NFFC Squad 2022/23

[McDurban]

I've been tinkering.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Minor point, not meaning to have a go but I wish people would stop saying Biancone is our back up RWB.
He isnt, he is a right sided centre back who could possibly play RB if we ever reverted to a back 4.
He aint a wing back unless we have no other options which currently we dont if Neco gets injured, still find it surprisingwhen we seem to be perusing other options on the left.

[McDurban]

Minor point, not meaning to have a go but I wish people would stop saying Biancone is our back up RWB.
He isnt, he is a right sided centre back who could possibly play RB if we ever reverted to a back 4.
He aint a wing back unless we have no other options which currently we dont if Neco gets injured, still find it surprisingwhen we seem to be perusing other options on the left.

I know, I get your point, I just want to keep a balance (OCD) and he is as of the moment the only back up to Williams.  
Other players also have multiple positions.

Oh, and I now see they've given him the number two jersey.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

It's obvious after yesterday that a lot of work still needs to be done to get our squad completed.

After losing half of our starting eleven this summer it was always going to be a tough ask.

We have signed 10 or 11 player's and spent around 80M pounds but we are still a fairly long way off from where we need to be squad wise.

We are playing catch up and I don't mean catch up with Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea etc I mean catch up with the likes of Southampton, Wolves, Brentford, Everton, Brighton, Leeds etc etc.

Chances are that we will be in and around the bottom 7 or 8 teams all season and we are in our own mini league with the clubs mentioned above.

Hopefully we will have enough to stay in the league, consolidate and push on to the next level in the PL in 2023/24.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Wassy just put on the Newcastle thread that yesterday’s team looked weaker than the side we put out at Wembley.

Unfortunately I agree with him and considering we have spent £80m and signed 12 newbies thats a bit worrying.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Wassy just put on the Newcastle thread that yesterday’s team looked weaker than the side we put out at Wembley.

Unfortunately I agree with him and considering we have spent £80m and signed 12 newbies thats a bit worrying.

On paper or performance wise?

Newcastle are not Huddersfield, they will be top 8. It's a massive step up in terms of opposition.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Performance wise yes
On paper, Im not sure, just because we have spent a ton of money doesn’t mean its better.

The opposition was a massive step up but not sure Newcastle are as strong as some are making out. They haven’t actually spent that much its the same as the side that was rock bottom last year although I rate Howe and he has transformed how they play in a similar way to Cooper did with us. Top 10 side yes but not top 6 yet.

[wassy04]

Performance wise yes
On paper, Im not sure, just because we have spent a ton of money doesn’t mean its better.

The opposition was a massive step up but not sure Newcastle are as strong as some are making out. They haven’t actually spent that much its the same as the side that was rock bottom last year although I rate Howe and he has transformed how they play in a similar way to Cooper did with us. Top 10 side yes but not top 6 yet.

Keeper - better
Centre backs - same (except sounds like Niakhate was worse than Cook)
Wing backs - worse although probably more different in Williams case, I think Spence was just really good. Now he's 4th choice at Spurs, waste.
CM - Yates and Garner or Colback and O'Brien, worse. (Although Yates to return soon)
AM - Lingard is a huge step up when fully fit
Forwards - Worse so far with Davis.

Big decisions this week, do we pay way over for MGW, Davis etc. Do we change formation to flood midfield more? It's not 352 doesn't work in prem but it's less prevalent than in the Championship.

Required:
LWB (Assuming staying with wing backs)
Striker
DM (or get Yates fit)
MGW (although no idea where he's planning know playing him)

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Agree with some but not all of that Wassy.
Midfield I do find it odd we have spent £25m on 2 players yet so far neither look as good as Garner, a bit early to say on Mangala but OBrien have seen him last year, decent yes but not convinced he is a PL player.
Lingard may be the better player but not convinced he brings as much to the team as Zinc
A bit harsh on Awoniyi who may yet turn out to be a superstar but it doesnt alter the fact that we miss aspects that Davis gave us.
Defence people raving about Niakhate pre season but he looked bewildered by the pace and physicality at times yesterday. Cant judge Biancone yet.
Wingbacks I like Williams thought our best player yesterday, as you say different to Spence, lacks that explosive edge. Toff hope he proves me wrong but looks like a Champ player.

[Alf Garnett]

It's obvious after yesterday that a lot of work still needs to be done to get our squad completed.

After losing half of our starting eleven this summer it was always going to be a tough ask.

We have signed 10 or 11 player's and spent around 80M pounds but we are still a fairly long way off from where we need to be squad wise.

We are playing catch up and I don't mean catch up with Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea etc I mean catch up with the likes of Southampton, Wolves, Brentford, Everton, Brighton, Leeds etc etc.

Chances are that we will be in and around the bottom 7 or 8 teams all season and we are in our own mini league with the clubs mentioned above.

Hopefully we will have enough to stay in the league, consolidate and push on to the next level in the PL in 2023/24.

Good post Sniffer and I agree It's a bit of a reality check but I reckon you're spot on.

[wassy04]

Agree with some but not all of that Wassy.
Midfield I do find it odd we have spent £25m on 2 players yet so far neither look as good as Garner, a bit early to say on Mangala but OBrien have seen him last year, decent yes but not convinced he is a PL player.
Lingard may be the better player but not convinced he brings as much to the team as Zinc
A bit harsh on Awoniyi who may yet turn out to be a superstar but it doesnt alter the fact that we miss aspects that Davis gave us.
Defence people raving about Niakhate pre season but he looked bewildered by the pace and physicality at times yesterday. Cant judge Biancone yet.
Wingbacks I like Williams thought our best player yesterday, as you say different to Spence, lacks that explosive edge. Toff hope he proves me wrong but looks like a Champ player.

Yeah I think there's still plenty of time for these guys to prove they are better than the others. I agree on Lingard vs Zinc actually, Zinc really was great and pressing even if his end product was weak. Lingard does cover a lot of ground too generally but not perhaps in the same way.

I suppose the big question is can we ride it our with our current tactics or do we go something more compact like 4231? If we sign MGW then surely we'll need to change formation to accommodate him anyway unless we're going for him and Brennan up front.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

I agree to a point, amidst all the clamouring for MGW you have been one of the few saying Yes but where does he actually fit in our system. I suppose you go back to the old adage of put your best players on the pitch and the rest sorts itself out.
As to going 4231 again, I get it but our entire success last season was built around 352, dont think we should abandon that.