Leif Davis is listed as able to play CB, so even if we had 3 missing we could still use him as a back up without needing 5 others.Looks like they would like him to move on. There have been all these rumours since the start of pre-season but maybe there was always something in it. Also very odd that he wasn't immediately named the club captain by Parker.
If every club has 2 players that they which is what every manager says, then that's only possible if every club sells 2.
Written on the go with one too many typos.Pardon?
Written on the go with one too many typos.
Should have read
If every manager at this time of year says they are still looking for 2 more players, that's only possible if every manager is also prepared to sell / loan 2 to balance it out. Has to be as many sellers as buyers.
My point is Parker might want a couple but doesn't mean he doesn't have a couple he is prepared to sell or loan out. Getting another striker might depend on a CB going out, either sold or on loan. S Cook being sold seems most likely but let's see.
If you factor in Rossi and Taylor returning from loan, Davis, Marcondes, Nyland, Cahill and Rogers arriving, plus Saydee being added to 1st team, that's 8 additions to the squad, with Rico, Danjuma, CCV, Surridge, Bego, RoRo, Long and Wilshere, 8 out.Seriously doubt that getting a striker in is dependent on Cook or anyone else leaving. They’ll be a Surridge replacement.
If you factor in Rossi and Taylor returning from loan, Davis, Marcondes, Nyland, Cahill and Rogers arriving, plus Saydee being added to 1st team, that's 8 additions to the squad, with Rico, Danjuma, CCV, Surridge, Bego, RoRo, Long and Wilshere, 8 out.
I will simplify things by not making the argument that Saydee looks as good, if not better than Surridge, and agree that a Surridge replacement is needed.
But equally there's an argument we have over-replaced CCV with 2 players, potentially 4 considering Kelly's run at CB enabled by Zemura's step up, and that Davis can also play there, so at least one CB must be surplus.
I am not talking salaries. It's just my view that too big a squad is worse than too small a squad. It's just too many personalities and egos that need managing.Taylor’s filling a place on the bench, nothing more. If he couldn’t get any league game time with most of our midfield injured then it’s safe to say he’s not part of Parker’s plans. He’s 22, out of contract at the end of the year, and probably not on a big salary.
While Saydee might have a future with us, he clearly isn’t considered fully ready yet - if he was, he’d have been entrusted with more than 5-minute cameos. Together with Rossi, none of those three would have been on big salaries, and none of the other signings (apart from Cahill) will be on anywhere close to the salaries of the majority of those who left.
If we bring in 2 signings then there possibly might be the 1 outgoing, but seriously doubt there’ll be any more than that.
I am not talking salaries. It's just my view that too big a squad is worse than too small a squad. It's just too many personalities and egos that need managing.
There's a fine line between competition for places and disruption from players who are out of favour. In the scenario where we get hit by too many injuries, the disruption itself will negate the benefit of a big squad. I.e if we lose 5 first choice players between now and Jan, I would cut them some slack if that meant we drifted off the playoffs to mid table. I don't worry about worse based on what we have seen already.
Plus none of the youngsters will improve if they are not playing, so if the aim let's say was promotion, then to look to achieve that without developing the young guns who get pushed to bottom of the squad rotation, but instead going for established players at Championship level just means we have less players equipped to make it at Prem level.
Points on Taylor are very fair, but maybe he leaves when SP brings in someone else and is certain that every other midfielder has stayed. Also agree on Saydee, but he is at least as good as Long in my opinion from what we saw, just SP is too cautious to have played him from start Vs Norwich which makes no sense.
Ultimately how good this squad is depends on your view on the talent they have and the coaching team's ability to develop everyone.
If Cookie does leave, I wonder where he'll go ? A low-end PL team, or a Championship rival perhaps ?
The rumour mill is saying Warburton at QPR is a big fan of Cookie. So you could be on the right lines .I'd guess the latter (altho a team pushing for the top places, rather than us)
The rumour mill is saying Warburton at QPR is a big fan of Cookie. So you could be on the right lines .
I would be amazed if he gets a Prem team. He simply isn’t good enough.
I would be amazed if he gets a Prem team. He simply isn’t good enough.
Disagree. Our fan base is generally blinded when it comes to his short comings. A long way off the standard of the likes of Mee ect.Cook is more than good enough for for most of the usual bottom half PL teams... Even if it is just to bolster a squad...
I'd still be gutted to see him leave...