Our squad size

[tynerider]

Originally Posted by partridge amongst the pig

Mate. Enough.



What team - aside from Villa in 1980 when they only used about 12 players all season due to a complete freak of nature - has ever given you the idea that 18 players will be enough?

I do not know, probs be on line somewhere the teams that uses the least players.


What is the point of having 25 players when 8 are crap. Like we have now.

We cannot afford 25 top class players but we are throwing money away on players just to complete the maximum squad size.

Makes no sense.

One day everyone will understand.

[The Cabbage]

Originally Posted by partridge amongst the pig

What team - aside from Villa in 1980 when they only used about 12 players all season due to a complete freak of nature - has ever given you the idea that 18 players will be enough?

Discounting the few players players who made less than 3 prem appearances (as a reasonable cutoff), Aston Villa only used 18 players in MONs last few seasons. For all the joking at the OPs expense, there is a case to be made that says MON should only have around 18 senior pros in his squad with youth teamers to back it up. By the looks of things he just won't use much more than that.

[oi oi]

[partridge amongst the pig]

Originally Posted by tynerider

I do not know,

Exactly. You don't.

Originally Posted by The Cabbage

Discounting the few players players who made less than 3 prem appearances (as a reasonable cutoff), Aston Villa only used 18 players in MONs last few seasons. For all the joking at the OPs expense, there is a case to be made that says MON should only have around 18 senior pros in his squad with youth teamers to back it up. By the looks of things he just won't use much more than that.

Which is why his teams are blowing through their arses by March.

[TartanMackem]

Originally Posted by The Cabbage

Discounting the few players players who made less than 3 prem appearances (as a reasonable cutoff), Aston Villa only used 18 players in MONs last few seasons. For all the joking at the OPs expense, there is a case to be made that says MON should only have around 18 senior pros in his squad with youth teamers to back it up. By the looks of things he just won't use much more than that.

There's no reason to discount them. They played, and between them would have accounted for a sizeable number of games. A centreback that plays 2 games when all the other centrebacks are injured is an important player (for those 2 games at least, and for the season if the points won in those games contribute to anything).

Players get injured regularly, and the game is too fast and athletic now to be able to carry unfit passengers like teams could do in the past.

And MON's teams have a habit of running out of steam before the end of the season (a bit like us now).

[GK]

Jose Mourinho always has a squad size of 24 - essentially 2 players in each position

That'll do me

I feel the OP is getting his FIFA12 seasons and real life seasons mixed up. In FIFA12 you only need about 18 players for the entire season but in a real game, with real players, getting real injuries you need a good squad of 24. 6 players being out injured could cripple your team.

[Arkle]

Originally Posted by GK

Jose Mourinho always has a squad size of 24 - essentially 2 players in each position

That'll do me

22 is two per position but, maths aside, I'd pretty much agree with that (but having a third keeper as well). I think we probably have the right squad size at the moment, it's just unbalanced - too many centre backs (in theory) and central midfielders, not enough wide men (all positions) or strikers.

[Chromacolour]

Originally Posted by tynerider

I may be wrong but I believe its 23. (was 25, Gyan and Anton)

Why do we need so many? 23/25 is waste of time and money

18 more like.

Save money so we can bring in top quality. Means we can get rid of five or six deadwood easily.

You're a funny guy...an idiot...or a monkey with a keyboard. I can't decide which.

[The Cabbage]

Originally Posted by TartanMackem

There's no reason to discount them. They played, and between them would have accounted for a sizeable number of games. A centreback that plays 2 games when all the other centrebacks are injured is an important player (for those 2 games at least, and for the season if the points won in those games contribute to anything).

Players get injured regularly, and the game is too fast and athletic now to be able to carry unfit passengers like teams could do in the past.

And MON's teams have a habit of running out of steam before the end of the season (a bit like us now).

Disagree. I discounted them because you have to draw the line somewhere, I wasn't willing to ascertain whether each individual in question was a 'senior pro' or a youth teamer, and it enabled me to give a more representative picture than would have been available if I had included Craig Gardner and Curtis Davies' solitary sub appearances on 09/10 (for example).

For the rest I'd agree. I'd have a larger squad myself. However, the evidence suggests that MON wouldn't utilise them effectively. Therefore there is a case to be made for sinking our resources into a small, versatile squad of players and turning to youth teamers or players from the development squad should the matchday selection need padding out.