Too large a squad?

[mst77]

GK (4): Cudicini, De Goey, Bosnich, Evans

D (12): Desailly (CB), Gallas (CB/RB/LB), Babayaro (LB), Le Saux (LB/LW), Melchiot (RB/CB), Ferrer (RB), Terry (CB), Huth (CB/LB), Di Cesare (CB), Cummings (LB), Kitamirike (CB), Bogarde (CB)

M (10): Lampard (CM), Petit (CM), Zenden (LW/RW), De Lucas (RW/CM), Gronkjaer (RW/LW), Keenan (CM/LW), Stanic (RW), Ambrosetti (LW), Morris (CM), Wolleaston (CM/RW)

F (6): Hasselbaink (S), Gudjohnsen (S), Zola (S), Forssell (S), Cole (S), Oliveira (S/RW)

That's 32 players. A few too many although some will always be injured/ go out on loan/ bide time in the reserves. Still would like to see us rid ourselves of some excess wages.

Here is my current starting XI, assuming Terry, Gudjohnsen and Forssell will be unable to start the first match:

------------------------Cudicini------------------
Melchiot--------Desailly---------Gallas-----Le Saux
De Lucas-------Lampard---------Petit------Zenden
-------------------JFH-----------Zola------------

Subs: Bosnich, Babayaro, Gronkjaer, Keenan, Cole

We are carrying a lot of dead weight and unproven youngsters in the squad. The nucleus is solid but if we have to draft in some fringe players I would prefer that it be the younger blood (Keenan, Oliveira, Huth) instead of the leftovers (De Goey, Stanic, Ambrosetti, Bogarde).

I think CR has his priorities straght though and trust what he has done. As long as he can ride out this wave of transfer speculation and convince Bates not to sell any of the big names we should be alright. The above XI should be able to beat any EPL side and in my opinion is a definite contender for a top 3/4 place.

[BridgeMonkee]

Too troo Mst77 – we have the players - CR seems to be saying lets see where the gaps are before going out and filling them, which seems sensible to me

Although, I think in reality it is more like just these 24 – and I still feel we need a RB and a CM.

GK (4): Cudicini, Bosnich,

D (12): Desailly (CB), Gallas (CB/RB/LB), Babayaro (LB), Le Saux (LB/LW), Melchiot (RB/CB), Ferrer (RB), Terry (CB),

M (10): Lampard (CM), Petit (CM), Zenden (LW/RW), De Lucas (RW/CM), Gronkjaer (RW/LW), Keenan (CM/LW), Stanic (RW), Morris (CM), Wolleaston (CM/RW)

F (6): Hasselbaink (S), Gudjohnsen (S), Zola (S), Forssell (S), Cole (S), Oliveira (S/RW)

1. There shall be injuries and possible custodial sentences for some of our players
2. Our wingers are even more injury prone then everyone else’s wingers
3. without Petit and Stanic we have no real experience with our players in the middle of the park and I’m not convinced by either Petit or Stanics contribution anyways. I really feel we need an expeienced chap for the middle - did I mention Dino Baggio? lol, I think I might :0)
but we could do with him and we should sell/release/ stanic and Morris

[mst77]

Although it appears CR favors big Ed as the #2 keeper over Bossie and wants to send Evans away on loan to see first team football. The way I see it is that Bosnich deserves the #2, so its a question of priorities for the #3 shirt. Do we send Evans away to gain experience (he wouldn't play at all this season anyway) at the expense of keeping De Goey and his fat wages around? Or if finances are the priority (as most claim they are) do we try and shop Ed some more to cut the wages and keep Evans as the #3/reserve keeper which would give him less experience than playing every week on loan? I think the solution is to loan him out but only if the other club signs a deal saying that if he doesn't play in 75% of their matches we have the right to recall him at any time. That way if is sitting their bench we can bring him back and play him in the resevres, or if we finally move De Goey we can bring Evans back as cover.

I think Huth has probably made the squad on merit, and either Kitamirike, Di Cesare or Cummings will be called up to fill any other holes in defence. None has what it takes to play in the top flight yet but could cover us for a few matches.

Wolleaston did not play yesterday and doesn't appear to be in CR's plans. Stanic has sounded awful so far as well. Baggio wouldn't be a bad idea but would CR have to play him to keep him happy? He wouldn't be pleased going on loan and taking a pay cut to sit the bench. That's why I don't think we need him now, but if we could resurrect a similar deal later (if necessary), then I would be all for it.

[Clan]

We could get rid of the "panic" buys.

Remember Emersom Thome?
Sold to the Mackems and replaced by Panucci (yuck) for loads of money per week.Strange thing about it is that it was kinda obvious right from the get go that this fella wasn't going to cut the mustard at CFC.His only worthwile contribution was the header against St Gallen (yuck again).

It was after a handfull of dreadful games that we somehow aquired Bogarde,yet again for loads of money per week.He has yet to have anyworthwile contribution.

Then came along lil jesper...gasp...some might say he's a good player....maybe so, but as far as CFC are concerned he's a bust as most of the time he was out injured and we've rolled on without him.Lets get rid of him and comtinue to roll.
7 million wasn't it to get him and lots of money per week.
Yet another with no worthwile contribution to the team.

We had that keeper crisis didn't we?
Sir Alex gave the Aussie the boot and....well you know the rest.
Bottom line...loads of money per week.
Could be said to have contributed somewhat but not nearly enough to justify his wages.Having him as #3 at that amont of money is plain silly.
Ship him out and keep De Goey.

The thing about it is this.
I see us going the entire season without forking out any money for a signing and the summer of 2003 as well.Really now, does anybody think we will be any better of financially next summer?

Which brings us to the youth and more specific the Squad and it's numbers.
The young ones are going to have to be put into games to play.How and where and why is up to the gaffer..after all thats what he gets paid quite handsomly for.We have some must keeps but if they go (Gudjohnsen for example) we need the youth to be able to step in.The youth players need to be around the first team as often as is possible.

So here is my squad..

Keeper
Cudicini
De Goey
Evans

Defenders
Melchiot (another RB needed)
Terry Desailly
Gallas Huth
Babayaro Le saux

Midfield
De lucas Oliveira
Petit Ambrosetti
Lampard Keenan
Zenden Wolleaston

Forwards
JFH Cole
Gudjohnsen Forssell

Utility mid/forward
Zola

That would be my 23 plus 1 needed.
As for the rest.........chow.

[mst77]

You'd try to move Bogarde, Stanic, Ferrer and Bosnich and Gronkjaer. From the looks of it CR agrees with you. Bosnich and Bogarde haven't seen any action yet. Ferrer will probably be kept until a youngster proves suitable as RB cover. Stanic and Gronkjaer are being left on the bench in preference to Zenden, De Lucas and Le Saux.

So if we sold Gronks for 5-6 mil, Bossie, Ferrer and Stanic for 1 mil each, and somehow got anyone to take Bogarde from us, we'd end up with 8-9 mil in our pockets and we would save about 7 mil in wages this season (assumes Bossie at 40k, Bogarde at 35k, Gronk at 25k, Ferrer and Stanic at 20k each). Granted those are all tough tasks but in tough times good leaders make tough decisions. Each of the above is currently replaceable in framework of the squad.