Is anyone concerned that we are almost at the cusp of undermining the core of the squad? What I mean by that is I think we are not far away from the tipping point, especially if we go for more midfielders. I don't think 1 (or 2 if Remy goes) strikers would unbalance things too much because strikers are seen more as commodities and people are used to them coming and going. But I feel that 1 or 2 more midfielders might start making the squad feel alien and off balance again and we've suffered from that far too much over the last few years. I would be happy if we only work on getting strikers in now. And I would have liked to keep O'Neill as backup. Maybe bringing Fer in would be justifiable, especially as his style suits our more English way of playing. A question for you all: barring our striker situation, do we have adequate numbers and players in all other positions now?
It's always a possibility, but we have let a number of players go, plus loans going back I think meant without a number of arrivals we would be very much weakened by injuries. I'm guessing HR will look to rotate the squad, and the players he has bought do look as though they are fairly flexible/able to play in a number of positions.
I'm becoming quiet content with the way things are progressing.....might have to revise my relegation prediction......
I am not concerned about that tbh. I am quite happy with our transfers, although we do need a couple more - Im not saying we should bring people in just to make up the numbers, but we are lacking a bit. Taking Cesar out of the squad we have just 21 first team players. I certainly think we could do with 3 more - at least 1 more striker, a right back (Isla), and actually another midfielder (seeing as we are likely to be playing 5 in midfield. I don't think the core of the squad has been affected. Most of them have been here at least a season. If we get the 3 above that takes us to 6 new signings out of a squad of 24 which is about right I think.
Once Isla's permit is finalised, we'll have three keepers, five/six centrebacks, three leftback/left wingbacks, four rightback/right wingbacks, four centre midfielders, three attacking midfielders and three/four dedicated strikers (all from memory alone, don't ask me to list names) Another striker would be good, but given that some of the above will be utility players and can cover multiple positions (Hill can do centreback / rightback, for example) I think were pretty much covered as we are, and anyone else we get in should be bringing quality, not just signed to give us cover or quantity.
Good points. Of course, I'm happy with our transfers so far. Very good signings. But... Maybe now we need to get players to make up the numbers. Now, you just said that's a bad idea, but is it? What I mean is that maybe we now need to get backup players. It's not a good idea to have 25 players who expect to be starting. So, how about 2 or 3 more signings who are young, up and coming players who aren't quite as proven as Caulker and Mutch but still might have potential. For example, some good young players from the football league. I can't imagine Fer or Diame being happy on the bench. The exception to this might be if we are able to bring in an exceptional player who would clearly push another player out of the first team. But this is where the question of disturbing the balance is. Henry has sat on the bench before, so it's seems he'd be ok. Hill seems content to be on the bench at this stage of his career. But many of the other players would be unsettled, potentially, if someone came in to compete with them.
The age, experience, and type of player coming in, are all the type Harry indicated that he wanted. If the players blend in, and we haven't signed massive numbers, then the squad should all blend in well together. Where's Flyer when optimism appears rampant, and you need him most !!
I don't mean to be mean but it has been a lot more relaxed around here without Flyer. Another factor in this question of balance is that I think QPR is a much better club to be at than it was in recent years. So, the balance is less likely to be broken and there is already a good atmosphere and work ethic for new players to come into. So maybe I'm worrying for nothing but worrying because of the way things have been over previous seasons.
To be fair I don't think even Flyer could find too much to complain about regarding these latest signings.........
i'm happy with how the squad is looking at the moment, add a quality finisher to the ranks a real fox in the box striker and maybe a young prospect who could learn from Austin / Zamora, Fer would be the finishing touch to the midfield.
we have to bear in mind, it's strikers (ie goals) that will keep us up. Our top scorer will be Charlie Austin but he'll get 10-12max. We need 2 more. Injuries/suspensions have to be borne in mind,also.
Bit a politicians way of looking at things there. We need 25 players and at the moment if you include Isla, Cesar and SWP (heâs like a turd that wont flush away- and a sign that our squad is still short, no pun intended) we have 22 players. And that is made up of three strikers and one of them the manager has recently said canât play 90 mins and is an impact sub only Yes there will be times when players are needed to play more than one position but a player can only play one position at a time. Hill couldnât cover left back and centre back on the same day. So when you look at a squad you count a player as their specialist position and look for 2 in each outfield position with 3 goal keepers. An extra defender and an extra midfielder. Cant go into a season short on numbers simply for not wanting to disrupt the squad harmony. Need 25 players!! Cesar will probably need replacing this year as well) So possibly 8 new players over the summer which is quite a lot but itâs partly a result of the short term nature of last years signings
We are buying less old crocks and more youth so maybe total needed may reduce this year Ferdinand aside
We need a squad, that means some players won't be automatic picks and it will be exactly as it was last season. No-one is under any illusions about how tough it will be so the more quality we have the better. I hope Remy stays, his ability is unquestioned. Not so sure about Adel, he needs to realise there's no 'I' in team, somehow I doubt he'll stay. If Fer or Diame are signed that will be midfield up to scratch and I'm sure Harry might pull a loan or two out of the hat on deadline day...
The core of the squad is stable, midfield all depends on how Ale comes back but i'd look at another to fit in there and as stated need something else up top.
I don't think we are in danger of under-mining the squad dynamics and the first two signings appear to have fitted in to our squad very compfortably. We'll see in a couple of weeks, how this pans out on the pitch along with the other additions. I agree that we need to concentrate on strikers and less on midfielders and defenders, although should not have let Gary O'Neill go IMO and need to resolve "he who's name shall not be mentioned" role in the team/squad. That said, if a quality individual of the right sort comes along at the right price, then we should look to strengthen or even consider some younger talent. The striking options are limited especially if we can't hold on to Remy and would not want to have a situation like we did recently at Southend (I think)where we were looking to play a defender up front. Definitely need one more quality accomplished striker and then maybe supplement the squad numbers with some younger, relatively unproven talent from lower leagues. I don't want to harp on about some that we have let go, but the likes of Hitchcock could have done a job for us if they ever got the chance. The concern is that Harry is not one for experimenting with, and developing young talent (could have done that in the early part of the Championship and we could have had a couple of good supplemental strikers now available to get their chance at Premiership level. Also remember there will be loans available after the transfer window closes so may pick up a couple of options there from other Premier League clubs or some of the top European clubs & MLS.
Thats exactly what I am thinking. A couple more in before then, and then as you say a loan in (not sure if Isla counts as one of our two allowed loans - as its from a foreign club Im not sure on the rules).
