As of today, do you think.................

[the other bob wilson]

we have a stronger or weaker squad thsn last season? I don't see how anyone can answer stronger. Yes, I don't think we're going to miss the players that have left to a huge degree, but there's not much depth to a squad that was the worst in the Championship last season as things stand.

With no sign whatsoever of players coming in, we're in a position where we're relying on untried youngsters stepping up seamlessly into the squad and our new manager, and the one person he's brought in with him, being able to improve the players already here to maintain the standards which proved to be not good enough last season.

Yet, so many seem to think that we are going to be top six challengers - I don't see it at the moment. For me, we need about five new players in to provide some, much needed, leadership, while also improving the mentality of the squad because we were seriously lacking in both of those departments last season.

[Trigger]

It's obviously weaker even just taking Rinomhota out who played a lot.

BBM may well be able to switch the mindset somewhat, I don't really know.

We will need to strengthen key areas.

It's a lower quality league though and those few additions should see us challenge.

It's hard for me to predict, I look through the squads of a lot of the teams and I have no idea outside of some ex champ players how good many of them are.

I suspect BBM will have a far better idea and we will see additions, sadly I just don't see how decent offers don't come in for Salech. Adding to his goals will be a challenge, replacing them in such a goal shy squad even more so.

[BLUETIT]

Middle table squad !

No leaders !

[MOZZER2]

Yet, so many seem to think that we are going to be top six challengers - I don't see it at the moment. For me, we need about five new players in to provide some, much needed, leadership, while also improving the mentality of the squad because we were seriously lacking in both of those departments last season.[/QUOTE]

I'd be surprised if BBM could bring in 5 quality players just after losing 10 million quid in revenue but you never know !


If we do keep basically the same squad as last season and we could bring in one or two players a new keeper would be on my shopping list

[A Quiet Monkfish]

Regarding the players who've left I don't think it makes the squad any weaker. I can see what Tan & Co. are thinking - our 'youngsters' should flourish in a lower league and get a lot of first team action alongside the more established players. Easy peasy ain't it ! But we have a squad with no quality. There's not one player from the back 4 and keeper up, who you could say should always be the 1st name in the starting 11, and that suggests to me that our 'youngsters' will be floundering around in league 1 with little direction or support. I'm also not as much a fan of Salech as most - he's good in the air but painfully slow on the deck and league 1 defences will enjoy beating him to the ball. 2 or 3 good signings could change things but do we honestly trust our recruitment department to come up with those. It's mid table for me, and the dawning realization that we're back where we were in the 1990's, but with no hope of new owners..

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

We definitely need some experience and leadership in the spine of the side.

[goats]

I think we are about to be sold so won’t be anything left money spent yet…..

[bobh]

I think we'll have one of the strongest squads in League...
2, 26-27.

[Des Parrot]

I’ll answer in a different way.

It’s obviously weaker and we need a few key players. I think BBM will bring in 2 or 3 more experienced players plus 2 or 3 loans from academies.

I think there’s enough skill & physicality in the squad but mentally & confidence wise they were shot last season.

August is huge. 18 points at stake. We’ve got to come out of the blocks fast. 13 points minimum or it’s going to be another arduous season.

[Enoch Mort]

Weaker. With the club seemingly putting all their eggs in the Nathan Jones basket and then missing out it delayed the arrival of BBM. One wonders how quickly BBM can assess the qualities of his existing squad to allow him to make decisions on who to recruit either by transfer or loan. There’s not long between his appointment and the start of the friendlies. Hopefully he can get it sorted.

[Porth Pouncer]

Ok for upper half, chasing playoffs…

My fear is losing Salech.

[Porth Pouncer]

Ok for upper half, chasing playoffs…

My fear is losing Salech.

[Rjk]

On paper absolutely weaker - we've lost Goutas, Collins, Ralls, Ramsey, Rinomhota, Evans, El Ghazi and Meite and Mannswerk and Alves have gone back to their parent clubs.

In their place we've got back Wintle, King, J Colwill and Kion Etete.

On paper a massive downgrade.
In practice it's still a big downgrade, but none of the players mentioned were performing at their "on paper" level by the end of their time with us.

the biggest loss would be Goutas - who was being spoken of as one of the best in the division for a while the season before last - but he dropped off so much after Siopis left that he couldn't get in the team towards the end of the season, despite the back 4 being shuffled more often than a deck of cards.

Will we be challenging for promotion? - I honestly couldn't tell you.
the standard of our opposition has had an even bigger drop-off than we have "on paper".

I see posts on here and on twitter confidently saying we'll be 10th (for example) but I don't know how anyone can say that with any degree of confidence. We've often seen poor championship players become stand out league one players - will that be the case for any of our players? nobody knows yet

We did seem to lack on-field leaders last season - and we've since lost most of our more experienced players, so that is certainly a concern going into the season. However that isn't something that can only be addressed in the transfer market - leaders can be made as well as bought. Other players can be encouraged to show those qualities.
Could it also be that the most obvious leaders within the squad - Ramsey - Ralls etc were preventing others from naturally stepping into the leadership roles, it's probably difficult to speak up and voice your opinion when you're stood next to someone who has done as much in the game as Ramsey - but they were so often missing from the matchday XI that it left us rudderless on the pitch.
Their moving on might mean that other players step into those senior roles and they could be good at it.


I can't see us making a large number of signings this summer - I don't see how the finances would allow it. But if BBM can get us playing as a team and to our strengths it might be an enjoyable season.

As for where we will finish, could be anywhere from first to 16th IMO

[Boanagers]

I can’t envisage a scenario where we don’t sign anyone before going into the new season, we are desperately short of real leaders on the park,as a number of others have already highlighted on this post, historically these have been either central defenders or midfielders, for me a good quality central defender is an absolute necessity for us to bring in. I’ve got no idea where we will finish this season but please, please let us see some better performances,apart from very few exceptions, ( Swansea, Plymouth) I’ve not come away feeling I’ve been entertained, I want to see us win yes, number one priority but I’d love to see some quality stuff from the City.

[PontBlue]

Slightly weaker as those who have left were often injured, crap or both and if the youngsters step up we could be stronger

[Hilts]

Slightly weaker as those who have left were often injured, crap or both and if the youngsters step up we could be stronger

Yeah I agree.

We could be stronger if the youngsters step up.

As things stand we should be able to consolidate and not slip further down the leagues.

I worry about losing Salech and the impact that would have.

I think he will go and without him a battle to survive could be on the cards and this lot weren't up to it last season.

Hopefully we can release a few from their deals and we can get new players in sharpish.

Id like to think our opening team as at least 4 new players in it and a couple of our young players.

[Splott-light...]

if you move players on and then bring no players in by default that is a weaker squad..

in the same way that:

if an army regiment loses thirty soldiers and then no new soldiers enroll to replace those lost that regiment is now weaker.

[Carl Dale's Mole]

Weaker squad in a weaker league.

Still upset that we’re the third team in Wales but at the same time, I’m excited to see what the youngsters can do if they actually are given the opportunity week in week out. Some of our cup performances over the last few years have been our best.

I can’t see us signing many and I don’t really want to because of the above. Think it’ll be 3-4 new players. Get those signings right (leaders, fighters, badge-kissers) and we could do well.

Not so optimistic about the new and exciting attacking football though. Steve Morison was going to change the way we play and that didn’t last long.

As others have said, think a good start is more important than ever. Can’t see City fans being ok with losing to Port Vale.

I think we’re looking like an 8th - 10th that could become a 4th - 5th with the necessary signings.

[BLUETIT]

if you move players on and then bring no players in by default that is a weaker squad..

in the same way that:

if an army regiment loses thirty soldiers and then no new soldiers enroll to replace those lost that regiment is now weaker.

But if those 30, were double headed cowardly little shits, you’d be glad to get rid of them and be stronger for your real compatriots

[PontBlue]

There are other ways to strengthen the squad other than transfers. Youngsters will be promoted to the first team and players we sent out in loan will return.

Even Etete is an upgrade on Kanga.

[Rjk]

There are other ways to strengthen the squad other than transfers. Youngsters will be promoted to the first team and players we sent out in loan will return.

Even Etete is an upgrade on Kanga.

Bolton fans wouldn't agree

[Splott-light...]

But if those 30, were double headed cowardly little shits, you’d be glad to get rid of them and be stronger for your real compatriots

at your big age i'm surprised you've never heard of the saying "strength in numbers" Anthony..

[PontBlue]

Bolton fans wouldn't agree

We've seen enough of both to be better placed to form an opinion.

[BLUETIT]

at your big age i'm surprised you've never heard of the saying "strength in numbers" Anthony..

Tell that to the Zulu’s at Rorke’s Drift

[Hilts]

Bolton fans wouldn't agree

If they'd seen Kanga they would.

Etete is miles better than Kanga.