aolstudios
Well-known member
I don't think they're at odds, no. It's only in a couple of positions that we have depth. Chelsea & City especially have much deeper quality.
As for starting 11, I'll have a think!..
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[Albion] How close is this squad to being top 4?
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I don't think they're at odds, no. It's only in a couple of positions that we have depth. Chelsea & City especially have much deeper quality.
As for starting 11, I'll have a think!..
I think the usual suspects all have 3 or 4 players better than anyone we’ve got and more experience of handling important games. However, there’s a bigger drop off in standard to many of their back-up players. We have an entire squad of interchangeable players of a very high standard when they play at their best, so the average quality is not too far off being a top 4 side. With no European football and a bit of luck that keeps the players with a little bit extra fully fit (Pedro, Welbeck, Baleba, Mitoma in particular) who knows what might happen in 2025.
In which positions do we lack depth?
RB: Veltman, Ferdi, Lamptey, Hinsh
CB: Dunk, Van Hecke, Igor, Webster, Veltman
LB: Estupiñán, Ferdi, Igor, Hinsh
CM: Baleba, O'Riley, Wieffer, Hinsh, Ayari, Ferdi
Wing/Wide forwards: Mitoma, Minteh, Adingra, Gruda, Solly, Ferdi, Georginio
CAM: Georginio, Enciso, João, O'Riley
Forwards: Welbz, João, Ferguson
Machiavelli
Well-known member
Think you're way out on this one. For me, our first team is way behind City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. Our squad now is getting close to top six quality. The following would be playing regularly for the top six:
GK: Bart
FB: Pervis, and probably Veltman and Kadioglu
CB: JPvH, Dunk
CM: Baleba, Hinshelwood, O'Riley
WF: Mitoma, March
ACM: Joao Pedro, Rutter
CF: Welbeck
That's 15 players. There are several others that have shown sufficient quality that they might not be too far off that too. They include Igor (of late), Ferguson, Enciso, Minteh, Ayari, Yalcouye and Buonanotte. There may be others too.
I keep looking at the table and thinking ‘what if’ about exactly those 3 games
Poyningsgull
Well-known member
- Apr 12, 2007
- 1,721
Currently 7-1 for a top 4 finish
British Bulldog
The great escape
- Feb 6, 2006
- 10,974
5th after 11 games we can't complain at that.
- Oct 17, 2008
- 14,342
Seems very short to me, I’d want 12’s minimum personally.
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
Troy Deeney has us down for top four finish. I really like him on TS he actually surprised me. Very knowledgeable about our players.
He gives good insights from being a pro footballer and how they tick.
He gives good insights from being a pro footballer and how they tick.
severnside gull
Well-known member
Disagree. He’s up there, or thereabouts at least. If he left at the end of this season it would be for an absolute top European side.
Agree . Nonsense this chat about Bart
Based on the recent games , if he kept that up he would be a player of season contender
He is all that and some
Crawley Dingo
Political thread tourist.
- Mar 31, 2022
- 1,060
Staying clear of injuries I think we can only get better and top 4 is now a realistic target.
oldboyroy
Well-known member
Troy did the co commentary at Liverpool I think and he was very complimentary about us
I think fourth is there for the taking this year. If we could stay injury free (unlikely I know) then we have as good a chance as anyone.
Next season could be explosive!
Next season could be explosive!
oldboyroy
Well-known member
It's hugely congested a moment with 4 teams on 19 points but we've played all the 5 above us so far as well as Newcastle, United and Spurs. We 'just' need to beat the lower down teams which we have drawn against. Turn those into wins and we will be challenging top 4.
severnside gull
Well-known member
Looking at our squad depth and listening to Guardiola and Arteta in particular moan about how hard done by our hey are with injuries and how unfair it is (on them) got me to wondering
This chart of days lost to injury this season is interesting and rather puts our performance so far into perspective
This chart of days lost to injury this season is interesting and rather puts our performance so far into perspective
Attachments
Depending on which particular calculator you look at, we’ve had around the 3rd most difficult schedule of fixtures so far.
Shuggie
Well-known member
Just wait until the stagger unwinds … we’ll be breathing down the necks of those two frauds currently heading the table.