I have seen a lot of posts that are worried we do not have a squad for next season... So I had a little check and including all the new youngsters coming through the ranks we have 2 Goalkeepers, 10 Defenders, 10 Midfielders, 5 Strikers & 2 Long Term Injured or Lame. That means we have 29 in the squad, I know some of the older ones will leave & others will join but we are not exactly short of cover. Goal Keepers: GK Andy Lonergan GK Alex Cairns Defenders: CB Tom Lees CB Jason Pearce LB Charlie Taylor CB Ross Killock CB Monty Gimpel RB Lewis Turner RB Paul Connolly CB Patrick Kisnorbo CB Andy O'Brien RB Sam Byram Midfielders CMF Michael Brown DMF Zac Thompson DMF Simon Lenighan CMF Adam Clayton CMF Charlie Clamp LMF Danny Pugh CMF Nathan Turner Play Makers AMF Robert Snodgrass AMF Ramon Nunez AMF Robbie Rogers Strikers: CF Luciano Becchio SS Ross McCormack CF Davide Somma SS Billy Paynter CF Dominic Poleon Injured or Lame: CB Leigh Bromby GK Paul Rachubka We are however short of experienced players... My assessment of the squad.... For me we need a Goal Keeper to give Lonergan competition. In defence we have plenty of cover including some experience. This time last season I was positive about the defence with O'Brien & Kisnorbo at the heart of it, but it did not work out under Simon Grayson. Who knows this year they could end up staying & playing (possibly surprising us in a positive way this time). But for me we clearly need a Right Back & Left Back with the kids providing cover. In Midfield we have a very young team (excluding young Mr Brown), we could do with an older wiser head to control the young guns, I would pay a big wage in this area for a 28-32 year old natural leader. On a positive note, Charlie Clamp to me looks like a natural Jonny Howson replacement in the making. Also we have no natural width in the team so a couple of young untried Wingers who can cross would be nice (In the Max Gradel mould) Up front I can see us buying a striker at Christmas and seeing how these lads get on with it. Without making this another Bates related thread has anyone got any thoughts on who we will be left with or whom we need to add...?
How about this sticky thread instead? http://www.not606.com/showthread.php/144129-LUFC-Squad-2012-13-UPDATED-WHEN-SOMETHING-TO-REPORT
Brown is a free agent and has not yet signed, and Warnock said Brown is considering a few offers. Also Kisnorbo is out long term, may only return after Christmas. With what we have a 4-4-2 could be: Lonergan Connolly Lees Pearce Taylor Snods Clayton Pugh Nunez McCormack Becchio Still capable of challenging most Championship clubs.
OldP, there is another factor to consider. Players who won't sign new deals, and those transfer listed...well they may play out of their skins to put themselves in the shop window or extend their careers at Leeds. Warnock is a smart manager, and he always seems to build teams that work hard and get results.
I doubt Brown will leave as he has a chance of one last big club with Leeds, yet I would give him a promotion sweetener to keep him focused. I think we have the nucleolus of a decent team. I hope we use the kids more next season as I feared Colin would bring in old players like One Size, Derry and Kenny. But our academy is one of the better in the UK. For example players like Lees, White, Delph & Howson have all been excellent for the senior team. I do not see any point selling McCormack, Snodgrass or Clayton as I agree that players out of contract will play well trying to impress managers and scouts from their next club. Plus if we are in the mix at Christmas then we should be in with a shout of keeping them or attracting better replacements.
From that list I think we NEED: RB, LB, CM, LM, ST I would like: GK to challenge Lonners, another CB, another CM This is assuming we don't sell anyone, we are nowhere near ready to start the season and are short of quite a few quality players. I like the idea of bringing through youth but you really cannot rely on them as they are a) untried and b) you can completely wreck a promising youngster's career by playing them before they are ready therefore I don't really consider them capable of filling a squad and most of these players should go out on loan including the likes of thompson, taylor and cairns who were here last season.
