Gerhard Tremmel Luke Moore Leroy Lita Neil Taylor Garry Monk Jazz Richards Are all squad players - may well feature, could start the odd game injuries/resting wise, but not that likely to start. I agree you do have a good rotation going on in midfield, but I have a feeling the likes of De Guzman, Hernandez, will start more often than not, injuries permitting, and over the course of your season it will become more obvious who the preferred line-up will be, subject to occasional tactical tweaks depending on opposition and, as ever, injuries. I would guess, for example, that Shelvey, Dyer, Pozuelo and Canas are likely to be "squad" players this season. It's important to emphasise that squad players, by my definition, do play. They play regularly and could start 15-20 games. Maybe it's easier to take the players who are not squad players: Vorm Ashley Williams Chico Angel Rangel Ben Davies Ki Hernandez Michu Bony These guys (you guessed it - injuries/suspensions permitting) are likely to start 30 odd games
Hypothetical scenario: Norwich have reached the FA Cup final. Arsenal need a big win to make the champions league. Norwich field a team containing Nash, Becchio, Fox, Butterfield, Tettey, Ayala and Elliott Bennett. Arsenal get the big win they need. How would you feel as a Spuds fan?
Of those, I would only consider Nash a 'squad player' as 3rd GK, although Fox could be considered one as well on the basis of inclusions last year. Butterfield and Ayala are young up and coming players who were out on loan last year to get experience and Tettey and Bennett are valuable first-team players, IMO.
It seems there is no catch all words for the players these days. I always felt that squad players were the ones who can come in and do a good job in a variety of positions without detriment to the team. I would say Elliot Bennett is more of a squad player because of his versatility. He can play in most positions on the pitch excluding maybe GK, CB and CM. He will be unlikely to get in ahead of Snodgrass or Whittacker or Pilks or Wes or the strikers but he'd certainly cover their roles effectively if needed.
Crikey Rob, is that how you put your team suggestions together? Certainly different from a crystal ball ........
