Balance between strength in depth and squad morale??

Saw a post on here earlier saying we actually need more midfielders to have a strong enough squad. While yes, in an ideal world, (like Mourinhho first tried to do when he took charge at Chelsea) you would love to have two quality players for each one of the 11 positions on the pitch, that will never work out. The article I read said that with 3/4 midfield injuries, we would have to bring in weak cover. Although I fully agree with that observation, you have to weigh up the pros and cons. If we have 4 perhaps 5 decent midfielders sitting on the bench, the morale is going to be rock bottom. Therefore I think it's worth gambling on not getting excessive injuries, and keeping maybe 7 decent midfielders, no more. Also, while there are a lot of people talking about squad rotation next year, I still think it's impotant to get a relatively consistent starting XI so that the team can learn to play with each other. SO my basic question is :
Bring in more midfielders to give extra strength in depth, but with the chance that some may become demoralised and destabilise the dressing room
OR
Settle for less backup and gamble that we have no more than 3 midfield injuries at any one time?

 

You can have as many midfielders as you like but without anyone up front to pass to whats the point?

 

This, all we have is Ba really, assuming Best is on his way

 

why the assumption that the striker that only scored goals for the club under Pardew would be moved on by Pardew?

 

Valid question. I thought talk of a Best exodus was only if several new strikers came in and it was obvious he'd have no real opportunities? I can't imagine if no new (better) strikers came in that he'd be sold

 

Why the assumption that Pardew has a say on outgoing players?

 

Oh, I think he has a say. Just not the final say.

But I basically agree that we need to move out our weakest 3 - 4 midfielders (not counting the kids) so as to have a strong 7 - 8. At the moment, I count us having 15

 

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I see

 

MA will have final say on players, but I'm sure Pardew will have more than enough influence. At the end of the day, MA will have the best interests of the club in mind (whilst keeping one eye on his wallet) since if the club ****s up, it'll cost him. Just with him being a ruthless businessman, he makes cutthroat decisions that rubs against the grain with passionate/sentimental fans (also he has had some royal ****ups in the past). He'll be able to see that Keeping ahold of Best and shifting out Loven/Amoeba is the smart move (unless someone offers stupid money for Best, then the outrageous fee will outweigh the skill of the player - a la Carroll)

 

You grievously under estimate Shola

 

I think the talk of Best leaving followed an article in one of the local papers, and we all just believed it. I hope he stays.

 

You'd hope so, given that Loven/Shola are getting on, and Best still has his best years to come (excuse the pun), and should be on relatively low wages.

 

We have 3 good keepers.... I would play Krul and Foster seeing as Harper is out of contract end of this season and getting on a bit.... Start with Krul, if he makes mistakes or his form drops give Foster a chance and play them off against eachother.

Our defence needs a bit investment, back up left back and potentially a starting left back if Jose goes. We have 3 good CB's with likes of Kadar as further back up in an injury crisis. RB we have Perch, Raylor and Simpson. I would sell the first two and get someone in better than Simpson but with the new deal he has been given we will likely see him starting and the other two as back up.

Midfield we have Jonas, HBA, Lua Lua and Ferguson for the wings, Barton can play right mid too. We have Gosling, Guthrie, Barton, Tiote, Cabaye and Marveux in the middle although i would like to see Guthrie go. I cant see the need for more centre mids unless Barton goes

Strikers is the area concerning me.... Shola.... contract up end of the season so hopefully he will go. Best is being linked with a move away but for the money we would get and the fact he would need replacing i would like to see him stay, we are a bit short on options. Lovenkrands is finished, Ranger been told he can go and the likes of Vuckic, Donaldson etc unproven. Ba is a good signing but i would like to see us get another 2 in with Lovenkrands, Ranger and Shola being shipped out when they arrive.

Cover at LB and 2 strikers. Barton and Enrique will need replacing if they are sold. That is the priority signings as far as i am concerned. Top the squad up with some loans with the option to buy after a succesful season so we have a few more players in with a point to prove.

 

That was my thread, but why didn't you just comment on that instead of making another thread with your opinions?

Anyway, the whole point of a larger squad is that you rotate it. Having more players in positions provides many more benefits besides just having injury cover. There's much more competition, and when there are games close together, different players can be rotated in the starting 11 or brought on as quality subs to keep other players fresh and to avoid fatigue. This also has the additional benefits of minimising injuries.

Strikers will come in time though, as there's still a while left, so I don't think people should worry that they aren't being focused on. I read somewhere that Pardew wants to bring in one more quality striker after Erdinc (if we get him), so we would have three to rotate in a 4-5-1 setup.

 

I agree with the TC

Theres no need to have such a large midfield, if smith leaves and maybe routledge or guthrie we will still cope fine, i think squad rotation is good but you dont need so many, alot of players can play in multiple positions. If worst comes to worst then we can use youngsters.

 

itll be nice to see Airey given a run out preseason maybe Richardson aswell