AFCCOVENTRY
Well-Known Member
I know this seems crazy but I think we might have a better squad being built in L1 than we did in the Championship! 
Do we have a better squad than last year? (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter AFCCOVENTRY
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CCFC_Charlie
Well-Known Member
In my opinion, yes
skybluegod
Well-Known Member
yes i think we do last year it was full of youth and unwanted players no we have new faces and all th dead wood is going eg eastwood,clingan,etc..... bring on yeovil
Big Mo Konjic
New Member
We still need players that can score goals. Without them, we're going nowhere.
Ryan Parfrey
New Member
For once we've got players who are hungry and want to play for the club and not players like Clingan and Eastwood ^. Just imagine if we would of signed Norwood and Collins! I just think we lack that playmaker in the middle and obviously another striker
sky blue john
Well-Known Member
No way near !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oakey
Well-Known Member
Depends when you're judging from.
OUT McPake, Keogh, Cranie, Bigi, Clingan, Juke, Platt, Eastwood, Clarke-Harris ... Leave aside 3 loanees, if you wish: Norwood, Nimely, Hermann
IN Malaga, Edjenguele, Kilbane, Fleck, Elliott + youth players and Cody
On balance, I would say No.
If, if, if we get a goalscorer and a creative midfielder and another forward, maybe ... But not yet.
OUT McPake, Keogh, Cranie, Bigi, Clingan, Juke, Platt, Eastwood, Clarke-Harris ... Leave aside 3 loanees, if you wish: Norwood, Nimely, Hermann
IN Malaga, Edjenguele, Kilbane, Fleck, Elliott + youth players and Cody
On balance, I would say No.
If, if, if we get a goalscorer and a creative midfielder and another forward, maybe ... But not yet.
sky blue john
Well-Known Member
We didn't have a large enough squad last year now we have less !!!!!!
Just look at where all the players we have lost gone to or trialling with and compare that to what we have replaced them with !!!
What you all blinded by beating one non-league team ?
Just look at where all the players we have lost gone to or trialling with and compare that to what we have replaced them with !!!
What you all blinded by beating one non-league team ?
skybluedaze
New Member
I know this seems crazy but I think we might have a better squad being built in L1 than we did in the Championship!
I have to agree.
skybluedaze
New Member
The players may have been better, but i think a team is being assembled now. The fighting spirit will return.
Sky Blues
Active Member
Nope but I was temporarily blinded by us signing another player and momentarily forgot about those who had left this summer!
Astute
Well-Known Member
Don't some people count the new 6 players from the academy for this season? They are counting last seasons squad with the academy players brought through, and also they have a years experience now. Also, have we finished bringing in players yet?
Also, how many are counting Nimely and Ollie? They were never our players, obly had them on loan in the second half of the season and also what is there to say we won't bring in loans this season?
Also, how many are counting Nimely and Ollie? They were never our players, obly had them on loan in the second half of the season and also what is there to say we won't bring in loans this season?
stupot07
Well-Known Member
If you don't count nimely you then have to count Juke, who nimely was brought in to replace.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
To be fair we can only count them one they have featured in a competitive match. At this point last year, we'd have never would have considered Christie and Bigi to be part of the squad - we were all surprised to see them started v Leicester.
Mary_Mungo_Midge
Well-Known Member
We clearly don't - man for man - have a stronger squad. We do have a better looking profile of player age and experience; and overall a squad, whilst still lacking in some depth, that looks more appropriate to the challenges of the league and our peers
CCFC_Charlie
Well-Known Member
Seeing as you require 10 appearances to warrant a winners medal we should only include those players?
hill83
Well-Known Member
Exactly this
skyblueinBaku
Well-Known Member
I don't think that this squad is better than last season's, but it is more likely to be competitive in D1 than last year's was in the Championship.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
I don't get what your trying to imply.
Astute
Well-Known Member
A lot of people are counting last seasons squad as having players from the academy that played in quite a few games, but at the start of the season they had hardly any experience if any at all. But on the other hand they do not count the players brought through from the academy for this season. They only count the new signings. This is if we are comparing like for like at the start of the seasns. If you count academy lads for last season you need to count them for this season also.
Quite easy if you think about it Stu
Watching us play at Hinckley and Nuneaton in friendly games in the past few years , this year the Hinckley game had a different feel to it. You could say that the opposition was weaker this year but I think it was more than that. The work rate and confidence of the players was something I haven't seen for a long time players making runs, switch balls and support play was excellent. All down in my mind to the midfield engine room .So yes a better squad. See you at Yeovil .
stupot07
Well-Known Member
A lot of people are counting last seasons squad as having players from the academy that played in quite a few games, but at the start of the season they had hardly any experience if any at all. But on the other hand they do not count the players brought through from the academy for this season. They only count the new signings. This is if we are comparing like for like at the start of the seasns. If you count academy lads for last season you need to count them for this season also.
Quite easy if you think about it Stu
That's what I thought you were getting at, and my point is we can only really include them when they have actually played for us...for all we know Roberts, Garner, Philips, etc might not play a competitive game let alone the amount that Bigi, Christie and Thomas played last season. At the moment they are part of the development squad that Carsley's managing to bridge the gap between the first team and the academy.
Astute
Well-Known Member
But they are part of the squad, and the question was do we have a stronger squad or not. We didn't know how they would do last season before they played either. Yet it is OK to count them, but not count the new ones this season? We already have a few that look as though they are good enough to play this season. But they won't have to play as much as the younger players did last season as we have a stronger squad
Yorkshire SB
Well-Known Member
Don't think this question can be answered.
The new signings could be better than what we had before, e.g. Fleck could set the division alight, Edjenguele could prove to be better than both Cranie and Keogh. You catch my drift.
The only variable that is certain is that the younger players in the squad will be better than they were this time last year. I would include Hussey (who had very little football league experience before last season), Clarke, Cameron, Christie, Thomas. This obviously affects any comparison with last years squad.
Being slightly optimistic I could quite easily see Hussey and Clarke being two of the best, if not the best full backs in the division, particularly Clarke. I believe based on the tail end of last season and the promise he always showed in the academy, that Clarke could be an absolute revelation this season. He has pace, strength, composure and great stamina. Add to the fact he is older and more experienced and I think he will be like a new signing for us this season. Similar with Hussey, the drop in quality that is inevitable in League 1, will hopefully give him an opportunity to show what he is about. On saturday, albeit against Hinckley, he made some great runs forward and looked good on the ball, and I'm excited to see his progress this season.
The other stand out youngster is Thomas, whilst he has a long way to go, he improved as last season went on and with a good pre-season could give us some good performances. I thought he looked a little bigger against Hinckley and dictated the game more than he would have done a year ago, it seemed as though his confidence had really grown. I think he is more than capable of getting 6 or 7 goals this season as well as 6 or 7 assists.
Ultimately we'll have to wait and see, but I think last seasons experience will only be of benefit to the younger players.
The new signings could be better than what we had before, e.g. Fleck could set the division alight, Edjenguele could prove to be better than both Cranie and Keogh. You catch my drift.
The only variable that is certain is that the younger players in the squad will be better than they were this time last year. I would include Hussey (who had very little football league experience before last season), Clarke, Cameron, Christie, Thomas. This obviously affects any comparison with last years squad.
Being slightly optimistic I could quite easily see Hussey and Clarke being two of the best, if not the best full backs in the division, particularly Clarke. I believe based on the tail end of last season and the promise he always showed in the academy, that Clarke could be an absolute revelation this season. He has pace, strength, composure and great stamina. Add to the fact he is older and more experienced and I think he will be like a new signing for us this season. Similar with Hussey, the drop in quality that is inevitable in League 1, will hopefully give him an opportunity to show what he is about. On saturday, albeit against Hinckley, he made some great runs forward and looked good on the ball, and I'm excited to see his progress this season.
The other stand out youngster is Thomas, whilst he has a long way to go, he improved as last season went on and with a good pre-season could give us some good performances. I thought he looked a little bigger against Hinckley and dictated the game more than he would have done a year ago, it seemed as though his confidence had really grown. I think he is more than capable of getting 6 or 7 goals this season as well as 6 or 7 assists.
Ultimately we'll have to wait and see, but I think last seasons experience will only be of benefit to the younger players.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
But they are part of the squad, and the question was do we have a stronger squad or not. We didn't know how they would do last season before they played either. Yet it is OK to count them, but not count the new ones this season? We already have a few that look as though they are good enough to play this season. But they won't have to play as much as the younger players did last season as we have a stronger squad
But we don't have a stronger squad
Astute
Well-Known Member
Well if our squad this season is as weak as last season we will be playing the new lads from the academy too much again. We had to last season as our squad was so weak. So as you say we will have to play them as our squad is so weak can you now count them as part of the squad?
stupot07
Well-Known Member
Well if our squad this season is as weak as last season we will be playing the new lads from the academy too much again. We had to last season as our squad was so weak. So as you say we will have to play them as our squad is so weak can you now count them as part of the squad?
I've had stressful day......your going to tip me over the edge
as well as a small squad we also had a fair few it injured and/or fitness issues too when the season kicked off.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
The question is wrong though. The real question is what are our prospects versus last season.
Last season a lot of people placed emphasise on the opinion of the bookmakers. They ranked us as relegation candidates. This season we are promotion candidates by the same barometer.
Experienced players are joining and two of the departed never featured and a third hardly at all after Christmas. Wood is now fit and is virtually an addition .
Of course we are better equipped now in relative terms. If not those expert bookmakers last season are suddenly clueless.
Last season a lot of people placed emphasise on the opinion of the bookmakers. They ranked us as relegation candidates. This season we are promotion candidates by the same barometer.
Experienced players are joining and two of the departed never featured and a third hardly at all after Christmas. Wood is now fit and is virtually an addition .
Of course we are better equipped now in relative terms. If not those expert bookmakers last season are suddenly clueless.