Having said that, if the last two new signings can't play tonight then we're going to have to use Tymon to fill the bench again...
We registered 10 homegrown at the start of the season. Five of these have either left, loaned, out for the season or no timescale for return, but unlikely to be this season. We have added a probable HG. That leaves us in a position where we'll be adding players to the squad who will not play. this is a ridiculous, yet unsurprising, oversight.
We don't HAVE to have 8 homegrown players. We just can't have more than 17 non-homegrown. We seemingly have exactly 17 non-homegrown.
It's really not a significant issue, there's often players on a squad list that don't actually play in the first team.
If it's just a question of filling the bench, we could cut four off the wage bill by signing Jon Parkin for the role.
Still 25 players but now we aren't "in a position where we'll be adding players to the squad who will not play" like Lenihan and we don't have 4 goalkeepers. In fact we will have to leave out long term injuries like Keane and Mason because we have too many players. Our 8 homegrowns will be Maguire, Dawson, Davies, Elabdellaoui, Huddlestone, Clucas, Odubajo and Luer/Mason.
If Lenihan had stayed fit he may well have played. Moses was due back but suffered another injury. Bruce was due back & would have played at some point. Luer was initially due back mid November so may well have been included in some capacity. The difference we have now is we're adding players who we know will play no part. We haven't bulked out the squad, we've reduced it.
All outfield players have been involved except those injured. All the injured ones were due back before now & would probably have been involved at some point had they recovered as expected. We're now looking at adding players to a squad who we know will play no part. This in itself weakens the squad.
We've replaced... Allan McGregor (hasn't played) Jake Livermore Robert Snodgrass Alex Bruce (hasn't played) A couple of kids With... Oumar Niasse Evandro Omar Elabdellaoui Lazar Markovic Andrea Ranocchia Alfred N'Diaye Kamil Grosicki They'll all play. We've effectively lost two and brought in seven, how the hell do you think this has reduced the squad?
Bit selective We've swapped Bruce Mason Keane Luer Moses Lenihan McGregor Jake Snodger With 7. As already explained those outfield players who were injured were all expected back before Christmas & would have played some part before now. We're now adding players who we know will play no part. EDIT: maybe "adding" is the wrong word. "Including" may be more appropriate to the point being made.
"Adding" is the wrong word. I should have used "including. For confirmation see your suggested squad.
We have to leave out Mason. Our homegrown will be Mason Make your mind up. What part will Moses play?
Luer/Mason. i.e I assume Mason will not be able to play this season but if he will be able to then he would replace Luer. Odubajo- It was said to be 6 months in October so he may be back before the end. He may not. It's similar to including him, McGregor and Alex Bruce in the summer, all injured but may have been back before the next squad registration.
Rush him back, good idea. 6 months would be the back end of April. The place would have been better filled by Bruce.
