Our squad - looking ahead

[keniget]

This topic is fragmented across a number of threads with questions being asked of how this player and that might fit into the squad and what positions we need to fill.

I thought I might take a different approach and compare our squad to the one that at the start of the season everyone felt was the strongest and has just won the title. This reflects the loans situation of the season just gone by. Pay no mind to which players are compared to who - I've made a bit of an effort to make the comparisons relatively like for like, but it's not the intention of the exercise to focus on individuals rather the squad overall.

Hart vs Mingolet
Pantillimon vs Jones

Zabaleta vs Johnson
Richards vs Flannagan
Kolarov vs Enrique
Clichy vs Cissokho

Lescott vs Sakho
Demichelis vs Agger
Kompany vs Skrtel
Nastisic vs Toure
Boyata vs Kelly

Fernandinho vs Gerrard
Toure vs Henderson
Milner vs Allen
Garcia vs Lucas
Rodwell vs Alberto

Silva vs Coutinho
Nasri vs Sterling
Navas vs Moses

Jovetic vs Aspas
Negredo vs n/a
Dzeko vs Sturridge
Aguero vs Suarez

Given all the talk over how small our squad is, I thought I'd struggle more to match up names to City's squad. As it happens there is only one empty spot.

So, what do you think? An interesting exercise or a waste of time that simply reinforces what we already know?

 

[gkmacca]

I think the squad needs several more strikers. Someone like Ings would at least be affordable as back up, but when you look at the club all the way down to academy level it's desperately short on bona fide striking talent. Trickett-Smith is improving but he's not really a striker. God knows what state Sturridge will come back in from the world cup, but I don't think one can rely on him to stay fit for crucial periods of time. I think the spine of the team needs strengthening (mentally as well as physically), and they also need plenty of back up in an attacking sense. But real characters are required - there are some serious wimps in that squad.

 

[Hansern]

They're stronger in every department when it comes to depth. Their striking options are ridiculous.
They also have some experienced world class players compared to a lot of up and coming players in our team.
With at least one world class player in defence, midfield and attack.

But its a bit like PSG. For all the money they've spent and having the biggest wage bill in World sports, they still got some horrendous crappy players in there.

We need more quality in depth but we all knew that really.

A core of Kompany - Toure - Silva - Aguero is insanly good.

 

[Markeh]

It's hard to ignore the names, they have so many more playable squad members. Guys with premier league or top level experience.

Fullbacks and forwards are where our side compares badly imo, those are the two areas I'd hope we prioritise, along with able backup/competition for Henderson and Allen.

 

[Hansern]

If we're in the hunt for a new back up keeper, Speroni could be a decent free transfer.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Two proven strikers for a full European campaign next season is just plain suicide.

Definitely need another one at the very least.

 

[Ryan]

The main difference with that City side is they have so many of their squad at the right age right now. Look at the 3 attacking mids you named Ken:

Silva, Nasri, Navas. They're in the absolute prime of their career and rightly are astoundingly good footballers. We've got Coutinho, Sterling and Moses to counter that. Two kids, and a loanee.

We, as has been said ad nauseum, need players right now that can step into the side and make an immediate difference - as much to give the kids a chance to rest and develop at a normal pace as anything else.

 

[Gary25]

Navas is an outstandingly good footballer? You serious?

 

[superchimp]

Navas is not an outstandingly good footballer, extremely overrated IMO.

 

[Ryan]

Yeah probably OTT on Navas, but he's still a good player.

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

The "First 11 for next season" thread - haha I can see Ryan bashing walls down with his head - http://www.sixcrazyminutes.com/index.php?threads/first-11-for-next-season.48738/ should probably be merged with this one.