Updated Squad List - 21th July

Good work @AFKABartram

Give yourself a promote

Looks a bit thin. Realistically I think they will only add a RB, LB and GK and probably Cameron Stewart...think the boat has sailed on Reeves.

Currently there are obvious gaps at GK, RB and LB, with Barnes the only u23 realistically going to step up this season.

I don't expect changes at CB, and even if one leaves we may go with four.

In central midfield we need Kashi to at least be somewhere close to the player he was. We need at least one of Aribo or JFC improve, be consistent and add goals to their game.

Given Robinson's style we need another winger, but KAG may be seen as that player. That would mean our two back up wingers are both young and unproven. Stewart is another possibly and did ok for us in the league above.

In the attacking midfield or "no. 10" role we have a more natural player in Clarke. Our other options are midfielders/wingers/strikers out of position. Have we given up on Reeves? Robinson changed from one the four he wanted being a "no. 10" to a winger.

Up front we lack a natural goalscorer. As a lone striker we need someone that can also hold up the ball and ideally has pace. Could be hard to find such a complete player. A young striker on loan such as Mavididi may be our best chance of finding one, but it would be another inexperienced player.

Get 3/4 players in and numbers will look reasonable. Much like last summer though I have doubts about the quality in the squad. There's a lot of players there that need to either improve or youngsters that need to show they're good enough at this level.

I'm also not yet convinced about Robinson. His idea of an energetic, pacey team playing passing football sounds great but unless you have the right players it's going to be difficult to pull off at this level. In 11/12 we started playing off with more of a passing game but as the season went we made sure we were solid defensively and were happy to go direct. This is his squad so he should have the players for his system, but will he adapt if it's not getting results?

At this stage I'm not as confident as some about promotion, though I can see us at least challenging for the top 6 if 3/4 signings come in and genuinely improve the squad.

palarsehater said:

22 1st team players jesus

Agree. I think we need a LB and GK, that much is plain. But we're not THAT far away, especially if we add Stewart (who I think could be a real steal once he's match sharp).

I don't massively rate Crofts, but I think he's a solid fourth choice central midfielder in this division. Same for Harry Lennon and being a fifth choice center half (in fact I'd consider loaning him out if he was fit).

For all the talk of the number 10 role, we have Holmes, Watt, Clarke, and to a lesser extent, Aribo and JFC who can all play there. There is a question about consistency with Aribo and Watt, and quality with Clarke, plus it's not the best position for Holmes of JFC. My point is we're not short on numbers, perhaps a bit short on quality.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.............
The Belgians working their usual transfer window magic!

Bumping this should be enough to force the Reeves signing to go through.

Henry Irving said:

Scoham said:

Bumping this should be enough to force the Reeves signing to go through.

And so it came to pass

It's what Alan Pardew used to call nous.

If we're trying to fit the squad into Robinson's 4-2-3-1...

GK: Amos, Phillips (Martin?)

RB: Solly, Barnes (+Konsa)
LB: Dasilva, Page (+Lennon)
CB: Bauer, Pearce, Konsa, Sarr, Lennon

DM: Kashi, Forster-Caskey, Crofts, Jackson, Dijksteel
AM: Holmes, Reeves, Clarke, Marshall, Fosu, Aribo

CF: Magennis, Novak, Watt, KAG, Hanlan

Was just doing that myself, I see it like this:

GK
Amos
Phillips (to be loaned out and replaced by Martin?)

RB
Solly
Barnes

RCB
Konsa/Bauer

LCB
Pearce/Sarr/Lennon

LB
Dasilva
Page (long term injury)

RCM/DM
Kashi
Crofts
Dijksteel

LCM/Box-to-Box
Forster-Caskey
Aribo
Jackson

AMs/Wingers
Holmes
Reeves
Marshall (long term injury)
Fosu
Clarke
Ahearne-Grant (played in the 3 in friendlies)

ST
Magennis
Novak
Watt (sold/loaned and replaced with a new signing?)

Not sure I see any other u23s getting close to the squad. Charles-Cook, Hanlan and Umerah the closest I guess. Think Lapslie has a chance of making it but maybe not this season.

A good balance of right and left footers in CB and CM.

Numbers look about right, 2 per position plus extras in Lennon/Sarr, Jackson, Barnes, Dijksteel and Watt/Novak as a 3rd striker.

Left back a bit of a concern while Page is out. Should have enough to cope with Marshall being out but another winger would be nice.

23 first team players of which two are long term injured and one is a player/coach

Who wrote this thread title ? Diane Abbott ?

alan dugdale said:

Who wrote this thread title ? Diane Abbott ?

Unfortunately you can't get the admin these day. Thread was started on 21 July so was correct but doesn't reflect today's revision yet as all the moderators are sniffing cocaine from the nether regions of ladies of the night

I'd be surprised if they went on loan being so close to the first team. Perhaps Barnes will with Dijksteel appearing to be our 2nd choice RB.