Squad now v last season (1 Viewer)

Don’t know yet-of coarse it’s a better start but we won’t know the answer till the end of the season and if we finish higher than 8th.
One thing is for sure though-the goalkeepers position has improved and I can tell you that before May!

Today’s squad is better and more adaptable and will get better, we still have Allen to come in Kelly and Mason to come back and Walsh and O’Hare to establish themselves and if we get a fully fit Jodie Jones back and firing we are going to be a very strong outfit. My only concern is an injury to Matt Godden, not because we won’t score goals but the way he leads the line. I also have high hopes of Kasteneer, not match fit yet but can become our secret weapon when he does.

No doubt we are stronger this season add Luke Thomas to this squad maybe bright but we don’t play 4231 & 433 seems to be effective,I think we will be top 6 all season we have a chance this year probably best chance we’ve had to go up

That’s an amazing comparison. Only 2 survivors from that relatively recent game. To me shows how well MR has done with recruitment and team building.

What is exciting is I think we can all see that there is still so much to come from some of our new players, so that can only be a good thing.

O'Hare has the xfactor that Bright had and we have him for the whole season.

Much greater squad depth for sure.

Godden for Bakayoko makes us a completely different proposition.

Also we are scoring goals, 3 times we have scored 3 this season, and have goals from various outlets. Godden, O'hare, Hiwula, Jobello can certainly score goals this season.

We have a very talented squad this season, and have a proper centre forward again, we should be in the top six all season.

Above all else, the thought of starting Bakayoko as our main striker terrifies me now! Feel sorry for the guy, hes just not proven himself at this level at all. I hope he proves us all wrong one day

As has been said if Godden gets injured its Baka or an out of favour/half fit Biamou.
If that’s the case we might have to get on the phone again to Tudgay!

cooperskyblue said:

Also we are scoring goals, 3 times we have scored 3 this season, and have goals from various outlets. Godden, O'hare, Hiwula, Jobello can certainly score goals this season.

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Great point about goals. We only scored more than two in 3 games last season in the league, Bradford away, Walsall at home and Sunderland away. That's pretty crazy.

I put that down to the difference in finishing, Thomas could have put his foot through it like Big Wes yesterday on many occasions last season but didn't and missed a ton of chances. Godden is a different level finisher compared to Chaplin, JCH, Biamou.

Adge said:

As has been said if Godden gets injured it Baka or a out of favour/half fit Biamou.
If that’s the case we might have to get on the phone again to Tudgay!

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Surely we,d be best playing hiwula up top in Godden gets injured

speedie87 said:

Surely we,d be best playing hiwula up top in Godden gets injured

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Yep, that’s another option.

Sbarcher said:

That’s an amazing comparison. Only 2 survivors from that relatively recent game. To me shows how well MR has done with recruitment and team building.

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It is the modern way at our level - Doncaster have had similar turnover
You have to scotch any idea of team building over time, with a gradual improvement as each time better players are bought, which is most fans' emotional view of how it should be done . A good manager is in effect building a new team every year. Players are on short or shortish contracts-in the olden days Willis would still be with us. Loans are for a year. Players (particularly attackers) find it difficult to be consistently good over 2-4 years - although this has always been the case. I was thinking that, since I have been watching City since 1963, has any centre forward (to use old-speak) lasted more than a couple of seasons and only Ferguson and Dublin come to mind - in 55 years. Bobby Gould might have, but was sold. It will be interesting to see how Godden performs over time. Will he still be effective in 2 years?
It is why (as I have more than once posted) loanees are not the short term fix they are often seen as. It is also why selling on at a profit is an important part of the mix - to bring in the new stuff. Is anybody seriously arguing that we would be a better team with Bayliss in it, rather that the 2 or 3 players his fee has funded.

Adge said:

As has been said if Godden gets injured its Baka or an out of favour/half fit Biamou.
If that’s the case we might have to get on the phone again to Tudgay!

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Surely Hiwula would get moved up top first?

D'oh - just read Speedies' response!

Sky Blue Harry H said:

Surely Hiwula would get moved up top first?

D'oh - just read Speedies' response!

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Really good point that

Skybluefaz said:

Great point about goals. We only scored more than two in 3 games last season in the league, Bradford away, Walsall at home and Sunderland away. That's pretty crazy.

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Wow - hadn't realised it was so few games

Of the two teams probably only Willis and Thomas would be preferred and bright possibly in number 10

You only need to look at those benches to see the squad is stronger now.
First match v. Southend the bench was very light.
Wilson
Pask
Hyam
Burroughs
Eccles
Bapaga
Biamou

We have used the loans well to strengthen the midfield options and cover RB.

I think we will miss the pace of Willis, I do think that Hyam and Rose are better defenders but they both lack that raw pace that Willis posses, In the short time I've saw him, I very much like the look of O'hare and looks to be a very good replacement for Bright, a slight concern that I had going into the season.

I do think the squad is better overall but I would like another striker in, if Godden gets injured or has a dip in form, I have faith in neither Bakayoko or Biamou to step up and score.

I’d forgotten that Bayliss didn’t play against Sunderland.


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Wakefield came on as a sub for for Sunderland and made an assist...

I posted this in the match thread but after the same amount of games last season we had one more point and had just made it 5 consecutive wins with a 2-1 win against Doncaster

18/19:
W 8
D 3
L 5

19/20:
W 6
D 8
L 2

SlowerThanPlatt said:

I posted this in the match thread but after the same amount of games last season we had one more point and had just made it 5 consecutive wins with a 2-1 win against Doncaster

18/19:
W 8
D 3
L 5

19/20:
W 6
D 8
L 2

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Similar problems still occur this season mate no clinical finisher at the club bar Godden who I think will score in a 2 up front who’s now out for 4 months,Thomas hasn’t been replaced the defence I feel McFadz is well behind Jordan Willis

cc84cov said:

Similar problems still occur this season mate no clinical finisher at the club bar Godden who I think will score in a 2 up front who’s now out for 4 months,Thomas hasn’t been replaced the defence I feel McFadz is well behind Jordan Willis

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And yet one of those played lots of games at Championship level.. the other isn't McFadzean...

cc84cov said:

Similar problems still occur this season mate no clinical finisher at the club bar Godden who I think will score in a 2 up front who’s now out for 4 months,Thomas hasn’t been replaced the defence I feel McFadz is well behind Jordan Willis

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McFadz is better than Willis

Garryb80 said:

And yet one of those played lots of games at Championship level.. the other isn't McFadzean...

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That’s a bit of a stupid point. Joe Cole played lots of games in the Premier League but clearly when he joined us wasn’t the same player. There are many examples of this, Stephen Hunt another one

SkyBlueDom26 said:

McFadz is better than Willis

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Not For me Dom

SkyBlueDom26 said:

McFadz is better than Willis

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not shown that so far despite having a great start

that said willis passing was poor so mcfadz better suited if he just stops making dumb mistakes

covcity4life said:

not shown that so far despite having a great start

that said willis passing was poor so mcfadz better suited if he just stops making dumb mistakes

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On the other hand we've had 7 clean sheets this season. We kept 11 in total last season so we're well on course to beat that.