Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
Title explains it, I'm going to go through each position and assess how strong that position is seeing as some are saying we have a lack of quality in regards to back up. I hope you agree and looking forward to discussion if you disagree. Either way, hope you're having a Merry Christmas!
GK: Murphy + Dunn, we have a good #1 in Murphy, and as GKs play pretty much every game, you don't need a just as good replacement, but Dunn is a decent sub, overall, I'd say GK is a department where we have strength, as well as depth.
RB: Clarke, Christie and Willis, this probably our best department in terms of strength and depth, 1st choice is Christie, really good player (despite PNE), good at defending and linking up with Baker, really good RB, Clarke is just as good on his day, and Willis played v well v Brum, overall, really good department. I think Clarke could do a job at RM.
CB: Wood, Edj, Willis, Cameron, good CB pairing in Wood + Edj, but we do concede a lot, I'd say CB is an area we could improve on if we get promoted, for now, it's ok as Cam is a solid CB to have and Willis is promising, but we'll wait and see how he gets on. Overall, decent strength in depth.
LB: Adams, Hussey, this is a cause for concern, Adams is excellent, definitely surprised me with his quality, great provider and good defender, perhaps one of the best LBs in L1, however, his loan expires soon (I think it'll be renewed) and if he goes... His replacement? Hussey :facepalm: not very good at defending nor providing. Strength in depth rating? Good 1st choice but no PNE to adequately replace him, so pretty poor. Urgent attention needed (unless a youth player steps up).
RM: Baker, Moussa, Clarke: again cause for concern, Baker is really good, as with Moussa and Clarke did well v Donny, so why is it a cause for concern? Well, they aren't really RMs (except Baker), Moussa plays LM, Clarke RB, so if we had an injury crisis where we'd need these players to fill in, they might not be able to as Moussa will be LM, Clarke RB (for Christie injury) so overall, we have a good 1st choice and players good who can play there, but the strength in depth isn't necessarily there. NOTE: I haven't mentioned Bell as I think he'll (hopefully) be sold and hasn't played yet so can't assess how good he is (at L1).
CM: Bailey, Thomas, Jennings, Barton, we have a very good partnership in Bailey and Jennings, but, Bailey's loan is expiring after tomorrow's game, however, it looks like we MAY extend his loan deal, which would be great, but assuming he goes, we have a very good replacement in Thomas, however, if Jennings gets injured/suspended we don't have anyone with that bite to replace him, Barton doesn't have the steel, but he could do a job in a 'Bailey role', I'm unsure though. I'd say we have good CMs, but we don't have a replacement for Jennings, so perhaps we could get a holding mid, or a 'pitbull' type CM, it's good, but somewhat fragile, however, do other teams have that quality? I don't think so, with the exception of MKD, Sheff U.
LM: McSheffrey, Moussa, decent, two good players, Moussa being the better LM IMO, however, usually, they both play at the same time so we don't really have an replacement in a sense, as if both get injured or suspended etc. I'd say we do have decent strength in depth in this respect. I hear Adams can play here, but he isn't going to play LM, as we don't have good LMs.
AMC: Barton, McSheffrey, Fleck, really strong here, IMO (I know people will disagree), all good players, Fleck, still top assister, joint 4th top goalscorer, Barton, scored 3 good goals and a singular assist, and has created decent opportunities, he is good, McSheffrey has been better than last year, only thing missing is goals, however has been chipping in with assists, 3, but 2 were off the wing. Overall, this is possibly the strongest position, certainly gives RB a run for it's money.
ST: McG, Clarke. Cody, Elliott (Ball + ROD), McG, as we all know, has nearly finished his loan, and chances are, he probably won't sign, the signing of Clarke may indicate he isn't signing, however, IF McG signs and Clarke, we have 2 of L1's best strikers, so we clearly have quality here, if they both stay. Also, to have Cody as 3rd choice would be a clear indicator we have strength and depth in the ST position, we also have Elliott as 4th choice who isn't great, but it's 4th choice, it most likely won't get to the stage where he starts, Ball and ROD are both shit so I won't talk about them. IF we keep McG and sign Clarke we'll have possibly the best strikers in L1. Overall, this is very strong.
Team: good strength in depth in most areas, but there are areas that need improving if we don't have youth players on their way up, bar, RM, LB and CM, the team is strong and has quality.
Merry Christmas and I hope 2013 is a great year for you and CCFC!
GK: Murphy + Dunn, we have a good #1 in Murphy, and as GKs play pretty much every game, you don't need a just as good replacement, but Dunn is a decent sub, overall, I'd say GK is a department where we have strength, as well as depth.
RB: Clarke, Christie and Willis, this probably our best department in terms of strength and depth, 1st choice is Christie, really good player (despite PNE), good at defending and linking up with Baker, really good RB, Clarke is just as good on his day, and Willis played v well v Brum, overall, really good department. I think Clarke could do a job at RM.
CB: Wood, Edj, Willis, Cameron, good CB pairing in Wood + Edj, but we do concede a lot, I'd say CB is an area we could improve on if we get promoted, for now, it's ok as Cam is a solid CB to have and Willis is promising, but we'll wait and see how he gets on. Overall, decent strength in depth.
LB: Adams, Hussey, this is a cause for concern, Adams is excellent, definitely surprised me with his quality, great provider and good defender, perhaps one of the best LBs in L1, however, his loan expires soon (I think it'll be renewed) and if he goes... His replacement? Hussey :facepalm: not very good at defending nor providing. Strength in depth rating? Good 1st choice but no PNE to adequately replace him, so pretty poor. Urgent attention needed (unless a youth player steps up).
RM: Baker, Moussa, Clarke: again cause for concern, Baker is really good, as with Moussa and Clarke did well v Donny, so why is it a cause for concern? Well, they aren't really RMs (except Baker), Moussa plays LM, Clarke RB, so if we had an injury crisis where we'd need these players to fill in, they might not be able to as Moussa will be LM, Clarke RB (for Christie injury) so overall, we have a good 1st choice and players good who can play there, but the strength in depth isn't necessarily there. NOTE: I haven't mentioned Bell as I think he'll (hopefully) be sold and hasn't played yet so can't assess how good he is (at L1).
CM: Bailey, Thomas, Jennings, Barton, we have a very good partnership in Bailey and Jennings, but, Bailey's loan is expiring after tomorrow's game, however, it looks like we MAY extend his loan deal, which would be great, but assuming he goes, we have a very good replacement in Thomas, however, if Jennings gets injured/suspended we don't have anyone with that bite to replace him, Barton doesn't have the steel, but he could do a job in a 'Bailey role', I'm unsure though. I'd say we have good CMs, but we don't have a replacement for Jennings, so perhaps we could get a holding mid, or a 'pitbull' type CM, it's good, but somewhat fragile, however, do other teams have that quality? I don't think so, with the exception of MKD, Sheff U.
LM: McSheffrey, Moussa, decent, two good players, Moussa being the better LM IMO, however, usually, they both play at the same time so we don't really have an replacement in a sense, as if both get injured or suspended etc. I'd say we do have decent strength in depth in this respect. I hear Adams can play here, but he isn't going to play LM, as we don't have good LMs.
AMC: Barton, McSheffrey, Fleck, really strong here, IMO (I know people will disagree), all good players, Fleck, still top assister, joint 4th top goalscorer, Barton, scored 3 good goals and a singular assist, and has created decent opportunities, he is good, McSheffrey has been better than last year, only thing missing is goals, however has been chipping in with assists, 3, but 2 were off the wing. Overall, this is possibly the strongest position, certainly gives RB a run for it's money.
ST: McG, Clarke. Cody, Elliott (Ball + ROD), McG, as we all know, has nearly finished his loan, and chances are, he probably won't sign, the signing of Clarke may indicate he isn't signing, however, IF McG signs and Clarke, we have 2 of L1's best strikers, so we clearly have quality here, if they both stay. Also, to have Cody as 3rd choice would be a clear indicator we have strength and depth in the ST position, we also have Elliott as 4th choice who isn't great, but it's 4th choice, it most likely won't get to the stage where he starts, Ball and ROD are both shit so I won't talk about them. IF we keep McG and sign Clarke we'll have possibly the best strikers in L1. Overall, this is very strong.
Team: good strength in depth in most areas, but there are areas that need improving if we don't have youth players on their way up, bar, RM, LB and CM, the team is strong and has quality.
Merry Christmas and I hope 2013 is a great year for you and CCFC!
