Cropped up on the rumours thread, discussion on whether the squad as it currently stands today is worse / weaker than the 2010/11 squad that finished 13th in L1.
This was probably our best 11 from that season
Elliot
Francis / Solly
Dailly
Doherty / Llera
Jackson
Waggstaff
Semedo
Racon /McCormack
Reid
Wright-Phillips (from Jan)
Anyinsah
Notable Others
Abbott
A Sodje
Jenkinson
Eccleston
Fry
Fortune
Martin
Benson
Martin
Warner
Thoughts in comparison?
1
Comments
I think the current crop look like Brazil in comparison.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/9204066.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/9387841.stm
Keeper - Elliot (though hard to judge McG yet)
RB - Francis / Solly def over Gunter / Matthews
CBs - Def Innis and Famewo
LB - JJ / Fry v Purrington/ Roddy?
Midfield
RM - DJ over Waggy
CMs - Semedo / Racon over Clare / Dobson??
LM - Reid over well, no left mid!
BWP out ranks all. Then Stockley. Would prob have Ayinsah over Washington
Jacko wasn't LB that season, I assume he was mainly left midfield. Youga was decent, but injured. We also brought in Fry and Bessone on loan to play LB, he was pretty decent
McGillvary
Solly
Innis
Famewo
Jackson
DJ
Semedo
Gilby
Reid
BWP
Stockley
Five from 2010/11
Six from 2029/21
I'd prefer Elliot, Solly, Jackson, Wagstaff, Semedo, Wright-Phillips & possibly Anyinsah.
I'd say the first 11's are similar.
Current 11 stronger at the back.
2010 team stronger up front and just about stronger in midfield.
2011 had Pearce, Watson & Davison on the bench plus kids not good enough. Not one with a positive impact.
Whilst not great 2011 had at least 5 on the bench who could make a positive impact.
If those squads (as it stands today) had to play each other for the whole season, 2010 would come out on top, unless we had no injuries and we all know we'll have about 4 out at most times.
As it stands our current squad would end up bottom half, unless we have next to no injuries (and we all know that is not realistic).
If the key players like Innis & Famewo are out for half the season again we would be fighting against relegation.
If Stockley was also out for a few months or longer and our strike force was Davison, assuming he too didn't get injured leaving no one, we would be in one hell of a battle to stay up.
Let's just hope we get in the 6 we need in the last 3 weeks to mount a challenge at the right end.
NB last night we made 7 changes and AFC 8 (so we're told).
AFC are one of the favourites for relegation and they were better than us by a margin (away from home).
So on that game our reserves are weaker at home than a relegation favourite.
Presume everyone thinks we will not get an absentee this season (apart from Purrington, JFC, Gilbey and Schwartz, already out before a ball has been kicked).
Always knew they were PL stars in the making.
Matthews (Solly wasn’t yet the player he later became)
Inniss
Famewo
Purrington
Jaiyesimi
Dobson
Gilbey
Jackson
Wright-Phillips
Stockley
Subs: Elliot, Solly, Semedo, Racon, Clare, Wagstaff, Washington
Semedo won it the year before. Players like Racon and Semedo performed better for us than I think some people are remembering.
Inniss
Famewo
Purrington
Jaiyesimi
Semedo
Gilbey
Jackson
Wright-Phillips
Stockley
Subs: CMG, Dailly, Francis, Dobson, Racon, Reid, Washington
This is based on how important players were back in 10/11 rather than how important they became (Francis was the main RB that season)
So 4 out of 11 from 10/11 in the starting 11, and 4/7 on the bench
Elliot was good for us but, as close as he came, he never won a player of the year award. CMG was Pompey's player of the year last season and to me already looks a cut above Amos from a shot stopping perspective. It's close but my personal preference is to give it to the new bloke. I'm hoping in a couple of months time, this decision will be much clearer.
The other two mentioned are far more clear cut for me.
Racon was one of my favourites at the time but in retrospect, he was poor and rarely contributed goals or assists... which when paired with Semedo was a massive part of the reason we struggled.
Semedo endeared himself to the crowd but was extremely limited as a footballer - no passes longer than 15 yards. I think Dobson can do perform his anchoring role just as well while also possessing much better ability on the ball.
Solly and Jenkinson were pretty young and didn't play much that season. Francis struggled a bit (and got unfairly criticised really), that move to Bournemouth was seen at the time as a demotion to a smaller club...
All 3 in later years would go on to prove themselves though