first team regular for Solihull last season https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/huddersfield-reportedly-agreed-striker-signing-24169521
Well Tom Eaves has just signed for Rotherham, so that's him ruled out. I think we will see more of Hanlan, but I'd like us to always have a target man option - so maybe it's a case of bringing in the 'next Vokes' instead.
Perhaps interesting perhaps not but Sporting Index have us finishing ninth with 71 points next season.
They have Sheff Wed finishing top with Ipswich second.
Let's hope so, as that last few months of the season we had Thompson and Hayes up front and were launching it, were painful.
To be fair some of Ikpeazu's highlights didn't look great before he came to us, particularly ball control but he turned out alright. Will be interesting to see if Huddersfield do go for him. I was thinking of him playing the Bayo role I.e come off the bench to scare tired defenders.
What is the origin of that dreadful expression @ReturnToSenda ? I’ve seen it once or twice on here. Is ‘my mistake’ somehow no longer acceptable ? Just wondered.
Have I just woken up and that last five years was all a dream?
Brilliant @Wendoverman .
Americanism nonsense isn't it.q
"I'm good" is another annoying one when someone is asked if they want a drink or something.