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Ive had a look at our current matchday squad to try and work out where its at in terms of ability. I’ve split the players into 4 categories; players that are playing well, players playing below a level we’ve seen from them before or that they’ve shown at other clubs, players who aren’t good enough and players for whom the juries out. Ive tried to consider the views of others as well as my own. Ive left out brand new signings and injured players. Heres what Ive got:
Playing well
Goutas
McGuiness
Ng
Colwill
Juries out
Collins
Alnwick
Bowler
Ralls
Playing below their ability
Meite
Grant
Tanner
Wintle
Siopis
Robinson
Not good enough
Etete
Romeo
Sawyers
IMHO I think this squad is playing well below its collective ability and it’s not a ‘League 1 squad’ as some would have you believe. Whether you think thats down to the manager, the players or just a terrible run of form is a matter for debate. Id be interested to hear other people’s thoughts
For me.. Alnwick goes up a category, Bowler clearly goes down (he's been one of the better wingers in the Championship before and got himself a move to the Prem based off it), not sure how you can say Tanner is playing below his ability seeing his previous experience has been Tier 9, he's between juries out and not good enough for me.
The other thing not really included here is the impact of injuries and age... Collins and Meite notably, yes they've been good players before but now, they are definitely edging towards not good enough tier, if not there already - I fear for Meite this might be the case. Ralls too if we're being honest.
I would drop Bowler done one.
I think that's a reasonable summation by the OP squad.
My overall feeling is that, without Ramsey, we are a midtable side and are performing below our collective abilities. With him, we should be close to top6.
I agree.
If all or most of our squad were performing close to their ceiling (or 'being the best version of themselves they can be') we could be in the mix with Coventry and West Brom.
As it is the squad is now much less than the sum of its parts. It is low on confidence, has seen the manager go all defensive and stifle the more creative players, and then had key injuries on top. Carry on like this and it isn't too late to drop through the trap door.
The board and the players have to take their share of the responsibility - but the manager is the one who has overseen this collapse and has to find a way out - if he can. It is difficult when you are new to the league and the country, have a habit of over-promising and under-delivering, don't take responsibility for failure, scapegoat players, pin everything on quality reinforcements on 1 January then throw your toys when that doesn't happen, and then give a good impression of a rabbit in the headlights.
Hopefully he has the skills and qualities to reinvent himself, turn this shit show around, and rebuild a relationship with the fans (and media) that has been squandered week by week and game by game.