It does seem a little strange given the other options available. There is flexibility in that some players can play more than one position.
A keeper is a no brainer (though some have gone without cover).
Connoly can play full back or centre back so as long as he's in the squad we fit around him. On the bench he covers all positions, if he starts at FB we put a FB on the bench (if we had one spare, unlike saturday), if a FB gets injured on comes the FB, if a CB gets injured, on comes the FB and Connoly moves inside.
Up front, Rudy is as the only cover for HH with Bellamy covering Mason or the wide positions. If Bellamy starts wide, a wide man for cover as Bellamy can move upfront if needed.
That leaves 3 spots on the bench. A ball player and a blocker in the centre leaves one spot.
With KimBo able to play in the middle as the ball player, why carry another, you might as well have the 'luxury' of Eti. Or is he not as ready as WoL would have you believe?
Here we a are debating football again. Bloody MM and the board allowing us to sign players and have all these options. They've only done it so we don't whinge about them. Last season was easy, why haven't we signed any wide players. Hmm, suppose we'll have to play the 11 fit players we have and leave the dross on the bench!!!!!
Now we've got all these players it's, 'should we play this formation or that', 'should Bellamy play up front or out wide'. Last season was 'why isn't Mason playing', now he's playing, 'why isn't Eto on the bench if he's not good enough to start in front of Mason' and why haven't we bought a replacement for Maynard. If we did, we'd be back to 'why isn't Mason playing'!
AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's all too hard (somebody mention Minxy?).
What will happen when we sign two full backs in January. What will I have to should and bawl about then. We'll have two wide men (and spare), we'll have cover at full back, what then. These Malaysians are taking all the fun out of the game!