Is the squad weaker?

[Dutch Uncle]

SM: That would also be a valid comparison, but as we have seen things can change during a season. I was simply trying to see how our summer business has changed our squad for better/worse, larger/smaller.

DVR: By the same token we can we count McCullough, Andrew and Kiwomya? I was making a simple paper exercise of who was on our books, injured or not. My analysis is definitely a simple one and many other parameters could be considered.
Edit: By the way, discounting the need to replace Boyle is connected to that part of the analysis.

[Dutch Uncle]

Good to see a poll. Can we have another one after 31 August? 

[DearneValleyRover]

Fair enough DU it wasn’t a criticism just my opinion

[aidanstu]

Good to see a poll. Can we have another one after 31 August? 

I think we should and thanks for the comments. The purpose of the thread was to try and quiet some of the usual nah-sayers and help them realise there may be some room for optimism.

[RoversAlias]

Dutch you said Lund replaced Baudry, he hasn't. He's replaced Alcock who you've missed off.

Anderson and Boyle were both signed last season to cover a CB injury crisis thus don't technically need replacing. Therefore Anderson for Baudry is sufficient in my opinion and you have to remember we now are playing with a 2-man CB pair instead of a three.

Amos for Garratt, Andrew back instead of Toffolo I guess you could look at it since Andrew missed the whole season.

Lund for Alcock, he'll probably play as infrequently anyway.

Houghton out, Kane in. Time will tell whether or not that's an upgrade.

Crawford for Kongolo. Even injured Crawford isn't going to contribute less than poor Rodney did.

Wilks for Williams? That's already been an upgrade since Williams scored zero goals last season.

Taylor for Mandeville? Easily an upgrade.

7 senior players have left not including Evina who wasn't available for us last season anyway. We have signed 5 replacements for the senior squad plus Amos steps up and Lund has come back. We therefore aren't lesser in numbers or, in my opinion, quality this season.

[Dutch Uncle]

Dutch you said Lund replaced Baudry, he hasn't. He's replaced Alcock who you've missed off.

Anderson and Boyle were both signed last season to cover a CB injury crisis thus don't technically need replacing. Therefore Anderson for Baudry is sufficient in my opinion and you have to remember we now are playing with a 2-man CB pair instead of a three.

Amos for Garratt, Andrew back instead of Toffolo I guess you could look at it since Andrew missed the whole season.

Lund for Alcock, he'll probably play as infrequently anyway.

Houghton out, Kane in. Time will tell whether or not that's an upgrade.

Crawford for Kongolo. Even injured Crawford isn't going to contribute less than poor Rodney did.

Wilks for Williams? That's already been an upgrade since Williams scored zero goals last season.

Taylor for Mandeville? Easily an upgrade.

7 senior players have left not including Evina who wasn't available for us last season anyway. We have signed 5 replacements for the senior squad plus Amos steps up and Lund has come back. We therefore aren't lesser in numbers or, in my opinion, quality this season.

Thanks RA, my mistake and now updated. My overall opinion that not much difference at present remains, but 1 or 2 loans could completely change that.

[sha66y]

Another Centre half, mmmmmm from “ Centre halves R Us” I presume...
Too many are saying what we NEED , yet the Manager sees things differently , has do I

We have a squad of young (ish) players that never got the chance to play in their preferred positions consistently, and now we have a youngish Manager that has identified this as a problem, and by all accounts is trying to get the best from a good group of lads...

I think this team is much stronger than last years, purely based upon the fact that each player will be more effective in their preferred role..

Let’s see if we can dismantle Wycombe this weekend before we start naming the areas of weakness...it takes a few games to make a system work effectively

[dickos1]

Another Centre half, mmmmmm from “ Centre halves R Us” I presume...
Too many are saying what we NEED , yet the Manager sees things differently , has do I

We have a squad of young (ish) players that never got the chance to play in their preferred positions consistently, and now we have a youngish Manager that has identified this as a problem, and by all accounts is trying to get the best from a good group of lads...

I think this team is much stronger than last years, purely based upon the fact that each player will be more effective in their preferred role..

Let’s see if we can dismantle Wycombe this weekend before we start naming the areas of weakness...it takes a few games to make a system work effectively

Each player is now being played in its preferred position bit of a sweeping statement.
Whiteman for one stated last season he preferred playing further up the pitch and supporting the strikers. Coppinger stated last season he loved playing the deeper role as he was constantly involved rather than waiting for the ball to come to him.
So that’s two that played out of their preferred position last week

[ravenrover]

It's alright saying where you prefer to play but it's a bit different to where your best position is. I preferred to play centre forward but my best position was centre half, I'm sure you would prefer to play different to full back but where was your best position?

[dickos1]

Maybe so
But I was replying to shabby who said the players were all now playing in their preferred position.

[ravenrover]

OK

[dickos1]

OK

Ps
I was a rubbish full back,

[ravenrover]

I know, someone we both know and loved told me years ago always said he was far better than me and you😁

[keith79]

If the squad is stronger this season and we don't finish higher than last season does that mean McCann is not as good as Ferguson?.

[dickos1]

I know, someone we both know and loved told me years ago always said he was far better than me and you😁

He always said
“If either I had your ability or you had my aggression one of would have made it”

[ravenrover]

He was kidding you about his aggression I had to look after him more than once😈

[drfchound]

Interesting that only 28% of voters think the squad is weaker than last season.

[Bristol Red Rover]

If the squad is stronger this season and we don't finish higher than last season does that mean McCann is not as good as Ferguson?.

That depends on whether the other 23 squads are stronger than the ones we played last season. And on whether GM has a better relationship with lady luck than DF. And other stuff.

[aidanstu]

Interesting that only 28% of voters think the squad is weaker than last season.

It’s surprising, in my view, that as many as 28% think it’s weaker.

[dickos1]

I’m surprised it’s so high too

[sha66y]

Another Centre half, mmmmmm from “ Centre halves R Us” I presume...
Too many are saying what we NEED , yet the Manager sees things differently , has do I

We have a squad of young (ish) players that never got the chance to play in their preferred positions consistently, and now we have a youngish Manager that has identified this as a problem, and by all accounts is trying to get the best from a good group of lads...

I think this team is much stronger than last years, purely based upon the fact that each player will be more effective in their preferred role..

Let’s see if we can dismantle Wycombe this weekend before we start naming the areas of weakness...it takes a few games to make a system work effectively

Each player is now being played in its preferred position bit of a sweeping statement.
Whiteman for one stated last season he preferred playing further up the pitch and supporting the strikers. Coppinger stated last season he loved playing the deeper role as he was constantly involved rather than waiting for the ball to come to him.
So that’s two that played out of their preferred position last week

Dickos
I haven’t said they are being played in there preferred position....I alluded to the idea that GM will play them more effectively in positions that they are more suited to....the Whiteman / Coppinger placing of last week was perhaps the Manager having an epiphany, however like I said, it takes a few games to make these tweaks work....
We shall have to see what he does week in week out and how the balance of the team looks from the stands during play....we as fans can pinpoint weak areas quicker than Managers....and some Managers do listen