Biggest game of the season by far on Saturday, lets hope our paper thin squad comes through the Baaaaaarnsleh game unscathed. We need significant strengthening in January. First team are nearly there, but squad wise we are thin. Can't wait for Saturday, atmosphere should be electric and it's a battle of the giants between Nige and Allardyce. We need everyone on it as well, otherwise their quality will tell.
hadn't got as far as thinking about Saturday yet. But I think you are selling the squad short by calling it paper thin.
OK: how about this? Tomorrow night 3 key players receive injuries - Fryatt, Koren and Chester/Basso. (Or even Koren, Chester and Basso) Could we survive that? I really doubt it.
We have just one fit winger, we have one defender available to cover all defensive positions and there's a chance that tomorrow the only strikers available will be Adebloa and Fryatt with no-one on the bench. I'd say that was fairly paper thin.
What happens if James Chester pulls a hamstring. Out for 4-6. Lets hope Macca is fit and still has the form he had 3 months ago. At the moment, who could step in for Koren? As I say, we have VERY good first choices, and there are backup options, but it's the gap between what we have on the pitch and what we have in reserve that concerns me. Having said all that having very capable stand-ins has it's own problems with regard to team morale, but that is down to the man-management of the boss, and I think Nige is more than capable of putting a few egos in their place.
It is at the moment but it won't be come late November when Stewart, Pusic, Waghorn, Olofinjana, Dawson and Garcia are all fit. We're short at centre back and for permanent strikers but we've got some depth coming back.
OP: Biggest game of the season by far on Saturday, lets hope our paper thin squad comes through the Baaaaaarnsleh game unscathed.
Indeed, though that doesn't change the fact that we're looking very thin at the moment and we've got West Ham on Saturday.
Sorry chaps, I was replying to this line really: "We need significant strengthening in January. First team are nearly there, but squad wise we are thin." Was pointing out that we'll be much stronger before December, let alone January. Agree about getting through the Barnsley game. Aside from central midfield, we can't really cope with injuries elsewhere. I'd fancy Waghorn and Pusic to be fit for Saturday.
Pusic said last week that he thought he'd be out for about two weeks, which must make him a doubt. Waggy is likely to be back, I'm hoping he'll at least make the bench tomorrow night and hopefully Mclean's knock isn't too bad.
Yeah, Theo, but it all depends on us not shipping any more injuries, even when our current crocks return. Still thin, I feel.
Everyone is going to have injuries. At the moment though, our squad at the end of November should look like this: GK: Basso, Gulacsi, Oxley DF: Rosenior, McShane, Dudgeon, Dawson, Hobbs, Chester MF: Stewart, Brady, Pusic, Garcia, Olofinjana, Cairney, Evans, McKenna, Koren, Harper FW: McLean, Fryatt, Waghorn, Adebola, Barmby That's 24 senior pro's plus Kilbane, Simpson, Devitt and Atkinson to return from loan (plus Cooper and Cullen). We'll only get "significant" numbers in if lots go out. Personally, I think we only look short in defence.
I don't expect to see Kilbane, Simpson or Atkinson ever play for us again. I think Kilbane will stay at Derby until the end of the season, at which point he'll be out of contract, Simpson will be sold to Millwall in January so we can buy Waghorn and Atkinson is on a full season loan, which again will see him out of contract(Cullen is also out of contract at the end of this season).
Agreed, just need another CB for numbers. Anything else would be improving the first team but not filling a 'gap' as such.
I'd agree with all that. Just pointing out how many players we potentially have. People need to consider that when discussing these things. We'll be paying a portion of Kilbane's wages and probably Atkinson's too.
Cough!! Cough!! Gerrard, Butterfield and Rhodes Cough!! Cough!! Are you sure United are in for Rhodes Scoots? It sounds odd, that one!
We all know that injuries often come in batches, and in the same positions. So it's almost impossible to get a lot more cover than we have., being pragmatic there is a limit to sustainable squad size. The trick is (or holy grail) is to make sure that all the players in the squad are playable at this level. Would like to see an in-form striker and another CB though, you could go on and on, ............we also really need another CM distributor; but we are not "made of money"!
Just got that info from here.... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2054043/Manchester-United-watch-Jordan-Rhodes.html
I'll tell you who I'd bid for (and you'll probably laugh). Impressed me the last two seasons at the KC, impressed me the last 2 or 3 times I've seen him on Sky and is often on the football league show highlights. Mark Yeates. His set piece delivery is superb, his long range shooting is good and he's mobile and quick.
