Squad 16/17

[Will95]

As above, lets have Tish, Stacey, Fosu, Kuhl, Keown, Novakovich, Tanner and Samuels all properly join the first team squad with Cooper, loan out the rest and see what happens in my opinion. Don't let any of them go yet except maybe Liburd, they're all 20 or younger I believe.

I think I'd be happy with Tish, Fosu, Tanner and Samuel in and around the first team squad next season. They have all proven themselves at the level they're playing at and received excellent reviews wherever they've been on loan at so should now be given a chance in our first team.

Stacey I'd like to see out on loan once more as he's only done it over a few games at Carlisle. A season of consistent L2/L1 football will do him the world of good and give us an indication of whether he's ready to make the step up.

Kuhl has had a wasted season and a half, his time up in Scotland was a disaster but hopefully we can ship him out to a L2/L1 side and get him regular games. Sadly his early promise doesn't look to be coming to much at the moment based on what we've seen and there's no question in my mind he shouldn't be anywhere near the first team at the moment because he's done nothing to justify it since his baptism of fire.

Novakovich and Keown - I'd be wary of throwing them in at the deep end and would like to see them loaned for a season to see if they're ready for the step up. Novakovich has only played four games in the Conference this season (and Cheltenham didn't renew his loan which tells its own story in some ways) and Keown has had just two first team appearances in his entire football league career.

I was very impressed with Stacey when he played for us so I'm very happy to throw him in as back up to McCleary. Having Keown as a 5th choice CB, Novakovich as a 5th choice striker and Kuhl as a 5th choice CM, I'd be happy.

[Hoop Blah]

I'm not convinced the that the likes of Liburd and Novakovich are anywhere near the level to push for a place in the first team squad yet. Maybe Kuhl has slipped back too far as well but, as Vision said, a lot will depend on his pre-season and what happens with Norwood.

[tidus_mi2]

With Kuhl, it could just be the wrong club, after all we made Antonio and Afobe look bang average at this level and now look at them.

[shaka's shorts]

Hurtado?

[SCIAG]

Liburd is the U21 Premier League Division 1 top scorer and looks a much better player than Samuel. His loan form hasn't been very good but the Wycombe fans don't seem to think anyone could score for them right now. Start him ahead of Kermogant.

Some question marks over Tanner and Kuhl but I think they'd be better served staying at the club than being sent out on another failed loan. Risk of renewing Kuhl's contract is very low, potential reward is very high, it would be silly not to keep him around UNLESS he doesn't want to be here.

I'd let Cox go but probably try to keep hold of Ferdinand. I'm easy either way on HRK, he's a decent player but never secured a first team spot. I'd be prepared to sell Williams and McCleary but wouldn't actively try to do so. I'd take £1m + a 30% sell on for Cooper. Although I'd want to keep Norwood, a good Euros might make that hard - I'd take £4m for him.

Of the loanees, I think Taylor and Fernandez would tell us where to stick it and John is more trouble than he's worth. I'd like the others back but don't think we could get them, maybe Hector.

We need to sign at least one centre back (Ben Turner?), at least one striker, and a left winger. I'd also like someone versatile to cover left back, I wouldn't want another Taylor would could only get in the team if Obita was unavailable. If we want to use a diamond, we could use another attacking midfielder, although that would limit Tanner and Barrett.

Potential squad:
Al Habsi, Bond
Gunter, Keown
Ferdinand, McShane, new/Hector, Cooper, Keown
Obita, (new)
Norwood, Kuhl
Tshibola, Quinn, Evans, Williams
McCleary, Stacey
HRK/new/Rakels/Hurtado (!), Fosu
New/Piazon, Tanner, Barrett
New/Vydra, Rakels, Liburd, Samuel, Kermogant

Release: Cox, HRK(?), Shaughnessy, Long, Griffin, Sweeney, Rimonhota, maybe Owusu, maybe Semedo
U21 first eleven: Ward, Watson, Dickie, Hyam, Richards, Sheppard, East, Kuhl, Barrett, Novakovich, Cardwell
Loans: Moore, Jules, Osho, Axel, Sammi, Kelly, Smith

[Hoop Blah]

Agree with a lot of that SCIAG, although I just don't see it with Liburd (and I've never been that convinced with Samuel either to be fair).

Liburd is up there as top scorer yes, 11 in 14 games isn't too shabby, but even without the experience of the system some of his contemporaries have he is still a man of 23 often playing against boys of 17 and 18 in that league. To my mind he really should be banging them in. The other top scorers in that league are all 17, 18 or 19 (apart from the highly rated Will Kane who's got 10 in 8 for United).

In terms of the rest of the squad

Keepers: Reasonably happy with that for now, but we could do with an upgrade if there's money available (McCarthy?)
Full Backs: Gunter and Keown should suffice on the right, Obita is fine, but ideally we'd get in a proper alternative/cover for him.
Centre Backs: Let Ferdinand go, he's too slow and too injured. McCarthy is fine and Cooper will do as 3rd or 4th choice but we need at least one new face (Ben Turner would be a good shout on a free if he's properly fit).
Central Midifeld: Strongest part of the squad at the moment so probably no need to add anyone unless it's to replace an outgoing Williams or Norwood. Hopefully we keep, and get to see more of, Kuhl and also a fit again Tshibola.
Wingers: We need serious work here but hopefully Stacey and Fosu will have done enough to come into things. McLeary is a bit of a busted flush IMO so we need to add proven quality on both the left and right wing, perhaps a third winger that can do either side or play as a 10 (maybe that's Tanner's chance)
Attacking Midfield: We have nobody so I'd like to see a goalscoring creative player come in (I don't dislike Cox but he's not got the x-Factor) to be be the fulcrum of the attack, the player than Piazon should've been
Centre Forward: Like the wingers, we need a lot of work here with Vydra, Cox and Robson-Kanu out the door leaving just kids and Kermorgant and Rakels


So I reckon we need: 1 x Left Back, 2 x Centre Half, 1 x right wing, 1 x left wing, 1 x Number 10, 1 x pacey centre forward, 1 x poacher

[Maneki Neko]

Liburd is the U21 Premier League Division 1 top scorer and looks a much better player than Samuel. His loan form hasn't been very good but the Wycombe fans don't seem to think anyone could score for them right now. Start him ahead of Kermogant.

[mambo3]

Liburd is the U21 Premier League Division 1 top scorer and looks a much better player than Samuel. His loan form hasn't been very good but the Wycombe fans don't seem to think anyone could score for them right now. Start him ahead of Kermogant.

Liburd, Tanner, Kuhl - there recent form speaks for themselves. Not first choice starting for the loan clubs or in Kuhls case released from his loan with Dundee. So maybe another season on loan required . Cant see them getting anywhere near the squad. Tanners goal + Assists poor. Kuhl doesnt seem to be flavour of the month.

Cooper wanted by other clubs sounds like good pr to me, maybe once he irons out his mistakes by going out on loan as well will help him.

McCleary - Had his day, time to move on

Al Habsi
Bond


Gunter
McShane
Keown
Defender
Stacy
Obita

Attacking Midfielder
Quinn
Tshibola
Evans
Fosu-Henry

(Cox)
Rakels
Kermorgant
Samuel

[Maneki Neko]

liburds form does not speak for itself.

the U21 league is a completely uncompetitive mess, and liburd is a grown man who is is routinely playing against teenagers.

[3points]

liburds form does not speak for itself.

the U21 league is a completely uncompetitive mess, and liburd is a grown man who is is routinely playing against teenagers.

maybe, but he hasn't had the academy football schooling of the teenagers he's playing against, so it is largely raw talent. I get that he's probably physically stronger than many teenagers, but i bet he'd give Cooper a run for his money

[Lower West]

With Kuhl, it could just be the wrong club, after all we made Antonio and Afobe look bang average at this level and now look at them.

Antonio has only just reached his full potential (as 26). Far too much is expected at earlier ages. If RFC are going to continue playing with inexperienced lads. Then we are just going to have to back them whatever they do. As they sure ain't going to get everything right.

[Ian Royal]

As above, lets have Tish, Stacey, Fosu, Kuhl, Keown, Novakovich, Tanner and Samuels all properly join the first team squad with Cooper, loan out the rest and see what happens in my opinion. Don't let any of them go yet except maybe Liburd, they're all 20 or younger I believe.

I think I'd be happy with Tish, Fosu, Tanner and Samuel in and around the first team squad next season. They have all proven themselves at the level they're playing at and received excellent reviews wherever they've been on loan at so should now be given a chance in our first team.

Stacey I'd like to see out on loan once more as he's only done it over a few games at Carlisle. A season of consistent L2/L1 football will do him the world of good and give us an indication of whether he's ready to make the step up.

Kuhl has had a wasted season and a half, his time up in Scotland was a disaster but hopefully we can ship him out to a L2/L1 side and get him regular games. Sadly his early promise doesn't look to be coming to much at the moment based on what we've seen and there's no question in my mind he shouldn't be anywhere near the first team at the moment because he's done nothing to justify it since his baptism of fire.

Novakovich and Keown - I'd be wary of throwing them in at the deep end and would like to see them loaned for a season to see if they're ready for the step up. Novakovich has only played four games in the Conference this season (and Cheltenham didn't renew his loan which tells its own story in some ways) and Keown has had just two first team appearances in his entire football league career.

Agree with pretty much all of this. I suppose you could make the case that if Norwood does go then Kuhl is probably the nearest like for like replacement already here. He'd need to have an impressive pre-season though because this season has been a bit of a washout. Some adversity might actually be a good thing for him though provided it's just a blip.

I'd kinda expect us to try to retain Fernandez if Norwood went, as the most like for like.

I also wouldn't be too surprised if one of the players HH is less sure of made the step up. Tish and Cooper as examples didn't have a great deal, if any, in the way of loans before making an impact. Obita went out to a fair few clubs, but didn't actually play much.

[P!ssed Off]

I'd kinda expect us to try to retain Fernandez if Norwood went, as the most like for like.

Of all the players in the world, Fernandez is one of the few we can say with absolute certainty that McDermott has zero interest in.

[Top Flight]

Ali Al Habsi is a fantastic and most spectacular goal keeper and he is probably exactly what we need for next season when our most important priority has to be survival and staying in the division considering the huge amount of change that will happen within the club this summer. But he is not a goalkeeper that we can rely on if we are going for promotion and certainly we will not be winning any league titles with Al Habsi between the sticks.

He is a brilliant goal line goalkeeper. His incredible cat like reflexes result in the most beautiful of saves. Only David Seaman and Watford's Gomez have saved more premier league spot kicks than our Omani shot stopper. But Al Habsi is indecisive, he doesn't command his penalty box and stays on his line too often. This leads to goals against that we may not blame on Al Habsi but if a younger Hahnemann or Federici were between the sticks those goals would never have happened.

Look at the first goal we conceded against Hull... Should Al Habsi not have rushed off his line and cleared the ball away?

And look at this clip from the game at QPR. Watch from 1 minute 50 seconds onwards. Al Habsi stands rooted to the goal line allowing Polter a free header just 3 yards out. Why does he not come and take the ball? I'd have been gutted if we lost to a goal like that which is wholly preventable. Even Anton Ferdinand is giving out to Al Habsi for that one. Why did you not come and take it Ali?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSFYaS0CCH8

Those types of mistakes will cost us too many points next season and promotion will be completely out of the question.

[Ian Royal]

Ali Al Habsi is a fantastic and most spectacular goal keeper and he is probably exactly what we need for next season when our most important priority has to be survival and staying in the division considering the huge amount of change that will happen within the club this summer. But he is not a goalkeeper that we can rely on if we are going for promotion and certainly we will not be winning any league titles with Al Habsi between the sticks.

He is a brilliant goal line goalkeeper. His incredible cat like reflexes result in the most beautiful of saves. Only David Seaman and Watford's Gomez have saved more premier league spot kicks than our Omani shot stopper. But Al Habsi is indecisive, he doesn't command his penalty box and stays on his line too often. This leads to goals against that we may not blame on Al Habsi but if a younger Hahnemann or Federici were between the sticks those goals would never have happened.

Look at the first goal we conceded against Hull... Should Al Habsi not have rushed off his line and cleared the ball away?

And look at this clip from the game at QPR. Watch from 1 minute 50 seconds onwards. Al Habsi stands rooted to the goal line allowing Polter a free header just 3 yards out. Why does he not come and take the ball? I'd have been gutted if we lost to a goal like that which is wholly preventable. Even Anton Ferdinand is giving out to Al Habsi for that one. Why did you not come and take it Ali?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSFYaS0CCH8

Those types of mistakes will cost us too many points next season and promotion will be completely out of the question.

He didn't try to claim it because he couldn't see it in the sun. Criticism there is far better leveled at Cooper for the quite awful header.

[Top Flight]

Ali Al Habsi is a fantastic and most spectacular goal keeper and he is probably exactly what we need for next season when our most important priority has to be survival and staying in the division considering the huge amount of change that will happen within the club this summer. But he is not a goalkeeper that we can rely on if we are going for promotion and certainly we will not be winning any league titles with Al Habsi between the sticks.

He is a brilliant goal line goalkeeper. His incredible cat like reflexes result in the most beautiful of saves. Only David Seaman and Watford's Gomez have saved more premier league spot kicks than our Omani shot stopper. But Al Habsi is indecisive, he doesn't command his penalty box and stays on his line too often. This leads to goals against that we may not blame on Al Habsi but if a younger Hahnemann or Federici were between the sticks those goals would never have happened.

Look at the first goal we conceded against Hull... Should Al Habsi not have rushed off his line and cleared the ball away?

And look at this clip from the game at QPR. Watch from 1 minute 50 seconds onwards. Al Habsi stands rooted to the goal line allowing Polter a free header just 3 yards out. Why does he not come and take the ball? I'd have been gutted if we lost to a goal like that which is wholly preventable. Even Anton Ferdinand is giving out to Al Habsi for that one. Why did you not come and take it Ali?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSFYaS0CCH8

Those types of mistakes will cost us too many points next season and promotion will be completely out of the question.

He didn't try to claim it because he couldn't see it in the sun. Criticism there is far better leveled at Cooper for the quite awful header.

Ok, fair enough.

[John Smith]

I think I'd be happy with Tish, Fosu, Tanner and Samuel in and around the first team squad next season. They have all proven themselves at the level they're playing at and received excellent reviews wherever they've been on loan at so should now be given a chance in our first team.

Stacey I'd like to see out on loan once more as he's only done it over a few games at Carlisle. A season of consistent L2/L1 football will do him the world of good and give us an indication of whether he's ready to make the step up.

Kuhl has had a wasted season and a half, his time up in Scotland was a disaster but hopefully we can ship him out to a L2/L1 side and get him regular games. Sadly his early promise doesn't look to be coming to much at the moment based on what we've seen and there's no question in my mind he shouldn't be anywhere near the first team at the moment because he's done nothing to justify it since his baptism of fire.

Novakovich and Keown - I'd be wary of throwing them in at the deep end and would like to see them loaned for a season to see if they're ready for the step up. Novakovich has only played four games in the Conference this season (and Cheltenham didn't renew his loan which tells its own story in some ways) and Keown has had just two first team appearances in his entire football league career.

Blah blah blah. This was all said at the end of last season when we beat Derby and Stacey and Fosu had their impressive half hour cameos. Both currently on loan at League 2 sides, weren't ready then and won't be now. So for you to have the temerity to come on here and post things like that can only mean to me that your head is in the sand.

Is your head in the sand?

[Vision]

I think I'd be happy with Tish, Fosu, Tanner and Samuel in and around the first team squad next season. They have all proven themselves at the level they're playing at and received excellent reviews wherever they've been on loan at so should now be given a chance in our first team.

Stacey I'd like to see out on loan once more as he's only done it over a few games at Carlisle. A season of consistent L2/L1 football will do him the world of good and give us an indication of whether he's ready to make the step up.

Kuhl has had a wasted season and a half, his time up in Scotland was a disaster but hopefully we can ship him out to a L2/L1 side and get him regular games. Sadly his early promise doesn't look to be coming to much at the moment based on what we've seen and there's no question in my mind he shouldn't be anywhere near the first team at the moment because he's done nothing to justify it since his baptism of fire.

Novakovich and Keown - I'd be wary of throwing them in at the deep end and would like to see them loaned for a season to see if they're ready for the step up. Novakovich has only played four games in the Conference this season (and Cheltenham didn't renew his loan which tells its own story in some ways) and Keown has had just two first team appearances in his entire football league career.

Blah blah blah. This was all said at the end of last season when we beat Derby and Stacey and Fosu had their impressive half hour cameos. Both currently on loan at League 2 sides, weren't ready then and won't be now. So for you to have the temerity to come on here and post things like that can only mean to me that your head is in the sand.

Is your head in the sand?

He said he doesn't think Stacey is ready.

[John Smith]

He said he doesn't think Stacey is ready.

Fair point. handbags_harris' head is not in the sand then, good.

[CountryRoyal]

With Kuhl, it could just be the wrong club, after all we made Antonio and Afobe look bang average at this level and now look at them.

Easily one of the stupidest things I've ever read on here, and that takes some doing.