Are you all happy

With the current squad read for this season ?

Or do you think we need any more players?

I think we currently have a squad of 40 players .

Need to off-load quite a few, make space and get in a few.

Shame we cannot hold onto Campbell.

I am. Another defender to replace Caulker, then trim the squad down a bit.

Need to off-load quite a few, make space and get in a few.

Shame we cannot hold onto Campbell.

Campbell looks happy in training and Ole I heard has asked him to stay on again this week

I am. Another defender to replace Caulker, then trim the squad down a bit.

Def, I think our defence is going to have to be improved this season

With the current squad read for this season ?

Or do you think we need any more players?

I think we currently have a squad of 40 players .

difficult question.......because as you say we have 40 at mo.......and not sure who is going to leave,there is a domino effect also.....Campbell stays, Maynard or Mason might leave.etc...is KJ going to be part of the squad...
i am happy with whats been brought in though.........

With the current squad read for this season ?

Or do you think we need any more players?

I think we currently have a squad of 40 players .

difficult question.......because as you say we have 40 at mo.......and not sure who is going to leave,there is a domino effect also.....Campbell stays, Maynard or Mason might leave.etc...is KJ going to be part of the squad...
i am happy with whats been brought in though.........

Very good answer your prob right it all depends now on who leaves.

Caulker and Medel will go.

Not sure about Campbell now.

I honestly think our squad is fine as it is to go straight back up automatically. We haven't lost any key players from last season yet so if this was our final squad id put all I have on us to go up as Champions.

However it's looking extremely likely that Medel will be off, same with Caulker. Meaning we'll definitely need a new CB, Fonte the ideal replacement. I've got a good feeling Campbell will be staying though

With the current squad read for this season ?

Or do you think we need any more players?

I think we currently have a squad of 40 players .

difficult question.......because as you say we have 40 at mo.......and not sure who is going to leave,there is a domino effect also.....Campbell stays, Maynard or Mason might leave.etc...is KJ going to be part of the squad...
i am happy with whats been brought in though.........

Very good answer your prob right it all depends now on who leaves.

Caulker and Medel will go.

Not sure about Campbell now.

I hope Campbell stays he will score for fun in this division , his record when he 1st signed for us in the Championship 7 goals in just 12 appearances

GK: Marshall, Lewis

RB: Brayford, KTC
CBR: Hudson, Conolly
CBL: Cala, Turner
LB: Fabio, John

DM: Dikcagoi, Gunnar
CM: Mutch, Whitts, Eikrem
LW: Noone, Kim
RW: Dæhli, Burgstaller

CF: Guerra, Campbell, Le Fondre, Macheda, Mason, Maynard

It's a very decent squad, maybe needs a centre back, winger (if Noone is looking to be out long terms) and a back up for a number ten type player like Mutch although maybe Burgstaller is that. If we can get Fonte, Lee and Eagles and sell Caulker and Medel still making a large profit that'd be great.

Marshall
Brayford Cala Turner Fabio
Dæhli Dikcagoi Mutch Burgstaller
Guerra Macheda

Lewis, KTC, Hudson, Gunnar, Whitts, Kim, Le Fondre.

Already a pretty decent match day squad, albeit we could lose Marshall and Mutch.

We need to trim the fat, and maybe bring in one or two more once we have. We need to make sure we have cover for Noone, as his injuries will be a problem all season, and we don't want our style of play to become affected by his injuries again. Losing him at the end of last season really hurt us, as we had no one who could offer what he did.

From what RFMH says, I would like to see most of that defence gone. The only ones I really rate now are Brayford, Cala, Fabio and John. I think KTC is a total liability, Hudson and Connolly coped in the Championship two years ago but won't be good enough to start now. Turner might just about be alright but we need better if we want to bounce straight back.

Midfield is fine. I'm uncertain the new signing Dikgacoi from Palace is the answer to our defensive midfield problems but not really sure who else was available.

Attack is looking quite tasty. I think we should move Maynard and Campbell on. The four of Guerra, Macheda, Mason and Le Fondre is very good.

Obviously get rid of deadwood like Jones too. This is assuming Caulker and Medel will leave too.

I think Fonte or someone of the same experience would be a welcome addition to the side.

Col

Assuming Medel is leaving my team would be

...........................Marshall......................
Fabio.........Caulker.........Turner.........John
..................Mutch...........Whitts................
Noone...........................................Daehli
........Campbell......Guerra/Macheda........

Lewis, KTC, Hudson, Gunnar/Dikacoi, Kim/Mason, Le Fondre, Guerra/Macheda

Meaning a lot of quality players would have to be left out, including Cala, Brayford, Burgstaller, Maynard, Connolly

'Coped' is an odd word choice they won the league and Hudson scored 4 goals (same as Bellamy) and Conolly scored 5 (same as Gestede) so it's not like they struggled (second best defence in the league).

As back up players they are certainly fine, in a tough league like the championship you need someone like Conolly (promoted THREE times) who can play across the back 4 and Hudson with ten plus years Championship ship experience. They both bring loads off the field too.

Personally I'd like to have seen KTC move on, that would have probably kept Kev at the club. But KTC again is fine back up, especially as third choice which you'd hope he would be. He had a strong start for us and drastically faded away but hopefully he will be able to be useful.

GK: Marshall, Lewis

RB: Brayford, KTC
CBR: Hudson, Conolly
CBL: Cala, Turner
LB: Fabio, John

DM: Dikcagoi, Gunnar
CM: Mutch, Whitts, Eikrem
LW: Noone, Kim
RW: Dæhli, Burgstaller

CF: Guerra, Campbell, Le Fondre, Macheda, Mason, Maynard

It's a very decent squad, maybe needs a centre back, winger (if Noone is looking to be out long terms) and a back up for a number ten type player like Mutch although maybe Burgstaller is that. If we can get Fonte, Lee and Eagles and sell Caulker and Medel still making a large profit that'd be great.

Marshall
Brayford Cala Turner Fabio
Dæhli Dikcagoi Mutch Burgstaller
Guerra Macheda

Lewis, KTC, Hudson, Gunnar, Whitts, Kim, Le Fondre.

Already a pretty decent match day squad, albeit we could lose Marshall and Mutch.

That does look very good. Maybe someone should post it on Blackpool's MB and ask for comments?

I would also like to see some of the younger/fringe players break in this season - maybe Kadeem Harris or Joe Ralls? We can grow them as well as buy them!

There will obviously be a few more leaving and one or two more coming in (CB and possibly winger) but I think the bigger issue is not personnel but what Ole and his coaching team can do with them.

Tony Pulis kept Palace up comfortably with a thinner and less talented squad (on paper) than Cardiff. But he had know-how, he had discipline, he coached them very well, he had a consistent shape to the team and he built a 'never say die' culture at a time when we saw too many of our players lose focus. There were so many reasons for relegation last season, but one of them was the way the team was selected, set up and managed (including what went on between the ears of the players). If Ole can get that right we should expect to go back up even with Caulker and Medel (and maybe a few more) leaving.

Ralls might be used how Cowie would have been as a utility player to cover injuries and suspensions. Harris, I think if he was going to break through, he'd be playing pre-season games which he hasn't (if I recall correctly).

Ole's ability is a large X Factor in our season, but hopefully he can have a season closer to Molde under him.

I honestly think our squad is fine as it is to go straight back up automatically. We haven't lost any key players from last season yet so if this was our final squad id put all I have on us to go up as Champions.

However it's looking extremely likely that Medel will be off, same with Caulker. Meaning we'll definitely need a new CB, Fonte the ideal replacement. I've got a good feeling Campbell will be staying though

Jack, our defence worries me or is it the way Ole plays them?

The way we conceded goals last season was awful, but we will score plenty of goals this season, that's for sure.

GK: Marshall, Lewis

RB: Brayford, KTC
CBR: Hudson, Conolly
CBL: Cala, Turner
LB: Fabio, John

DM: Dikcagoi, Gunnar
CM: Mutch, Whitts, Eikrem
LW: Noone, Kim
RW: Dæhli, Burgstaller

CF: Guerra, Campbell, Le Fondre, Macheda, Mason, Maynard

It's a very decent squad, maybe needs a centre back, winger (if Noone is looking to be out long terms) and a back up for a number ten type player like Mutch although maybe Burgstaller is that. If we can get Fonte, Lee and Eagles and sell Caulker and Medel still making a large profit that'd be great.

Marshall
Brayford Cala Turner Fabio
Dæhli Dikcagoi Mutch Burgstaller
Guerra Macheda

Lewis, KTC, Hudson, Gunnar, Whitts, Kim, Le Fondre.

Already a pretty decent match day squad, albeit we could lose Marshall and Mutch.

We have back for no 10. Daehli is used to playing there.
Wouldnt mind the winger from Bolton- but a cb is the main priorioty. Also wouldnt mind a box to box midfielder.

Yes. One more CB and a winger and we're done, need to offload some of the fringe players or the players on the high wages

Id like to offload a shed load of players and then bring in a LB, CB and winger.

GK: Marshall, Lewis

RB: Brayford, KTC
CBR: Hudson, Conolly
CBL: Cala, Turner
LB: Fabio, John

DM: Dikcagoi, Gunnar
CM: Mutch, Whitts, Eikrem
LW: Noone, Kim
RW: Dæhli, Burgstaller

CF: Guerra, Campbell, Le Fondre, Macheda, Mason, Maynard

It's a very decent squad, maybe needs a centre back, winger (if Noone is looking to be out long terms) and a back up for a number ten type player like Mutch although maybe Burgstaller is that. If we can get Fonte, Lee and Eagles and sell Caulker and Medel still making a large profit that'd be great.

Marshall
Brayford Cala Turner Fabio
Dæhli Dikcagoi Mutch Burgstaller
Guerra Macheda

Lewis, KTC, Hudson, Gunnar, Whitts, Kim, Le Fondre.

Already a pretty decent match day squad, albeit we could lose Marshall and Mutch.

You left out Joe Ralls. I think another year older and with his experience with Yeovil last year he will be a good midfield option during this year and think he may end up a regular by season end. He is the best of our young players (Daehli not included) by a long way.

I think we definitely need another CB with Caulker going. Fonte would be tops to partner Cala.

If Noone is out long term another winger is probably needed or is Kadeem Harris fit and firing?

Maybe a midfield general/hardman to replace Medel. I have no faith in Gunnarson unfortunately and unsure about Dikagoi.

GK: Marshall, Lewis

RB: Brayford, KTC
CBR: Hudson, Conolly
CBL: Cala, Turner
LB: Fabio, John

DM: Dikcagoi, Gunnar
CM: Mutch, Whitts, Eikrem
LW: Noone, Kim
RW: Dæhli, Burgstaller

CF: Guerra, Campbell, Le Fondre, Macheda, Mason, Maynard

It's a very decent squad, maybe needs a centre back, winger (if Noone is looking to be out long terms) and a back up for a number ten type player like Mutch although maybe Burgstaller is that. If we can get Fonte, Lee and Eagles and sell Caulker and Medel still making a large profit that'd be great.

Marshall
Brayford Cala Turner Fabio
Dæhli Dikcagoi Mutch Burgstaller
Guerra Macheda

Lewis, KTC, Hudson, Gunnar, Whitts, Kim, Le Fondre.

Already a pretty decent match day squad, albeit we could lose Marshall and Mutch.

Fair play Ole has a good squad there

Could do with Fonte in to steady the back four. Other than that we want shooting if we can't get promoted with that squad. Only issue on the horizon will be keeping some big egos in check if they're not in the starting 11 every week - time for OGS the man-manager to step up

Could do with Fonte in to steady the back four. Other than that we want shooting if we can't get promoted with that squad. Only issue on the horizon will be keeping some big egos in check if they're not in the starting 11 every week - time for OGS the man-manager to step up

I agree this Squad is def a Top 2 Squad

'Coped' is an odd word choice they won the league and Hudson scored 4 goals (same as Bellamy) and Conolly scored 5 (same as Gestede) so it's not like they struggled (second best defence in the league).

As back up players they are certainly fine, in a tough league like the championship you need someone like Conolly (promoted THREE times) who can play across the back 4 and Hudson with ten plus years Championship ship experience. They both bring loads off the field too.

Personally I'd like to have seen KTC move on, that would have probably kept Kev at the club. But KTC again is fine back up, especially as third choice which you'd hope he would be. He had a strong start for us and drastically faded away but hopefully he will be able to be useful.

got to say here that the way Malky set up with his total defence football ,they had lots of help back there last time............this time around our defenders will actually be carrying the can alone.......

Need a cb to replace caulker and another winger as I still think we're thin out wide. If they are added it would be a worrying if we're not around the automatic places by Christmas because are squad is very deep now. I'm still not convinced ole can bring it all together but I hope I'm wrong

Yes, even when taking Medel, Caulker and possibly Campbell out of the picture our squad is a lot stronger than when we got promoted. I think we might need to bring in another centre back because Im not convinced Ole is happy to go with Hudson and Connolly as back up and maybe look into bringing in a wide man depending on Nooneys injury. Apart from that I think we're good to go, obviously I think we need to trim the squad down, players like Jones, KTC and Berget need to be offloaded if we can find any takers and players like Ralls and Kiss could be let out on loan again, its going to be tough for them to get any game time with the amount of options we have in central midfield.

We have so many options going forward our starting line up could be frightening come the start of the season, I just hope Ole can give us a good solid base at the back. It takes more than just free attacking football to get out of this division, it's a long old season.