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+--- Thread: Is Our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season (/showthread.php?tid=549)
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - zicorice - 01-08-2019
I haven't voted as I can't decide. Definitely stronger in GK department as we have added to what we had. Injury to Darikwa has tempered my view defensively. Saying that, I thought Cash looked like he had all the attributes for a modern full back a year or two ago. Benny is a loss too. Have no idea about the new feller who is a LB.
Midfield is where the questions are. Some people seem to be quick to forget just how good Colback was for us. We have certainly added numbers now, but Colback was a "sure thing" churning out quality performances week in week out, especially in the guts of the season when others struggled/disappeared/didn't fancy it. A few daft bookings, but also alot of tactical fouls or crunchers too. Gueds was also decent early in the season. I like Yates, who is clearly going to continue to get better.
Out wide: Holding onto Joe was/is key. Albert played in a promotion team last year so has to been seen as an upgrade. Like Dias and Goncvales, Ameobi is a real wild card and could go from the sublime to the ridiculous, much like Dias did.Cash will improve again, though he may be doing a job at right back.
Upfront: Again some people forget how promising Soudani looked early on especially coming off the bench, then got injured. I also could see a player in Ansarifad, albeit very late in the season-he looked really lively at QPR for instance.
Grabban is one year older and had one more niggly injury, though no doubt he is quality at this level. Our new CF has more questions than answers.
A few promising youngsters to add to the mix, with Appiah most likely to make a break through, though personally I would be looking to send him out on a 2 or 3 month loan to League 1 or lower Championship side to get game time.
All in all I actually think the team probably starts the season as someone else said "different " , possibly a touch weaker but squadwise I am hoping some of the new signings shine and Carvalho- once fit - keeps his quality showing for whole season to open up defences.
The one thing I do believe, is that we may just have stumbled on a bright young manager. It's the little things about him that give me confidence. His demeanour, the way he wants to play, even his reasoning for changing the dug outs around. We need luck with injuries and refs of course. (Would Norwich have gone up if Pukki had a dodgy achilles for half a season as Grabban did?)
Are we stronger than last year?...F@(k knows, but we're going to find out soon and I can't wait!
My hopes for the season: Lamouchi to be our manager by the end of the season still. Carvalho to win Championship player of the year, the ground to be full every other week and to take 6 points off the Sheep, finally, DirtyLeeds to get relegated.
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - Sabricadabra - 02-08-2019
I’m guessing some of you didn’t watch any of the friendlies.
Semedo is a massive upgrade on Yates.
Silva looks like a tough version of Carvalho.
Haven’t seen Samba Sow.
Watson will surprise a few as the regista.
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - Tricky - 02-08-2019
(02-08-2019, 07:26 AM)Sabricadabra Wrote: I’m guessing some of you didn’t watch any of the friendlies.
Semedo is a massive upgrade on Yates.
Silva looks like a tough version of Carvalho.
Haven’t seen Samba Sow.
Watson will surprise a few as the regista.
You can't really take anything out of pre season friendlies though. They are a completely different kettle of fish to the rigours of Championship football.
A couple of seasons ago, Velios scored 5 but never wore the Garibaldi again for us once the season started!
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - zicorice - 02-08-2019
(02-08-2019, 08:32 AM)Tricky Wrote:Sorry Sabricadabra Tricky is spot on, friendlies are glorified training sessions, (I went to both at WFCG) so I will reserve judgment until we have seen how good they are when we hit the guts of the season in December. Dias looked mustard last August and even September. Getting out of this league is about being consistent, not flashy skills when no pressure is on. That's why Colback is such a big miss.(02-08-2019, 07:26 AM)Sabricadabra Wrote: I’m guessing some of you didn’t watch any of the friendlies.You can't really take anything out of pre season friendlies though. They are a completely different kettle of fish to the rigours of Championship football.
Semedo is a massive upgrade on Yates.
Silva looks like a tough version of Carvalho.
Haven’t seen Samba Sow.
Watson will surprise a few as the regista.
A couple of seasons ago, Velios scored 5 but never wore the Garibaldi again for us once the season started,
I'm not being negative, just realistic, we also have only 1 recognised goal scorer. I think our best signing might just be the manager though and that is why I am (cautiously) optimistic.
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - ThePromisedLand - 02-08-2019
I feel that, overall, we are a touch stronger.
And yet - without a couple of quality signings - I feel that anything better than midtable may be a stretch.
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - woody - 02-08-2019
Difficult to know at this stage but Lamouchi said soon after arriving that he wanted more physicality, speed and greater technical ability. If he has brought in players who address those requirements then we will have improved. Midfield was slow last season and for a number of seasons before. We had no one who could burst through from the centre of the park and with only Lolley effective out wide we were very one dimensional. Now there is balance with wide players each side and more speed and muscle in the centre. Central defence and left back looks good and contrary to some people on here, I felt Darikwa was well capable of doing a good job. Now we have to find a right back because I feel if we play Cash there he will get found out just like Osborne did at left back. Up front we are reliant on Grabban but we know he will get 20 goals this season if he’s given the supply. It will be interesting to see what the new striker is like because at 6 ft 3 he should offer something different to what Grabs offers. He might even be better, who knows.
So summarising, it too early to say for sure, but we do seem to have a more balanced squad.
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - Salvatore Matrecano - 02-08-2019
Squad number released. Stronger or not I have no idea but numerically we must have one of the largest in the league, currently stands at a whopping 38. Johnson Richardson Edser and Mighten all given numbers which is encouraging.
1. Costel Pantilimon
2. Yuri Ribeiro
3. Tobias Figueiredo
4. Joe Worrall
5. Adlene Guedioura
6. Alex Milosevic
7. Lewis Grabban
8. Ben Watson
9. Daryl Murphy
10. Joao Carvalho
11. Matty Cash
12. Jordan Smith
14. Rafa Mir
15. Luke Steele
17. Alfa Semedo
18. Jack Robinson
19. Sammy Ameobi
20. Michael Dawson
21. Samba Sow
22. Ryan Yates
23. Joe Lolley
24. Claudio Yacob
26. Liam Bridcutt
27. Tendayi Darikwa
28. Tiago Silva
29. Yohan Benalouane
34. Tyler Walker
35. Jason Cummings
37. Albert Adomah
38. Gboly Ariyibi
39. Zach Clough
40. Brennan Johnson
43. Arvin Appiah
44. Michael Hefele
45. Jayden Richardson
47. Toby Edser
48. Alex Mighten
49. Aro Muric
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - Mcforest - 02-08-2019
How i miss the days when the first team players were given the 1-11 numbers. Just feels wrong Murphy having number 9 and clough even getting a number
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - Sabricadabra - 02-08-2019
I’ve watched enough friendlies to know they aren’t the same as competitive matches, but you can still glean something of how a player performs.
Semedo is a big upgrade on Yates because he can pass a ball. Yates is good off the ball but can’t pass. I know he didn’t need to in a MON team, but we need a box to box player who can in a SM team.
Silva can receive a ball when close marked and keep it. His vision is good. He’s also always looking to split the defence with a pass. He’s tough too. I’ll be surprised if he isn’t a hit in this league.
6 days to go in the transfer market. We will be busy.
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - Sniffer Dog (Admin) - 02-08-2019
We need goals to come from all areas of the pitch not just from our main striker Grabban.
We need others to be chipping in with a few. It's not just about the main striker.
No reason why Lolley can't get 15 goals for example, Adomah 6 or 7, Ameobi 7 or 8, Mir 10 or 12 Carvalho 7 or 8, Silva 5 or 6. We need goals from our center backs from set pieces and corners.
We can't rely on goals just from a main striker.
I have a feeling that we won't sign another striker (just a guess, haven't heard anything).
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - Salvatore Matrecano - 02-08-2019
I think we do need another striker, suspect another loan, again just a guess. I dont get a good feeling about Grabban for some reason.
Goals should be shared yes but I think some of your figures above are optimistic Sniffer. Lolley had the season of his life and scored 11, Ameobi’s best ever season was 4, same for Carvalho, Mir is unknown. We do need someone to come good.
RE: Is our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season - zicorice - 02-08-2019
(02-08-2019, 12:41 PM)Sabricadabra Wrote: I’ve watched enough friendlies to know they aren’t the same as competitive matches, but you can still glean something of how a player performs.Going to have to agree to disagree on a few of your points.
Semedo is a big upgrade on Yates because he can pass a ball. Yates is good off the ball but can’t pass. I know he didn’t need to in a MON team, but we need a box to box player who can in a SM team.
Silva can receive a ball when close marked and keep it. His vision is good. He’s also always looking to split the defence with a pass. He’s tough too. I’ll be surprised if he isn’t a hit in this league.
6 days to go in the transfer market. We will be busy.
We dont yet know if Semedo will be any kind of upgrade yet, let's not forget Yates walked off with 3 MOTM awards in his first three games and was the the epitome of a box to box player. He was certainly never bullied or intimated and could put his foot in, all important characteristics in the Championship-especially when we get into the winter. Yates had a dip and didn't show the range of passing or midfield dominance he has shown in loan spells at lower levels, but it's in his locker and I believe will come.
Silva also looks promising, but I would argue any professional footballer can receive and keep a ball under the minimal pressure they were under in the preseason games. Time and space were plentiful, there were very few meaningful tackles and Ben Watson (good player, I'm not having a go) looked like Pirlo in those conditions.
If 3 or even 4 of our signings are "hits" then we could be in for a very good season indeed, but when we need to scrap our way to a 1-0 away win at Millwall or Preston with our backs to the wall the likes of Yates will be crucial to accumulating the points we need.
As I say not having a go, just years of seeing our scatter gun approach to transfers resulting in more misses than hits, not to mention those who flatter to deceive in the sunshine. (Goes all the way back to Petrachi who tore Walsall apart early on then....).
At the end of this season, I truly hope we are lauding Semedo, Silva, Sow, Muric, Riberia et al as the signings that finally took us up. No one will be happier than me, but it is a complete unknown right now and is why I genuinely don't know if our squad is stronger or weaker than last year-only time and results will tell.