Premier League squad rules & how they may affect us

[Blue & White Soup]

What was our usual starting XI last season? Let's start from there.

Well you know..
Federici,
Cummings, Pearce, Gorks, Harte,
Karacan, Leigertwood,
McAnuff, Kebe,
Hunt, Roberts.

Then also the fringe players like Robson Kanu, Le Fondre, Church and Tabb.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Everyone will get a chance to impress that they're up to it in pre-season. New players coming in will be assessed against what we currently have and decisions made as to what other changes need to be made i.e. players leaving, players for loan, players starting.

[floyd__streete]

Bit bored waiting for the new season

[Absent Dad]

Bit bored waiting for the new season

Come on over to Anything Else and the hours will fly by.

[Compo's Hat]

Not like there's an international football tournament going on or anything

[Blue & White Soup]

Not like there's an international football tournament going on or anything

bit of a yawn fest though

[Compo's Hat]

Not like there's an international football tournament going on or anything

bit of a yawn fest though

And Reading v Stoke won't be

[Blue & White Soup]

Not like there's an international football tournament going on or anything

bit of a yawn fest though

And Reading v Stoke won't be

i know but thats all the way in august!!!!!!!

[SCIAG]

I expect we'll just promote Locke into the squad

We've released him. Dean Santengelo (sp) is fourth choice now.

[FRIDDY109]

What was our usual starting XI last season? Let's start from there.

Well you know..
Federici,
Cummings, Pearce, Gorks, Harte,
Karacan, Leigertwood,
McAnuff, Kebe,
Hunt, Roberts.

Then also the fringe players like Robson Kanu, Le Fondre, Church and Tabb.

how was ALFIE classed as a fringe player?

[Ian Royal]

Because he barely started a game once Roberts arrived?

[Royal Ginger]

What was our usual starting XI last season? Let's start from there.

Well you know..
Federici,
Cummings, Pearce, Gorks, Harte,
Karacan, Leigertwood,
McAnuff, Kebe,
Hunt, Roberts.

Then also the fringe players like Robson Kanu, Le Fondre, Church and Tabb.

how was ALFIE classed as a fringe player?

Fringe in this case is referring to not the standard starting line-up. He was an impact sub rather than a starting striker.

[RFCSPACE]

----------------Federici----------------
(New RB)---Pearce---Gorkss---Harte
-----------------------------------------
------Karacan-----Leigertwood------
-----------------------------------------
-----Kebe------------------McAnuff---
-----------------------------------------
----------Pog--------Roberts----------

No big changes needed, Kebe will do it all.

[Z175]

-------------Casillas-------------
Lahm---Terry-Chiellini---Alba
------Alonso---------------------
-------------------Pirlo-----------
---Iniesta-----------------------
--------------------Schneijder--
Ozil------------------------------
--------------Ballotelli----------

I reckon thats about £450m worth of talent. Need to show some ambition but if we can't afford them, lets not bother with Ozil and keep Kebe.

Obvious team harmony issues with Pirlo playing with Ozil and Terry playing with Ballotelli....

[royalp-we]

Sooo there's still 2 months of transfer window and we've already wrapped up 2 + Pog.

Still undecided on who I would start but something like:



Feds

Cummings-Pearce-Gorkks-Harte

Kebe-Lwood/Karacan-Guthrie-McAnuff

Roberts/Pog-Alf/Hunt


But I sense there's gonna be a bit more movement before August 31st!!!

[SpaghettiHoop]

Three signings - all free transfers. Where's the ambition?

[RockheadRumple]

A left-footed winger would also be nice.

How about Sone Aluko?

[MouldyRoyal]

Squad is coming together quite nicely now. McDermott clearly has a vision for what he wants to achieve.

Goalkeepers sorted obviously (our only position that needed no strengthening!)
Pogrebnyak and Roberts will be a very hard hitting forward line, going to knacker defences out for sure. Expect Le Fondre to come off the bench and score a few as he did second half of last season. One more striker to compete for starting places and we're done (Rhodes?)

Guthrie, Ledge and Karacan competing for CM positions. Kebe, McAnuff and McCleary competing for wings. Looks good to me.

Defence needs strengthening. Cover for Cummings (who I think is good enough to start, just my opinion). Need a CB competing start (Gorkss and another?) as well as cover if we lose Morrison. First choice leftback needed with Harte as cover I think.

Squad is starting to look much more competitive for the Prem. McDermott playing a strong close-season!

[SpaghettiHoop]

Keiran Richardson can play at left back, as well as other positions.

[Royal Ginger]

Squad is coming together quite nicely now. McDermott clearly has a vision for what he wants to achieve.

Goalkeepers sorted obviously (our only position that needed no strengthening!)
Pogrebnyak and Roberts will be a very hard hitting forward line, going to knacker defences out for sure. Expect Le Fondre to come off the bench and score a few as he did second half of last season. One more striker to compete for starting places and we're done (Rhodes?)

Guthrie, Ledge and Karacan competing for CM positions. Kebe, McAnuff and McCleary competing for wings. Looks good to me.

Defence needs strengthening. Cover for Cummings (who I think is good enough to start, just my opinion). Need a CB competing start (Gorkss and another?) as well as cover if we lose Morrison. First choice leftback needed with Harte as cover I think.

Squad is starting to look much more competitive for the Prem. McDermott playing a strong close-season!

I don't think we necessarily need another Striker. Roberts & Pog arguably 1st choice and Alfie as the super-sub. Hunt & McCleary for back-up/resting with Church, Shepherd & HRK for emergencies. Look at it like that and i think we've got more than enough.