Is this the best squad weve assemled since relegation in "01? (5 Viewers)

[Diogenes]

Personally, I can't remember a more exciting squad and reckon this team would put most of our premier era teams to the sword.

 

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[Nick]

On paper, maybe.

Have to see how we do.

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

On paper, maybe.

Have to see how we do.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

On paper, maybe.

Have to see how we do.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Yes, and given the amount of money we've spent you'd hope so.

 

[skybluelee]

A composite side from 01/02 based broadly on most appearances that season would be something like this (can't remember what formation we played):

Hedman
Quinn, Konjic, Shaw, Hall
Thompson, Safri, Chippo, Delorge
Bothroyd, Hughes

The current side beats that IMO.

 

[skybluericoh]

A composite side from 01/02 based broadly on most appearances that season would be something like this (can't remember what formation we played):

Hedman
Quinn, Konjic, Shaw, Hall
Thompson, Safri, Chippo, Delorge
Bothroyd, Hughes

The current side beats that IMO.

There are three there that I would say a better- Konjic Chippo possibly Safari.
Shaw, Hall and Hedman also very close if not an improvement on current. But I think we deffo have a better squad now, need to keep Sheaf though.

 

[Robinshio]

Konjic was not a good player, just a bit of a cult hero

 

[Perennial Lurker]

David Thompson was a brilliant player

 

[pusbccfc]

Best squad, no doubt.

Best side will be seen.


As a starting 11, this has to be up there. We were very good towards the end of that season before the play offs.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

Based on league position isn’t the 22/23 squad the better than the 01/02 squad? The fact we had a world class superstar in Gyokeres would make it better

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

There are three there that I would say a better- Konjic Chippo possibly Safari.
Shaw, Hall and Hedman also very close if not an improvement on current. But I think we deffo have a better squad now, need to keep Sheaf though.

I’d genuinely have our current CBs over shaw and arguably Bidwell over Hall

 

[The watchmaker]

Going to get pelters for this but is the 08/09 early days under SISU worth a mention?

Westwood
Wright - Dann - Ward - Fox
Henderson - Gunnarson - Doyle - Tabby
Morrison - Eastwood

Subs from: Ben Turner, mifsud, Leon Best, Leon McKenzie... etc

Excluding the Robins era that wasn't far off the peak since relegation. Finished 17th which...

 

[ptr]

Going to get pelters for this but is the 08/09 early days under SISU worth a mention?

Westwood
Wright - Dann - Ward - Fox
Henderson - Gunnarson - Doyle - Tabby
Morrison - Eastwood

Subs from: Ben Turner, mifsud, Leon Best, Leon McKenzie... etc

Excluding the Robins era that wasn't far off the peak since relegation. Finished 17th which...

Gunnarson was a fantastic player. He’s the type we need now.

 

[Mr Panda]

Going to get pelters for this but is the 08/09 early days under SISU worth a mention?

Westwood
Wright - Dann - Ward - Fox
Henderson - Gunnarson - Doyle - Tabby
Morrison - Eastwood

Subs from: Ben Turner, mifsud, Leon Best, Leon McKenzie... etc

Excluding the Robins era that wasn't far off the peak since relegation. Finished 17th which...

I really enjoyed this period of players because it was quite exciting as a kid. With exception to Dann, Gunnarsson and Fox I think man for man the current team would beat that.

edit: but, hard to say as the culture of the club and the competency of the management is much higher than it was then so we definitely didn’t see them at their best IMO

 

[The watchmaker]

I really enjoyed this period of players because it was quite exciting as a kid. With exception to Dann, Gunnarsson and Fox I think man for man the current team would beat that.

edit: but, hard to say as the culture of the club and the competency of the management is much higher than it was then so we definitely didn’t see them at their best IMO

Doing a man for man combined 11 is really unfair on the current lot because they are at the beginning of their careers - e.g. Dovin hasn't played a game for us so you have to go Westwood, a fine keeper in his own right with 20+ caps?

Dann and Ward both had decent careers with us and went on to play prem so at the moment Kitching/Thomas/Binks probably sit out. I do think you could make a case for bidwell over Fox. Hard to leave out Henderson knowing what he went on to achieve so you end up with something like:

Westwood
MvE - Dann - Ward - Fox/Bidwell
Henderson - Sheaf - Gunnarson
Sakamoto - Simms - Wright

50/50. Proof of the pudding is in the eating though and that team finished 17th which would be a catastrophe this year. Hopefully by next summer all those old names will be gone.

And obviously Robins over Coleman. Whether Robins would have done better with the 08/09 team is a moot point.

 

[covcity4life]

I can't believe I actually feel lucky as a cov fan these days. Looks like bad times are really behind us

 

[Cally Fedora]

From that relegation squad I’d definitely take Thompson and Hedman. New names always carry a bit more allure. A bit like how you always become a better player when you’re not in the side.

 

[Terry_dactyl]

I can't believe I actually feel lucky as a cov fan these days. Looks like bad times are really behind us

 

[Cov98]

I can't believe I actually feel lucky as a cov fan these days. Looks like bad times are really behind us

You’ve jinxed it now, Doug to strip the whole club and we finish bottom 4 points behind Wayne Rooneys Plymouth Argyle©

 

[bigfatronssba]

Gunnarson was a fantastic player. He’s the type we need now.

He was mentally weak though

 

[Monty]

But the anticipation and enthusiasm of his long throws that pretty much were always rubbish

 

[Stupid Sexy Flanders]

This is the most optimistic I remember feeling in a preseason in my 30 years of supporting cov.

 

[hill83]

Bookmarking this thread for after we lose 3-0 to Stoke

 

[Grendel]

There are three there that I would say a better- Konjic Chippo possibly Safari.
Shaw, Hall and Hedman also very close if not an improvement on current. But I think we deffo have a better squad now, need to keep Sheaf though.

Konjic was poor

 

[ProfessorbyGrace]

Sorry to be the harsh realist, but it’s yet to be confirmed if this squad trumps any other assembled post-PL relegation.

On paper it does, potentially. Except the 01-02 team that did really well, until Chippo and Thompson left.

 

[stevefloyd]

David Thompson was a brilliant player

I felt really gutted when he left

 

[stevefloyd]

I will defer my yes or no until after the season starts having opened my trap about Hadji previously

 

[Mr Panda]

Doing a man for man combined 11 is really unfair on the current lot because they are at the beginning of their careers - e.g. Dovin hasn't played a game for us so you have to go Westwood, a fine keeper in his own right with 20+ caps?

Dann and Ward both had decent careers with us and went on to play prem so at the moment Kitching/Thomas/Binks probably sit out. I do think you could make a case for bidwell over Fox. Hard to leave out Henderson knowing what he went on to achieve so you end up with something like:

Westwood
MvE - Dann - Ward - Fox/Bidwell
Henderson - Sheaf - Gunnarson
Sakamoto - Simms - Wright

50/50. Proof of the pudding is in the eating though and that team finished 17th which would be a catastrophe this year. Hopefully by next summer all those old names will be gone.

And obviously Robins over Coleman. Whether Robins would have done better with the 08/09 team is a moot point.

Yes very true - I did completely forget Westwood for some reason. Dovin will have to be a high quality to surpass him.

There’s a few names I’d take from that ‘08 squad in our current one but in terms of how they performed vs how I expect this one to perform I hope it’ll be night and day in favour of this seasons!

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

I've spent a few years preseason on this forum talking about threats of relegation and being doomed, but I feel totally positive about this upcoming one. I think we can get promoted this year in all honesty. So many years our squad has been average on paper and we've overperformed. Now on paper we're quality. I think we're going to blow some teams away and make it back to the PL in style.

 

[procdoc]

I've spent a few years preseason on this forum talking about threats of relegation and being doomed, but I feel totally positive about this upcoming one. I think we can get promoted this year in all honesty. So many years our squad has been average on paper and we've overperformed. Now on paper we're quality. I think we're going to blow some teams away and make it back to the PL in style.

Even with Sheaf in the team?!

 

[ccfc1234]

Best squad, no doubt.

Best side will be seen.


As a starting 11, this has to be up there. We were very good towards the end of that season before the play offs.
View attachment 37350

The key was Sheaf, Hamer and Vik between them not many defenders could cope. We need to spread the goals out more now but have the talent to have a few in double figures. We need another CM of hamers stature driving us forward. While I am not against the Scandinavian target I personally would ideally like some proven quality at this or a higher level.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

The key was Sheaf

He was injured in that spell before the playoffs.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

Even with Sheaf in the team?!

As long as he is on the bench!

 

[ccfc1234]

I was talking across the season but yes Vik and Gus were the main two at the end.