[Albion] Is the squad strong enough to compete ?

[KZNSeagull]

REPORTS:
RDZ has said that Welbeck is out tomorrow with a 'not so bad' muscular injury.
Also, he has confirmed that Buonanotte will not be going out on loan.

That's very good news. I want Fati to teach him everything he knows.

 

[Dibdab]

Anyone saying our RB area is weaker is a bit tested as it's exactly the same as last season with the addition of Milner as cover. It would just help if we played a RB in the actual position. On the left an injury to Pervis could be a disaster, similar to Dunk at CB.

 

[Baldseagull]

Its pretty much Fati Complis and all over in terms of the squad now.
RDZ just then "We are complete in every part of the pitch. We have a very good squad...We have to find the balance, but we can compete like last season."

So here's how it ended up ?
Any gaps ? Any risks ? Where have we improved ?


Goalkeepers
1.Steele ( HGP ) (2025) - 32
u21 Verbruggen (2028) - 20
2. McGill (HGP) (2025) - 23

Defenders
3.Lamptey (HGP) (2025) - 22
4. Estupinan (2027) - 25
U21 Samuels (2024) - 20
5.Veltman (2025) - 31
6. Webster ( HGP ) ( 2026) - 28
7..Dunk ( HGP ) (2026) - 31
8.van Hecke (2025) - 22
9.Igor Julio (2027) - 25

Midfielders
10.Moder (2025) - 24 - injured
11.Gilmour (2026) (HGP) - 22
12. Lallana ( HGP ) (2024) - 35
13.Milner (HGP) (2024 + 1 year option) - 37
14.Groß (2025) - 31
15..Dahoud (2027) - 27
u21. Baleba (2028 + 1) - 19
u21. Hinshelwood (HGP) (2026) - 18

Forwards
U21. Buonanotte (2027) - 18
U21 Ansu Fati (1 Year LOAN) - 20
16.March ( HGP ) (2026 + 1 year option) - 28
17.Mitoma (2025) - 25
U21. Enciso (2026 + 1 yr option) - 19 - injured
18. Welbeck ( HGP ) (2024) - 32
19.Joao Pedro (2028)- 21
u21 Adingra (2026) - 21
U21. Ferguson (2028) - 18

Late deals out TBC >>
Furlong, Zeqiri, Alzate


u21s in 23/24 are born on or after Jan 1 2002.

Players bought in Summer 2023: Joao Pedro (£30m/Watford/2028) , Dahoud (Free/Dortmund/2027) , Milner (Free/Liverpool, 2024+1), Verbruggen (£16m/Anderlecht/2028), Mazilu (£2.5m/FCV Farul Constanta/Jan Window), Igor Julio (£16.5m / Fiorentina/ 2027), Slater (2026/ Preston), Atom (2026/RB Leipzig/u21), Baleba (£23m + 4m/ Lille), Ansu Fati (Barcelone/23/24 LOAN)
Players sold in Summer 2023: Richards (QPR), MacAllister (£35m/55m, Liverpool), Tsongui (Feyenoord), Khadra (£1.7m, Reims). Connolly (£1.2m/Hull), Sanchez (£20m+5m Chelsea), Karbownik (£2m/Hertha Berlin), Caicedo (£100+15m/Chelsea)
New Summer 2023 Contracts: McGill (2025), Sarmiento (2028), Baker-Boitey (2024 +1), Kavanagh (2024 + 1), Veltman (2025), Turns (2025 +1), Dunk (2026), Furlong (2025), Van Hecke (2025), Leonard (2025 + 1), Rushworth (2027), Offiah (2025)
Summer 2023 Season Long Loans: Beadle (Oxford Utd), Sima (Rangers), Scherpen (2025/Sturm Graz), Koslowski (2026/Vitesse Arnhem), Sarmiento (2027+1 Year Option/ WBA), Leonard (2025+ 1 yr/Northampton), Rushworth (Swansea), Turns (2025+1/Leyton Orient), Undav (2026/Stuttgart), Weir (Blackpool), Offiah (Hearts), Ayari (2027/Coventry), Moran (2027/Blackburn), Peupion (2024/Cheltenham)

You've missed Louis Flower, signed today for us from Chelsea

 

[Bob!]

That's very good news. I want Fati to teach him everything he knows.

With Enciso watching and learning as well during his recovery

 

[The Fits]

Any gaps?

Yes. Several.

1. We only have one true left back.
2. We only have one true inverted right winger
3. We only have one true defensive midfielder who has played less time the Buonanotte in a top league.


Any risks?

Yes. Several.

1. If Estupinan gets injured we don’t have anyone near his level at left back.
2. As seen in our 1st 4 games, our defence misses the protection given by Caicedo. Baleba could be the answer but how far away is he and what if he gets injured? It could take him months or years to get up to speed.
3. If March gets injured which is reasonably likely looking at his record, we have no back up left footed inverted winger.
4. Buonanotte won’t get a lot of game time when a loan might have accelerated his much needed development/transition.

Where have we improved?

1. Attack - yes.
2. Midfield - worse.
3. Defence - about the same (Milner & Igor negate the loss of Colwill).

Fati is a brilliant prospect but very similar to Enciso. If he can match his outcomes, we’d have done well with that particular loan. I don’t think he offer more or anything different than the Paraguayan. So my expectations are that he will get the EPL goal of the season!!

This is spot on about Enciso and Fati. Honestly I think we and the club will be delighted if he has the kind of impact Julio has since breaking into the team

 

[Napper]

compete for what ?

top 6 - going forward yes

Think taking it all into account we can be top half . Concerned about defensively though. Need Baleba to be top quality and then if he is top 6 not out question

 

[Baldseagull]

Overall I think we are stronger.
I also think that the squad is stronger than most in the PL, there may be 8 or 9 teams that could field a stronger first 11, but only 3 or 4 that could field a stronger second 11.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Assuming we sign nobody else I have no idea what the Club are thinking innot bringing in another full back of any kind.

Can't really criticise although I do find it baffling.

 

[Reddleman]

Overall the squad is weaker than last season.

No it’s not and it’s not even close to being so.

The first 11 is weaker though.

 

[Husty]

We’re weak at the back and susceptible to injuries, I think the success of our season comes down in no small part to how fast Baleba can get up to speed - it took Bissouma a while…

 

[Live by the sea]

Baring lots of injuries I think the squad is strong enough.

 

[jcdenton08]

ATTACK - Far stronger
MIDFIELD - Weaker
DEFENCE - Even

Hard to say re defence, because we’ve swapped Colwill for Igor; and I haven’t seen him play yet…

 

[portslade seagull]

No because we still miss that defensive midfielder that has pace

 

[chaileyjem]

You've missed Louis Flower, signed today for us from Chelsea

HA ! yep. these are (mostly) first team squad ins/outs. otherwise i'd have to give up the day job

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

No it’s not and it’s not even close to being so.

The first 11 is weaker though.

The only improvement has come in the forward third.

Weaker in midfield and defence than last season.

 

[Reddleman]

The only improvement has come in the forward third.

Weaker in midfield and defence than last season.

We aren’t weaker in the sqaud defensively though are we. We lost a youngster with 17 appearances who had potential and replaced him with a like for like. We also added Milner who can cover right back and left back. So from a squad perspective the defence is better covered than it was last season.

 

[tigertim68]

Or were there other factors in the West Ham defeat. Caicedo played 90 minutes last season in our defeats against Everton (5-1), Forest (3-1), Newcastle (4-1), and Fulham (1-0) and didn't prevent them.

I think not playing Veltman is a big mistake

 

[Jeremiah]

Goalkeeping options are weaker. Never sure about Steele and the new Belgian lad is an unknown.

 

[AZ Gull]

You've got Hinshelwood as a midfielder, but wasn't he playing left back in the US friendlies?

Hinshelwood is very versatile. He played at centre-back for the U-21s at Chelsea two weeks ago.

He started his career playing as a defender but stated on the club website in May 2022:

"Today I see myself more as a box-to-box midfielder, who can do both sides of the game. I like to get involved, breaking up the play, but I also like to get forward when I can. It’s a role I really enjoy."

I'm really hoping he gets some first team minutes this season, I think he has a great deal about him.

 

[chaileyjem]

We’re weak at the back and susceptible to injuries, I think the success of our season comes down in no small part to how fast Baleba can get up to speed - it took Bissouma a while…

Are we really susceptible to injuries ? How ?