by RoyalJones »
22 Jul 2018 15:59
Just some quick thoughts re: squad depth, apologies for the poor grammar, literally typing as I'm thinking (players in brackets can play more than one position). This is just my opinion -
GKs: Mannone, Jaakkola, Legg, Ward, Southwood
Mannone was reasonably okay last season, bizarre as to why Jaakkola was given a new contract, would've signed Bond over Jaakkola if I had the choice for the #2 keeper if I had to pick one, would not have signed either though if I had the choice and promoted one of the younger goalkeepers, loan one out and keep the other one + Driscoll for the U23s. Southwood still looks promising, hope he gets his chance sooner rather than later, may need experience at a higher level though before making the jump to the senior team.
CBs: Moore, Ilori, McShane, O’Shea, (Blackett), Holmes, Andresson, Osho
Happy we've kept Moore thus far, Ilori has the ability to be a good defender and strikes me as a confidence player (will need to be carefully man-managed to be a brilliant player which I think he has the potential to be), hope McShane has a better season than last season, could be vital especially if we change our formation and play 5 at the back. I personally wish we should have signed another centre back as opposed to O'Shea, even though he could be okay for experience, however do not want to write him off before he even plays for us, does not look promising though. Holmes, would send Andresson out on another loan to hopefully a League One club so he can make an impact for the senior team next season when he will hopefully be ready.
LBs: Obita, Richards, (Blackett)
We're missing Obita hugely, not convinced fully by Blackett at left back, would probably make Richards our first choice left back at this moment in time even though it's a gamble until Obita returns, probably wouldn't be worth getting in a left back on loan even until January. Yiadom and Gunter can fill in at left back.
RBs: Gunter, Yiadom, (Bacuna), Watson
Sorted in this position at the moment, hope Watson can benefit from his loan and be involved with the first team squad next season.
CDMs: Meyler, Van den Berg, Evans, (Bacuna), Rinomhota
Meyler looks like an upgrade on JVDB, would ship out JVDB but keep Evans, still feel as if he has something to prove. Send Rinomhota out on loan to a League One club if he can't get any playing time, would love to see him succeed with us. Bacuna can offer us energy in the middle.
CMs (Attacking): Swift, Kelly, Edwards, Clement
Swift and Kelly incosistent last season, could be vital as to how we get on this season, hopefully Edwards can pick up form but not hopeful, Pelle Clement looks promising this pre-season but would not rely on him just yet.
LWs: Barrow, Harriott, (Meite)
Barrow was impressive last season, concerned we're too over-reliant on him and he may not be anywhere near as good as last season, hope Harriott is not too badly injured. Meite looks promising this pre-season, but is probably going to be deployed as a striker.
RWs: Aluko, Popa, McCleary
Aluko can't get any worse than last season and backing him to have a better season this term. Hopefully Popa stays because I feel he has a lot to give. Think it might be best for both parties if McCleary moves on, feel sorry for him after his injuries.
STs: Bodvarsson, McNulty, Smith, Loader
Still questions over where McNulty will be suited to our system if we play one up front. Still need at least one more striker, have to be top top quality, but without service, they're not going to be too effective, that's why it's so important to have a consistent high quality centre attacking mid.
Still think we need a central attacking midfielder with Swift's inconsistencies, would not be too against getting a winger in as well with Meite's position change and McCleary, Harriott's injury woes as well as Popa's uncertain future, still think we're missing a centre back close to Moore's quality, will just have to hope Ilori and McShane improve vastly from last season. As mentioned earlier, we need a top quality striker or two still. I think there's still a lot of work we need to do in the transfer window to be fully competitive.