pipkin73
Well-Known Member
Robins has said he wants to keep money back for January. With all the new players i think he needs to.
We don't know who will hit the ground running, who will be slow to settle in to a new team and formation and who will be duds.
If you remember, after the West Brom game, he said he was not happy with some players and new ones would come in if they won't raise their games. So maybe that was a dig at some of last seasons play-off wining squad and why he has brought so many new ones in, albeit most before that game.
We have increased the squad size to about 35 players now, that's more than 3 players for each position, but it's not an even split. CM and upfront seems high in players and CD weaker than we would like.
Some players will be for development, some for squad rotation, as if we do ok in the cups we could play up to 55ish games, more if we get to the play-offs again.
Also, look what happened last season with injuries. What if some of our best players break down with long term or season long injuries again, at least now we have players to fill those voids. Also, we have lot's of young players and they need resting, so again players in most positions to rest them as they get tired and loose form over a season. We also have players coming back from those long term injuries and they could take a few months before being up to game speed.
When i look at the squad, i can't pick a team as just to much choice and to many variables.
What level are Westbrooke, Allassani, Williams, Mason etc at. From pre-season and other reports from here Allassani looks good and can score goals, would be in a Championship squad now bar his injuries so great lets pick him. Hang on what about Andreu, Bayliss, Jones when fit, Ogogo, Kelly, Doyle?
Maybe when everyone is fit, Ogogo, Kelly and Doyle will rotate. So where then Bayliss, Andreau and Allassani, that's a nice attacking three in front of the defensive 2, but then what about Jones, Westbrooke, Shipley and Bakayoko who seems to be a player that can play on the wing like Vincenti was supposed to do.
Then upfront we have Hiwula, who if played central i think could be our new McNulty, but who with? Biamou who puts it about and scores some great goals and has also improved by the month since moving here but still has much to learn. JCH who should have made the position his own but instead goes for a garden picnic every time someone comes near him. Bakayoko or Allassani, but we don't know how they will settle yet and the one of our own, Ponticelli who would need to play with a big man so could be a choice of him or Hiwula up top with one of the big men.
Lot's of questions in all that and i'm sure Robbins will have the same ones, but he has tried to cover all positions that are questionable with at least 2 players, saved money for January as by then he will have more of an idea of the players performing and where he needs to improve. Lets just hope we don't have any bad injuries in CD before then.
And breath....
We don't know who will hit the ground running, who will be slow to settle in to a new team and formation and who will be duds.
If you remember, after the West Brom game, he said he was not happy with some players and new ones would come in if they won't raise their games. So maybe that was a dig at some of last seasons play-off wining squad and why he has brought so many new ones in, albeit most before that game.
We have increased the squad size to about 35 players now, that's more than 3 players for each position, but it's not an even split. CM and upfront seems high in players and CD weaker than we would like.
Some players will be for development, some for squad rotation, as if we do ok in the cups we could play up to 55ish games, more if we get to the play-offs again.
Also, look what happened last season with injuries. What if some of our best players break down with long term or season long injuries again, at least now we have players to fill those voids. Also, we have lot's of young players and they need resting, so again players in most positions to rest them as they get tired and loose form over a season. We also have players coming back from those long term injuries and they could take a few months before being up to game speed.
When i look at the squad, i can't pick a team as just to much choice and to many variables.
What level are Westbrooke, Allassani, Williams, Mason etc at. From pre-season and other reports from here Allassani looks good and can score goals, would be in a Championship squad now bar his injuries so great lets pick him. Hang on what about Andreu, Bayliss, Jones when fit, Ogogo, Kelly, Doyle?
Maybe when everyone is fit, Ogogo, Kelly and Doyle will rotate. So where then Bayliss, Andreau and Allassani, that's a nice attacking three in front of the defensive 2, but then what about Jones, Westbrooke, Shipley and Bakayoko who seems to be a player that can play on the wing like Vincenti was supposed to do.
Then upfront we have Hiwula, who if played central i think could be our new McNulty, but who with? Biamou who puts it about and scores some great goals and has also improved by the month since moving here but still has much to learn. JCH who should have made the position his own but instead goes for a garden picnic every time someone comes near him. Bakayoko or Allassani, but we don't know how they will settle yet and the one of our own, Ponticelli who would need to play with a big man so could be a choice of him or Hiwula up top with one of the big men.
Lot's of questions in all that and i'm sure Robbins will have the same ones, but he has tried to cover all positions that are questionable with at least 2 players, saved money for January as by then he will have more of an idea of the players performing and where he needs to improve. Lets just hope we don't have any bad injuries in CD before then.
And breath....