The Convenient Truth

[g]

The truth about our squad depth, and why the club pretends that they need to ship players out before any are brought in.

So here is our full squad:
1 GK Marcus Hahnemann
2 DF Graeme Murty (captain)
3 DF Nicky Shorey
4 MF Kalifa Cissé
5 DF Ibrahima Sonko
6 MF Brynjar Gunnarsson
8 FW Leroy Lita
9 FW Kevin Doyle
10 MF Stephen Hunt
12 FW Dave Kitson
15 MF James Harper
16 DF Ívar Ingimarsson (vice captain)
17 MF Bobby Convey
18 DF Sam Sodje
19 DF Liam Rosenior
20 MF Emerse Faé
22 DF André Bikey
24 FW Shane Long
25 DF Alan Bennett
26 DF Curtis Osano
28 MF Marek Matějovský
29 DF Michael Duberry
30 MF Jimmy Kébé
32 GK Adam Federici
33 DF Scott Golbourne
34 MF James Henry
35 DF Alex Pearce
36 GK Mikkel Andersen
37 FW Hal Robson-Kanu
39 FW Simon Church
40 MF Jem Karacan
42 MF Oliver Bozanic
43 FW Viktor Illugason
44 MF Scott Davies

Now at the moment it looks pretty huge, but let's remove all those youths that will never play. So removing all players who haven't had a single appearance.

1 GK Marcus Hahnemann
2 DF Graeme Murty (captain)
3 DF Nicky Shorey
4 MF Kalifa Cissé
5 DF Ibrahima Sonko
6 MF Brynjar Gunnarsson
8 FW Leroy Lita
9 FW Kevin Doyle
10 MF Stephen Hunt
12 FW Dave Kitson
15 MF James Harper
16 DF Ívar Ingimarsson (vice captain)
17 MF Bobby Convey
18 DF Sam Sodje
19 DF Liam Rosenior
20 MF Emerse Faé
22 DF André Bikey
24 FW Shane Long
28 MF Marek Matějovský
29 DF Michael Duberry
30 MF Jimmy Kébé
32 GK Adam Federici
33 DF Scott Golbourne

That looks like a reasonable sized squad.

Now remove Sam Sodje & Fae.. good.

1 GK Marcus Hahnemann
2 DF Graeme Murty (captain)
3 DF Nicky Shorey
4 MF Kalifa Cissé
5 DF Ibrahima Sonko
6 MF Brynjar Gunnarsson
8 FW Leroy Lita
9 FW Kevin Doyle
10 MF Stephen Hunt
12 FW Dave Kitson
15 MF James Harper
16 DF Ívar Ingimarsson (vice captain)
17 MF Bobby Convey
19 DF Liam Rosenior
22 DF André Bikey
24 FW Shane Long
28 MF Marek Matějovský
29 DF Michael Duberry
30 MF Jimmy Kébé
32 GK Adam Federici
33 DF Scott Golbourne

For a moment, let's put these players in their positions, see our depth..

2 GK
RB 2
LB 2
CB 4
RM
CM 4
LM 2
F - 4
and Kebe

Now we take a few injuries as granted, sure sure, with our medical staff, they will be out twice as long as they should, then were are we?? dead. i almost feel bad for coppell...an aging squad aswell 5 players over 30.. shocking.. wheres our 50million pound WARCHEST?

[Stranded]

1 in 4 over 30 doesn't equate to an ageing squad.....taking your shortest list.

We will have a core first team squad of 18/20, pretty much as we did when we were last at this level.

Some in that list will not be there, some will arrive.

That's how it works, spin it negatively if you want, whatever gets you up in the morning.

[seahawk10]

I think this highlights the fact that we need to start trusting and playing the youth players. We need a talented young base whether we are promoted again or not. Playing youngsters will help get the payroll in line and improve their play.

[mahoj002]

we need more players

[chandog]

That final list also includes the likes of shorey who are likely to be leaving
So not only are we going to lose some of our best players but our relatively small squad will shrink again
It is blatantly obvious we need to strengthen the squad regardless of who we lose in the summer
The key questions are:
1. Will Mr Madejski give coppell sufficient funding to bring in quality players?
2. Will coppell buy anyone decent?

Unfortunatley i believe the answer to both of these questions is no

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

wheres our 50million pound WARCHEST?

two questions

1) when was there any suggestion that we (or any club in our position for that matter) were going to spend £50 million?

2) do people, other than tabloid sports journalists, actually use the phrase "war chest" for a transfer budget?


ps, a third question, why do you assume other clubs in the championship have larger and deeper squads?

[chandog]

ps, a third question, why do you assume other clubs in the championship have larger and deeper squads?

Becuase they do
There is no assuming involved

[Streets]

We aren't going to be spending much this summer, and I therefore think we need to accept that big changes are required and it should be the youngsters that now get a chance to prove their worth.

Give Pearce, Henry, Robson-Kanu, Davies... a chance in the team. They're young, they're eager, they have something about them otherwise what we wasting ours and their time for?

We aren't going to replace Shorey (if he goes) with an expensive replacement. More than likely a cheap gamble or aging free transfer/cheap transfer. That goes for the Little's, Hunt's, Harper's...

Time to turn the page and admit we can't replace the out going players with expensive and 'ambitious' signings, and instead look at the academy to provide the first team with some players.

My opinion anyway.

[winchester_royal]

We aren't going to be spending much this summer, and I therefore think we need to accept that big changes are required and it should be the youngsters that now get a chance to prove their worth.

Give Pearce, Henry, Robson-Kanu, Davies... a chance in the team. They're young, they're eager, they have something about them otherwise what we wasting ours and their time for?

We aren't going to replace Shorey (if he goes) with an expensive replacement. More than likely a cheap gamble or aging free transfer/cheap transfer. That goes for the Little's, Hunt's, Harper's...

Time to turn the page and admit we can't replace the out going players with expensive and 'ambitious' signings, and instead look at the academy to provide the first team with some players.

My opinion anyway.

+1

[double d]

Well now little is gone i hope James Henry will start to play regulary at right mid

[Rex]

This coming season has to have the youngsters blended into the first team. This is naturally very obvious but with transition there has to be experience gained. With this will come the confidence which will either bring players on or they fall by the wayside. Fedders will hopefully get more chance this season to play other than cup games or injury to Marcus.

[Streets]

Fedders will hopefully get more chance this season to play other than cup games or injury to Marcus.

Lets hope not. Fedders had one great game at United and a handful of dodgy games after. Not convincing at all. Good cover, nice guy, c'ya.

A goalkeeper is a position we must strengthen soon!

[Whore Jackie]

Fedders will hopefully get more chance this season to play other than cup games or injury to Marcus.

Lets hope not. Fedders had one great game at United and a handful of dodgy games after. Not convincing at all. Good cover, nice guy, c'ya.

A goalkeeper is a position we must strengthen soon!

Goalkeepers are the least of our worries. Unless Brighton come in with a big-money move for Marcus.

[Sir Rodger Doyle]

We are not a Premier League club. We were not a Premier League club when we were in the Premier League. Now we are "cutting our cloth". We are a championship club with a championship budget, get used to it. The clubs aim next season will be to survive and stabilise.

[Royal With Cheese]

We are not a Premier League club.

True

We were not a Premier League club when we were in the Premier League.

False

[Skin]

LOL @ "£50m Warchest"

We won't spend more than £1m

[g]

1 GK Marcus Hahnemann
2 DF Graeme Murty (captain)
4 MF Kalifa Cissé
6 MF Brynjar Gunnarsson
8 FW Leroy Lita
9 FW Kevin Doyle
10 MF Stephen Hunt
12 FW Dave Kitson
16 DF Ívar Ingimarsson (vice captain)
17 MF Bobby Convey
19 DF Liam Rosenior
22 DF André Bikey
24 FW Shane Long
28 MF Marek Matějovský
29 DF Michael Duberry
30 MF Jimmy Kébé
32 GK Adam Federici
33 DF Scott Golbourne

Take away Shorey, Harper, and Sonko

2 GK
RB 2
LB 1
CB 3
RM
CM 3
LM 2
F - 4
and Kebe

Our squad which was reknowned for being one of the smallest last time in the Championship was larger than that squad. Lack of ambition is a cruel mistress... for the fans...

[Rawlie19]

1 in 4 over 30 doesn't equate to an ageing squad.....taking your shortest list.

We will have a core first team squad of 18/20, pretty much as we did when we were last at this level.

Some in that list will not be there, some will arrive.

That's how it works, spin it negatively if you want, whatever gets you up in the morning.

Last time ATL we were VERY lucky with injuries. The few injuries we did suffer seemed to coincide with somebody strong from that position just coming back to fitness. The chances of being that lucky again are slim.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

ps, a third question, why do you assume other clubs in the championship have larger and deeper squads?

Becuase they do
There is no assuming involved

Really? Which clubs have better and deeper squads?

Compare, for example, the 2nd XI we could put out with the 2nd XI they could put out.

[Barry the bird boggler]

1 GK Marcus Hahnemann
2 DF Graeme Murty (captain)
4 MF Kalifa Cissé
6 MF Brynjar Gunnarsson
8 FW Leroy Lita
9 FW Kevin Doyle
10 MF Stephen Hunt
12 FW Dave Kitson
16 DF Ívar Ingimarsson (vice captain)
17 MF Bobby Convey
19 DF Liam Rosenior
22 DF André Bikey
24 FW Shane Long
28 MF Marek Matějovský
29 DF Michael Duberry
30 MF Jimmy Kébé
32 GK Adam Federici
33 DF Scott Golbourne

Take away Shorey, Harper, and Sonko

2 GK
RB 2
LB 1
CB 3
RM
CM 3
LM 2
F - 4
and Kebe

Our squad which was reknowned for being one of the smallest last time in the Championship was larger than that squad. Lack of ambition is a cruel mistress... for the fans...

Then it could be Kitson and Doyle out....

1 GK Marcus Hahnemann
2 DF Graeme Murty (captain)
4 MF Kalifa Cissé
6 MF Brynjar Gunnarsson
8 FW Leroy Lita
10 MF Stephen Hunt
16 DF Ívar Ingimarsson (vice captain)
17 MF Bobby Convey
19 DF Liam Rosenior
22 DF André Bikey
24 FW Shane Long
28 MF Marek Matějovský
29 DF Michael Duberry
30 MF Jimmy Kébé
32 GK Adam Federici
33 DF Scott Golbourne

and Marek could go or be unfit and miss the start of the season which would leave

2 GK
RB 2
LB 1
CB 3
RM
CM 2
LM 2
F - 2

That isn't even enough for a matchday squad so players will have to join our struggle or SC will have to start blooding youngsters (by the way is the number of substitute places increasing to 7 or is that just the Premiership?)

All in all, let's wait until towards the end of July and see how we stand before panicking too much about squad size.