How good is our squad?

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Re: How good is our squad?

A few have said this already... the difference between our squad of players and the majority of others in this division is not huge.

In my opinion the problem with this squad in comparison to previous successful Cardiff squads (relatively recent ones) is a lack of a spine to the team.
Young/Boland/Fortune-West
Prior/Kavanagh/Thorne
Hudson/Gunnarsson/Helguson
Bamba/Gunnarsson/Zohore
I'm not suggesting they were all great players but feel they gave a footing in games to the other players like Earnshaw, Whittingham, Campbell, Bellamy, Mutch, Hoilett, Mendez-Laing etc. When you then start listing players like Boland, Legg, Turner, Cowey, Noone, Mutch, Bryson, Morrison, Peltier, Manga, Paterson... are we talking about great players??? Are we talking about players who have gone on and had great careers after Cardiff???
Many of us of a certain vintage would say the team with Bothroyd, Chopra, Ledley, McPhail, Peak Whitts, McNaughton, young Ramsey was the best team we had, but they weren't ultimately successful I'm afraid. So surely then you have to consider the other difference, the managers. Discount the promotion from the basement where Sam threw money at players too good for that division. Discount the very experienced Lawerence and a big budget third tier squad as well if you like. Only Malky and Warnock have got this club in to the Premier league and they both did so with a certain pragmatism and with a squad littered with experience and a solid spine.

God only knows the reaction I'll get for this. I'm sure there will be the usual smattering of insults, an abundance of people who miss the point (through either stupidity or desire) and an overwhelming number of 'sound bites' about how the game has changed from people who regurgitate others opinions as their own.

But this is my point... this squad is exactly as it has performed and is performing. However, it could be anything from bottom of the league to playoffs depending on the next permanent manager and the next few signings.

[LA Bluebird]

Re: How good is our squad?

No it’s unlikely but I think 2 strikers and 2 wingers would push us up the table, I think anyone around that top midtable section have a chance of pushing into the player offs with a good run.

Realistically I think 7 would give us a good chance.

I don't necessarily disagree with this but it's quite telling we signed Willock who has been consistently an above average to very good Championship winger over the past few years, and while he's got to take responsibility for his performances it's also got to be somewhat a reflection of the club and the managers that we've barely been able to get him to look like a professional footballer.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: How good is our squad?

A few have said this already... the difference between our squad of players and the majority of others in this division is not huge.

In my opinion the problem with this squad in comparison to previous successful Cardiff squads (relatively recent ones) is a lack of a spine to the team.
Young/Boland/Fortune-West
Prior/Kavanagh/Thorne
Hudson/Gunnarsson/Helguson
Bamba/Gunnarsson/Zohore
I'm not suggesting they were all great players but feel they gave a footing in games to the other players like Earnshaw, Whittingham, Campbell, Bellamy, Mutch, Hoilett, Mendez-Laing etc. When you then start listing players like Boland, Legg, Turner, Cowey, Noone, Mutch, Bryson, Morrison, Peltier, Manga, Paterson... are we talking about great players??? Are we talking about players who have gone on and had great careers after Cardiff???
Many of us of a certain vintage would say the team with Bothroyd, Chopra, Ledley, McPhail, Peak Whitts, McNaughton, young Ramsey was the best team we had, but they weren't ultimately successful I'm afraid. So surely then you have to consider the other difference, the managers. Discount the promotion from the basement where Sam threw money at players too good for that division. Discount the very experienced Lawerence and a big budget third tier squad as well if you like. Only Malky and Warnock have got this club in to the Premier league and they both did so with a certain pragmatism and with a squad littered with experience and a solid spine.

God only knows the reaction I'll get for this. I'm sure there will be the usual smattering of insults, an abundance of people who miss the point (through either stupidity or desire) and an overwhelming number of 'sound bites' about how the game has changed from people who regurgitate others opinions as their own.

But this is my point... this squad is exactly as it has performed and is performing. However, it could be anything from bottom of the league to playoffs depending on the next permanent manager and the next few signings.

May I be the first to say that's a great post

Solid spine or core

Pragmatic manager

Almost old school

Love that

[North Cardiff Blue]

Re: How good is our squad?

I don't necessarily disagree with this but it's quite telling we signed Willock who has been consistently an above average to very good Championship winger over the past few years, and while he's got to take responsibility for his performances it's also got to be somewhat a reflection of the club and the managers that we've barely been able to get him to look like a professional footballer.

Missing a spear at the front, our spine starts OK with Alnwick, Goutas, Chambers, then inexperience but potential in Robertson, Colwill and Robinson is OK, any of those out though and we are weak. We need a few points on the board to get ahead as when the injuries come in we will struggle.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Re: How good is our squad?

Our squad isn't good, far from it. Pick the starting eleven from a fit squad and they'll give half the sides a decent game, but what's the average number of players used in a season, 25 ? 30 ? Then you understand how weak we are squad-wise. A handful of decent players, plenty of mediocre ones, a handful of dross, and plenty of untried youngsters. Another season of attrition beckons..

[2b2bdoo]

Re: How good is our squad?

I don't necessarily disagree with this but it's quite telling we signed Willock who has been consistently an above average to very good Championship winger over the past few years, and while he's got to take responsibility for his performances it's also got to be somewhat a reflection of the club and the managers that we've barely been able to get him to look like a professional footballer.

Signing Willock was fine but in doing so we decided not to sign any wingers with pace or who give width.

I hardly see Willock for QPR but his stats weren’t great last season and to me he looks more like a 10 than a winger.

[tforturton]

Re: How good is our squad?

I used to look at the team, and think 'That's not a bad side'. Nowadays, I look at the team and think 'It's not that great". In fact, it's pretty poor. Robertson and Robinson are good, then rest are just okay.