[Albion] Is this really our best squad ever?

[vagabond]

Most of the squad are either already full internationals, U23 internationals or have the potential to be internationals. Several have European experience, major trophy wins etc. When has that ever been the case ? It’s the best by miles isn’t it ?

This.

I don’t really get how there’s a debate on this one. Is anyone suggesting Poyet had better players available to him?

I suppose I could make the argument that I’d fancy Hughton’s team to grind out a 0-0 most times against this one. But player for player, no contest. This is the best squad we’ve ever had.

 

[Return of the Rev]

Yes

 

[Pint of Ale and a Burger]

In terms of a squad I think it is the strongest.
The fact that choosing a first choice starting 11 is getting more and more difficult.
We have had some great teams in the past but if we lost a player then we struggled to fill that position with the same level of quality.
But I still feel this is a squad with potential rather than the best yet.
But I do believe this squad under potter will realise it's potential and be without doubt the best we have had by some distance.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

You’re absolutely right
My thick fingers pressed 7 instead of 8 !!!!!

Well, yes, an early 80s squad (probably the one that finished 13th in the top flight) is obviously the best challenge to the current one.

It isn't really fair or helpful to talk about "squad" though when comparing back to that time. Unlike now most clubs only had 15 or so fully fledged first teamers to call on.

How many of the following would be in our first 15 names (1 x GK) for Monday night v Palace...?

Graham Moseley
Steve Foster
Steve Gatting
Chris Ramsey
Graham Pearce
Gary Stevens
Sammy Nelson
Gerry Ryan
Jimmy Case
Mickey Thomas
Tony Grealish
Gary Howlett
Andy Ritchie
Gordon Smith
Michael Robinson

 

[Icy Gull]

Well, yes, an early 80s squad (probably the one that finished 13th in the top flight) is obviously the best challenge to the current one.

It isn't really fair or helpful to talk about "squad" though when comparing back to that time. Unlike now most clubs only had 15 or so fully fledged first teamers to call on.

How many of the following would be in our first 15 names (1 x GK) for Monday night v Palace...?

Graham Moseley
Steve Foster
Steve Gatting
Chris Ramsey
Graham Pearce
Gary Stevens
Sammy Nelson
Gerry Ryan
Jimmy Case
Mickey Thomas
Tony Grealish
Gary Howlett
Andy Ritchie
Gordon Smith
Michael Robinson

MAYBE the forwards, none of the others would get in imo. Moseley just maybe. Smith would thrive in our current team, Robinson would be totally outpaced by modern defenders who would not be bullied by him either and he didn’t really have close skills, Ritchie on his day would be great, he had one hell of a shot on him too.

Case would be a liability in the modern era, Mickey Thomas was a complete piss staking **** for us.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

MAYBE the forwards, none of the others would get in imo. Moseley just maybe. Smith would thrive in our current team, Robinson would be totally outpaced by modern defenders who would not be bullied by him either and he didn’t really have close skills, Ritchie on his day would be great, he had one hell of a shot on him too.

Case would be a liability in the modern era, Mickey Thomas was a complete piss staking **** for us.

Our young central defenders will do well to better Gary Stevens' career (or Steve Foster's). I hope they do of course.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

We still don’t have a top league striker as good as Mike Robinson.

 

[rbridd]

Well, yes, an early 80s squad (probably the one that finished 13th in the top flight) is obviously the best challenge to the current one.

It isn't really fair or helpful to talk about "squad" though when comparing back to that time. Unlike now most clubs only had 15 or so fully fledged first teamers to call on.

How many of the following would be in our first 15 names (1 x GK) for Monday night v Palace...?

Graham Moseley
Steve Foster
Steve Gatting
Chris Ramsey
Graham Pearce
Gary Stevens
Sammy Nelson
Gerry Ryan
Jimmy Case
Mickey Thomas
Tony Grealish
Gary Howlett
Andy Ritchie
Gordon Smith
Michael Robinson

Did you deliberately leave Lawrenson off the list?

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Did you deliberately leave Lawrenson off the list?

I think he must have been at Liverpool by then.

 

[Swansman]

Well, yes, an early 80s squad (probably the one that finished 13th in the top flight) is obviously the best challenge to the current one.

It isn't really fair or helpful to talk about "squad" though when comparing back to that time. Unlike now most clubs only had 15 or so fully fledged first teamers to call on.

How many of the following would be in our first 15 names (1 x GK) for Monday night v Palace...?

Graham Moseley
Steve Foster
Steve Gatting
Chris Ramsey
Graham Pearce
Gary Stevens
Sammy Nelson
Gerry Ryan
Jimmy Case
Mickey Thomas
Tony Grealish
Gary Howlett
Andy Ritchie
Gordon Smith
Michael Robinson

Two Grahams, obviously they would both deserve a chance.

 

[Bakero]

Did you deliberately leave Lawrenson off the list?

He wasn't in the 81/82 squad.

 

[binky]

I think he must have been at Liverpool by then.

Oh I get it. this is specifically the team/squad that finished 13th, not just "early 80's".

I'd take Smith, Robinson or Ritchie as an option up front in todays squad.

It was a decent point made about the quality of teams in the top division at that time, but with the caveat that English teams around that time were doing rather well in European competitons, so perhaps the overall quality of the league is comparable.

 

[Baldseagull]

I’ve read a number of comments about us having our best squad ever.

Across the defence and midfield, this is clearly the case and in terms of both quality and depth, there can be no argument. But if you look at other positions on the pitch, that statement becomes problematic.

I’m not so sure we have the best set of goalkeepers we’ve ever had? Sanchez is just beginning and has not played enough games to warrant ‘one of our best’ just yet, the rest of our keepers seem average.

In addition, how can we have the best squad without having one of our best (historically) strikers at the club? Surely our best squad would be one with the likes of Ward, Robinson, Zamora, Murray or even Ulloa. We don’t have a number one striker at the moment who can take chances and score regularly like those 5.

Without a top finisher, or a squad with a number of players who can regularly take big chances, it’s like owning the best car you have ever had but the steering wheel is missing; you’re going nowhere!

This is not our best squad..........yet. The best squad ever should be about winning and winning is about scoring goals, this current group still has some way to go.

No, maybe the best car we ever had, but without the Nitro boost a Zamora or a Ward would give it.

 

[Icy Gull]

No, maybe the best car we ever had, but without the Nitro boost a Zamora or a Ward would give it.

I was a massive Ward fan, in fact it was him that got me going to the Albion as a regular, that division three season was fantastic. However he was not that great as a Div 1 player

 

[Left Footer]

Definitely our best ever squad, so much depth.

 

[Coach_Carter_92]

Yes

 

[GT49er]

When they can better 13th place and 52 points, yes, they will be. The potential is there.

 

[Moshe Gariani]

When they can better 13th place and 52 points, yes, they will be. The potential is there.

That is a point of view.

For me, comparison of the two sides man for man puts the current players significantly ahead in both individual footballing skills and quality of team play.

 

[dazzer6666]

For the hard of thinking, picking one or two individual positions where we could maybe upgrade doesn't work - the question was is the SQUAD the best ever. Of course it bloody is.

 

[b.w.2.]

I’ve read a number of comments about us having our best squad ever.

Across the defence and midfield, this is clearly the case and in terms of both quality and depth, there can be no argument. But if you look at other positions on the pitch, that statement becomes problematic.

I’m not so sure we have the best set of goalkeepers we’ve ever had? Sanchez is just beginning and has not played enough games to warrant ‘one of our best’ just yet, the rest of our keepers seem average.

In addition, how can we have the best squad without having one of our best (historically) strikers at the club? Surely our best squad would be one with the likes of Ward, Robinson, Zamora, Murray or even Ulloa. We don’t have a number one striker at the moment who can take chances and score regularly like those 5.

Without a top finisher, or a squad with a number of players who can regularly take big chances, it’s like owning the best car you have ever had but the steering wheel is missing; you’re going nowhere!

This is not our best squad..........yet. The best squad ever should be about winning and winning is about scoring goals, this current group still has some way to go.

Nailed it. Our squad is unbalanced. Defence and midfield definitely best ever. Frontline is bottom 3 Prem IMHO.


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