25 man Squad Limit and new Transfers

[Bristol Coys]

Whilst laughing at the size of Man Citeh's squad of foreign misfits of this new ruling, I started to wonder about the effect on our squad and potential transfers. Much has been made in the papers of Woody's potential exclusion, but what about 'sick notes' like Jenas?

As I understand it we have a maximum squad size of 25 which must include at least 8 home grown. (I reckon we have 11 before we need to include Emirates style African child farming)
NEW RULES

This would just about cover our current first team squad with qualifying players under 21 not counting in the total. Although Dervite and Taarbart look dodgy unless they are loaned or are worth a bench spot.

Anyway, I figured we need the following

1. 3rd keeper
2. Right back cover / improved right back
3. Swap Jenas for better Midfielder
4. Swap Crouch / dos Santos for better striker

Keeper seems a done deal for the Croatian Pletikosa with Alnwick out
Makoun would be an improvement and preferable to Parker.
Huntelaar would be an improvement and is being continually linked to us
or failing that Djalo seems to be a decent option. Is he an improvement?

Which brings us onto the most needed position. Right Back
I'd like an alternative to Charlie, who could also cover a central injury crisis. He is mostly solid, at times great and also at other times is awful, (Brum equaliser etc when he just switches off) and he lacks real attacking threat.
We have been linked with Micah Richards, who might improve us. Are we planning to stick with Kyle Naughton or one of the young full backs?

What good right backs are there that would improve us? Assuming Maicion and his understudy David Santon are unavailable. Similarly Lahm, Ramos, Alves etc all out of our wage range.

Would cash strapped Liverpool be persuaded to part x Johnson for Crouch?
No ITK or rumour whoring, but would the following be realistic and make us top3 contenders? :shrug:

Huntelaar for Dos Santos
Glen Johnson for Crouch
Makoun for Jenas

I'll go and lie down now...

 

[JackTheYid]

Interesting article.....

I pretty much agree with the positions you have noted, except CM. Although I agree an improvement on say JJ would be nice, I do not see it as a vital change. We have a vast array of midfielders that could play in a variety of formations, and, if any, a winger (LW) is what is needed.

As for a RB, I would be happier with Richards than Johnson. Although Micah has gone off the boil recently, I have every faith in 'Arry to transform him back into the starlet he once looked. In my opinion, he is a better defender than Johnson and equally as good going forward when he is on form. As for the other RB's you have mentioned....you are definately in dreamland...I did chuckle when you said they were 'out of our wage limit'....I think the fact they all play for (currently) bigger and more successful clubs might have something to do with it.

Finally, a striker......I personally do not want Huntelaar as I am not sure how good he actually is. I think there maybe better options out there, or I would prefer to stick with what we have got.

COYS

 

[$hoguN]

I hate Glen Johnson, he maybe the least intelligent player on the planet and I do not want him anywhere near our club. Also I disagree that we need a new right back, Charlie is one of the best in the league and we have the likes of Walker as back-up.

 

[Bristol Coys]

Charlie is generally defensively sound, but he has got no pace and he does switch off. Can you really defend his marking for Ridgewell's equaliser Vs Brum. There is real competition for places all over the team except Right back. Maybe that is why he is sometimes complacent. Would real competition for the Right back shirt improve Charlie?

Left wing we have buy of the season; Krancjar, with Bale, Rose, Modric and O'Hara that can also play there too.

LOL I was trying to think expansively about good right backs, obviously players at these clubs are out of reach at the moment ;-) But Huntelaar is at one of them and a loan of David Santon would be nice Jose.

So come on Lets name the 25. I'd include O'Hara and Dos Santos at the mo.

 

[LukaMotion]

We have so many bloody right backs at the club already, i can't believe anyone wants more!

Charlie proved he is a quality RB as he was there for most of last season, one of our best in recent history, and we have Walker who has impressed in preseason and is highly rated by Harry and the coaching staff.

Chuck in Hutton, Naughton and Kaboul and i think we're pretty well covered.:roll:

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Gomes cudicini pletikosa (probably)
Corluka Hutton
Bale Ekotto
Dawson Woodgate Kaboul
King Bassong
Lennon Bentley
Modric Huddlestone O'Hara
Palacios Sandro
Kranjcar Giovani
Defoe Keane
Crouch Pavlyuchenko

That would be my 25. Walker, Naughton, Bale, Caulker and any other homegrown under 21 don't need to be included to count for selection.

 

[Bristol Coys]

Hutton and Kaboul! Do me a favour.
Naughton I am hopeful for.

 

[Bristol Coys]

I think Naughton and Walker are both under 21 as of the cut of date too, so they may not count either.

 

[mil1lion]

Gomes, Pletikosa, Cudicini
Corluka, Kaboul, Dawson, Cahill, Bassong, King, Ekotto
Lennon, Bentley, Palacios, Sandro, Huddlestone, Modric, Kranjcar, Jenas, O'Hara
Djalo, Pav, Defoe, Crouch, Huntelaar

Edited - Didn't realise Bale, Walker and Giovani weren't 21 at the start of the year.

So add Bale, Giovani, Rose, Parrett and Walker to the overall squad taking us to 29 in total. The other youngsters can go out on loan. Still room for 1 more in the 24 aswell.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

You are correct Bristol, and I have duly edited

 

[walworthyid]

Hutton and Kaboul! Do me a favour.
Naughton I am hopeful for.

Hutton may be a little suspect at times, but kaboul will be a top class defender imho. He was quality at right back for us at the end of last season.

 

[mattlewiscooke]

Hutton may be a little suspect at times, but kaboul will be a top class defender imho. He was quality at right back for us at the end of last season.

Agree with u on this 1 he could turn out to be excellent under Harry man management skills

 

[onthetwo]

Agree with u on this 1 he could turn out to be excellent under Harry man management skills

Hutton is just plain awful....biggest disappointment since Rebrov IMO

 

[Samson]

I hate Glen Johnson, he maybe the least intelligent player on the planet and I do not want him anywhere near our club. Also I disagree that we need a new right back, Charlie is one of the best in the league and we have the likes of Walker as back-up.

Well said.

 

[jimmy-jojo]

Would cash strapped Liverpool be persuaded to part x Johnson for Crouch?
No ITK or rumour whoring, but would the following be realistic and make us top3 contenders? :shrug:

Huntelaar for Dos Santos
Glen Johnson for Crouch
Makoun for Jenas

I'll go and lie down now...

This is a joke, right?

Corluka is twice the player Johnson is. I thought the idea was to make us better...

 

[Kendall]

Glen Johnson is a nugget of super shit.

He is no better than Alan Hutton and that really is saying something.

We have 4 right backs, we don't need another. Walker will be this years Bale.

Johnson is also horrendously slow, I reckon even Charlie could do him over 200m.

 

[Samson]

Glen Johnson is a nugget of super shit.

He is no better than Alan Hutton and that really is saying something.

We have 4 right backs, we don't need another. Walker will be this years Bale.

Johnson is also horrendously slow, I reckon even Charlie could do him over 200m.

Hold up. I agree on Johnson, but let's not get carried away. A fifth right-back remains a priority.

 

[Kendall]

Disagree. Corluka is excellent, then we have Kaboul as able backup and two younguns that give us something different in the two Kyles.

How many do we need? or are we just going to keep Mr & Mrs Kyle at the training ground all season and sell them on in a season?

No panic from me. When Corluka got injured last season Kaboul stepped up. I expect him and the Kyles to do the same next season.

 

[DC_Boy]

so after one season with a major injury absence jj is a 'sick note'?

as then is king lennon woodgate cudicini modric and various others who've missed big chunks of season(s)?

and what about kaboul for RB ?

 

[Jody]

Charlie is one of my favourite players. He may not look like he has blistering pace but he's got a lovely way of ghosting past players, can pass and cross and is a rock in defence imho. Leave him alone.