by Hoop Blah »
18 Jun 2011 13:44
Svlad Cjelli We also had specialists - we shipped out the "utility" players who could play anywhere (but not very well) like Andy Hughes (left wing/left-back) and had specialist players in every position.
That's true to an extent, we had Oster and Hunt as backup for the wingers, and we had 3 genuine options upfront (although Doyle was an unknown in August), but elsewhere I still look back and think we were ever so light in depth.
We only has Aaron Brown, plus Gunnarsson, as backup to the centre backs. We only really had Gunnarsson as backup to Sidwell and Harper, and only Makin to cover both fullbacks (plus the potentially very busy Gunnarsson and I suppose at a push Convey or Hunt could've slotted in too).
We tried to add a bit more cover with Dobson but that was about it. As said the other day, the work Clark had done to get this squad so fit and resilient was a major factor in our success but that was a freak season without a shadow of a doubt. The side had some excellent players in it who, that season, could win us games when we were up against it, but it tool a lot of things to come together and go our way to finish as we did.
Did anyone think we do it Snowball? Of course some numpties on here might've suggested it but realistically we were one of many teams in with a shout, much like the last couple of years. Could we reproduce it again, very very unlikely but not impossible. I'd put a lot of money on it not happening again though.
Finally, the players we have now, as individuals, aren't quite as good across the board for me. That's basing it on how I remember feeling at the time, but as with Long last season, some players will obviously exceed expectations whilst some will fall short.
