Well, that's Deadline Day done and dusted so its probably worth checking to see where the squad is at until the January window comes around...
Goalkeepers: Eliott, Worner
Right-Backs: Francis, Solly
Left-Backs: Jackson, Youga, Fry
Centre-Backs: Dailly, Doherty, Llera, Fortune
Right-Midfield: Wagstaff, Anyinsah
Central Midfield: Semedo, McCormack, Racon
Left-Midfield: Reid
Strikers: Abbott, Martin, Sodje, Benson
That gives us, to my count, 21 senior professionals, with the likes of Mambo, Stavrinou and Tuna also possible selections if required.
I think that, if we are being honest, that a senior squad of 21 senior pros is about as good as we could really wish for given the financial circumstances we find ourselves in.
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Also, another left footed midfielder/winger/striker wouldn't go amiss, just to keep Reidy on his toes
much, mcuh better than I expected after Bailey skyed the Pen...
Now the REAL work begins...
Letsa got out of this poxy league!
Another important trait in the new signings I've seen play is their work-rate and hopefully their character on and off the pitch too.
Very happy with how the squad is looking. Think we can realistically make a playoff push with what we have, possibly more.
Centre-midfield is my other concern, we only have three centre-midfielders and there will be plenty of suspensions for Semedo and McCormack so we may need someone else to come in there.
A really quick front-player would not go amiss either.
The Premiership will shake out today so players will find their way down to the CCC then others will come to L1.
"He sent the Palarse down!"
Jackson could fill in.
None of the forthcoming six matches are against the stronger sides in this division and seven of the likely starting line-up were with us last year. I think it is time for PP to put out a side that home or away goes for the win, and give us an idea of what his game plan is. I am expecting not to see much of the long ball stuff played last night (and for much of last season) and I’m guessing wing play will be key. We will be dangerous on the break, but if they are defending the box do we just rain in high crosses? Last year we had the diminutive Burton or the aerially poor Mooney on the end of them, but I’m not sure the new strikeforce is big/tough enough to beat big defenders to these balls regularly.
I think 14 points from these next fixtures is a must.
Squad is decent, all depends if when we do get loan players in they can make an impact, like trotter, batt and Henry did at millwall last year and unlike Forster didn't for us...
Richardson is a better FB than Francis (not hard at the moment) and Solly. Sam for all his faults was also effective in scoring and making goals.
There are a number of unknown (to me at least) and unproven (ditto) players such as Worner, Martin, Benson and Anyinsah. I'm still not sold on Docherty but can't doubt his pedigree.
There is some quality that has been retained in Dailly, Elliot, Semedo, Reid and Jackson (and Fortune when fit) and a good ethos of hard work across the whole squad.
We shall have to see if that is enough. Still early days for a radically changed side that needs to get into a rhythm IMHO
Harsh. Forster came here to play in a 4-4-2 ...... and he's a principally a penalty box poacher.
He played some games as the lone striker, and in others expected to run the channels which is never his game at all.
Credit to him at 36 years old he gave it his best shot.
I remember watching the game away at Southampton, where Forster was the lone striker in a 4-5-1........ and yet he forced 3 good saves from their keeper, each time from half chances he chased down for himself after being isolated from our too deep midfield.
Players like Forster need to feed off the ball in the box, but our game plan often meant that wasn't the way the team was set up. He showed his quality with that headed winner against Colchester, but he didn't often get that type of service.
Even at 36 he's still a decent player at this level .....and remember scored 18 League goals last season.