Updated squad list - 13 July 2021

Is this how we expect to start Sheff Wednesday game?

MacGillivray

Matthews, Innis, Famewo, Gunter

Dobson, Clare

Jaiyesimi, Morgan, Washington 

Stockley

Subs: Harness, Roddy, Pearce, Watson, Gilbey, Clayden, Davison

Strong XI, fairly happy with Gunter at LB but not ideal.  Do worry for us if we go a goal down with this current bench it has to be said, but overall a good XI.

ForeverAddickted said:

Would be surprised to see Gilbey on the bench against Sheffield Wednesday

Reckon Barker for Roddy

I only think Roddy over Barker because we have no left back at all otherwise but yeah could be either.  Possibly Ghandour over Clayden too.

I thought Gilbey had Covid and was recovering is there an injury issue too?

BR7_addick said:

Is this how we expect to start Sheff Wednesday game?

MacGillivray

Matthews, Innis, Famewo, Gunter

Dobson, Clare

Jaiyesimi, Morgan, Washington 

Stockley

Subs: Harness, Roddy, Pearce, Watson, Gilbey, Clayden, Davison

Strong XI, fairly happy with Gunter at LB but not ideal.  Do worry for us if we go a goal down with this current bench it has to be said, but overall a good XI.

Points noted but I think Watson will just make it and be on the bench as a bit of a voice for the youngsters and probably won’t get used:

MacGillivray

Matthews, Innis, Famewo, Gunter

Dobson, Clare

Jaiyesimi, Morgan, Washington 

Stockley

Subs: Harness, Roddy, Pearce, Watson, Vennings, Clayden, Davison

Injured: Purrington, JFC

Not fit: Gilbey, Schwartz 

Unavailable: AMB

se9addick said:

How are people feeling about the shape of the squad just over a week from the new season?

Positives:

- our first XI should be strong and capable of beating most teams in L1

- I think some of the business we’ve done has been very encouraging. Getting Stockley & Famewo back was crucial and both should be top performers in this division. Clare looks decent (based on his performance against Reading) and should make us more dynamic in that deeper position than we were with Pratley/Watson last season. 

- I think MacGillivray is an upgrade on Amos and should mean fewer goals let in from crazy distances. There are some players who should hardly be professionals that scored 30 yard screamers against us last season, hopefully those days are over.

- Jaiyesimi looks really up for it, him and Washington could be a really potent combination on either side of Stockley

- Davison really looks like he’s stepped up, not ready to start but certainly looks like he’s ready to contend for minutes - feels like a new signing. 

- Deji & Clayden look like a great prospects, again don’t think they’ll be starting many games and a loan spell might make sense for the first half of the season. 

Areas to improve:

- overall depth of the squad is a concern. If we pick up high numbers of injuries as we have over the past few seasons it won’t be long until we’re throwing in some of the youngsters that I’ve said aren’t ready above 

- I still think we have a Chuks shaped hold in the squad. Replacing his double figures tally will be very tough, but I’m not sure we’ve really tried. We pretty much have the same strike force as last season minus Aneke, who scored more goals than anyone else. 

Overall I think we’re in fairly good shape, but need another couple of permanent signings plus the deluge of Premier League youngsters on loan. 

Think that's a very balanced view and I agree with near all of it - though I'm sure they'll be people coming in after this to tell you that Davison is totally pony and MacGillivray was at fault for both goals against Palace so may as well release him now. 

Only thing I'd emphasise here is that your first negative point is getting particularly worrying, literally a couple of injuries could totally derail our season at the minute, especially if it was Long-term to someone like Inniss.

However the season isn't started yet and I'm still very confident we'll sign at least 2 more permanents and the usual 4/5 loans before the window closes, then I think we could be in a really good place to contend for top 6, at a minimum.

When I wrote the above last week I was sort of expecting (hoping maybe) that one or two additional signings would have been made by now. We’re about 80 hours from the start of the season and I think the squad is a little light still.