Is Our Squad Stronger Or Weaker Than Last Season

[Salvatore Matrecano]

The same reason that Carvalho isnt played and the same reason regarding us not buying Tomlin on the transfer thread.

[ozzyten10]

Not athletic or hard enough? Knob heads? Can’t defend???

[zicorice]

A big f@(king resounding "No" it is then.

No game changing subs.

Cant handle hectic schedule.

Definitely no bottle.

At least we rarely were forced to use the squad so were in the mix until the end..until last 20 f#$#ing minutes. 

Gutted.

[the jock]

Having your best season in years

Halfway through you sign Diakhaby bong dacosta and bring back walker but rarely use him.

We deserved what we got in the end..

[Strawberry Avenger]

Not strong enough.

SA.

[zicorice]

Even if Cash goes, at this point in time it feels like we could be stronger.
Outs: Cash, Walker, Watson.
Ins: Colback, Blackett, Taylor, Fred and Freeman

My slight worry is that 2 of our best and most consistent performers from last season .most likely wont be here so the replacements and newbies need to hit the ground running. Also, I am concerned about Joe. Of all the seasons to end with an "over-use injury" it had to be the one without a significant rest period, so he may miss out on parts of preseason (how did that go for Carvalho last season). Also Jack hasn't played since bust leg in Jan.
On the plus side: It seems some of last seasons fringe players are excelling in pre-season. Yates, Carvalho and Benoloune in particular. Plus Mighten  could be a player where his age and inexperience become irrelevant due to his talent and performances.

On paper the squad is looking a bit stronger and more balanced....but we all know football isnt played on paper.

Feeling cautiously optimistic considering the car crash end to last season.

[Mcforest]

The one thing looking at our current squad is that we don’t have wingers or players who can take the ball and run with it bar Sammy and Lolley. With any luck this will be something the club will look to get sorted in this window. Failing that we do have a cracking set of players to go the 3-3-3-1 formation although we are a little small in size.
Team 1
Samba
Worrall Figueiredo Blackett
Colback Sow Bachirou
Ameobi Freeman Lolley
Grabban

Team 2
Samba
Jenkinson Dawson Ben
Darikwa Silva Ribeiro
De Costa Carvalho Johnson
Taylor

[Jean_claude_killy]

The one thing looking at our current squad is that we don’t have wingers or players who can take the ball and run with it bar Sammy and Lolley. With any luck this will be something the club will look to get sorted in this window. Failing that we do have a cracking set of players to go the 3-3-3-1 formation although we are a little small in size.
Team 1
                      Samba
Worrall    Figueiredo    Blackett
Colback            Sow        Bachirou
Ameobi        Freeman      Lolley
                      Grabban

Team 2
                      Samba
Jenkinson      Dawson      Ben 
Darikwa            Silva          Ribeiro
De Costa      Carvalho        Johnson
                        Taylor

I am not sure Lamouchi will play with out and out wingers; he has tended to get the width in his sides from the Full Backs bombing forward.

Apparently he has been playing a 3 5 2 formation in the friendlies; if he continues with that he will be playing with Wing Backs.

I would not necessarily assume that Taylor is the direct comparison for Grabban; from what I have seen of Taylor, he likes to cut in from wideish positions; I would guess he will be competing with Lolley, Da Costa and Ameobi.

If so, that would explain the rumoured interest in Jutkiewicz; we desperately need cover for Grabban

[Marinakis Red]

Taylor is an out and out striker that is willing to run the channels. We have not brought him in as a wide player. A wide player he is not.

[Jean_claude_killy]

Taylor is an out and out striker that is willing to run the channels. We have not brought him in as a wide player. A wide player he is not.

I am not saying he is a wide player; I just do not see him as a target man like Grabban.

He appears to be always on the move, dragging players out of position and then cutting back in.

I would guess that is what Lamouchi wanted from both Lolley and Ameobi last season but they both played too far away from Grabban and did not get into the box anywhere near enough

[wassy04]

Taylor is an out and out striker that is willing to run the channels. We have not brought him in as a wide player. A wide player he is not.

I am not saying he is a wide player; I just do not see him as a target man like Grabban.

He appears to be always on the move, dragging players out of position and then cutting back in.

I would guess that is what Lamouchi wanted from both Lolley and Ameobi last season but they both played too far away from Grabban and did not get into the box anywhere near enough

If we're switching to 352 then seems like an ideal partner for Grabban

[Strawberry Avenger]

Stronger.

SA.