Analysing the Squad

Ok so transfer deadline has been and gone and although it was a disappointing end overall the squad is looking pretty good. If we can stay free of long term injuries we look very good.

GK: Gordon, De Vries- as you were regards goalkeepers. More than happy with these to. Gordon is a top goalkeeper no matter what anyone says.

RB: Lustig, Gamboa, Ralston- Looking fairly good at RB. Lustig obviously 1st choice and can switch to the centre. Gamboa expereinced and could maybe play LB to. Ralston one for the future.

CB: Jozo, Boyata, Erik, Ajer- The key area of the team we all wanted strengthend but alas it wasnt to be. Sill once we get the 2 guys back from injury we are looking strong enough. Bitton, Lustig and KT can fill in there to. Though preferably not in Europe(well except Lustig).

LB: KT, Miller- KT is probably the best young player to come through in 30 years. He is a top defender. In our top 3 players in the team. Miller looks grand for the league but an injury to KT and we are in trouble in Europe. Maybe Gamboa was kept to cover there?

CM: Brown, Armstrong, Ntcham, Bitton, Henderson, Kouassi- An abundance of riches in the centre of the pitch. Really happy with the options in there. Ntcham looks like a really top player in the making. Brown the heartbeat of our team.

RW: Roberts, Forrest- A huge coup to have Roberts back. Wearing the number 7 as well. Brilliant. He is a wonderful talent and will be a joy to watch. Forrest an international with massive experience. Fast, direct and gives us great depth in this area.

LW: Sinclair, Hayes, Benyu- Sinclair is IMO our best player. Love watching him play and he always delivers in the big game. Hayes a more than able replacement and another who is direct and quick giving us a different option. Benyu a big of an unkown quantitiy but will learn a lot off Sinclair in particular.

CAM: Rogic, McGregor- Rogic is a wizard when in form. He is a top player though he does have stamina issues. McGregor an underrated player, quick, intelligent and good for a goal.

CF: Dembele, Griffiths, Edouard- Dembele is probably our best striker since Henrik. What a player he is, always delivers on the big stage. Griffiths is quick, dynamic and a deadly finisher- these two together are incredible. Edouard obviously now gives us a back up if we have long term injuries to either or both. Maybe a long term replacement for Moussa.



All in all then we are looking very strong. Ok we have a few areas could have been doing with cover but its not the end of the world. Looking forward to the season ahead.

 

Disappointed we didn't get a CB in, but our squad is by far stronger than it was last season - kept a hold of key players (Tierney, Dembele) managed to get Roberts back, Ntcham looks an absolute gem, and the sauad has been bolstered by the signings of Hayes, Benyu and yestersay Edourdo

 

I think you are right. I say BR has a target and if he can't get the player for whatever reason, he does not just get an another just to fill in a gap. I think the squad is very good with some very exciting players, plus youth and flair. Settled, organised and motivated players.

 

I didn't expect to see a GK come in, but it needs to be a focus in the next window for the long term future of the team.

RB can wait. I'd see how Ralston gets on and I'm hoping BR will give Gamboa more time.

CD is strong if we keep all defenders fit, IMO. Everyone loves Jozo and in Ajer we have one of the best youth prospects in Northern Europe. Boyata had a strong campaign last season, even if he does lack qualities in some regard. I remain a fan of Erik, as well, despite him falling down in the pecking order.

The rest of the squad is sound and doesn't really require debate. Our only problem being every team needs to improve...so how do we in those areas with our current budget?

 

Exactly how I feel.

Lets be honest here, if all our CB's were fit right now there wouldn't be this mass hysteria going about. Sure it's still a disappointment not to get a CB but it is definitely accentuated by the injuries in that area.

 

RB and CB positions will need serious attention come January.

 

Regarding our first XI, we're no better or worse than last season - we're just roughly the same. Though I suppose holding onto players is just as important as signing new ones and in that respect I'm pleased we still have Dembele, Tierney, Armstrong and Roberts (even if it's just another loan)

However ,even if we had a fully fit Erik and Boyata that still wouldn't be good enough as those two players have their limitations and those limitations are often exposed against better quality opposition or even when we come under pressure domestically.

To take the next step we needed a quality partner for Jozo, and this shouldn't have been left to the end of the window. But in any case, we were told the end of the window was when the quality would become available. Seems that wasn't true either.

Always seems to be the same old story for us. "We tried". You could accept 'bad luck' in a window maybe once or twice, but for this to happen in nearly all of them? Nah. This is policy and it's a policy that could well force our manager to leave.

 

This, plus we got rid of a lot of squad fillers that weren't needed.

 

Hard to see that ever not being the case. They spend in a month what we'd spend in a year. No chance anymore of competing.

 

One of the strongest squad we had in a long time. I'd fancy this squad against strachans.

Shame we didn't get a solid cb but I think that appears to be on the to do list. See what January brings. I really think 3rd spot in CL is achievable and with a some luck might even shock Europe and claim a 2nd spot. If we do either I think January could be very very important window for us

 

The squad is class if fully fit. Simple as.

People aren't valuing enough the fact that we came of a historic season and managed to keep everyone. Managed to keep 3 or 4 players that would break our transfer record and we've a top class manager here building something great.

 

GK-good enough, for now. Gordon(at his best) is good enough for CL, not so sure about De Vries even though he was fantastic against Sunderland.
RB-Lustig+Gamboa are good enough domestically, not so hot at CL level. Ralston i'm not convinced by domestically and certainly not at CL standard.
LB-KT accomplished both at home and in Europe. Miller might make do at home but not in CL.
CB-Simunovic-no worries. Boyata-still makes too many needless errors. Erik-out of form but usually steady. Ajer-good lad but not ready for high-class opposition.
CM-Broonie, Ntcham, Rogic all good enough for any standard. Armstrong, McGregor, Bitton good enough against all but the highest level players. Eboue probably too though it's hard to be sure having seen so little.
Wingers-Roberts and Sinclair both excellent, cause anyone problems. Forrest can be good but not consistent or determined enough. Hayes ok for Scotland not for Europe. Benyu shows promise but is still raw.
CF. Dembele and Griff both quality. Edouard? time will tell.

 

Very strong up top....further back you go the weaker we get!

 

Just the Centre of the defence is a complete mess and that's with them all fit. Other than that, we're great bar perhaps back-up GK.

 

Centre back and goalkeeper would be the two areas I'd want investment in next window, naturally. I do like Gordon as a shot stopper but he is very error prone and is beat at his near post far too often.

Sviatchenko has an opportunity now with him and boyata both essentially starting from square one after injuries. The competition between the two as well as Ajer performing well should help get the best out of them all. Still think Erik has what it takes to be a regular for us, his confidence needs a boost though.

Overall the squad is great. Plenty of options and competition for places as well as quality in key areas, goals from every position too. Roberts is a huge signing as he is top class.

 

I agree. We have shocked some of europes finest on lesser squads. If ever there has been a time to be the optimist then it is now. Our midfield on there Day can match anyone. We have one of europes most sought after strikers in dembele. We have a world class lb, we have a great defender in Jozo. Lustig is steady these days. In my eyes if we lived in a ideal world we could have spent another £5M on a cb and have the teams in our group genuinely concerned