2023/24 - 25 Man Squad

[FoxesWalk]

Trying to figure out based on some of the transfer rumours what our 25 man squad is going to look like. I’m expecting Issahaku and Harwood Bellis to come in. If the latter comes in on a permanent deal he doesn’t need to be registered (but he would if on loan, I think). But we have a big squad at the moment considering that. I’ve assumed here that Kristiansen and Castagne are gone, as is Thomas, excluding U21s (Nelson, Wanya, etc.):

 

Mads

Ward?

Stolarczyk

Iversen?

Smithies?

 

Justin

Doyle

Faes

Vestergaard 

Coady 

Ricardo

THB!

Souttar? 

 

Hamza

Winks

KDH

Casadei

Praet 

Ndidi/Replacment? 

Soumaré/Replacement?  

 

McAteer

Albrighton

Mavididi

Issahaku!

Akgun

 

Daka/Replacement 

Vardy

Nacho 

 

That is 28 players we would need to register (27 if THB is permanent, I think). 2-3 have to either leave or be unregistered. I expect two keepers and maybe one of the midfielder slots (Ndidi/Soumaré) to be gone or they will have to be unregistered. Would be easier if we get rid of Souttar also, but the goalkeepers are an issue. 

 

Edited 28 August 2023 by FoxesWalk

[Ryy]

It irritates me how easy Smithies life is 

[FoxesWalk]

This comment from @Finnegan does a great job of explaining this:

 

 

[Finnegan]

Yeah as @FoxesWalk says I've literally just posted this. Shamelessly copy and pasting because I was tempted to start a whole new thread for it myself but wasn't sure if it was necessary. But as you have:

 

Unless I've missed anyone, I see the depth chart at the start of the last week of the window as looking like this, essentially:

 

 

* short term injuries

** don't need to be registered

*** transfer pending

 

Any major objections to that? That leaves us currently 21 senior players that need to be registered. Currently, we could register 4 from the discard pile if they aren't sold. We are not in a financial position to pay Soumare, Souttar or Daka to simply sit in the U23s. Reminder that loans need to be registered regardless of whether or not they're under 21. If we DO sign THB permanently, he turned 21 in January which means according to the EFL Handbook he wouldn't need to be registered, even as a new signing. That means we could replace Castagne with him and STILL have room for 4 more. You have to assume one of the four will be a third striker, be it Daka or a replacement. Another will be one of Soumare, Ndidi or a replacement (Chair?) depending on how deals go this week.

 

That would leave us with 2 squad registration places available. The glaring holes in the squad would be a left footed "mezzala" and a left footed "Backup Doyle."

 

We have one space left for a loan in the matchday squad, although we can technically have 4 more registered.

 

We have no problems meeting the quota for home grown players (minimum 8.)

 

Edit: added Thomas & Nelson. Would be extremely surprised if Nelson gets many minutes this year but he's been in match day squads. He's 19, doesn't need to be registered. Thomas expected to go to Leeds.

 

Edited 28 August 2023 by Finnegan

[BenTayfour]

[davieG]

33 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

Yeah as @FoxesWalk says I've literally just posted this. Shamelessly copy and pasting because I was tempted to start a whole new thread for it myself but wasn't sure if it was necessary. But as you have:

 

Unless I've missed anyone, I see the depth chart at the start of the last week of the window as looking like this, essentially:

 

* short term injuries

** don't need to be registered

*** transfer pending

 

Any major objections to that? That leaves us currently 21 senior players that need to be registered. Currently, we could register 4 from the discard pile if they aren't sold. We are not in a financial position to pay Soumare, Souttar or Daka to simply sit in the U23s. Reminder that loans need to be registered regardless of whether or not they're under 21. If we DO sign THB permanently, he turned 21 in January which means according to the EFL Handbook he wouldn't need to be registered, even as a new signing. That means we could replace Castagne with him and STILL have room for 4 more. You have to assume one of the four will be a third striker, be it Daka or a replacement. Another will be one of Soumare, Ndidi or a replacement (Chair?) depending on how deals go this week.

 

That would leave us with 2 squad registration places available. The glaring holes in the squad would be a left footed "mezzala" and a left footed "Backup Doyle."

 

We have one space left for a loan in the matchday squad, although we can technically have 4 more registered.

 

We have no problems meeting the quota for home grown players (minimum 8.)

Very clear

 

Luke Thomas or am I missing something.

[coolhandfox]

@Finnegan maybe add Nelson as CB cover his featured in a few match day squads. Doesn't need registered but worth list.

 

Makes it clear we need a CB if Souttar leaves and CM.

 

Could do with a you striker who up and coming too.

 

 

[Finnegan]

2 minutes ago, davieG said:

Luke Thomas or am I missing something.

 

Quite right Davie. Forgot Luke, although he'd be in the discard column marked as imminently about to leave according to the latest rumours.

 

 

1 minute ago, coolhandfox said:

maybe add Nelson as CB cover his featured in a few match day squads

 

I think if we had any realistic intentions of playing him, he'd have had at least SOME minutes so far in the cup. Think he's just there as an absolute emergency isn't he? Wasn't he rumoured to be going on loan soon? I deliberately left him out because I see him as still more of a member of the U23s really where as Wanya, Kasey and Stolarczyk all seem to have been actually "promoted" at the moment.

[coolhandfox]

Just now, Finnegan said:

 

Quite right Davie. Forgot Luke, although he'd be in the discard column marked as imminently about to leave according to the latest rumours.

 

 

 

I think if we had any realistic intentions of playing him, he'd have had at least SOME minutes so far in the cup. Think he's just there as an absolute emergency isn't he? Wasn't he rumoured to be going on loan soon? I deliberately left him out because I see him as still more of a member of the U23s really where as Wanya, Kasey and Stolarczyk all seem to have been actually "promoted" at the moment.

Good points, if he doesn't get minutes at Tranmere your probably right.

[Finnegan]

2 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Good points, if he doesn't get minutes at Tranmere your probably right.

 

Actually think I was getting mixed up with Brunt re: loan. So I've added him. Fair enough.

[coolhandfox]

2 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

Actually think I was getting mixed up with Brunt re: loan. So I've added him. Fair enough.

Brunt went Mansfield, Enzo obviously not seeing what Rodgers did.

 

I like the fact Enzo has been brave, using the likes of Wanya and Macteer when the safe thing would have been to use Albrighton.

 

Same with the keeper situation turning to a kid with no experience at this level rather the the easy option.

 

Same with Nelson, would have been easy to stick Souttar on the bench.

Edited 28 August 2023 by coolhandfox

[Finnegan]

2 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

would have been easy to stick Souttar on the bench

 

Think that one is a mixture of trying to send a message and not wanting to damage the sellable goods tbf. Same as Daka, Castagne, Soumare, et all. 

[AKCJ]

2 hours ago, Finnegan said:

Yeah as @FoxesWalk says I've literally just posted this. Shamelessly copy and pasting because I was tempted to start a whole new thread for it myself but wasn't sure if it was necessary. But as you have:

 

Unless I've missed anyone, I see the depth chart at the start of the last week of the window as looking like this, essentially:

 

 

* short term injuries

** don't need to be registered

*** transfer pending

 

Any major objections to that? That leaves us currently 21 senior players that need to be registered. Currently, we could register 4 from the discard pile if they aren't sold. We are not in a financial position to pay Soumare, Souttar or Daka to simply sit in the U23s. Reminder that loans need to be registered regardless of whether or not they're under 21. If we DO sign THB permanently, he turned 21 in January which means according to the EFL Handbook he wouldn't need to be registered, even as a new signing. That means we could replace Castagne with him and STILL have room for 4 more. You have to assume one of the four will be a third striker, be it Daka or a replacement. Another will be one of Soumare, Ndidi or a replacement (Chair?) depending on how deals go this week.

 

That would leave us with 2 squad registration places available. The glaring holes in the squad would be a left footed "mezzala" and a left footed "Backup Doyle."

 

We have one space left for a loan in the matchday squad, although we can technically have 4 more registered.

 

We have no problems meeting the quota for home grown players (minimum 8.)

 

Edit: added Thomas & Nelson. Would be extremely surprised if Nelson gets many minutes this year but he's been in match day squads. He's 19, doesn't need to be registered. Thomas expected to go to Leeds.

 

I think Justin could play the current Doyle role with no issues.

[Finnegan]

Just now, AKCJ said:

I think Justin could play the current Doyle role with no issues.

 

I've said this a bunch of times but I don't really know why people keep saying that to be honest. I love JJ, he's probably one of my favourite of our players, but he's never shown anything like the passing range required for that role. If you put a gun to my head and forced me to play JJ somewhere (other than RB) in this system I'd say he's more backup for Faes than Doyle.

 

I assume that the fact JJ has played left back (and has said he likes playing left back) combined with the fact that he's been an auxiliary centre back before are where this has come from but when you actually look at the skill profile of JJ vs. Doyle there's not a massive amount of overlap is there really? Doyle is doing the Nathan Ake job, JJ is literally like our Kyle Walker. Can you imagine Pep swapping their duties?

 

Maresca himself has heavily implied that JJ is working on the inverted right-back role that Ricardo is currently playing and has said he's progressing well in training.

 

[AKCJ]

1 minute ago, Finnegan said:

 

I've said this a bunch of times but I don't really know why people keep saying that to be honest. I love JJ, he's probably one of my favourite of our players, but he's never shown anything like the passing range required for that role. If you put a gun to my head and forced me to play JJ somewhere (other than RB) in this system I'd say he's more backup for Faes than Doyle.

 

I assume that the fact JJ has played left back (and has said he likes playing left back) combined with the fact that he's been an auxiliary centre back before are where this has come from but when you actually look at the skill profile of JJ vs. Doyle there's not a massive amount of overlap is there really? Doyle is doing the Nathan Ake job, JJ is literally like our Kyle Walker. Can you imagine Pep swapping their duties?

 

Maresca himself has heavily implied that JJ is working on the inverted right-back role that Ricardo is currently playing and has said he's progressing well in training.

 

Is the passing range required or is it just apparent because Doyle is literally the Kevin De Bruyne of left backs?

 

I just think that if Doyle is injured then Justin would to to the left back role and we'd be fine. 

[Finnegan]

24 minutes ago, AKCJ said:

Is the passing range required or is it just apparent because Doyle is literally the Kevin De Bruyne of left backs?

 

I think we've actively recruited Doyle for his passing and are choosing Vestergaard over Souttar for the same reasons, yes.

 

It's the same reason Man City recruited Akanji and persist with Stones even though both are defensive bombscares at times. They're great on the ball, Stones in particular is one of the best passing and carrying centre backs in world football.

 

We saw last year what happens when you try and play out of the back with only middle-of-the-road passers of the ball at the back.

[AKCJ]

10 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

I think we've actively recruited Doyle for his passing and are choosing Vestergaard over Souttar for the same reasons, yes.

 

It's the same reason Man City recruited Akanji and persist with Stones even though both are defensive bombscares at times. They're great on the ball, Stones in particular is one of the best passing and carrying centre backs in world football.

 

We saw last year what happens when you try and play out of the back with only middle-of-the-road passers of the ball at the back.

I think Akanji plays because he's defensively great and a proper athlete. I don't think he's a particularly great passer (still very good mind). Same for Ake and Gvardiol.

[CosbehFox]

Does this rule apply in the EFL then?