Is the Team/Squad balanced?

[3swan]

How many are currently given starters

Vigouroux

4 at the back

Key Cabango Burgess Tymon

5 At the back

Add Casey

Midfield

Galbraith Stamenic

Attack

Vipotnik



That’s 8 or9 players leaving 12 to chose for the other 2 or 3 starters.

Samuels-Smith Santos Fulton Yalcouye Eom Franco Ronald Widell Benson Cullen Inoussa Idah

Also Youngsters

Wales Sam & Arthur Parker

Keepers

Fisher & Farman



Is the team/squad balanced? Who would fill the 2 or 3 other starting positions

 

[Smurph]

I think we have a more balance squad than we have for a very long time. We could do with another right back or at the very least be prepared to give Casey or Parker a run in the side.

 

[ARQS]

The biggest issue is the lack of a number 10 imo

 

[WentToSchoolWith]

The biggest issue is the lack of a number 10 imo

Widell feels close enough to an established 10 to play there imo

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

In terms of balance, I'd still say yes (especially when compared to the last 4 seasons) it is balanced.

In goal we are absolutely fine, with a top class 1st choice and adequate cover (you're never going to carry two 1st choice keepers at this level). Hopefully one of the youngsters out on loan will kick on and become 2nd choice in the next couple of years.

We have 4 centre halves (one experienced and one loan as cover). Two left backs (loan cover looks more than capable of doing a job when needed - we'll see in the next league game with Tymon's ban). At right back the issue is the manager clearly doesn't think Parker is good enough to start (bringing another senior full back into the squad would have been a mistake in the summer IMO as we'd be blocking a pathway and Galbraith was seen as cover there, plus Key's drop in form/confidence couldn't really be predicted to the extent it has been)

We have 6 central midfielders for three positions (two when playing 3-4-3). There's definitely an argument that some are too similar but I think that the tactics/formation are playing a big part in that perception. Personally, looking at their individual strengths and weaknesses I think they are significantly different. Getting the balance correct for the rest of the season will play a huge part in trems of where we finish.

We have 4 wide players competing for two places, with a couple capable of playing on both sides so not an issue with balance (although end product - goals/assists clearly needs improvement).

Two centre forwards competing for one position with different attributes, plus Cullen (and Wales) in the squad if we wanted to go with a 'second striker' playing off the number 9.

Balance/numbers in the squad is definitely not the issue IMO - we're also NOT carrying any senior players in the squad that are frozen out of the 20-man matchday squad which has been the case previously. Will reserve judgement on quality (especially the new players) until the end of the season.

 

[Smurph]

Honestly think Eom could fill the role as a ten.

 

[sit_down_jack]

The biggest issue is the lack of a number 10 imo

Definitely, I think Widell is the closest but he was never really playing as a 10 for his previous side either, from what I understand.

That bridge between midfield and attack has been missing all season.

 

[tardylum]

They are not identical players but Stamenic, Galbraith, Yalcouye and Franco all play in a similar manner. We needed a big upgrade on Fulton, who is prepared to sit in front of the defence but instead we signed three midfielders who are more comfortable playing with the freedom to go box to box. None of them are suited to playing the sitting role and dictating play but none are suited to playing as a number 10 either.

None of our wide players are proven to be good goalscorers and they barely ever impact the game around the box. There are no expectations for them to turn into Salah but often we go whole games without them even threatening to score and none of them look like naturals. I can only judge them on what they have shown in our shirt but none of them have good goalscoring records at their previous clubs either.

Key has struggled this season and we could have done with a back up to him. The centre back situation is solid but Cabango is not a good passer and Burgess is only an average one so we lack from that position when we have the ball.

Our two number nines and goalkeeper and Tymon having a solid back up are the only three positions that we seem to have got right.

 

[3swan]

They are not identical players but Stamenic, Galbraith, Yalcouye and Franco all play in a similar manner. We needed a big upgrade on Fulton, who is prepared to sit in front of the defence but instead we signed three midfielders who are more comfortable playing with the freedom to go box to box. None of them are suited to playing the sitting role and dictating play but none are suited to playing as a number 10 either.

None of our wide players are proven to be good goalscorers and they barely ever impact the game around the box. There are no expectations for them to turn into Salah but often we go whole games without them even threatening to score and none of them look like naturals. I can only judge them on what they have shown in our shirt but none of them have good goalscoring records at their previous clubs either.

Key has struggled this season and we could have done with a back up to him. The centre back situation is solid but Cabango is not a good passer and Burgess is only an average one so we lack from that position when we have the ball.

Our two number nines and goalkeeper and Tymon having a solid back up are the only three positions that we seem to have got right.

Whilst I can agree with most of the replies this is about the closest to my view at the moment.

Now I'm trying to be totally open minded (as you can be with some sort of bias) is it down to tactics or quality or a mixture of both

Can player X play with player Y.

Does a sub then unbalance the team even if it looks like 'like for like'

So many questions but not so many answers

 

[magicdaps10]

Over stocked with midfielders in a 6/8 mould and no real no 10 and no competition for Key at RB.

We didn't really need to bring in Yalcouye and 1 from Stamenic or Widell.

 

[Pentyrchjack]

I'd start with 2 strikers - Vip and Idah

 

[cmajack]

Honestly think Eom could fill the role as a ten.

And that's the problem with the manager isn't it? Reluctant to try and find a proper 10, could be Widell, could be Eom, but for goodness sake try something, it has to be better than what we are seeing. As others have said, a complete clear out is needed and a fresh approach. Most decent teams today play a fast attacking brand of football, think Brentford and Bournemouth. Our game is slow, boring sideways football waiting for the opposition to regroup when we are attacking with the ball mostly played either to feet or behind the man receiving it. Our mindset from kick off is almost always a negative one, and that has to change. His time is up in my opinion, as he's shown nothing since pre season and the start of the actual campaign. Whoever comes in needs to have time to assess the squad for a couple of months with hopefully players the new manager identifies coming in January. To keep Sheehan any longer than necessary, like we did with Williams is not benefitting the club at all.

 

[Smurph]

And that's the problem with the manager isn't it? Reluctant to try and find a proper 10, could be Widell, could be Eom, but for goodness sake try something, it has to be better than what we are seeing. As others have said, a complete clear out is needed and a fresh approach. Most decent teams today play a fast attacking brand of football, think Brentford and Bournemouth. Our game is slow, boring sideways football waiting for the opposition to regroup when we are attacking with the ball mostly played either to feet or behind the man receiving it. Our mindset from kick off is almost always a negative one, and that has to change. His time is up in my opinion, as he's shown nothing since pre season and the start of the actual campaign. Whoever comes in needs to have time to assess the squad for a couple of months with hopefully players the new manager identifies coming in January. To keep Sheehan any longer than necessary, like we did with Williams is not benefitting the club at all.

Definition of insanity, isn it!

Someone else mention the gap between midfield and our strikers is too big, either we play a 442 with Idah Vip together or he deploys a ten.

The reluctance of the manager to try something completely different is a worry. At this moment in time I feel it's shit or bust for Sheehan, he has nothing to lose by tearing it up and taking a different approach.

Will he do it? I don't know.